Woman With Issue of Blood

The Woman with the “Issue”

Scripture References: Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48

Read Mark 5:25-34

HER CONDITION

(v. 25-26 )

This woman suffered from a discharge of blood for 12 years.

She suffered:

• Physically - from her disease this woman “suffered much under many physicians”
• Financially - she “had spent all that she had”
• Emotionally - “and was no better but rather grew worse” -time and time again her hopes were crushed.
• Socially - (Leviticus 15:19-33) Lev 15:25 ESV “...all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean.”

This world and our lives are filled with suffering. We will all endure different forms of suffering while on this earth.

There is suffering because of:

• Sin (in our life or another’s life) Galatians 6:8 ESV “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
• Persecution (suffering for doing good) 1 Peter 2:19-20 NKJV “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully….But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.”
• Fallen World (we are promised tribulation) Matthew 5:45 NKJV “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

HER DESPERATION

(v. 27-28)

v. 28 “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” -remember she was not allowed to touch anyone.

She was completely emptied of all other hopes and she experienced what the world’s resources could not do for her.

People believe that they can turn to the world to meet their needs. To so many, the world appears to be a vast source of information waiting to be discovered, adventures to be experienced and needs to be met. The Bible is filled with truth that informs us of what the world consists of, how to view it as God’s creation, what to avoid and what to expect.

It is important to always view the world with the knowledge that “sin entered the world” (Rom 5:12) so that the illusion of what it promises will not catch you by surprise.

Read Romans 8:18-25

Creation is in bondage to corruption.

Satan is called the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31), the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2) and “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4).

Read 1 John 2:15-17

Taking your fill of the world’s ways will leave you worse off than before.

People do things they thought they would never do out of desperation (including, turning to Jesus!)

“Remember, we don’t always have to wait until we’re desperate. We can wise up enough to know how desperate we’re going to be if we don’t cry out immediately.” -Beth Moore, Get Out of that Pit

She “heard”

Romans 10:17 NKJV “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

HER HEALING

(v. 29)

Her healing came.

------Taken from Beth Moore, Daniel Study Workbook--------------------------------------------------

Read Daniel 3:13-18

Consider three different scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial:

Scenario A: We can be delivered from the fire.

Dividend? Our faith is built.

Scenario B: We can be delivered through the fire.

Dividend? Our faith is refined.

Scenario C: We can be delivered by the fire into His arms.

Dividend? Our faith is perfected.

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John 11:4 NKJV “When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”

1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

v. 29 “and she felt in her body that she was healed”

Can you feel God doing a work in you? Isn’t it so often you feel God doing a work in you when He allows suffering and trials to refine you?

I have personally felt the most healed through times of prayer in God’s presence.

Psalm 16:11 ESV “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Prayer puts things in order personally and corporately.

Personally: Philippians 4:5-7 “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Corporately:1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

God uses prayer to put things in order and proper perspective. It is from a daily lifestyle of prayer that we can move forward in connection with God to experience His healing touch.

“Extended times of prayer are not meant to change God’s mind but to align our thinking with His. Jesus never set His agenda and then asked God to bless it. He only did what the Father told Him to do (John 5:19).” -Sharon Jaynes, A Sudden Glory

“If a person suffers for a while from a complaint and seeks no medical advice, but in the end goes to the doctor, he invariable says, ‘You should have come to me sooner.’ But it is the glory of Christ that He can heal those who come late to Him.” -Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible

HER HEALER

(v.30-34)

Luke 8:47 NIV “Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.”

It’s all about the Healer.

“God will forever be more interested in you knowing your Healer than experiencing His healing, and knowing your Deliverer than knowing your deliverance.” -Beth Moore, Get Out of that Pit

***A good thing to remember when others are suffering: “We always feel more romantic about suffering when we’re not doing it.” -Beth Moore

We are to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15)

Life Lesson

We are to live our lives to know God and to make Him known.

Philippians 1:12 ESV “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel”

Discussion Questions:

1. What suffering have you seen in your own life that has served for the furtherance of the gospel?

2. What suffering have you seen in someone else’s life that has served for the furtherance of the gospel?