Mark 5:25 – Part 3: “Put your life on the line” faith

I have heard messages preached on this particular event many times in my Christian years, and it never ceases to amaze me what this woman actually did, because according to Levitical law, she could have been stoned to death for being out like this and being “unclean”. The amazing thing is that Jairus is the man that has this authority, because as we have already noticed, the Bible drew our attention to that fact that he was the Ruler of the Synagogue.

Her faith literally causes he to put her life on the line. Is this a reckless gamble? Or is it a desparation for God to move in her life?

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Bitterness – Part V: How to deal with bitterness

Ephesians 4:25-32 (New Living Translation)
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

The Bible is really clear, so clear in fact that we have had to have help to misunderstand it! Look at verse 31 again – GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS.

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Bitterness – Part IV: Bitterness is marked by Cynicism

Bitterness is linked with cynicism
• marked by cynicism

A cynic is a person who believes the worst about people or the outcome of events. A cynic believes that all acts are selfish (and are therefore distrusting). They mock and are sarcastic as well as showing contempt for accepted standards, especially those of honesty and morality (Collins English Dictionary).

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Bitterness – Part III: bitterness & resentment

Remember our earlier definition of bitterness, part of it read –
• Showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment (The Collins Concise Dictionary)

Notice that word – unrelenting. Bitterness and resentment can be unrelenting, especially towards people that you think may have wronged you in some way. You become hostile towards them. Let me tell you – love and resentment cannot co-exist. You cannot love someone you resent and are hostile too. It cannot be done.

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Bitterness – Part II: Bitterness comes out of loss

• Bitterness is loss frozen in resentment. Bitterness grows out of our refusal to let go when someone or something is taken from us (definition taken from http://www.christian.connections-c.com/bit.html)

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Bitterness – Part I: A study of Esau

What is Bitterness?

• Bitterness is loss frozen in resentment. Bitterness grows out of our refusal to let go when someone or something is taken from us
• Showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment.
• marked by cynicism

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Bible definition of being a man

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NASB)
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong

Today, in my regular morning devotional, I was reading a passage of Scripture from an old NASB translation that I have in the house. It is one of the many translations of the Bible that I have. I was just reading a long, thinking about the verse and then my eyes started to wonder.

I came accross this verse that I underlined about 15 years ago and what a cracking verse it is too.

Paul is finishing off a letter that he is writing to the Corinthians, and in his final statements he talks about giving, and sending greetings to various people. Smack bang in the middle of all that is this verse. It is like he has this final thought that he needs to share. It is something that he needs to say. It is one of the last things he wants you to remember…act like men!

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Mark 5:25 – Part 2: 12 long years

This lady had a flow of blood for 12 years. Imagine that. There is a contrast between this lady and Jairus – and that is the length of time that they have been suffering with their problems – the lady had suffered 12 years, and when Jairus went to Jesus, his daughter had just died.

It was obvious that sickness caused her death, but we don’t know what kind of sickness it was, nor how long she had been sick. It is interesting to note that the Bible records her age as 12 years old. Perhaps she had been plagued with illness since a child, and if so we could say that Jairus has had to handle this problem for 12 years. This is just an opinion you understand?

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