Wear your Helmet of Salvation!

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:17-18.

The next piece of our Christian armor discussed in the book of Ephesians is the helmet of salvation. As we all know, a helmet covers our head, its purpose being to protect our brain from harm. In the spiritual realm, it isn't necessarily our physical grey matter that needs protecting, but more our mind and thought life. 

Many of us have experienced our minds being the battleground on which Satan wages his war against us, as Paul so aptly describes in chapters 7 and 8 of Romans. To combat this problem, we believers are instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to "cast down every imagination and every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 

Wow! How many of us are truly aware that we have the power and authority in the name of Jesus to just lasso our thoughts and cast them down like a rodeo rider hog-tying a dogie? Not many, I would guess, and yet that appears to be exactly what the Bible says! 

I have to be reminded of this constantly, since I am one of those "deep thinkers" who can find myself slipping down into a pit of gloom. I believe I've been wired this way for creative purposes, but Satan often uses this gift of deep thinking against me. As a result, I have had to discipline myself over the years to stop and focus on who I am IN Christ before allowing my negative thought life to take over. Again, I will confess this is easier said than done - and perhaps I've been stubborn and heard-headed in this area - but negative thoughts can be destructive and deadly. So many people struggle with this problem in the natural and get hooked on medications to control depression. But the answer to this dilemma is found in the Word of God. By putting on this helmet of salvation every day, we can be spared the pain and heartache that comes from dark and demonic thoughts.

How is this done? One way is to read, meditate on, and confess out loud the Word of God. As we do so, we are reminding ourselves of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He took all of our sins and the curse associated with sin, He vanquished death and brought us to a shalom peace reconciliation with our heavenly Father. These are wonderful, marvelous, lofty truths to meditate on and allow to seep into our consciousness. It takes as much discipline as a soldier literally placing a protective helmet over his or her head. It's something we must decide to do every day AND DO IT on purpose until out thoughts align with the reality relayed in the Word.

But there's more! Next time, we will discuss how prayer, both in our understanding and in the spirit, works together with this helmet of salvation to keep us safe and protected! Until then, mediate on the Word describing your gift of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ and confess it out loud! You'll be amazed at the results!

Brandish Your Watery Shield!

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16

The shield of faith is a very important piece of our Christian armor. One only has to turn on the television and peruse social media and the Internet to witness that the enemy is alive and well afflicting Christians, Jews, and innocent people all over the world with his fiery arsenal. We see horrific, graphic videos and images of innocent journalists being beheaded by ISIS, young men crucified for their beliefs, tales of cruel stonings and limb amputations as retribution for adultery and thievery, stories of young girls at the tender age of nine years old abducted from their homes and forced into sex slavery and forced marriages. The list goes on and on. But for the grace of God, these events could be unfolding in our own communities here in the US.

A cursory bible study of the end times reveals that this evil will only worsen before Christ's return, but thankfully we learn that something else wonderful will be going on at the same time. Men, women, and children all over the world will awaken from their spiritual slumber and become alive to the Living God!  They will see His goodness despite the horrors of the world, and they will walk in His glory, performing great exploits that magnify his Name! Many will become born again and filled with His Holy Spirit.

For those who have been believing in the Lord's return, faith will be strengthened as we go through these fiery trials of life, knowing that the trials are refining our faith like pure gold. As we stand firm in this faith, believing the precious promises of God, patience is busy at work, bringing us to a spiritual maturity so that we lack nothing. (James 1:4). Many of us don't fully understand what all this entails, but we believe that somehow it is all working out for our good! (Romans 8:28)

The fiery arrows will come from the enemy, of that we are assured, but what a greater assurance it is to know that we have divine protection from his attacks! Paul tells us in Ephesians that this shield of faith is so powerful that it immediately quenches the fire from the enemy's arrows. I call that a watery barrier which can be none other than the Word of God imparted to our mind and spirits by the Holy Spirit Himself! We have no idea of the wonder and power given to us in the name of Jesus.

So when satan's darts fly your way, thrust your faith shield forward, knowing that the fire of their sting will be instantly extinguished. Quote the scriptures that the Heavenly Father lays on your heart and visualize them working on your behalf in the spiritual realm. 

I often picture myself as a warrior woman, fighting a victorious battle of ease in the heavenlies. I allow the Holy Spirit to bring to my memory other biblical patriarchs who endured the same fiery trials. Men like Abraham, Joseph, Esther, Ruth, and of course the Lord Jesus Himself. I remember how they overcame great obstacles and were victorious through God's strength. They are that great cloud of witnesses spoken of in Hebrews 12 who have gone before us, holding fast to the promises of God. Unlike them, we in this day and hour have seen and experienced the fulfilling of a vast majority of these promises through the risen Christ. But like these patriarchs we await their entire fulfillment. And as we wait, we continue to fight the good fight of faith. 

Stay on the defensive and brandish your shield of faith, knowing that victory is yours in the mighty name of Jesus!

Check Your Shoes!

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15

After putting on the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, the Apostle Paul encourages us to ensure that our feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. What exactly does this mean? 

Well, it means we need to make sure we have on the right spiritual shoes!  Shoes are very important because they enable us to stand firmly without toppling over or losing our balance when the strong winds of evil blow our way. In addition, good, protective shoes enable us to move over rough, rocky ground and reach our destination without discomfort or hindrance. 

The Gospel of grace declares that God has now reconciled Himself to man through Christ's death and resurrection. We, who were once God's enemies because of sin, have now become His children and experience shalom peace with our Heavenly Father. (See the book of Romans). In the Hebrew, shalom peace means nothing is missing or broken in our relationship with Him - we have completion in Christ. Now, isn't that good news?

But again, how many of us hear this in our churches? We hear about all the wrong we've done, and how we've grieved God, but that isn't the Gospel preached by the apostles of old! No, the true Gospel is that, through Christ, you have been reconciled to God - you have peace with Him and He is not angry or displeased with you. He loves you! 

The enemy wants to knock you off this revelation and make you feel condemned and ashamed, but fight the good fight of faith and stand firm, knowing you have shalom peace with your Heavenly Father! And likewise, as you are directed by Him to move forward and complete the Gospel tasks prepared for you, remember that this shalom peace is the foundation upon which you live and move  and have your being! Acts 17:28.

You are Righteous In Him!

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13.

Last night, I stumbled across some very disturbing pictures on my Facebook timeline of an ISIS decapitation. Gruesome and surreal because of the horrific nature in which people are being systematically killed on the other side of the world due to their beliefs. And in our day and time. Today, 2014, people are being butchered because of faith. 

I draw a deep breath, because I know it is real, and it is prophesied in God's Word. Even the Apostle Paul was beheaded, and all the other apostles except for John were gruesomely martyred for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus warns us in Matthew and in Revelation that there is coming in the last days a great persecution of Christians. I have to ask - are North American, denominational church-goers ready for what is to come?

Many do not believe their faith will ever be tested in such a way, and I hope they are correct. But what if they are wrong? Do denominational believers understand they are in a spiritual battle with real demonic principalities that cannot be seen with the natural eye? Do they know how to fight and remain standing when the evil day comes?

Paul tells us in Ephesians that our first mode of defensive armor is the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. So many Christians in America do not know the truth that they are righteous. They have been told they are sinners saved by grace and that's it! Powerless sinners who are like lowly worms and have no hope in being righteous before a holy God! That is a doctrine of demons!

The truth is, if you are born again in Christ, then you are a NEW CREATION and are NO LONGER a sinner! Yes, you were once a sinner, but you were saved by God's grace! And yes, you may still sin, but your spiritual condition is not based on your conduct - it is based on your birth. 

Consider: When you came out of your mothers womb, you were born into sin because of Adam's sin - not because of your actions but because of Adam's actions in the garden (the first Adam). Likewise, at the moment of salvation, you were considered to have been born again in Christ as a new creation - not because of your actions but because of Jesus' actions on the cross (the last Adam). God considered you to have died with Jesus and to have been raised with Him into a righteous child of God. There is no sinner-saved-by-grace condition. You are either a sinner or a new creation in Christ Jesus!

Do you hear this message in your church? This is the Gospel which Paul preached, and it is the ONLY Gospel. Galatians1:8-9.

If you have believed and confessed in Jesus as your savior from sin and death, then this is the Truth of what He did for you 2000 years ago! Through His obedience on the cross, you are righteous and can never be anything other than righteous before Father God. Protect this truth! 

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm! Keep your loins properly girded about with this Truth wrapped tightly around your waist like a belt AND keep that breastplate of righteousness over your heart. 

Stay tuned for more...

Phyllis Ford Ministries

Several years ago, a friend introduced me to this wonderful woman's prophetic ministry. Her Word from the Lord for the month of September 2014, is very powerful, and I wanted to share it with you all. Her website is www.phyllisfordministries.com and the Word for September 2014 can be found at http://www.phyllisfordministries.com/#!word-of-the-lord-september-2014/c1bli. 

Here it is: 

“I am gathering the people who are ready to move forward. Those who have walked along the plain path and have not denied my name. So that they may receive their next set of instructions. For that which is going to be completed in this month will thrust them into a greater place of accomplishing my will. Many will have different assignments but once they are gathered together it will weave a pattern of timed release revelation. It will help them understand how the work of the Kingdom will be fulfilled and what needs to be improved upon now. There are so many complex issues that are coming to the surface. This is because of the significance of the hour and what must be done. In times past I spoke through my prophets and even warned you concerning the times that are occurring. And now the seriousness of the hour has come upon my people.”

“If you walk things out according to what I say and not what you see you will be able to rise above the fray. Operating, executing, and obeying me in alignment with my truth will cause you to overcome, accomplish and even assist others into the next phase of their lives. It’s important to learn to operate according to my instructions as they are spoken to you. Listen and prepare your ears to hear what I am saying to you. For you must walk it out without question. You are living in a time when obedience is the order of the day when it comes to making great strides.”

“Your discipline must bring you into a place where you are consciously aware of what is spiritually going on around you. You need to be able to move in the moment, without emotional reactions that keep you from doing what needs to be done right away. The old adage of, "putting off what you can do today tomorrow”, could cause serious consequences. The intent of my words is not to set fear in you. Many of my people by my grace have survived some serious situations. There has been times that I have been clear with them and they refused to hear. Some will delay in their hearing and in the future it could cost them dearly.”

“Disobedience is rebellion pure and simple. Truth is truth and there are no gray areas. You are living in a time when understanding the seriousness of truth is of prime importance. This is a time of accountability. To be a disciple comes with a serious responsibility and the understanding of commitment to the kingdom. It's about duty, honor, and integrity and about those who have a heart and spirit of humility.”

 Philippians 2:5-8 (ASV) “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.”

“This is no longer a time to allow rebellion to rule your heart. Don’t allow complacency to trouble your mind and cause you to halt between two opinions. This is not an hour to be double-minded, but to allow my word and my truth to settle in your heart and calm your spirit from fighting inward struggles. You must find peace and comfort in my word allowing it to make the necessary changes and transformation in you.”

“This hour calls for your diligence concerning the things of my Spirit. If you cry out for it I will release a mighty impartation upon you that will transform your thinking and change your reactions towards others. Pray and cry out! For I will hear you and answer you cry. I am looking to raise up many who are willing to make great transformations in this hour. They are yours for the asking and they are nigh at your door. Only believe my beloved. The transformation is not difficult for those who desire change for the anointing to change into another man is NOW.”

“You refuse to live your life based on kingdom principles and then you question the reality that you have created. You can no longer live your life the way you want and then wonder, “Why things have gone wrong?” Remember you are my beloved and there are times when one's attitude, one’s refusal to hear and obey, and even one’s slothfulness can keep you from seeing your way out. Yes, there will be times of my testing and times of my refining. These times will lead you to places in me that will give you understanding as to where you are headed.  You can no longer halt between two opinions. You must choose and you must decide in this hour what course your life will take.”

1 Kings 18:21 “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

“Those who are willing and obedient will be the first to enter into promotion, redeem rewards, and receive the portion I have ordained for them in this season. Even revelation needed for this hour will be for those that consistently walk upright holding on in faith in the midst of adversity. This is a time to believe and lay aside your opinions if they are not formed according to my word.”

“There are things before you that will appear one way but carry a shadow. The shadow is only a small glimpse of what’s really there, but there is a precise moment in which the light reveals the very nature of what has been prepared for you. These suddenlies will make sense to you and you will see that which was before you all along was set as a provision for your future. “

“Revelation will be walked out, and that which you have been praying for will appear before you clearly because you have entered into the fullness of time. Look with the eyes of faith and ask me to interpret what you are looking at because some things will be shadowed by your inability to fully understand it. It will be protected by my glory and released at the time appointed. You will understand and it will become clear to you as you come into the season of its fullness.”
 

I asked the Lord to give me a clear understanding of what was being said.

This was the answer:

1. It will become like the ram in the bush that is revealed at the time of its need, once Abraham's test was complete. (Genesis22:13)

2. It will become like the food for the multitude of the five thousand when it first perceived to be the lunch of a young lad. (Matthew 14:17-21)

3. It will become like the needed substance to cover the widow’s debt but it was originally a cruse of oil and borrowed pots. (2 Kings 4:1-38)

(I believe that I just scraped the surface and there is so much that needs to be prayed for the fullness of this to be truly understood.)

 

“Never forget that things may appear one way, but once my hands touch these matters they are changed to become the answer for the circumstances that stand before you. Never look at anything again as being the finality of the matter, because it is through my hands all things can shift, change, conform, and transform to become what is the answer for the situation. Let this principle become real in your heart and endless possibilities will be revealed to you.”

“You are entering into the fullness of time as Rosh Hashanah unveils this moment.  In this approaching hour it will change the course of many lives forever. Many things will unfold for Israel, and many things will unfold for my people because all has come into the time of my complete plan. It has been covered but now it is at the time of its revealing. It will earmark great change across the land. It will sweep nations, it will judge the systems of men, and it will change those things that are in its path with purpose, reform, and new life. It will also bring understanding making that which opposes the work of the kingdom clear.”

“There will be a clear distinction as to what the loyalties of the world are and the loyalties of those who will work within the Kingdom. This is a time to be sober-minded but know there will be a shout, a time of rejoicing, and a time of my glory upon my people like never before. September marks the arrival to the destination of my power being revealed upon the land. Know that I will have a people prepared ready to walk out my plan according to my timings.”

“Many have prayed and asked when would these times come? Look now beloved, for you are standing in a key moment of time. You have now entered into this month of September and October all the way through the High Holy Days (From Rosh Hashanah unto the Feast of Tabernacles). Know this is not just be another set of feast but this one will be like none other. It is the time of times and within it carries the Fullness of the Destiny of my people.”

“So look up, be attentive to my words, listen to sounds in the heavens, and stay before my presence. You are standing in front of a door in time and behind this door is OPEN REVELATION to many truths that will be released for all times. A door of destiny and destination, which leads to my path of righteousness, to the salvation of souls, and to the redeeming of a people to show them the way of the light.”

“Many will awake because of the shaking that will take place. They will not just come to the light but they will become the LIGHT out of a dark place. The will become walking REVELATIONS of my words. I will move through your situations blotting out the iniquities of those who want to change and become my people.”

“You will see circumstances change overnight. Even for those who say there is nothing that can happen to help us. Some of the greatest strongholds of evil will be uncovered, because they will manifest in the face of my glory. Know that once it is uncovered a strategy to dismantle it will be revealed. Prayer will always be an important key to overcome the enemies work as my word will continue to unlock mysteries and truths that will carry with it the power to destroy and dismantle those works. For you will be the mighty weapons in my hands.”

“Set a watch over events occurring at the beginning of this month and pray. During the first five days of Rosh Hashanah (beginning September 24th-29th) Watch, Pray, Listen, & Hear my voice of instruction. For will I speak to you words of strength and light.  They will be words of great power spoken at the gate.”

 

Other Related Scriptures:

Jeremiah 6:17 “I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.”

Haggai 2:4 “But now be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD.  'Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.”

Ezekiel 46:3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths and in the New Moons.” [See also Ezek 45:17]

1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from Elohim.”

Acts 3:19-21 “Repent, then, and turn to Elohim, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you even Yahusha.  He must remain in heaven until the time comes for Elohim to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

Then Elohim said: "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons (Hebrew, Ulemoadim), and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth; and it was so” (Genesis 1:14, 15, NAS).

Elohim had planned into the creation of the world the use of the stars and planets to mark times and seasons.  The movement of the sun, moon and stars were provided for this very reason.  The Creator placed them in the sky as time markers.  His appointed times were part of his plan for man even before man himself was created. Elohim placed the lights in the sky on the fourth day of creation to mark (among other things) his appointed times! 

Thank you Phyllis Ford for sharing this with the body of Christ!

No Condemnation for the Woman at the Well!

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 4:5-10.

Jesus loved sinners and had no problem letting them know that He loved them. Take the Samaritan woman at the well, for example. In Jesus’s day, under the Mosaic Law, it would be wrong for a holy, righteous rabbi to have anything to do with a Samaritan. Why? Because Samaritans were outside the Mosaic Covenant and were considered “unclean.”

I had a brief experience with this while living in an Orthodox Jewish area in the UK. My husband and I purchased a double stroller (pushchair) from a Hassidic Jewish man, and he refused to look at me or talk to me – he would only deal with my husband. I thought this strange and was a little baffled by his behavior, since I was the one who would be pushing the stroller most of the time! It was only later that I discovered his position that I was an unclean Gentile woman who could defile him with my sin. My friends and I also experienced these strict Jewish men crossing the street to avoid contact with us. I have to admit at the time I thought it a little silly, but now after studying the Word, I understand what was going on. I’m sure these men meant me no harm and would never intentionally desire to hurt me, but that’s what strict adherence to the law does - its hardness bruises and wounds people and makes them feel unloved.

This Samaritan woman was no stranger to the hardness of the law. She knew Jewish men couldn’t have contact with her, and yet Jesus, a Jewish man, asked for a drink of water. This must have astonished her, especially with Him being a rabbi and willing to break the Law (gasp) by taking a drink of water from her hand. That’s why she responded with dismay, quoting the law back to Him. It was not proper or lawful for Jews to have anything to do with Samaritans.

But Jesus is above the law, since He operates in mercy, compassion, and grace. By simply asking for a cup of water, He did something no other Jewish man would do - He recognized her as a person worthy to serve Him. He desired something from her and did not consider her unworthy to fulfill His request. Isn’t that a wonderful act of love?

After she gave Him the drink, He asked about her husband and she answered truthfully that she had no husband. I love how Jesus praised her for being honest. But then He dug further and revealed a word of knowledge regarding her marital history. The full truth was she had had five husbands and the man she was currently living with was NOT her husband. Ouch! And yet a deeper astonishment at this man; He, being a Jew, KNEW she was a Samaritan and KNEW she was a terrible sinner, and STILL He asked for a drink from her hand! And then on top of that, He gave her something very important: spiritual revelation that He was the Messiah who came to pour out living water!

Jesus was like no other Jewish man of whom she had ever seen or heard. He was a man of mercy, love, and compassion and did not condemn her for her sins. She was so excited that she became the first evangelist and went throughout her entire village telling everyone about this unusual and wonderful man. She wanted more than anything for others to come and meet the one who told her everything about her life and examine for themselves whether He was the promised Messiah. 

Based on her joyful response, I can only assume Jesus discussed more intimate things about her past and ministered emotional healing, but the Holy Spirit has not recorded these details for us in the Word. But we get the picture – this woman felt loved, not condemned. She felt forgiven, not damned to Hell. She had come face to face with Love, Truth and Grace! She had come face to face with Jesus, with the Heavenly Father!

Have you HEARD of Jesus?

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:25-30.

I love this story of the woman who suffered a female bleeding disorder for twelve years but had the audacity to believe her condition would not disqualify her from being healed. In biblical times, under the Mosaic Law, this woman could have been stoned for pressing into a crowd of supposed righteous people and infecting them with her spiritual and physical uncleanness. And then to make matters worse, she had the nerve to touch a holy rabbi! In their minds, she suffered because of some undisclosed, secret sin or generational curse. Doctors would never be able to heal her, and no amount of money could buy her out of her situation – she was doomed to suffer until she atoned for her obvious sin. What self-righteous Jewish man would ever marry her? She certainly would never be able to bear children. She was a rejected outcast who many feared because her “uncleanness” might be catching. What a horrible fate!

Like the Jews of her day, many of us Christians sitting in denominational churches have been told time and again by many well-meaning pastors and bible study teachers that we, like this woman, must first become “clean” before we can approach a holy God. They say we must confess our myriad sins first and “get right” with God before we could ever approach His holy presence to ask for healing. Just recently, my husband accompanied me to a local healing service, but when he came forward for prayer, he was told he could not be healed because he had unforgiven sin, unconfessed sin, and unforgiveness toward others! If these prayors had lived in this woman’s day, I’m sure they would have strong-armed her to the ground and given her a good lecture on sin before she had a chance to defile the righteous Jesus. When are we Christians going to wake up and reject this kind of teaching?

Answer: like this woman, it will be when we hear about Jesus! But don’t we hear about Jesus every week at church? I don’t know – do you? What do you think this poor woman heard about Jesus? Did she hear that He made everyone confess their sins and go through a long forgiveness list before receiving healing? Did she believe she had to be perfect before approaching Him? She was certainly imperfect for breaking the law by even being in public, much less touching the hem of a holy rabbi’s garment. No, she must have heard about a different Jesus, a Jesus who had mercy and compassion and went about healing all those afflicted by the devil, because God was with Him. (Acts 10:38).

She KNEW He would heal her because of all the good things she had heard about Him – healing the leprous man, the man born blind, casting out a legion of devils out of the mad man who lived in the catacombs of Gadara. In fact, she had so much faith in Jesus’s power to heal that she merely said to herself, “If I can just touch His clothes, I shall be well.” She risked the public scrutiny of her fellow Jews, the chance that she might be kicked and spit upon, that she might be chastised and forever expelled from the synagogue, that they might pick up stones and kill her for making a public profession that what Jesus presented was TRUTH and what she had been taught for years was a lie. Her persistence in pressing through for healing was a public profession of faith that He could and would do what the law could not and never would be able to do.

Fortunately for us, her story has been preserved in the Word as a lesson for us. Jesus warned us not to be deceived in the last days. There will be many false teachings in our midst, telling us that our sins are our problem, when He took all our sins away 2000 years ago on the cross! If this sweet Jewish woman was instantly healed by her dogged faith that enabled her to take from Jesus, how much more should we who are born again IN HIM after the cross and the resurrection press in and likewise take our healing? Selah – think about it!