Being audacious is not something that comes easy to many. In fact, being strong, Bold, taking great risks in life or stepping out in faith without knowing the full outcome takes courage. As believers in Christ we are able to come to the one who is able to give us that strength to do the what we may feel would be impossible.
2 Tim 1:7 For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self control. In Deuteronomy 31:6 it say's to "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, trusting and relying on him that goes before you; and so take heart, be of good courage." One story of audacious faith was done by the women with the issue of blood found in the Gospel of Mark. Mathew 4:23-24 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and paralyzed: and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. It was on the Northern Shore of the Sea of Galilee in Capernaum where Jesus was met yet again by more crowds of people. Jairus who was a leader of the synagogue came to Jesus and begged him to go with him to heal his daughter. The multitudes of people were pressing in on him as he was making his way to Jairus's home. If you can just imagine the enormous mob of people that were crowded around Jesus as he was on route to Jairus's house that would have caused him to be pressed in on all sides. A women who was suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years came up and touched his garment. Mark 5:26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. " Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered," and yet you ask, 'who touched me?' " But yet you kept looking around to see who done it. Then the women, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." That took what I call audacious faith on her part. She would most definitely would have had a good reason to be trembling with fear. At that time, they followed the Levitical law. The Levites were the descendants of Levi, which was a son of Jacob. Moses was from the tribe of Levi and by calling it the Levitical Law they in essence were recognizing that God revealed the law through Moses, a Levite. According to the Levitical Law of that time, Lev 15 :19 "Whenever a women has her menstrual period, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days. Anyone who touches her during that time will be unclean. until evening." In Lev 15:25, if a women had a flow of blood for many days that is unrelated to her menstrual period, or if the blood continues beyond the normal period, she is ceremonially unclean. As during her menstrual period. The women will be unclean as long as the discharge continues. Anyone or anything she touched would be considered unclean. She could have had severe consequences for touching him that day. Can you imagine this was a women who went through such extreme hardships and suffering. This was a women who was considered to be ritually unclean, she couldn't be around others, and could not worship with anyone in temple. She desperately sought help from physicians and no one could help her. All her money was gone from trying so desperately to get some help and relief from physicians, but it just got worse. This women went through this immense suffering for 12 long years. Her total desperation and bold faith in the healing power of Jesus is what caused her take a supernatural leap of faith that day. It caused her to rise up and take a great risk by going through the mob of people just to touch the hem of his garment (prayer shall). The garment Jesus wore was a prayer shall (tallit). Many Jews wore them as a reminder of God's Law. In Numbers 15:37 "The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come, you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lust of your own hearts and eyes, Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt to be your God." The tassels she grabbed were attached to the 4 corners (or kanaf) of his shall. In the scripture of Malachi 4:2 it reads, "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in its wings. The Hebrew word for wing is "kanaf " which means wing, corner, or the hem of the garment (Tallit)." Mathew 14:35-36 says: "And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed." In Mark 6:56, "Whenever he entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might just touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched him were made well." There is so much controversy right now concerning the topic of does God still heal today. Well of course we serve a God who still heals today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jehovah-Rapha (The God who heals). The Hebrew word Rophe or Ropha means "heal, "cure," "restore," or "make whole." But we can't think he is like a genie in a bottle, which way too often people will tend to do. We cannot come to God and want him to grant our wishes and then put it aside until we are in need again. God desires for his children to come to him with our concerns and requests. Our Heavenly father longs for us to have a relationship with him. Mathew 11:28-30 : "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." We are to bring our requests to God, whatever they might be, in full confidence, knowing he hears our prayers. Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach God's throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in or time of need. Philippians 4:6: "Don't be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Have that audacious faith to cry out to the one who bled and died for you, knowing full well we serve a God who loves us and hears those prayers, also knowing he is in full control and has all authority in Heaven and on Earth. His will always be done in our lives.
1 Comment
Deborah
1/5/2022 11:00:17 am
Audacious that’s an interesting word. I always thought it meant impudent. So I had to look it up. Although it can mean disrespect. It also can mean, Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks!!! Wow! As His children you reminded me that we were not meant to cower in our prayers. I choose to be audacious! Blessings!
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AuthorDebbie is a pastor's wife who loves sharing devotionals that are relevant and real. Archives
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