The Whole Story

Notes: The Whole Story
Matthew 9:18–25
SPEAKER:
Greg Laurie
WORSHIP TEAM:
Harvest Worship Band
SERIES:
God Came NearSunday, January 18, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Today is National Sanctity of Human Life day. The Bible is clear that life starts in the womb at conception.

Greg really likes a story with a clear plot. Maybe a surprise ending. He says all movies have certain matching elements, like people coming out of grocery stores have a roll of French bread.

All of our lives have elements like a movie. We aren't all like Louie Zamperini but we all have a story.

Our story is written by God. It will end well if you are a child of God.

The characters in Mathew 9 have a story, the woman is hopeless, the man was powerful.

Tragedy levels social topography.


Matthew 9:18-25 NKJV
[18] While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." [19] So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. [20] And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. [21] For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." [22] But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. [23] When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, [24] He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him. [25] But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

12 years was an important number in this story. The woman was in poor health for 12 years and the girl would of been relatively happy for 12 years. They both needed Jesus Christ's healing in that same day.

Interruptions in your day may be divine in your days. These people came up to Jesus Christ in the middle of the day. The woman interrupted Jesus Christ on the way to the rulers house. She was healed there.

It's been said a girls first love is her daddy. This daddy didn't stop Jesus Christ from healing the woman, he waited for him even though he would of been in a very sad place after loosing his daughter.

Psalm 48:9-10 NKJV
[9] We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. [10] According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Greg is telling us how impatient he is waiting for things. He asked if we are patient waiting for the Lord?

God doesn't ask for our understanding in his ways and time, He is asking for our trust.

His delays are not necessarily His denials.

The woman in this story was never told all she had to do was touch Jesus Christ. But it worked, she had faith.

Where does sickness come from?

All sickness comes from sin.

Romans 5:12 NKJV
[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-

Sickness can come from personal sin, but not necessarily.

John 5:14 NKJV
[14] Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."

Sickness can lead to greater purpose.

Isaiah 53:4-5 NKJV
[4] Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. [5] But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV
[24] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.

James 4:2 NKJV
[2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

Sometimes God heals immediately and sometimes He does not, but you still must ask and wait.

Mark 9:24 NKJV
[24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Unbelief is often the thief that robs us of what God wants to do in our lives.

Truths from this story:
1.If you have a need then reach out to Jesus.

Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
[3] 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

2. Your story is not finished yet.

3. If we trust in Christ, our stories will all have a happy ending.

Maybe not on earth, but when we get to Heaven it will be a happy ending.

No matter what our story is, God is the author and finisher.

No matter what happens in our lives on earth we need realize we will all die and need to focus on Heaven.

Only those fully prepared to die and go to Heaven, can truly live.

Do you have that hope?