Sermon notes: 5/25/25

"How Desperate Are You?"

Pastor Kristie Mitchell

Luke 8:40-54

40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,f she could not be healed by anyone. 44She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peterg said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”47And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

49While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”

Have you ever been so desperate for His presence you’d go anywhere, do anything just to get a glimpse, touch, word……. (slow) have..you…ever…been…desperate?

PRAY

Jesus is elbow to elbow in a crowd.  It was chaotic, loud, overwhelming….but Jairus pushes his way through…..Jairus was desperate.

Jairus’ ...heart is broken ...... and in the midst of his tragedy...... he turns ......... to Jesus.

That day, ...death showed up at the house of Jairus ...... death had come ...for his 12-year-old daughter. (Pause)

We are told that this man Jairus was a "ruler of the synagogue".

He was a man... of prominence.. in the community.

He was a man ...who had much.

But at this moment ...... none of it...... none of it mattered….he was desperate!

When Jairus spoke... people listened.

When Jairus walked into a room...... everyone would stand... in recognition.

But, now... Now...he finds himself in a place ...... where none of that ...matters!

Jairus is desperate…

Sickness and death ...could care less about who you are...... what you possess ...or the position that you hold.

I can assure you... that Jairus would have traded everything he owned...... for the power ...to change ...the moment.

I’m a mother….so I can only imagine that Jairus would have emptied his accounts…given up the recognition…

Death had come to the house of Jairus...... and it had come...... for his "real" treasure.

That "little daughter" who was only 12 years old….the one that Dr. Luke describes...as his "one ...and only daughter"!

(Strong) Beloved...Hell could care less about who you are ...... what you have ...what you’ve accomplished….

Jesus tells us in:   John 16:33 “……..In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

When tragedy and death come calling...... how desperate are you?

Life comes into crystal clear focus ......when tragedy and death is in your face!

What you think is important...will cease to matter then.

The name Jairus means ... (Slow) "He whom God enlightens".

Notice how this man... this man of position and power ...is desperate before Jesus.

The Scriptures tell us ... He ... "fell at His feet".

In other words, ...this man of prominence ...humbled himself ...in the presence ......of the Lord of Glory.

In order to be transformed by the Holy Spirit ......you must ... you must ... humble yourself.

You must put pride... ...into submission.

One of the greatest truths found in the Scriptures is this: ...... "The way up... is down!"

The way up... Is to empty yourself ... of self...and allow Jesus ...to fill you ...a new.

Jairus drops to his knees and begs for Jesus to come to his home and heal is dying daughter….his ONLY child of 12 years of age.

I can imagine Jesus, being moved by Jairus faith in this very moment, saying “Child Arise” I will go with you.   

But Jesus doesn’t immediately go.  He’s blocked and shuffled by the crowd and in the midst a woman with an issue of blood for 12 years touches the hem of His garment…..

Could you imagine being that woman?

12 years of being labeled with a uterine disorder.

12 years of being labeled as unclean.

12 years of depression

12 years of anxiety

12 years of being casted out

12 years of feeling unwanted

12 years of feeling unloved

12 years of shame

And she sees the Savior of the world walking through a crowd…..she’s desperate…..

And she thinks to herself, “if I just touch the hem of his robe, I will be healed”…..

It’s said that she probably crawled her way through the crowd, so nobody would notice her….

And in that instant, her world completely changes.  In that moment of desperate faith, she is healed.

For the first time in over 12 years she:

Stands with DIGNATY instead of SHAME!

Stands with HAPPIENESS instead of DEPRESSION!

SHE IS CLEAN!

No more feeling unwanted, unloved….casted away…..

Can you imagine how she felt….in an instant?

I can imagine her overwhelmed with joy and in awe of what she’s just experienced.

Then she’s jolted back to reality by…..His voice….Jesus’ voice….

Jesus says “who touched me!” could you imagine the look on everyone’s face?   

Mark 5:31 “His disciples said to Him, “you see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, Who touched me?”

Could you imagine what was going through Jairus, mind?  He was probably like “WHAT??  Jesus Imma need you to FOCUS!  My daughter is dying…….”

Mark 5:33 “The woman with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her falls down before him, and told him the whole truth.  34.  “Daughter, he said to her, “your faith has saved you.  Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”

Every time I read that story, I hear Him say “Child Arise”.

In that moment,

12 years of being labeled with a uterine disorder.

12 years of being labeled as unclean.

12 years of depression

12 years of anxiety

12 years of being casted out

12 years of feeling unwanted

12 years of feeling unloved

12 years of shame

Are wiped clean.  She got up that day.  She arose that day!  She walked in VICTORY that day!

How desperate are you??

He replaced:

her disorder with healing

uncleanliness with being washed white as snow

from depression to jubilation

from anxiety to unconcern

from being casted out to received

From unwanted to desirable

Unloved to treasured

Shame to respected

When Jesus steps on the scene that atmosphere changes!  When Jesus steps on the scene a shift takes place….

Y’all aint listening to me today….When GOD shows up the enemy has to flee!

There are people here today, under the sound of my voice right now….God is saying “CHILD ARISE”.

But the story doesn’t stop there…..Jesus, is being jarred around by the crowd….He’s on his way to heal a child, but along the way…He’s healing others…..

Can you imagine how desperate Jairus is……”hurry Jesus!”    

A man comes by and says Jairus in verse 35 ….”Your daughter is dead, why bother the teacher anymore”  verse 36 “Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe”.

Jairus little girl is ...no longer sick, ...... she is dead!

And at this tragic moment, ......it is interesting to see how faith... reacts.

Jairus has placed his faith in Jesus, ...and even in the face of death, ...his faith does not waiver... ...even in the middle of such tragedy!

(Slow) Jesus says to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe!"

What a word of faith!

Jesus is saying to him... "Don't believe... what you hear, (Mark 5:35).

Don't believe... what you know, (Mark 5:38-39).

Don't believe... what you see, (Mark 5:40).

Instead, Trust Me ... Believe in Me!"

And that is what Jesus ... Is saying to us ...today!

Every instinct and every indicator may say... "The situation is hopeless!"

But Jesus ... is says….”how desperate are you?”

“How deep….how wide…..is your faith in ME!”

A God ... who is greater than anything ..

Greater than anything ...we can know ...

Greater than anything ...we can see!

Closing

People of God hear me this morning.  How desperate are you for the Father?

How desperate are you for that healing?

How desperate are you for the salvation of your loved one?

How desperate are you for the spouse you’ve been promised?

How desperate are you for the baby you’re still waiting for?

How desperate are you to be set free from a life a bondage?

There is great power in desperation….When we reach the end of our rope….When we feel like there is nowhere else to turn.

When things have gotten so bad that it appears there is no way out.

Instead of viewing that time of desperation as a time to use prayer as a crutch….we need to view that as a time when great, mighty, prevailing prayers of desperation can be offered up to God.

HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU?

God’s best addition is in the midst of subtraction…What is that you’re holding onto that you need to let go of?

What door has He shut that you’re still standing in front of?

He’s saying “Child arise and come to Me!”

Some of you feel like you are desperate, but you are really, full of despair. You have actually given up.

Some of you would say you are desperate, but the truth is, you are just sad. Your faith is dead.

You would say you are desperate, but you are actually filled with so much disappointment that you are bitter, negative and the victim!

I end with these questions for you today….

1.)  What prayers have you given up on?

2.)  The second question is where are you desperate for God’s touch?

What area of my life: finances, physical health, relationships, bondage, chained to sin? Where am I desperate for God’s touch?

3.)  Who are you willing to press through the crowd for?

You’re on the mountain top.  Things are going well.  Are you standing there with your arms crossed?  Or is your hand extended?  Who are you willing to be desperate for today?  We need someone to make a stand and declare with authority and power . . . Let my people go! 

Am I desperate enough to push through the crowd on my hands and knees, just to touch the hem of His garment for my blessing?

Am I desperate enough that I’d leave my dying child’s bedside to seek you, Father?   

Am I desperate enough?

Some of you here today have been desperately waiting for a miracle.

You’ve seen everyone else receive, but here you are…..still waiting…

Are you desperate enough?  Have you given up?

He’s not forgotten you….He still see’s you.   Your miracle is coming.   

So let me assure you this morning.

The wave walker is in the house.

The Chief Shepherd is on the scene.

Present in the building is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The earth maker and the earth shaker is here.

The star kindler is on site.

The deaf ear opener,

The blind eye healer,

The one that makes the lame WALK and the nonverbal TALK, is here.

HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU?