FED UP!!- The woman with the issue of blood...
Matthew 9: 20-22 20-And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22But 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.
The woman with the issue of blood was diseased for twelve years. Can you imagine hemorrhaging for twelve years? Can you imagine how fed up she must have been? She must have been so drained physically mentally and emotionally. Her frame was have been so small and frail. She was obviously ostracized and alone. How do I know that? Let’s look how they treated people with an issue of blood in bible days.
Leviticus 15:26 25And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
Women who had a typical issue of blood (menstrual cycle) were ostracized from the rest of the community until the typical cycle was over. However if the cycle lasted longer than the typical seven days she was to remain ostracized until the cycle ran its course. The woman in Matthew suffered with an issue of blood twelve years! That is way more than a menstrual cycle! Clearly she was very ill and suffering with this disease for a long time. Not only was she suffering for a long time, she was suffering alone. She was in the time of separation for twelve years.
According to Leviticus 15:26 This is how people who were in a state of separation from the community was treated:
26Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
Can you imagine being so alienated that no one will even sit in your chair? Well she dealt that for twelve years. She certainly had a reason to be fed up. Is there anything in your life that has made you fed up- an illness, a relationship, poverty the bondage of a particular sin; anything like that?
As youth leaders are you fed up with the direction the lives of your young people are going? Do you see the path of destruction their lives could take if they don’t turn around now? Do you feel tired and frustrated because the more young people need us the fewer people come out and help? Our young people are surrounded with sin at every turn and it seems like the church doesn’t care? When we embark on the few precious hours we have to make a spiritual impression on their lives our teams are so unenthused? Sometimes we are so unenthused?
Well its time to get fed up!
1 Peter 5:8 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Let’s Stand Tall and Fight Hard!!
