Faith Matters (3) - Expectant Faith - Luke 8:41-42, 49-56 - Sunday - February 4, 2024

 

Faith Matters (3) Expectant Faith – Sunday – February 4, 2024

Faith maintains trust in GOD to do what no one else can do.

Our focus scripture is Luke 8:41-42, 49-56.

Our title is the key to our study, “Expectant Faith.” JESUS helps us frame our expectations regarding faith when HE taught HIS disciples as we read in Matthew 17:20:

“Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

As disciples of JESUS, all Spirit-born people are on a learning curve of increasing our faith. Our first step is placing our faith in JESUS as our Savior and the next step is making JESUS our LORD. The next step is building our trust in JESUS, as we walk daily with HIM. Will it be easy? No! But it will be building our faith and trust muscles in JESUS.

Our scripture for this lesson is recorded in Luke 8.

Let us read Luke 8:41-42:

⁴⁰ When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹ Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’s feet and pleaded with him to come to his house, ⁴² because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying.

JESUS had returned to that area and the leader of the synagogue named Jairus fell at the feet of JESUS because his 12-year-old daughter was dying. Why did Jarius come to JESUS? Often, our need brings us to JESUS. Why JESUS? Let’s explore!

Jaruis was the leader of the local synagogue. As the leader, Jarius would have been the one to determine who would read the scripture and deliver the message for that day. The person reading the scripture would expound on the scripture that he read. Jarius knew JESUS and had heard HIM read the scriptures and speak about what HE had read. Thus, Jarius went straight to JESUS to tell HIM about his daughter’s illness, and he needed JESUS for help. Why? Jarius knew that JESUS was The ONE WHO could help his dying daughter.

As Spirit-born Christians, do we know that JESUS is our go to person when we encounter issues that are beyond our ability to solve?

Is JESUS our first go to person when something beyond our control takes place? We may say YES! But do we believe it?

While JESUS was on his way to Jarius’ daughter, a step of faith was taking place by another person as we read on ---

Let us read Luke 8:43-53:

While he was going, the crowds were nearly crushing him. ⁴³ A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors^[d] and yet could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴ approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped. WOW!!! This lady felt unworthy to approach JESUS face to face, so she came to JESUS from behind HIM. How did JESUS respond?

⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter^[e] said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.”^[f]

⁴⁶ “Someone did touch me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from me.” ⁴⁷ When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed. ⁴⁸ “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you.^[g] Go in peace.”

JESUS does not want secret followers. JESUS called her “daughter.” WOW! Her faith not only healed her physically but also Spiritually. This lady was “born-again” in her human spirit to eternally become GOD’S child and was healed both physically and Spiritually.

How do we know? Her blood flow issue stopped, and JESUS called her “Daughter.”

This lady likely thought that her problem would be offensive to JESUS. She likely thought she was unclean because of her blood flow issue, and it would repulse JESUS. Her faith in JESUS led her to fight the crowds to just touch JESUS. That was all she needed to do to be healed. She did.

She approached JESUS from behind HIM. It was her faith in JESUS that healed her.

JESUS knew that a person of faith had touch HIM and she knew that when she touched JESUS, she was healed.

⁴⁹ While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

What did JESUS, the teacher teach? Maybe “never underestimate the power of GOD?”

“Never decide on your own or on the advice of others not to go to JESUS because it is too late for any human to do something about a situation?” “Or did JESUS teach that GOD works beyond human ability!”

Do you believe that?

Did you know there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit now! Why? JESUS is coming again to rapture all Spirit-born people before the end comes. This is not to try to scare anyone but for all people to be prepared when the last trumpet sounds. Whether JESUS comes in our lifetime is immaterial, but the fact is every person who reads this will go into eternity upon your physical death. Are you ready to meet JESUS? If not, ask HIM to come into your heart now and forgive you for your sins. In doing so, you will experience the miracle of being Spirit-birth/Born again and becoming a citizen of Heaven and GOD’S eternal Son or Daughter.

Back to our scripture. JESUS is the resurrection and the life. So, when JESUS heard that Jarius’ daughter was dead, did HE stop and give up? NO!!! HE knew the truth. JESUS is the resurrection and the life. No one comes to GOD, The FATHER except through faith in JESUS.

How did JESUS respond when Jarius received the word that “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Aren’t we glad our faith is in JESUS WHO is truth and WHO is the Life and the Resurrection? Hopefully, your answer is YES!

⁵⁰ When Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.”^[h] 51 After he came to the house, he let no one enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. ⁵² Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But he said, “Stop crying, because she is not dead but asleep.”

This was a teaching moment for JESUS. HE taught in their synagogue truth and now HE was still teaching them truth from real life. What was the attitude of those following JESUS. Was it curiosity? Or were they seeking truth? This was a decisive moment for JESUS to reveal the power GOD had given HIM. What was the reaction of those following along with JESUS?

⁵³ They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead. 

If we had been moving along with the crowd, what would we have been thinking? Once we see and witness the truth, what do we do with it?

Did those following along see JESUS as a teacher or as the true Son of GOD? Does this event change our witness regarding JESUS?

The Apostle Paul expressed it very well in Philippians 4:13: I am able to do all things through him^[a] who strengthens me.

Such a confident statement demands an intimate walk with JESUS and experience truth. The Apostle Paul experienced JESUS on the road to Damascus and later in the desert. That type of experience is available to all who ask JESUS to forgive him or her for their sins and for JESUS to come into his/her heart and be born-again Spiritually. Let us continue.

So, who were in the room with JESUS? Of course, the dead daughter, JESUS and Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. JESUS was teaching an important lesson regarding physical death.

Let us read Luke 8:54-56:

⁵⁴ So he^[if] took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he gave orders that she be given something to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

We are astonished when GOD performs a miracle and guess what? It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed! Do you know how small a mustard seed is?

Dear FATHER, while we remain upon earth, may all who know, YOU through faith in JESUS, know that our faith only must be the size of a mustard seed. Teach us to use that faith according to YOUR guidance. May we be in lockstep with you, so that YOUR will and purpose is done. Oh, FATHER and JESUS, we love YOU – Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven. Thank YOU for YOUR eternal redemptive plan! Help each of us, who know the truth, not be timid or bashful to share it. Please give each of us the boldness, as YOU prompt us to share the Good News of eternal salvation through faith in JESUS. Amen!

Faith in JESUS eternally connects a person to GOD. JESUS removed the barrier of sin and through faith in JESUS, the passage to GOD is open. As Children of GOD and as recorded in Galatians 4:6: ⁶ Because you are his sons/daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[a] Father.” Abba is equivalent to “Daddy.”

Our study today reveals to us that GOD does not discriminate because of gender. JESUS knew before HE went to the home of Jarius that it was Jarius’ daughter who was terribly ill.

Blessings!!!