Friday, February 20, 2009

Healing With Faith



In Luke chapter 18 we have what we would call a overview of the entire ministry of Jesus. In the beginning of this chapter is the story of the woman and the unjust judge. Someone had done something against her and she had gone to the judge, not unlike many people who are seeking justice today. But this woman soon found that she wasn't getting what she had came for. So she made a decision to pester the living daylights out of the judge until he gave her what she had asked for.

That is what we call "faith that never gives up." It's an attitude. It's a mentality. It's a way of thinking. It's a lifestyle!
With this type of mentality, attitude etc, when we see the word "faith" in the dictionary, our picture should be out beside it!
With this "never give up attitude" this woman wore the judge down until he gave her what she wanted just to get rid of her!

Another similar story about faith that never gives up is found in
Matthew chapter 15. A woman that had a daughter who was possessed by the devil came to Jesus. She wanted her daughter delivered! The disciples told her to go away because she was loud and persistant and wanted to see Jesus. The disciples said go away, Jesus won't see you.

But...because of her persistence, she made it past the disciples to the Master. Jesus said to her, "I wasn't sent to you, but to the lost sheep of the household of Israel." She wasn't a Jew, but a Gentile. Jesus went on to say, "It's not right to take healing and cast it to the dogs." Jesus was comparing this woman with a dog! Most folks would have given up right there and accepted the "religious lie" that God's will for you is to stay sick, bound, etc. If you or I said something like that to someone, we would never be allowed to minister again!

This woman didn't get mad. She understood exactly what Jesus was saying and responded, "But aren't the dogs at the master's table allowed to eat the crumbs that fall to the floor?" This woman knew Jesus was the master, and in her persistance to have her need met, she was actually worshiping Him from the depths of her heart. Jesus was working out of her old nature and getting her over into His faith nature. When Jesus heard her response He said, "O woman, great is your faith!"


Two times in the Bible Jesus refered about people with "great faith." Once to a Gentile woman and once to a Roman centurion. Neither of them was a Jew, or as we would say in our culture today, a member of the house of God! Their faith in what God could do was so great that Jesus could not do anything but respond to their faith and do what they asked of Him.

When the woman persisted, Jesus said "Woman, great is your faith." He healed her daughter. She had faith that never gives up.


If you and I want our prayers answered, we need to have this kind of spirit that this woman had when Jesus healed her daughter. We need to have the kind of spirit like the woman that went before the unjust judge and found justice for her wrong--a spirit that no matter what it takes, we are going to hold on and stand in faith, because the devil is not going to defeat us!

We need to have a faith that never gives up attitude. No matter what we see in the natural, we believe the miracle starts the moment faith is released. We may not see it until next week, next month or even next year, but until we do, we are going to hold on and never give up in Jesus' name!

30 comments:

John Edwards said...

Excellent post

From the Heart said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LisaShaw said...

"We need to have a faith that never gives up attitude."

That said it all! Good message!

From the Heart said...

A great post on faith. My faith has become stronger since my back surgery in 2007. Also I learned that satan has no authority over us and all we have to do is tell him so in the name of Jesus and he has to flee.
Recently my life insurance matured and was applying to another company. The nurse came out and did a thorough check. The company turned me down because my liver counts were up so I prayed and told satan he had no authority over me, he had to take his hands off me in the name of Jesus. I went to my medical doctor and he was alarmed at the counts. They have checked my liver twice a year for many years because of being on Ibuprophen so long. He ordered another blood work and an ultrasound on my liver. I told him I had been having some severe pain in that area. I looked at him and I asked him, You know my source? He looked at me and said yes-s-s. I said then there can't possibly be anything wrong with me. My blood work came back normal and the ultrasound of my liver was normal. I don't know what I had but this I do know, Jesus healed me. Sorry, just had to give Him the glory and let people know He is still healing. All it takes is faith. Praise God.
Blessings,
AliceE.

Toia said...

This is a great post about faith. Many people will be bless and inspired through your inspirational words given to you by the power of the Holy Spirit!!

Paula V said...

Girl, if I didn't know better you were in my head. Come see my part two...you've been dying for it, right, since last Friday. I gave this exact scripture of the widow last Friday and I continued today with it and some other examples of persistence.

This post also makes me think of one of my most favorite posts "Master's Touch, Our Faith". Check it out again on my sidebar and see if it doesn't go along with what you say. It gives many examples of God's healing touch based on faith of His people.

Love,
P

Beth Herring said...

Sharon - too many times we miss the opportunity for healing to take place because we fail to take it to God! We tend to think that healing is something that GOd does for others and that we aren't "deserving" of it. Oh to have the faith of a little child!

In Him,
Beth

Tonja said...

Wonderful thoughts on faith! Faith is 'knowing without seeing'.
Loved this post!

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Sharon,
So very good. Thanks.
Lynn

Edie said...

This is a great message Sharon. We often sell God short with little expectations that we quickly cast aside if they don't come about right away.

What I love about the woman who's daughter was sick is that she understood that a crumb from the hand of God could do more than one could imagine.

Nicole said...

Thanks for this word, dear friend. Love you!

Greg C said...

I wish I had that kind of faith. I give up way to easliy.

debrah said...

Amen Sharon! What a great post! When we know the Word of God we are building our Faith. When we apply, walk in, live out the Word of God our Faith becomes even stronger. When we experience the Work of God in our Lives our faith becomes even stronger. When others see God working in our lives their faith begins to grow...when we share the word with others their faith will become stronger...
Thank you for this post I love the way you express God's love by sharing His Word and what He does through you and to you...

Leaon Mary said...

Hi Sharon,
What a wonderful reminder today.
Never giving uP, and walkin in FAITH
Holykisses,
Lea

Debra said...

Wonderful post-again!
Hey! I see the Lord really working in you! Thanks so much for sharing what He's showing!
Love, Debra

Sharon Brumfield said...

Good words filled with great truths!
This boosted my heart this morning....we must never, never give up on what we know to be true.
And like the father in the Bible I ask Him to forgive me for my lack of faith...He is so worthy....I want to believe.
Good stuff girl!

Technonana said...

Yes, persistance pays off, and the communicating with the Father!! Well that's just PRICELESS!!

Shanita Waters said...

Hi Sharon... thank you for dropping by and checking in on me. I had so many things going on and pc/blacberry phone issues that I wasn't able to respond but when I was able to check my messages it felt good to know that someone was thinking about me and concerned about me. Thanks for being a blessing.

I enjoyed your post. I especially enjoyed the way you "brought those stories to life". You are truly annointed for this. Thank you for writing "We need to have a faith that never gives up attitude." You caused me to remember some things I've prayed about and reasoned that it just wan't in the will of God and and stopped praying about it. I can't give up because HE didn't give up on me.

Blessings!
Shanita

Ashley Marie Rinaldi said...

:-)


This just makes me smile!

Hugs

-Ashley

More Than Words said...

So true, Sharon!!

Walk by faith and not by sight!!!

Edie said...

Just stopping by to say hi Sharon! Hope you have a great week!

LisaShaw said...

Stopped by to say, I love you and was thinking of you.

debrah said...

Dropping by to say Hi and thank you for dropping by. Hope you have a blessed week!

Joyfulsister said...

Hi sis,
Wonderful and powerful post my friend. Thanks for your condolenses for Cwislyn, WE were swupposed to have the funeral tomorrow. but they are having a hard time bringing her home from Kuwait, so it was canceled until further notice.

Hugz Lorie

Debra said...

Hey-I miss you too! Seems like so long ago that we were watching Mr. Ed's antics and laughing over them. I loved this post-thought I'd tell ya again!
Love, Debra
PS PLEASE send some warmth from down there up here!

God Chaser said...

Thanks for stopping by. I understand after reading this post why the picture touched you. Faith that never gives up- what a wonderful message for believers.

May the joy of the Lord be yours.
Willnette

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful reminder. that inspired me not to give up... never to give up.

Technonana said...

Hey Sweetie!!! You've been tagged!!

Sheryl said...

Wow, that gives me A LOT to think about. Might need to examine my faith.

Thanks for always being such an encourager to me.

Sheryl

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Run in such a way we might win!
I agree :)
Thank you so much for your birthday wishes!