Our victory on this side of eternity is directly tied to the constant flow of the life of Christ we embrace
It is a prevailing thing within the heart of the human species to outsource life from many unreliable fountains to satisfy his insatiable appetites. We want to be at the driving seat. We want to be mini gods in control. We want to win on our terms, free from the reign of a caring creator. Unfortunately for us, our paths are always littered with disappointment, dissatisfaction, disinterest and death.
A woman comes to the dead-end of this unpromising road and heard a whisper from within… She responded… She was made whole. All would be made whole if we embrace the inward whispers and follow His voice through the many attractions and distractions
“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came… (Matthew 9:20)
“Behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years” That is not a good introduction and good news if you pause right there. When I consider this woman with the issue of blood, whose account stands so tall in the pages of the sacred book; the Bible, I see a portrait of the total depravity of the human soul, without Christ, hanging side by side.
Scripture record that “She came behind Jesus and touch on His garment, receiving wholeness” That gives me confidence that there is hope for humanity at the feet of Christ, regardless of the noise that try to silent the divine whispers. This unknown woman introduced by her ailment stands tall among all who touched the realm of Gods glory and were transformed into something special.
Just an ordinary woman, a face in a crowd, whose intention was nothing but to encounter the power of Jesus for wholeness. Not many knew her pain but the all-knowing God knew her name, her pain, her desires and met her at the crossroad of her ordeal. God in His great love, throughout history, has met men who were at the end of their ropes and infused a new life into them using them for His glory.
“for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” Matthew 9:21 KJV
A christless life; a chasing after shadows. Her life was governed by afflictions, rejection, fear, uncertainty and lostness in every part of her being. To top it all, she was slipping slowly to an untimely death, enveloped in deep-emotional battles and the debilitating disease of haemorrhage turning her into an outcast
Since all things consist in Christ and all things are created by Him and for Him, it makes no sense for one to operate outside of Him. It makes no sense to depend on the arm of the flesh but somehow we have been hoodwinked by human systems, that we were not born to solely trust in the Lord. Yes, our conditioning by the natural systems of the world like education, culture, entertainment, media, religion etc. has rendered most of us numb to the quality of life of God that finds expression in Christ. We depend on self and some hold on to self even in their death bed, refusing the beckoning of God to surrender
A DREARY PATH
This kind of self-willed conditioning has awakened our ego, turning us into a prideful society of “yes I can” but inwardly we are failing because we are limited beings. Many in our world today, from the top of the crust of society to the bottom of the ordinary dust are finding life meaningless, wrapped in total dissatisfaction. We are trapped in a web of pride losing our head, for the things our muscles and intelligence can’t fathom. Without a touch of humility our flesh will not relinquish his throne for the King of Kings to domicile in our hearts as the new landlord. Being vulnerable is the first step to access wholeness in the economy of Christ, and many are they who want the richness His life but are not willing to surrender their life to take on His life.
Every day we are slipping slowly to the edge of our destruction. The soul has lost its path and nothing satisfies anymore yet we sing “I am a survivor, I can make it through the storms”. Our ego urge us on yet there is panic within your spine and the weight is too heavy to bear. How long can we travel on this path? Jesus pleasantly invites us to come to His rest. He invites those of us who are torn apart by the world still holding on to our pride, our strength, our principles and our religion. He says;
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
This woman was not willing to go on that dreary path self until it’s too late. She realized the season of the visitation of God and capitalise on it. So she said in her heart; “if I go and touch on His garment I may be whole” She saw what many in her generation did not see. He saw a light shining brighter from heaven. She saw a fountain of life. It is only in the light of God we can experience the radiance of wholeness.
“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:5-6, 11 KJV
Wholeness is available in this present evil generation. Christ is that wholeness of God for humanity not the deceptive policies and promises of politicians and government. He stands tall and high, above anything we subscribe to. He is our goodly heritage, our portion, our pleasant places, our path of life, our fullness and pleasures forevermore. She was willing to be drowned in the economy of the Christ, Who was foretold by the prophets as a great light for those who dwell in the land of intense darkness and shadow of death
Isaiah 9:2 AMPC “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined. [Isa. 42:6; Matt. 4:15, 16.]”
“The kingdom of heaven is near you. The economy of God which is illustrated in me is here. Repent, shift from your old ways and enter into love covenant with the life, and you will be made whole by the life. You will find your truest essence and God as your sole affection.” These are the passions of Christ Jesus to that generation, and it still echoes through the corridors of this age as He preaches the kingdom of God to men who were wandered like lost sheep
“The people who sat (dwelt enveloped) in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the land and shadow of death Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Matthew 4:16-17 AMPC
A FAITH PATH
Faith is the direct work of the spirit of Christ in our hearts to respond to the dictates of the eternal realm. Our realm is governed by the phenomena of seeing, feelings, touch, smell, and taste. Therefore, we are limited to contact a higher life of God which cannot be touched by feelings, only by faith. We respond to what God has promised or demand in Christ through the Holy Spirit in our regenerated spirit
All the “fullness” of God, eternity and life dwell in Him. So if I need forgiveness, love or true acceptance, they are all hidden in Christ Jesus for us to reckon or acknowledge by faith. “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” Colossians 1:19 KJV
“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” Matthew 9:20-21 KJV
“The woman said within herself, if I may touch his garment, I shall be whole” Faith, which is of God was beckoning on her from within and she practically affirm it with her mouth. I would say that she was building inner capacity that defied the logic she’s held against herself based on her condition. She saw possibility from within, which was hooked to Christ, the fulness of God, the Emmanuel. Her statement of intent; “I shall be whole” She did not say; “i will fight this battle until I don’t have any energy left in me”. That would sound awesome in the ears of people but we were not made to save ourselves. She said; “If I touch his garment.” She was at this moment awakened to the consciousness of the fullness of God which is embodied in Christ, to the extent that she believed without an iota of doubt, that life can be outsourced from His garment. Her faith was not in the garment but the one who wears the garment; Christ Jesus.
To be made whole has several connotations from its Greek meaning. The word in Greek, sṓzō, sode’-zo; from a primary sōs (contraction for obsolete sáos, “safe”); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):—heal, preserve, save, do well, be (make) whole, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, one (from injury or peril), to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue, to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
A DESTINATION OF WHOLENESS
From the above explanation of wholeness, we can deduce that this woman was searching for more than the healing of her body. She needed preservation, safety and soundness at the core and deliverance from the bondage of sin so she could be at one with God in wholeness. Jesus is all of the above and more, to whoever will call upon His name in faith. Her faith was rewarded with life. The chains of sickness and defeat were broken. Death lost its sting in her flesh, and heaven welcomed her to fully participate in the divine life. How did you know that? It is hidden in Jesus words after the woman had touched his garment —
“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” Matthew 9:22 KJV
The heart cry of your Father in heaven is the redemption of your soul from the corruption and dictates of this evil world. His desire is for our total salvation from the unprofitable labours of sin. Our place in this redemptive enterprise of God is to humbly yield to the invitation of God and come into His wholeness. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 KJV
Master I come. Forgive me of my sins. I come to you dear lord. Stay in my heart, rule and reign until I am shaped into your stature.
I come to you my Saviour, deliver me from myself and create in me the willingness to yield completely everyday of my life to do of your good pleasure.
I pray save me from the chaos of life, every addiction and sickness. Save me from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head and preserve my life as I depend on your Holy Spirit to teach and guide me in the knowledge of your will. In Jesus name. Amen
JesusNōw 