Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jul 23rd, 2013 JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 25 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 1 – 2; Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)

Scripture Memorization for June – Great Commission Verses

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Micah 6:8

Read a great article by Brother John Goetsch – “Uncola Christianity – 7 Ingredients To Add To Your Faith“

Read the “0723 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

A Study Of Women In The Bible

She Never Gave Up  –  The Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Garment

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (Mark 5:25-34)

Twelve years of suffering from bleeding. Her emotional and physical needs were great. Not only had her body endured misery, but also because of the law, she was unclean. This had made her an outcast to her people. She was lonely. Twelve years of Doctors poking and prodding, trying to figure out what was wrong. Twelve years of working hard to earn money, just to give it all away. Then she heard of Jesus’ healing touch. With one last effort she had to see him. She had nothing to offer Him. No money, no hope, no importance.  But she had to press on. She finally got to the place where Jesus was. There were people everywhere. She could barely see him, but she had to press on. She knew she had to touch his robe. She wasn’t very strong but she pushed and pushed her way through the crowd. Everyone was crying out the name “Jesus”.

“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” (Matthew 9:20-21)

Then finally, maybe when crawling, she reached out and touched the hem of His robe. She was healed! What a thrill! What all the doctors could not do was accomplished by a touch of Jesus’ robe, all because she did not give up.

Now you ask yourself why the picture of the ants for this study. While on vacation camping, I learned something from watching ants. No matter what comes their way, they just keep going forward.  I was lying down in the camper and I notice an ant walking on the canvas roof.  When I tried to flick it off, it continued to walk up the roof. I flick it again. The ant did the same thing. No matter how many times I tried to flick it off, it just continued to walk up the roof. Also, while sweeping off the outside carpet, I notice the same thing happening. No matter how many times I swept an ant off the carpet, it walked back on. It just kept pressing on to get to where it was going.

Like the picture above, the rock didn’t stop the ants from going where it wanted; they just walk over or around it. Ever notice when ants are building an ant hole, that if you step on it, they never miss a beat. They pick up that next grain of sand and start building the hole again.

Many times in life we come across obstacles. When they come, we want to quit. Sickness, finances, health, relationships. The list goes on. Do you stop and give up? Or do you pick yourself up and move on? Keep your eyes on the goal. Keep pressing towards the mark. If the woman never pressed to touch Jesus, she would have never been healed.

How about you? Quit or move on for God? It’s your choice. Choose wisely.

Thank You

1 John 5:13