LIVING WATERS from Lightbearers

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Prov 4:18 NKJV

We are covering all the resurrections in the New Testament to seek to learn how we can perform that most sublime of healing ministry. This week we want to cover how Jesus raised two young ladies while also ministering to two women with very similar but very common medical needs.

What has helped me with this study is the work of Dr. E.W. Bullinger and his COMPANION BIBLE. Back in Bible college the CB was the cat’s meow among us Bible heads and Jesus freaks (yes, I was a fanatic Jesus Freak before I was ever labeled a Deplorable). Written over a hundred years ago, I can’t imagine the hours of work – the typing alone is unreal – and the divinely inspired genius that went into the final product that has blessed the world. Dr. Bullinger, you Sir, were – the ultimate compliment – a true Jesus Freak!

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

‘Always be ready’ – Before I was ever a JF I was a Boy Scout – the Boy Scouts of America was a great organization that developed young men before they sold out to the homosexuals. The Scout motto was BE PREPARED – a great foundational life lesson for everyone but especially all those who would seek to walk with the Lord. You learn in walking with God, as Derek Prince recently pointed out in his devotionals, that He makes no bargains, that you and I must pay full price to receive His anointing, to receive His blessings. This requires discipline and commitment – the kind that prepares us to serve. I’ve developed a routine that includes praise, time in the Word and prayer, on a six day a week basis so that I’m ready to receive the anointing and serve effectively at 7am or even earlier. There is no greater privilege than to serve the living God and I’m ready because I’m prepared!

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35 NKJV

Jesus was prepared. I am well within the parameters of orthodox Christian thought when I say that Jesus as a man had to do everything you and I have to do to walk effectively with the Father and Holy Spirit. His fundamental difference was His pure, undefiled nature. But we also receive that pure nature at our new birth – Christ in you, the hope of glory. He always paid the price to be prepared. That is love! The question is, will we?

We will look first at Jairus’ daughter…

And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

Note first of all that the little girl was not dead yet. We’ll see in the other record that when the other ruler approaches Jesus his daughter is already dead. Jesus had just crossed the Sea of Galilee after ministering a great deliverance to the demonized Gadarene. Miracles tend to come in bunches because, number one, our faith as ministers gets lite up and, number two, the faith of others around us goes sky high. Realize too that Jesus never seeks people out to minister to them – I’ve made that mistake – but He preaches the Word and lets people come to Him.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Here the woman apparently speaks this to her friends. In the other record we will see that the woman spoke it to herself. We’ve found that its very common for people in a similar local or situation to have very similar medical and spiritual complaints. Just because this woman is similar to the woman in the other record does not mean they were identical.

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

The secret in all healing is to connect with God. Think about that for a minute! All we are trying to do as ministers is to help people connect with God. Why lay on hands? Connection, and through that connection comes impartation. When she reached out to JEHOVAH RAPHA – The Lord Our Healer – and made that connection, she was healed. When they touch JEHOVAH RAPHA through us, and He touches them, they get healed, too.

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 

Jesus is right on top of the situation. When you’re the minister, you may seem almost rude in that you don’t allow situations to get out of hand. Jesus spoke up immediately, He gave orders, He took charge. You be the man or woman of God as well! This is essential. Everyone has to know – demons, people, everybody – who is in charge. If you ever confront a crowd, discern who is their leader and confront them in love and authority, and deal with them alone. You can win the whole crowd if you win the leader. You can ‘calm the waters’ later if need be!

And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

Remember last weeks article? Could this be another example of the spirit of death? He said she is not dead.

And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

We’ve learned in ministering to rebuke the spirit of death when we discern it. Jesus knew to take her hand and command her to arise. You can rebuke spirits silently, in your mind, just as well as out loud. You don’t premeditate these things, you just know in the moment to do them.

Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it and said that something should be given her to eat. Mark 5:22-6:1 NKJV

Food would spike her blood sugar to give her energy and boost her recovery. Jesus never missed a detail. Now we will look at the second daughter briefly and the other woman healed of an issue of blood!

While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

Remember Jairus’ daughter? She hadn’t died yet! This is a different young lady. Prior to this incident, Jesus had been eating dinner with His friends. When he healed Jairus’ daughter, He had just gotten off the boat from Gadara. Two different daughters!

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

This is a different woman with a different but similar to the first woman, issue of blood. The other woman spoke to her friends, out loud. This woman spoke within herself.

But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land. Matt 9:18-26 NKJV

It’s interesting that Jesus says essentially the same thing of both daughters. If you take Him literally, as I have, then these are incidents with the spirit of death. My friend told me one time that a woman laid her dead daughter on the pulpit in front of the congregation while he was preaching. He figured, “She’s going to just as dead when I’m done preaching as she is right now, so I’ll keep preaching!” He got done preaching, went over and rebuked the spirit of death, and the young girl came to life (he probably didn’t need to do an altar call after that!). By the way, this is the same guy who commanded his church of a 1000+ to speak in tongues an hour a day for a year, after he heard someone preach on that concept…

In God we boast all day long and praise Your name forever. Ps 44:8 NKJV

Praise the Lord! Two different daughters but very similar circumstances, and in each, Jesus ministered very similarly. The beauty of the walk in Christ is its utter simplicity. You prepare each day to love God and love people, and you stay in that place of love and authority throughout the day because then you are prepared to handle anything. Ever ready, no excuses! Dear one, you can do everything Jesus did, including raising the dead. Go get ‘em! Love you!

Remember dear one, we must be about our Father’s business…