Do You Have Faith in God?
In Bristol, England, George Müller operated one of these orphanages for two thousand children. One evening he became aware that there would be no breakfast for them the next morning. Muller called his workers together and explained the situation. Two or three prayed. “Now that is sufficient,” he said. “Let us rise and praise God for prayer answered!” The next morning, they could not push open the front door. So they went out the back door and around the building to see what was keeping it shut. Stacked up against the front door were boxes filled with food. One of the workers later remarked, "We know Who sent the baskets, but we do not know who brought them!” Which leaves us with something that we may ask ourselves – “How in the world can I obtain faith like that?” I want more faith, but how do I get it? Do I not "believe" enough? What do I DO to get more Faith? Or do I simply "ask" for it?
In Luke chapter 8, we meet Jairus, a Ruler of the Synagogue, whose daughter was dying; and on the way to heal Jairus’ daughter, we also meet a woman with “an issue of blood” for 12 years. One thing they both had in common was a great, great need. When one is in dire need of physical healing especially, either for ourselves or a loved one, it certainly does bring us to a place to seek the Healer Himself. Regardless of the outcome, their faith was the “evidence of things not seen” Let’s dig a little deeper though, and find the one hidden thing that gave this two such faith in Jesus’ ability to help them.
Jairus was a “Ruler of the Synagogue.” The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible states that the Ruler is a “Senior official in the synagogue of NT times. His function was to take care of the physical arrangements for the services of worship, the maintenance of the building and fabric, and to determine who would be called to read from the Law and the prophets or to conduct the prayers. The office was sometimes held for a specified period, sometimes for life.” This man was inundated with and Knew the Word of God. He heard it all the time. He knew what the Law and the Prophets (OT Bible) said. What sets him apart from many people of the same period who knew the Word, is what he did with the Word. He believed it and acted upon his belief.
Let's now look at the woman that was healed from her issue of blood. The woman believed that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed. In Matthew 9:20-21, we read that she came from behind and "touched the hem of His garment.” The hem is the key word here that says volumes about her. In Numbers 15:38 the Israelites were commanded to put “fringes in the borders of their garments” with a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. Fringe and Hem are the same word in Greek: Kraspedon, meaning “A common noun for a wing, the skirt or corner of a garment." Herein lies the source of this woman’s great faith. She also Knew the Word of God. How do we know that? In Malachi 4:2 it says, "But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings. She knew where to go, Who to go to, and how to be healed because she knew the Word of God and believed it also. The common thread here is that they both had such faith in Christ Jesus stemming first from their Knowledge of the Word of God. Then they believed. Then they acted.
Many, many people say they believe the Word of God, but do they even know the Word of God? In Romans 10:16, we read in the NIV “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message…” The Greek word for hearing is akoḗ meaning “doctrine taught and received with faith.” Do you lack faith? Do you want more faith? Read the Word of God. That's from where faith comes.
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord; And in his Law does he meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2). Mike Engel
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