Lesson Text
- Mark 5:25–34
Sermon Outline
- Love That Climbs Through Your Pain (Press Through)
- Love That Climbs Through People (Push Through)
- Love That Climbs Into His Presence (Reach Through)
Sermon: Activating First Love: Climbing Into Love, Part II (How Far Will You Go To Get It)
Lesson Text
Mark 5:25–34 (KJV)25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 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? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Introduction
In our first message, “Climbing Into Love,” we discovered that love isn't something we simply fall into – We climb into it.
Zacchaeus climbed above his surroundings because he wanted Jesus more than he cared about his limitations.
But climbing isn't always upward, sometimes climbing means pressing, sometimes climbing means crawling, and sometimes climbing means refusing to quit until you reach Jesus.
Many people love God, but few people pursue Him.
There is a difference between admiring Jesus and pursuing Jesus.
The woman with the issue of blood teaches us that God's love belongs to those who refuse to stop climbing.
The measure of your pursuit often determines the measure of your experience.
God's love is freely given, but experiencing the fullness of His love requires intentional pursuit.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Jeremiah 29:13 Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
In the previous message we asked the question, “How Bad Do You Want It?” Today, we ask the question, “How Far Will You Go To Get It?”
Previously we learned to "Look Up, Move Up, Rise Up;” today we will learn to "Press Through, Push Through, Reach Through."
Series and Sermon: Activating First Love: Climbing Into Love, Part II (How Far Will You Go To Get It)
(Press Through, Push Through, Reach Through)
- Love That Climbs Through Your Pain (Press Through)
Mark 5:25–34 (KJV)25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
Don't allow suffering to stop your pursuit.
Imagine dealing with something for twelve years -- Twelve years of disappointment, Twelve years of unanswered prayers, Twelve years of spending everything, Twelve years of feeling rejected, Twelve years without a breakthrough.
Pain has a way of convincing us to stop pursuing God.
Some people stop climbing because life hurts too much.
But she made a decision:
"I'm hurting...But I'm still climbing."
Pain may slow you... But it should never stop you.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared...
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous...
Maybe you’re wounded today, but don't stop climbing because you're hurting.
Sometimes the greatest miracles happen while you're bleeding.
When you want God's love badly enough... you'll press through your pain and keep climbing.
- Love That Climbs Through People (Push Through)
Mark 5: 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
Don't allow distractions or opinions to stop your pursuit.
There was a crowd between her and Jesus. The crowd represents everything that competes for your attention.
Sometimes people block us, Sometimes distractions block us, Sometimes opinions block us, Sometimes religion blocks us, Sometimes family blocks us, Sometimes friends block us.
The crowd never stopped Jesus...It only stopped those unwilling to push through it.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not be weary in well doing...
Hebrews 12:1-2 Lay aside every weight...
The crowd may slow your progress…But it cannot stop your faith.
You cannot allow other people's opinions to determine how close you get to Jesus.
Some blessings require you to push past the crowd.
When you want God's love badly enough... you'll push through the people.
- Love That Climbs Into His Presence (Reach Through)
Mark 5: 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
Don’t allow your fear to stop your pursuit!
Keep reaching until faith makes contact with Jesus.
Notice...She didn't ask Jesus to come to her. She reached toward Him!
Love is active. Faith is active. Worship is active. Prayer is active.
God honors people who reach.
Matthew 7:7–8 (KJV)7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Ask requires movement, seek requires movement, knock requires movement!
Psalm 63:1 (KJV)1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Philippians 3:13–14 (KJV)13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
She touched His garment...
But what really touched Him was her faith.
Jesus said,"Who touched me?"
There were many touching Him physically...Only one touched Him spiritually.
You can attend church every Sunday... But are we touching Jesus?
God responds to faith that reaches.
When you want God's love badly enough... you'll reach into His presence.
Zacchaeus climbed above. But the woman climbed through.
Zacchaeus climbed a tree. But the woman climbed through a crowd.
Both found Jesus. Both experienced His love. Both left changed forever.
Life may become difficult, but don’t stop climbing.
People may disappoint you, but don’t stop climbing.
Your faith may grow tired, but don’t stop climbing.
Your prayers may seem unanswered, but don’t stop climbing.
"How far will you go to experience the Love of God?"
Midweek Study Lesson Plan (Sermon: Climbing Into Love, Part II (How Far Will You Go To Get It))
Lesson Text
- Mark 5:25–34
Sermon Outline
- Love That Climbs Through Your Pain (Press Through)
- Love That Climbs Through People (Push Through)
- Love That Climbs Into His Presence (Reach Through)
Questions: (What was your main takeaway from this message?)
- Getting to Know “Me”
- What is your definition of a fulfilling life?
- What do you do to stay active and healthy?
- Into The Bible
- Read Hebrews 12:1-3 to answer the following questions:
- i) Verses 1-2 mentions running a race. What are weights and sin that can distract us from looking at
Jesus?
- ii) What was the joy set before him stated in verse 2 that helped Jesus ignore the humiliation of the
cross?
iii) In what ways does looking at His ultimate sacrifice help the believer find the strength to endure any
season of weariness?
- Life Application
- The woman with the issue of blood had to press through years of pain before she reached Jesus. When you’ve been praying or waiting for a breakthrough that seems delayed, what helps you keep pressing forward and trusting that God is still working, even when you can’t yet see the outcome?
- Sometimes our greatest obstacle isn’t the problem itself, but everything standing between us and Jesus. What is one distraction, obstacle, or fear you need to push through so you can draw closer to Him this week?
