I. THE NEED - Amidst the thronging multitude were persons of various circumstances, character, and wants. Among them was this poor woman whom the Gospel writers describe as having an "issue of blood."

A. IT WAS GENUINE - She was bleeding.
B. IT WAS LONG TERM - She had been in this condition for twelve years.
C. IT WAS BEYOND HUMAN SKILL - She had gone to many physicians, had suffered much pain at their hands, but instead of being better, she was broke and worse than before. It would seem reasonable to believe that hope was gone and her end seemed near. This is the plight of many a sinful man-conscious of sin and its affects long endured, yet helpless and without hope for deliverance.

A. FAITH COMES BY HEARING - Faith isn't something we conjure up. It is a response to the Word of God.


Romans 10:17 (NRSV) So faith comes from what is heard...
Romans 10:13 (NRSV) For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"


Maybe she overheard a conversation or perhaps a friend told her, but she "heard about Jesus." Hers was the hearing of faith-she believed what she heard.
CONCERNING THOSE WHO DIED IN THE WILDERNESS Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in those who listened, i.e., because they did not believe what they heard!
B. FAITH DEMANDS ACTION OR ABORTION - We must either act in faith or silence what faith is saying. It's not enough to hear the word, we must also believe it and do it.


James 1:21 (NRSV) ...welcome [receive] with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.


She not only heard about Jesus, she believed what she heard-She said and kept on saying to herself, "If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed" (Mt. 9:21)-and acted upon it-when she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him (Mk. 5:27). I don't know how long she stayed in bed, but the word inside of her motivated her to fulfill her belief-If I only touch His cloak. What she believed demanded that she get out of her bed.

1. Her healing depended on her touching Jesus' cloak.
2. She couldn't touch His cloak from her bed.
3. No one else could touch His cloak for her.

C. FAITH OVERCOMES HINDERANCES


1. She acted in spite of her physical weakness.
2. She pressed past her hopelessness and despair.
3. She pressed through the tightly packed crowd that followed Jesus-she came up behind Jesus.
4. She overcame the Law (Lev. 15:19-27).
5. She touched His garment.
A PERSONAL WORD
Some of you are in a spiritual crisis. You have a word from God, but you've got to decide if you believe it enough to act on it.

FAITH vs. PRESUMPTION
There is a difference between faith and presumption.

• Faith is not an experiment, but presumption is.
• Faith encounters results, but presumption doesn't.
• Faith is an act of the spirit, but presumption is the flesh trying to imitate the spirit.
• Faith is based on God's word, but presumption is based on personal opinion and selfish will.

A. IT WAS IMMEDIATE - "Immediately her bleeding stopped." Literally, "the fountain of her blood was dried up" (5:29). The healing was complete-from source to symptoms.

B. IT WAS FELT

1. By the woman--"she felt in her body." She knew that she had entered into a new state of health.
2. By Jesus - "Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know [by experience] that power has gone out from me." (Lu. 8:46).

What a tragedy it would be to live and die without acting on the word that God has placed in us. The revival we seek may be only a faith touch away. God given faith is prompting you to give a word, sing a song, or pray for someone. Will we act on the indwelling word of faith? We can touch Him! We need to take the time to listen to what faith is saying on the inside of us?