This article is an adaptation of a sermon by Simon Alberts, delivered July 15, 2023 at the Sabbath-keeping SDA congregation in Ede. More information can be found at www.jezusheervandesabbat.nl.
There are three Bible texts I want to highlight. The first is in 1 John 5:4: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Our faith overcomes the world. Souls can be won by faith of Christ. The second text is Romans 14:23. There it describes what it means when something is not meant by faith. "...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." The third text is Numbers 14:28, which says that God does to us what we have spoken to Him. "… as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you."
If we take these three texts together we have the following. By faith everything born of God overcomes the world. So if we deal with people in faith by pointing them to Christ and expressing our faith then can work on the hearts of those people. If we express our faith in God, then God will help us.
But if we do not live by faith, then we are in sin. We do not express confidence in God, but are busy imposing our own will. We damage people by coercion or by expressing our doubts. We then sin against our own souls, against them and against God. For everything that is not by faith is sin.
We must express our faith at all times and live by our faith. Even with the most hopeless and helpless individuals, God can save through faith. For by beholding we are changed according to 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Faith versus doubt
We must be used by the Holy Spirit to speak by faith to brothers, sisters, men and women. Thus, people realize to some extent the infinite possibilities offered to us by the Creator. Thus the heart of the one for whom we pray and cooperate can be touched.
So there are two philosophies in the world to reach and inspire a person. The first is that we express our faith. That is a spiritual approach.
The other is that we try to inspire someone to change by expressing our doubts. That is a worldly approach.
Do you see the difference in approach? 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we are changed by beholding.
The woman with issue of blood
I want to look with you at the faith of a woman who suffered much and how Jesus dealt with it. The story is recorded in Mark chapter 5.
“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.” Markus 5:25-26.
The woman had spent everything she had. She was broke. She had spent everything on doctors. She was declared incurable by doctors. She had been declared unclean because of her bleeding. This woman had no hope, was given up and became depressed.
We don't know who all this woman talked to, but there was someone who talked to her about Jesus. She was told that Jesus could heal anyone. She was told that just touching the garment of Jesus was beneficial. She found out where Jesus was and tried to find a way to get to Jesus.
Jairus one of the heads of the synagogue also came to Jesus at that time. He asked Jesus to lay hands on his daughter because she was dying. We see that some have greater faith than others. The centurion came to Jesus and Jesus offered to come by to heal his servant. But the centurion said Jesus did not need to come by. It was enough for him that Jesus spoke the words. Jesus said He had not found so much faith in all of Israel.
But Jairus asked Jesus to come with him to his daughter. Jesus was on his way to Jairus' house to lay his hands on his daughter to heal her. It was so crowded that in the crowd Jesus could not move forward quickly.
Faith in Jesus
The woman was looking for a way to get close to Jesus. She thought, if only I am close enough to Jesus, it will be enough to touch His clothing to be healed.
Ellen White has an interesting quote that complements this story. It can be read in "The Ministry of Healing" in chapter 4. “Christ knew every thought of her mind, and He was making His way to where she stood. He realized her great need, and He was helping her to exercise faith." MH 60.1.
Christ knows every thought. He knew the woman's thought. While no one knew, He walked in the crowd toward the woman. He wanted to be in that place where the woman was so she could touch His clothing.
“As He was passing, she reached forward and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. That moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness disappeared. Instantly she felt the thrill as of an electric current passing through every fiber of her being. There came over her a sensation of perfect health." MH 60.2.
This is one of the reasons why we may look forward to the second coming of Jesus. When Jesus comes, it will be as if in an indivisible moment we receive a new body. We will no longer need glasses, we will have perfect teeth and a renewed heart.
The woman also experienced this. She received perfect health. While all this was happening, Jesus stopped. He looked around. And looked at the woman.
“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” Luke 8:45.
Did Jesus ask this question because He did not know who was touching Him? No, He already knew who it was. But He wanted the person who touched Him to acknowledge that.
“And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” Luke 8:46.
She fell down on the ground and she worshiped Jesus.
“And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Luke 8:47-48.
Jesus wanted everyone to understand why she had been healed. There were hundreds of people who had touched Jesus that day. But this woman was healed.
“He wished to show that it was faith which had brought the healing power. MH 60.6 [...] She was not to remain in ignorance of His knowledge of her suffering, or of His compassionate love and of His approval of her faith in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him.” MH 60.6.
True faith
Others were close to Jesus but were not healed. Today there are many people who believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world. But do you know that people who believe in Jesus can still be lost? The Bible says that even the devil believes.
“To believe in Christ merely as the Saviour of the world can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere assent to the truth of the gospel. True faith is that which receives Christ as a personal Saviour.” MH 62.1.
Jesus can save. Jesus can save anyone. That is not where the problem lies. The crux is in faith. Can you believe that Jesus can save you? Do we bring people to Jesus and express our faith? Jesus knows all our sins, yet He wants to save you and me. We have to allow Him into that.
The great controversy
There is a great battle going on over who is in charge of the universe.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11.
There will be a solution to the great struggle. God the Father will not force anyone to serve Him. There will be no forced submission. But if you want to be saved, you will be saved by Him.
Even if a person is unable to speak the words. If the person is so weak and overcome by demons. Ellen White tells a secret about the possessed man whose demons were cursing and ranting within him. He knew in his heart that Jesus could save him. Jesus knew the thought in the possessed man's heart.
“The demoniac, in place of prayer, could utter only the words of Satan; yet the heart's unspoken appeal was heard. No cry from a soul in need, though it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded. Those who consent to enter into covenant with God are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their own nature." MH 93.1.
Encouraging
We may encourage people that Jesus can help us in the most dire situation. He bestows wisdom. He renews us. He heals.
“In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, have faith in God. He is working out His will, doing all things well in behalf of His people. The strength of those who love and serve Him will be renewed day by day. He is able and willing to bestow upon His servants all the help they need. He will give them the wisdom which their varied necessities demand." MH 482.2.
These are servants of Christ, who have accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives, redeeming them from sins.
All things work together for good
“Faith can endure trial, resist temptation, bear up under disappointment. Jesus lives as our advocate. All is ours that His mediation secures. [...] Then talk of the promises; talk of Jesus’ willingness to bless. He does not forget us for one brief moment." MH 488.
When Jesus was on earth the presence of the Father surrounded Jesus. Nothing could penetrate the Father's presence without the Father's permission. That is why Jesus was such a fearless person. Jesus did not come to this earth to show us what God would do. He wanted to show us how a human being should live in this world. He wanted to encourage us. That is why He took on humanity. It was to show us how to live. He did not apply superhuman power, which is not available to us.
When Jesus put down the storm on the sea, He did not do so as the God of earth, sea and sky. He had discarded that. He did not worry because He trusted His Father.
“The Father's presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. Whatever comes to him comes from the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Nothing can touch him except by the Lord's permission." MH 488.4.
That is hard for some people to believe. That nothing can touch us without the Lord's permission.
“All our sufferings and sorrows, all our temptations and trials, all our sadness and griefs, all our persecutions and privations, in short, all things work together for our good." MH 488.4.
I cannot explain to you why that is so. In my own life, too, I have experienced all kinds of things. Funerals, quarrels, illness, pain and trouble. I can't explain all those things. But I don't have to. I know from the Bible that if I belong to Him, if I accept Jesus as Lord of my life and savior from sin, then all things will work together for good.
“... all things work together for our good. All experiences and circumstances are God's workmen whereby good is brought to us." MH 488.4.
All we have to do is touch Him for a moment. And in an instant divine power comes upon you, healing your spirit. It only takes one word. It only takes one thought. Think of the possessed man, who could not say it out loud, but could only cry out in his mind.
Victory
The faith of Christ overcomes the world. Jesus has won the victory. The world has not known it, for everything that is not by faith is sin. In all things we are changed by beholding and hearing.
Do you want to reach out and touch Jesus in faith today? Will you speak the words of faith? You will be healed of whatever problem you have. It won't always happen immediately. We live in a world where we need experiences. All things work together for good in that. But do you want that experience with Jesus? If we are open to Jesus, divine power will come into our lives.
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