One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him [Jesus], fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. Mark 5:22-24

In Mark 5, an account is given of two people who were desperate and tenacious enough to seek God’s help. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, overcame prestige barriers and fell at Jesus’ feet to ask for healing for his 12-year-old daughter, and a woman with a 12-year hemorrhage overcame social and inferiority barriers to reach out and touch Jesus. Whether you are a big shot or a “nobody,” Jesus’ love and grace know no bounds.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 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.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Mark 5:25-29a NKJV

What situation in your life seems desperate? Whatever it is, channel that drive toward God. He is faithful, responsive, and resourceful. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is the same consistent savior, healer, and deliverer that He was in the Bible and “no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

We obtain miracles when our beliefs are based on the amazing Scriptures, on the reality of who Jesus is. When the woman with the hemorrhage heard of Jesus, she thought and said, “If I get in touch with Him I’ll get results.” Hold on to what you’ve been praying for and keep believing God for greater things. Don’t ever let up. Read Mark 5 and other biblical accounts of miracles so that you can develop clear thinking and believing, and then speak what God says about your situation.

God cares about you and knows how to restore things—even if it’s the 12th year of your problem. He knows how to dissolve cancer cells. He knows how to restore marriages. So get tenacious. Press through the crowd and fall at Jesus’ feet.

Keep fighting,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

These traits (in bold) are faith’s focus. To “dwell” means, in this context, to “take inventory.” In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul writes that we are to “be anxious for nothing” and then, in verse 8, he gives the very steps and cure for worry: Dwell on or take inventory of these eight attributes. Imagine two shelves: one shelf full of anxiety-producing items and one full of peace-producing things. Don’t keep examining the peace-stealers—hurtful things people have done, shortcomings of the past, regretted actions. Instead, constantly write down and think about the incredible acts God has done in your life.

in•ven•to•ry – noun
A detailed, itemized list, report, or record of things in one’s possession, especially a periodic survey of all goods and materials in stock.*

Have you noticed that when you start worrying, your incentive to pray declines? Dwelling on the good equips you to avoid the pitfalls of worry, and when you trust God, His peace can guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:8). That’s why Paul emphatically writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). In Numbers 13, the Israelites murmured and chose to focus on the giants in the land, but Joshua and Caleb took account of the good report and held to the way of faith. Because of their faith, they saw the Promised Land. Anyone can shoot out words of doubt, but it’s a special individual who can speak faith in an overwhelming situation. That’s a person who has taken inventory of the faithfulness of God.

If you’re taking a worrisome approach to life, step back to a place of faith. The position of the believer is to forgive, forget what is behind, and move forward. Surround yourself with testimonies. Say, “God, You’re faithful; You will see me through.” This is not naïve optimism but courage because we know that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). As you meditate on God’s faithfulness, “The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Remembering God’s goodness,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2011 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:7-8

In the New Testament Gospels we see a contrast of two positions in two different towns. An approach in one town bore grim results. The other town, because of the proper attitude and reaction toward Jesus, had amazing results. And we’re out for results.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Indifference has crippling consequences. In Jesus’ hometown—Nazareth—people took offense at Jesus after questioning how someone they had known for years could have the power to heal. The results: “He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief” (Mark 6:5-6).

The exact opposite situation is found in the town of Capernaum in Matthew 8.

But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.” Matthew 8:8-10

Say the word. Words are soldiers and sickness is a slave that must submit to Jesus’ authority. This Roman soldier understood something that still applies 2000 years later. God’s Word is active and powerful and can heal just like the centurion’s servant was healed the moment Jesus said the word.

“It shall be done for you as you have believed” (Matthew 8:13). Your ability to conquer in life hinges on your attitude. I would much rather have Jesus marvel at my faith than at my unbelief. If you feel yourself getting cynical, wash with the water of the Word to avoid the calcification and hardness of heart that was seen in the people of Nazareth. Keep your heart ready for what God has ahead for you!

The best is yet to come!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright ©2011 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Then they came to Jericho and as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” Mark 10:46-49

Get Desperate and Determined. Blind Bartimaeus was desperate and in need, and he called out to Jesus. So often, when we get under pressure, the temptation is to shift into neutral and zone out in front of the TV. Instead of letting lethargy set in, we need to get desperate and cry out to God for help. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).

Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
Mark 10:50-52

Get Specific. “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus wanted Bartimaeus to give a specific request. Don’t go through life in generalities. Getting out of the vague and general and making a specific request is an expression of faith. Pray specifically—not manipulatively—and according to God’s Word.

Get in the Word. We learn that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith is not based on a feeling but on the Word. As you meditate on the Scriptures, faith will come. A world can be changed by a breed of people who will desperately believe God’s promises and expect answers.

This is our moment to take our stand and take hold of what God has for us. I encourage you to trust God with your situation. As we do life together, forgive, walk by faith, overcome, learn, and grow, we’ll continue to see broken people come to Jesus and watch God heal their lives.

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

And He [Jesus] opened the book and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:17b- 19, 21

All of heaven rejoiced at this merger of the Scriptures with Jesus, the Word made flesh. Jesus looked to the Scriptures to state His cause and purpose, and then He fulfilled it. And just as definitely as God called Jesus, so He is calling you fulfill the mission “to preach the gospel to the poor . . . proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

Ful•fill: v. To convert into reality. Implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary*

Now faith is the turning of dreams into deeds; it is betting your life on the unseen realities. Hebrews 11:1 Cotton Patch Version

You can’t have fulfillment unless you have a vision and a dream. You get that vision when you understand what is written about you in the Scriptures, that you are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), for good works (Ephesians 2:10), to show forth His praises (1 Peter 2:9).

I challenge you to use the Scriptures as a mirror to see your reflection, to see who you really are in God. It’s possible that we can win the Muslim nations to Christ; that Communist China can have the greatest move of the Holy Spirit in history; that Africa will become the great sending nation of Christians. God knew you would be born at this time. If you seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33), the destiny for your life will come to pass, and you will bear fruit that will last for generations to come (John 15:16).

God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright ©2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *”Fulfill” — Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary 2010. “The Cotton Patch Gospel” by Clarence Jordan © 1963.

And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him.” Mark 11:22-23

Have faith in a faithful God. To understand faith, look no farther than the One who is ever urging us onward, the One who is ever present and all about seeking and saving. We need to trust God, who is our teacher, and study the Word, which is more than a history book—it’s God’s heart revealed.

Refuse to doubt in your heart. The devil is a liar and tries to rip off people who are victorious and make them feel as if they are losers. The only counter action to a lie is the truth, and the truth of the Bible brings clarity to everything. As Lester Sumrall said: “Feed your faith and starve your doubts to death.”

Therefore I [Jesus] say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:24-25.

Pray in no uncertain terms. When you know God’s will according to His Word, you can pray with full confidence that your prayer will be answered. It’s not just babbling words—it’s a heart connection that happens when God’s Word becomes alive to you. “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous
power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 AMP).

Whenever you stand praying, forgive. Forgiveness is such a critical piece of the faith walk. Maintain a clear conscience and forgive—this includes forgiving yourself. Life is a fight of faith, but the Bible tells us it’s a good fight (1 Timothy 6:12) because Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and God has given us the ability to speak to impossible situations and see them turn around!

God is faithful!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.