Pressing Through
My God shall supply all your needaccording to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus… Phil 4:19
Name your need. Every need has a name. Name yours right now. Say what it is. Say it out loud. Tell yourself what it is. Tell God what it is (even though He already knows). Then tell the devil God is going to meet that need.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us… Eph 3:20
Confess. Confess means to say. To confess something we say it and we say it with conviction and authority.
Confess:
- God is Able.
- God is Able to Do.
- God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly.
- God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above.
- God is Able to Do Exceedingly Abundantly Above All that I Ask.
- God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think.
- God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think According to the POWER.
- God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think according to the POWER that WORKS.
- God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think according to the POWER that WORKS in ME.
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 2Kgs. 7:3
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 2Kgs. 7:4
And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 2Kgs. 7:5
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 2Kgs. 7:6
Why sit we here till we die? Why do we do the same things over and over and foolishly expect them to change?
If we are not making positive changes, things (your situations or circumstances) will never improve. If we are not moving (doing something) we are sliding back. If we are not pressing on, we are retreating. If we are not spiritually ahead of where we were last week, we are dying and not living.
We need to discover what it means to “press through” in order to live and not die. We need to discover what it means to press through to get to Jesus. When we make it “through” to Jesus, we will move into living and not dying.
There will always be obstacles and barriers to prevent us from getting close to Jesus…. Satan will see to that. Are we willing to “press through” and to persist until we break into the very presence of Jesus?
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Mark 2:4
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Mark 5:27
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Lu 19:3
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:14
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Lu 11:8
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Gen 32:24
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Gen. 32:25
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Gen. 32:26
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. Dan 3:16
If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. Dan 3:17
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:18
Remember the 4 faithful ones who carried the man sick with palsy to where Jesus was? They could not enter the house nor get close to Jesus because of the “press” but they did not stop. They pressed through.
Remember the woman with an issue of blood? She would not be stopped. She would not be denied. She persisted… she was determined… she took great risks… but she “pressed through” and got to Jesus and touched Him.
Remember Zacchaeus? He was the little man who was hidden in the crowds. He wanted to see Jesus but he couldn’t because of the hindrances… he was small of stature and the crowds were great. But he “pressed through” and climbed a sycamore tree and saw Jesus. When he did, Jesus went home with him.
Remember Jacob? He refused to let go or turn loose until the angel blessed him. He held on. He would not turn loose. He persisted. He pressed through.
Remember Paul? In the midst of the deadly storm he determined to press through to the promise rather than consider the problem. He said, “I believe God.”
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. Acts 27:22
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Acts 27:23
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Acts 27:24
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:25
I am determined to press through. I am determined to hold on. I am determined to believe God. I have set my face like flint to seek Jesus and to know Jesus as I have never known Him in my life. How about you? Are you set in your mind and determined in your will to PRESS THROUGH?
How do we get God’s supply to our need (Phil 4:19)? He surely has it. And He wants to give it to us. How do we get it? Our quest to live and not die begins with our willingness to Press Through.
God has the supply to meet our need. Kingdom principles in operation will draw from God’s supply and satisfy our need. The Bible is our operation Manual. It is alive with God’s power and will provide the answer we are seeking.
There is a Kingdom Keythat will unlock the door to God’s Supply and channel that supply to our Need. We can boldly and confidently confess:
Our God whom we serve is Able to Deliver us. Dan 3:17
God wants us to prosper in everything we set our hand to. He wants us to live and not die. God wants us well, full of wisdom, overcoming worry, prospering, living in complete deliverance from all Satan’s snares and temptations, strong in mind and body, mature and complete and perfect.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pet. 3:9
God has resources to get us where He wants us. He has the ABILITY to get us where He wants us and to give us what He wants us to have. It is obvious that we cannot make it on our own… We need God! That is why many are failing in certain areas of their lives right now. They need God and they need to press through.
There are many instances in the Bible where people pressed through to God. Now, if they can, we can. God is no respecter of persons. If they did, we should. If they received, we can receive. God has not changed nor has Satan. The same Word that defeated the devil then still works and will work for us. Today. Now.
Mark chapter 5 is our text.
- In this chapter, Jesus conquered demons, disease and death.
- The man from Gadara who was full of demons got delivered.
- The woman with the issue of blood got healed of her disease.
- The daughter of the synagogue ruler who was sick and died was raised from the dead.
The woman with an issue of blood is our example.
She had a serious need
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, Mark 5:25
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Mark 5:26
Her need was not a new need. Her problem had existed for a long time. She had been sick for 12 years. During these 12 years the Scripture tells us that she suffered. She was vexed and tormented by this persistent problem. That is what the does. He comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. His mission is to keep you from living and make you die.
She not only suffered physically, but she spent all she had. She was sick and dying and she was broke. She had been sick and that sickness had used up all her financial resources. She had spent all she had and was still sick.
Not only was she sick and broke and she never got any better… instead she grew worse and worse. She was caught up in a hopeless and futile and fatal of circumstances. This is just the kind of case Jesus specializes in resolving.
Is this like you? Have you been vexed and tormented for years by the enemy? Has he robbed from you and made you miserable? Have you wearied in your warfare with him? Does it seem like he will never quit or let up or ease up? Have you suffered at the hand of Satan? Have you done all you knew to do and yet you got worse? Spent all you had and yet was nothing bettered?
Have you seen no improvement and experienced no relief in spite of your efforts? Are you worse and not better? Are you dying and not living? Then you are at the right place at the right time! . Today is your Day of Deliverance. Your need will be supplied according to God’s Riches in Glory by and through Christ Jesus. Your “nothing better, growing worse” situation is just about over. You will be better and you will not grow worse. You will live and not die!
She heard about Jesus
When she had heard of Jesus… Mark 5:27
This woman had heard about Jesus. Now just what do you think she had heard? Did she hear that the “day of miracles is over”? Did she hear that in this “dispensation” healing did not work? Did she hear that the “supernatural” has no place in modern, structured, organized churches? Did she hear that the “gifts of the Holy Ghost” and “tongues” were not for today? Did she hear that parts of the Bible are really just embellished stories that are not true?
What do you think that she heard? I’ll tell you exactly what she heard: She heard that Jesus was healing the sick and raising the dead and casing out devils. She heard and knew that Jesus had the supply for her need. She heard that Jesus could and would make her live and keep her from dying.
If she had heard all this negative stuff that most people are hearing in their churches today, she would have a hard time believing. She would have been religious, but she would have been wrong. She would have been “theologically correct” but she would have died and not lived.
What have you heard about Jesus? What you hear about Jesus should determine where you go to church. Because where you go to church will determine what you hear about Jesus. If the Gospel is limited and restrained and watered-down where you go to church, you will not get what you need from God and God will not get what He wants from you and you will die and not live.
She risked her life to get close to Jesus
She came in the press behind, and touched his garment Mark 5:27
She actually risked her life to get where Jesus was. In her day and according to the Law of Moses, she was ceremonially “unclean” because of her issue of blood and was subject to being stoned to death if she was caught out in public. The Law required her to remain in seclusion because she was considered “unclean” and “impure.” But, she counted the cost, made her decision and moved out in faith. She faced certain and horrific death if she were caught… but she determined to get to where Jesus was. She gave her all. She pressed through. She risked her life.
Some today cannot risk a ball game or a fishing trip; a television program; a vacation or game of golf to get where Jesus is. Some will not risk religion or tradition or custom or denomination to get where Jesus is. Others refuse to risk comfort, convenience and time and effort. No wonder we have trouble getting what Jesus has for us.
This woman ventured out. She launched out. She pressed through. She believed, trusted, risked her life and in great desperation, set her course to get her need met and receive her healing. She did not wait until later or for a more convenient set of circumstances… she moved in the midst of great risk because she knew Jesus had her answer.
Do you believe Jesus has your answer today? Yes or no? Are you willing to take some risks in order to get through to Jesus? Is your reputation more important than your need? Are your so called “friends” more important to you than receiving the answer to your dilemma? Are your relatives standing in your way? Are they preventing you from launching out and venturing out and moving on with God? What reason do you have for waiting until some other time than right now?
Some are being held back and restrained and hindered because they are afraid of what others will think or say if they risk all in order to gain Jesus. We need to learn from this desperate, needy, dying woman… she risked everything and lost nothing but her sickness… her critical need. She pressed through and received exactly what she needed; her deliverance from death.
She was determined to get to Jesus
She came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Mark 5:27
The word “press” in this verse comes from the Greek word meaning “riot.” There was actually a “riot” going on around Jesus, yet this woman was determined to press through in order to get to Jesus. She would not be denied! She would not give up because of a difficult situation. She did not quit in the face of an impossibility. She was not discouraged and she did not back down… she ignored “reason” and made up her mind to get her answer; she refused defeat and delay.
She was desperate and she was determined. She knew Jesus had her answer. She refused to allow Satan to prevent her from getting what was rightfully hers. Now, what “riot” is hindering you? What difficulty or impossibility has made you give up and quit? Are you not willing to come through the “press” in order to touch Jesus? How desperate are you to live and not die? Pressing through is never easy and it is never convenient. It always demands commitment, determination and boldness.
The magnitude of the problem did not hinder the woman. The impossibility of the situation did not prevent her from keeping on! The “riot” was not big enough to keep her away from Jesus. If you will come through the press (fight through every difficulty) you can touch Jesus, too. Demon forces will fight you. Satanic powers will resist you. Hell will rise up against you. Will you come through the press? Jesus is here now… one touch and you will live and not die.
She received what she believed
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Mark 5:29
(1) She believed that JESUS could heal her and would heal her. She believed in spite of what others said or thought or did. She risked her life to get where Jesus was. She knew her healing depended on what she did with what she believed.
(2) She made a powerful verbal faith-confession. “If I may only touch His clothes, I SHALL be whole.” Notice her faith: “I shall be (not may be or hope to be or one day will be) but I shall be WHOLE.” (“whole” here is the Greek sozo which is the all-inclusive word for “salvation”: it means be delivered… be healed… be saved… be protected… be prospered… be preserved).
(3) She did what she confessed. She said and then she did. Her faith was followed with action. Faith without works is dead (Jas 2:20) or “faith without corresponding action is no good…” She acted on what she believed.
(4) She received what she believed. “And straightway (immediately) the fountain of her blood (unchecked for 12 years) was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”
God knows when a believer presses through
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30
Jesus knew that “virtue” (dunamis: miraculous, wonder-working power) had “gone out of Him”… Many were touching Him but only ONE touched him in faith. The faith touch is a “different touch.” It is the “faith touch” that pleases God. He delights in His children pressing through to touch Him. He knows when it happens and He delights in it.
“Without Faith it is impossible to please Him.” How long has it been since you pressed through to God? Would you like to receive His power today? Would you like for His supply to meet your need today? You can come to Him but you might have to come through the press of things around you. One touch will change your life and set you free. Don’t be discouraged or dismayed or afraid. Right now press through and touch Jesus. You will be made whole…. just like this courageous woman with an issue of blood and you will live and not die.
dickbraswell 
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