FAITH TO BE HEALED

Mark 5:27–28 (NKJV) “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’”

One of the greatest accounts we have for seeing how faith works in receiving healing is found in Mark 5, concerning the woman with the issue of blood. As we study this account, we can see the principles this woman put into place that caused the healing power to be released from the Lord into her body and her condition to be healed.

Where was her starting place? The Bible says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” That is where she started. She obviously heard something—she must have heard that Jesus was healing people. When she heard that people were touching Him and being healed, she began to think, “If I could just touch Him, I will be healed as well.”

How do I know she thought that? Because she said, “If I could but touch Him.” Her belief became very focused on touching Him. In other words, that is where her faith was—on touching Him. She had obviously heard people say that when someone touched Him, they were healed. From this we can see that what you hear about the Lord, or what you hear from the Word of God, will affect your faith. Jesus even said, “Take heed what ye hear” and “Take heed how ye hear” (Luke 8:18; Mark 4:24). Simply put, faith comes by hearing.

Next, she activated her faith by saying something. Mark 5:28 says, “If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be made whole.” The Bible is very clear about activating faith by speaking. You did this when you were born again. Romans 10:9–10 tells us that we believed Jesus was raised from the dead and made confession unto salvation. Without that confession, you would not have been born again.

The Word also says in II Corinthians 4:13, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” Jesus Himself made it very clear in Mark 11:23 that we must speak to the mountains in our lives, believing in our hearts and saying it with our mouths. This woman heard, and then she said. Her saying released and activated her faith.

When she got to Jesus, she did something. Faith is exercised when we do the Word or act on what is in our hearts. She didn’t make an announcement to anyone; she simply touched Jesus. When she did, the power of God flowed out of Him and healed her body. Jesus was so aware of it that He said, “Who touched Me?” The disciples responded, “Lord, everyone is touching You.” But this was a different kind of touch. Others were pressing around Him, but this woman touched Him in faith to receive something.

James 2:17 and 2:26 tell us that faith without corresponding action is dead—void of power. When you truly believe something, you will act on it from your heart. Blind Bartimaeus threw away his beggar’s cloak. The four friends lowered the man down on a mat. Peter let down the net. Throughout Scripture, we see people in faith showing corresponding action. In order to activate God’s power, action must accompany faith.

Remember these simple truths and receive your healing:

Faith begins where the will of God is known.
Faith comes by hearing.
Faith is released by saying.
Faith is activated by doing.

Be a doer of the Word of God, and see the healing power of God at work in your life.