In a world where inspiration is abundant and waiting for the right circumstances is the norm, the call for desperate faith rings louder than ever. A recent sermon by Ps Bojan, drawing from the biblical account in John 5, sheds light on the transformative nature of a faith that actively seeks breakthrough and healing. Ask yourself what is the single most important thing you need healing/restoration/breakthrough in right now? The central question posed is not about inspiration or waiting but about the intensity of your desire for change and restoration in various life areas.
Desperate faith moves the heart of God
The crux of the message lies in the significance of desire. How badly do you want it? The level of your desire determines the extent to which you are willing to go to achieve a goal. In a society often characterised by instant gratification, the call for persistent determination is striking. God wants to heal and restore every area of your life.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralysed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
Most people are for;
- A more convenient season
- Dreams and visions
- Signs and wonders
- To be compelled
- For a revival
- For particular feelings
God will often question our desire as not everyone wants to be made well. God is an active participant our journey of faith. His questions serve as a gauge of commitment. These questions are not mere inquiries but a divine method to assess if we are willing to do whatever it takes to realise our desires.
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
As the man responded in faith and did exactly what Jesus told him to do, he was immediately made well. Faith, is not a passive waiting game. It’s about responding to God’s instructions even when they seem unfamiliar or challenging. Genuine faith requires stepping into uncharted territory, doing things that one has not done before, and might not fully understand.
Contrast in Healing Accounts
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Woman with the Issue of Blood
The story of the woman with the issue of blood takes center stage, emphasising her desperate faith. Despite societal restrictions and discouragement, she persists in reaching out to touch Jesus and is ultimately healed. Her story becomes a beacon for those seeking transformative change. More than anything, the woman’s faith was in Jesus. The object of her faith was much more important than the quality of her faith.
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the [f]affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
Bumping into Jesus vs. Touching Faith
There is a huge difference between bumping into Jesus here and there and reaching out to touch Him in faith. A clear distinction is made between merely being in proximity to Jesus and actively reaching out to touch Him with faith. A desperate and believing touch elicits a response from God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
It wasn’t touching the clothing of Jesus that healed the woman. Instead, it was her desperate faith in Jesus and what He could do for her.
Importance of Diligent Seeking
How badly do you want a breakthrough? A casual approach may not be sufficient to elicit a response from God.
In a world where casual approaches often yield casual results, the call to desperate faith stands as a powerful reminder. It challenges us to assess our level of desire, respond to God’s questions, and take action in faith. The stories of biblical characters, particularly the woman with the issue of blood, serve as timeless examples of the transformative power of desperate faith. As the sermon suggests, it only requires one touch – a touch fueled by a desperate faith that moves the heart of God.
