The Fruit of the Spirit Study Week 2
Week 2 Introduction: Exercise your faith
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).
Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, had a twelve-year-old daughter who was on her deathbed. He sought Jesus for help. As Jairus escorted Him to his house among the thronging multitudes, Jesus stopped. “Who touched Me?” No one spoke up. “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Then a trembling woman fell before Him and confessed that she had been healed the instant she had touched the hem of His garment. He responded, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:45-48)
Why would this woman’s faith be significant? In the culture of that day, she was considered unclean because of her hemorrhage. For twelve years she had suffered, having spent all her money on physicians who couldn’t help her. Such conditions forbade her mingling among the crowds, so she kept a low profile, hoping she wouldn’t be noticed. But her faith drove her on. She knew that if she could just touch the lowest edge of the tassels on Jesus’s prayer shawl, she would be healed. Getting to Him was her only hope.
Why had she hesitated to come forward when He asked who had touched Him? Most likely, she had never expected Him to know what she’d done. For an unclean woman to touch a holy Teacher was unthinkable. She was caught, and she trembled at how He might respond. She must have been shocked when Jesus addressed her with words of kindness and love instead of harsh rebuke. “Daughter, be of good cheer. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).
During this initial month of the New Year, let’s intentionally exercise our faith to attain spiritual health.As sinners, we all are “unclean” until we “grab hold” of Jesus and accept His salvation. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
But Jesus cleanses our spirits with His blood shed at Calvary, and His resurrection sealed our eternity with Him in heaven. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Let’s also exercise our faith to receive healing from sickness and disease.We all suffer from occasional sickness. Or perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with a malady that modern medicine can’t heal. Have you ever used your faith to press into our Great Physician? Let’s take this week to stretch our faith and reach out for the hem of His garment.
What are you asking the Lord to do for you today?If you’re praying for healing, or if you’ve been healed in the past, would you encourage us with your testimony?
Dear Lord, take our measure of faith and stretch it this week. May we believe for physical healing and gratefully receive it according to your perfect will. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much ~ James 5:16.
Karen, thank you for this excellent lesson which is a powerful example of exercising our faith. Without her great faith, which led to her hope, she never would have had the courage to reach out and touch the hem of His garment. The fact that she did, and the response from Jesus, is compelling in its impact.
I love that there is a button at the bottom of these messages which allows me to print them out. I am placing them in binder so that I can have easy access to them and reflect on them again and again as you lead us further into this study. I am writing my thoughts on them before I put them in the binder.
We are all so blessed that you are obediently serving Him through this ministry outreach as you are bringing many hearts closer to Him. j
I agree, Joyce, that the woman’s actions were indeed compelling, given her condition and the culture. It’s reassuring that Jesus will never turn us away of refuse to care for us personally. Our Lord is full of compassion.
How awesome that we can run copies and keep them in a binder for study and reference. I didn’t realize that myself! Wonderful!
I am humbled to serve Heart”wings” as the Lord is leading. Wishing you a blessed day, dear sister.
I love this story and that woman’s boldness and faith, Karen, and I am so very grateful for the Savior’s unfailing love toward her and toward Jarius and toward me 🙂
What do I ask Him for today? Many things are included daily in my prayers, but one sums them all up—-I pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in earth as in Heaven—-I pray this over myself, my husband, my children and grandsugars, speaking each one’s name. I pray this over Joyce, Becky, you, the HeartWings Blog Co-hearts, my Heart”wings” sisters and all my other online sisters and friends lives! 🙂 Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if His will was done in the earth
I agree, Caryl, that we can have the days of heaven on earth even now. He gives us peace that passes understanding in the midst of our turbulent days. My His kingdom come and His will be done today! Love and blessings to you, dear sister. You are such a blessing to me. Prayers for you and every sister in Heart”wings” today, that each may be touched with His peace and love.
Beautiful message. 🙂
Thanks, dear friend. Praying the Lord’s abundant blessings for you today and always. xo
I enjoyed this second study very much! Love this: “During this initial month of the New Year, let’s intentionally exercise our faith to attain spiritual health.” I love that you are asking us to consider both our spiritual and our physical health. For spiritual health, I think God helps us become healthy when we start with that special quiet time with Him, and then continue to be aware of His Presence as He walks with us through the day. To be healthy, that includes not only growing the fruit of the Spirit, but also surrendering to Him, letting Him help us forgive, and heal us spiritually and even emotionally. Step by step, day by day.
One of my testimonies of healing has to do with the large brown spot on the right side of my face. The doctor said in 2009, it was $100 to zap it off, but it would probably come back. I was even vain enough to try to turn so it wouldn’t be in pictures, or turn my head when speaking to others. Most people thought it was a birth mark, and one of my sisters was even alarmed by it. And then it just disappeared and we don’t even know when! I know it was a vain thing to be concerned about it, and I was trying to be content, even when I would notice people’s eyes looking at it while they talked to me. I also know God could have left it there, while He kept working with my heart. But He didn’t! I thank Him every time I think about how God even cares about little things!
I love your testimony of healing, Becky. That sounds like a true miracle! Isn’t God so kind and compassionate to heal us of something that makes us self-conscious. He is intimately involved with each of our lives, whether our needs are big, small, or seemingly impossible. He is the God of all things possible! Thanks so much for your thoughtful response—it’s very encouraging. Many blessings to you, sweet friend, as you give generously of yourself to Heart”wings” women’s ministries. You are such a precious blessing. ❤️xoxo