A Touch of Hope
Pastor Erickson preaches from Matthew 9 and Mark 5 on the woman with the issue of blood, who pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus's garment and was made whole. He calls people to move from being near Jesus to being in his presence, to expect with confidence that God will act for them, and to share their hope with others.
The message in 6 points
A month of hope
During the church's month of hope, he reads Matthew 9:20-21 and Mark 5:25-28, the woman with the issue of blood. He sums up the miracle in five statements: she heard it, she said it, she did it, she received it, and she told everybody about it.
57:20Preach hope to yourself
From 1 Timothy 1:1 he says Jesus Christ is our hope, the only true hope in this world. Like David in the Psalms, we sometimes have to look in the mirror and preach hope to ourselves, as the woman spoke within herself before she ever stepped into the street.
1:04:04Healing in his wings
Reading Malachi 4:2, he explains that the Hebrew word for wings also means corners, where Jewish men wore tassels on the hem of their robes. By reaching for that tassel the woman declared Jesus to be the Messiah, and she took a great risk, since the law kept the unclean away from the clean.
1:08:28Hope expects with confidence
He defines hope as expecting with confidence: faith believes God is able, and hope believes God will do it for me. He thanks God for doctors and medicine, but says when everything has been tried, faith and hope must step in, because the God who created the body can heal it.
1:15:58Proximity or presence
In Mark 5:30-34 a crowd thronged Jesus, but only one woman touched him with purpose. Pastor Erickson says you can be near Jesus without being in his presence, and that being made whole means being restored, so he believes for healed minds and families brought back together.
1:21:06Hope spreads
A touch of hope spreads to the people around you. When Jairus hears his daughter has died, Jesus tells him only believe, and in Mark 6:56 the sick reach for the hem of his garment and are healed, so he calls people to get desperate, believe the report of the Lord, and not go home the way they came.
1:27:54
In his words
“The only difference between a believer and an unbeliever is action.”
“There's a difference between faith and hope. Faith says I believe God is able. Hope says I believe God is able to fix my problem.”
“A little bit of hope, just a little bit of, just a touch of hope in your life can spread to people around you. Hope will spread faster than juicy gossip will ever spread.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Matthew 9:20-21
20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
King James Version.
Mark 5:25-30
25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
King James Version.
Psalms 31:24
24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
King James Version.
Psalms 33:22
22Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
King James Version.
Psalms 38:15
15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
King James Version.
Malachi 4:2
2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
King James Version.
Mark 5:34-36
34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
King James Version.
Mark 6:56
56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
King James Version.
He also points to
Related messages
Blind. Halt. Withered... Waiting
Also about hope, healing, faith
The Greater the Impossibility, The Greater the Miracle
Also about hope, healing, faith
Increase Your Chances for a Miracle
Also about hope, healing, faith