March 28 2019

It’s Not Dead Until Jesus Says It’s Dead

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.
Luke 8:50-54

Jesus knew the girl was not yet dead and He assured the people.  
Yet the people ridiculed Him, “knowing that she was dead.”  
Often we move with what we “know” to be true, rather than what is “actually” true in our lives.  
We often believe that things are over and done with because of what things look like in the natural, rather than seeking Jesus to show us what things are actually like in the supernatural.  
Fact is what we see; truth is what Jesus tells us.  
The people looked at the facts, they didn’t believe the truth that Jesus spoke into their lives and the truth that He was about to speak into the life of this little girl. 
But when He spoke the truth, the facts changed.  
It’s not dead until Jesus says it’s dead.  
What facts do you currently believe?  
What truth do you need Jesus to speak into your life today? 
What have you declared dead that Jesus says is only sleeping?  
Will you ridicule Jesus like the people, or will you go willingly into the room like Peter, James, John and the parents while Jesus declares life into your “dead” situation? 
It’s not dead until Jesus says it’s dead!
Question for Discussion
What have you declared dead that Jesus says is only sleeping?

March 27 2019

When Your Miracle is Interupted

And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Luke 8:41-42
While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” Luke 8:49-50

Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter.  
But the crowd was heavy around Jesus and in the middle of the throng was a woman who reached out and touched Jesus and was healed.  
As Jesus felt power go out from Himself He stopped and inquired as to who had touched Him and then stopped and took the time to address that woman. 
Imagine Jairus and His reaction to this situation.  
Initially he would have been hopeful that Jesus was coming to attend to his daughter.  
But now the delay as Jesus attended to some other woman in the midst of the crowd.  
Imagine his despair when the news came that his daughter was dead.  
Imagine the questions that poured through his mind, 
“if only Jesus had not stopped and taken the time to heal that other woman.” 
But then Jesus spoke, 
“Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”  
Just as He spoke to Jairus, Jesus is calling out to us today, 
“Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”  
We were on our way with Jesus at our side to deal with a situation. 
But then, something happened.  
There was a delay, an interruption and we began to despair, to lose hope.  It would seem that our miracle had been interrupted.  2 things to remember: 
1) Jesus is always on time and
 2) our time lines look very different that Jesus’ timelines. 
When it seems your miracle had been interrupted, remember Jairus.  
His miracle appeared to be interrupted and his situation got worse before it got better, but in the end, his daughter was healed!  
“Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
Question for Discussion
Have you ever felt like your miracle was interrupted? How did it work out?

March 26 2019

Who Touched Me?

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48
Jesus knew when the woman with the issue of blood had touched Him because He felt power going out from Himself.  
But when Jesus knew the power had gone out, He didn’t need to stop.  
He was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter.  Jesus was an important man with important things to do.  
He could have kept on going and the woman would still have been healed.  
But that is not the nature of Jesus, to heal without an intimate knowledge.  
Jesus wanted to know the one that His power had touched, the individual, the one who had faith to reach for the hem of His garment.  
And so He asked, 
“Who touched Me?”  
Jesus is asking that question of us today.  
Jesus wants to know us, as individuals, as the ones that have faith to humble ourselves and reach for the hem of His garment.  
Jesus wants to know us individually, not just as one of the many that throng around Him in the crowd. Today when Jesus cries out 
“Who touched Me?” 
will you be willing to speak up an identify yourself?  
It will be the beginning of a wonderful relationship with Him.
Question for Discussion
What has your experience been with reaching for the hem of Jesus’ garment?