Persistent bleeding stopped week 13, 2014

It was impressed on my heart to visit them. I was tired, and had sent them to a clinic. But the impression was persistent I decided to drive up Chime avenue in New Haven where I lived and see them. A brother’s wife had suffered a miscarriage and I had sent her with her husband to the gynaecologist to complete the evacuation. It was now evening but I still went. It was at the junction that I met them. He was supporting her as she staggered along the road. “What happened?” I asked. The evacuation had been carried out and she had been sent home though there was still some bleeding. She had been assured it would stop. I compelled them to enter the vehicle and we drove down to the clinic.

When the gynaecologist examined her the pack was soaked. On removal the uterus was bleeding still. All manoeuvres to staunch it failed. Pitocin and other drugs were given intravenously to no avail: the blood just was not clotting! What were we to do? There was an industrial action which had shut down the tertiary health institutions of the state. There was no place to send her to that night. We needed blood; fresh whole blood for her condition. The diagnosis was scary: Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. A dreaded complication of her condition, it results in the inability of blood to form a clot and therefore stop bleeding. Her womb had been scrapped to remove all products of conception; the raw surface was pouring blood uncontrollably.

The few women I had encountered with such a condition all ended up dying. I pitied Luke as I considered how small their children were. How would they cope? When he asked me, “Doc, she will live won’t she?” I nodded in the affirmative. I dared not share with him the expected outcome. I cried to God for His intervention. We ended up in Mother of Christ specialist hospital in our search for blood. Fresh whole blood was unavailable. “Get whatever you can” urged the gynaecologist. It was about 11pm by the time we got back with the blood. She was still alive. When the gynaecologist removed the pack the blood had stopped coming. The bleeding had stopped! “How did that happen?” I asked him.  “I don’t know” was his reply.

It has now been over ten years. Even though at first Luke cancelled the idea of having more children, a few years ago she took in and she has successfully delivered a baby girl.

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all of her money, she had not been helped at all but rather grew worse. Since she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his robe, because she had been saying, "If I can just touch his robe, I will get well." Her bleeding stopped at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her illness. Mk 5:25-29(ISV).   

Harcourt is a consultant surgeon 

Wanted dead, not alive week 12, 2014

What would happen if I told you must die today?

“Ah, don’t you wish me well? I don’t want to die o. I am still agile and very useful, my family needs me. I have many things yet to accomplish. Work hard at whatever you do, because there will be no action, no thought, no knowledge, no wisdom in the world of the dead---and that is where you are going Eccl 9:10(GNB).  I can’t die now.”

You have many things to accomplish? Your work will not be finished until you die.

“Who will complete the work when I die then? I cannot trust those I am leaving behind to do my wish. I know when anyone dies he cannot work again, I know. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me; night is coming when no one can work Jn 9:4(GNB).  That is why I don’t want to die so I can finish them.”

You don’t understand. God’s work in you cannot be complete until you die. For Jesus’ work to be completed He had to die. When he tasted the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and died Jn 19:30(ERV). God needs you to die now. You want to live long? Death has to grip you. God wants it.

“I beg your pardon! God definitely plans for me to live long. I will satisfy him with long life; I will show him my deliverance Ps 91:16(ISV). ”

It is not a physical death I speak of. Jesus died physically. We have to die to self. This life you live now, so full of “I, I, me, mine” must die. Have you not learnt what Paul said? I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me Gal 2:20(ASV).

“I am uncomfortable with this talk. How will this Christ life manifest in me then?”

 Ah! Good question. Death is the instrument God uses to bring it on. While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies 2Cor 4:11(ISV).  

What do we work at; revival? It is when I die that revival comes. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day Is 2:11 (KJV). As long as “I” live revival waits. The fight to live is basic, deeply rooted in the make-up of every creature; it must go. What work are we called to; increasing disciples? We need to die. It is a fact that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can grow and produce much more wheat. If it never dies, it will never be more than a single seed Jn 12:24(ERV).

“Is that not referring to Jesus only, speaking of his impending death on the cross?”

 Ah, my dear, you are seed: the good seed are the children of the kingdom Mat 13:38(KJV). Die like He did. Yield your spirit; give up your life into His hands.

Thirsty for souls Week 11, 2014

After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst Jn 19:28(ASV).  

Why was Jesus thirsty? Often the scripture speaks on two planes – the spiritual and the physical. I believe His thirst was in two planes too. Why? Consider a previous experience where thirst was manifest: Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.  A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus told her, "Please give me a drink," Jn 4:6-7(ISV).  But there was a deeper thirst – a hunger and thirst for the soul of the Samaritan woman, for the men of Sychar. The people left the town and started on their way to him. Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, have something to eat." But he told them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Jn 4:30-32(ISV).   That thirst could not be quenched by physical means. Jesus told them, "My food is doing the will of the one who sent me and completing his work”  Jn 4:34(ISV).

On this occasion it is well past noon. He had been on the cross for six hours; a sleepless night, cruel beatings and scourging by soldiers had happened before that. Definitely He was thirsty! Yet there was a deeper thirst. A thirst you and I are linked to. Isaiah prophesied of this deeper thirst and spoke of its fulfillment. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities Is 53:11 (KJV).  His thirst is relieved in the salvation of sinners. What relieves your thirst?

Twice now we see Jesus being offered physical substitutes for a deeper thirst. Do we share in this deeper thirst for souls or are we seeing only physical needs? Is all you offer Jesus on the physical plane? Money, donations, sacrifices? Structures and projects alone? Jesus rejected the physical food offered by His disciples in the presence of a deeper thirst. Are you giving Him your life, your worship your attention and devotion? Are you offering up souls? (Rom15:16) He thirsts for that: True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him Jn 4:23(ISV). 

Are you thirsty too? The unbelieving sought to quench His thirst with wine. A jar of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth Jn 19:29(ISV). Are you trying to fill your thirst with alcohol, women (i.e. sexual pleasure), fame and money?  Those who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin 1Tm6:9 (ISV). Jesus is the water of life. But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never become thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become a well of water for him, springing up to eternal life." Jn 4:14(ISV). Come to Jesus and thirst no more! Rev 22:17

I thirst Week 10, 2014

Jesus did not make this statement for Himself.  It was made deliberately to bring a scriptural prediction to pass. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."  A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips Jn 19:28-29(NIV). 

Notice that in the matter of Jesus’ crucifixion many a prophecy was fulfilled. Some individuals fulfilled the scripture without knowing of them: When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares ... This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did. Jn 19:23-24(NIV). Some did without realizing it was those scriptures they were fulfilling. Did not Caiaphas accurately prophecy albeit unknowingly about Jesus dying for all mankind? He said “You don't realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed."   Now he did not say this on his own initiative. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  and not only for the nation, but that he would also gather into one the children of God who were scattered abroad Jn 11:50-52(ISV). But Jesus fulfilled them consciously.

You and I are destined to fulfill scripture, but how shall we fulfill them; knowingly or unknowingly? At the cross they who ignorantly fulfilled the scripture were those who sinned, whose actions are condemnable. He who knowingly fulfilled scripture is the Righteous One. Have an attitude of knowing what the scripture says and fulfilling them in your life. Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll.  I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart Ps 40:7-8(NIV).

You and I are destined to fulfill scripture, but which shall you and I fulfill; the portions for judgement or those for true blessings? In life or death the scripture will be fulfilled. Do you hate God? You will fulfill scripture. But this happened so that what has been written in their Law might be fulfilled: 'They hated me for no reason.' Jn 15:25(ISV)  Do you love the Lord? You must fulfill scripture. Are you ignorant or indifferent about all this scripture stuff? You will nevertheless fulfill them! Herod and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen Act 4:27, 28 (CEV). I want you to realize it lies in your hand to decide which way you will go (2Tm 2:20-21).

But Jesus’ word “I thirst” was not a pretense just to fulfill something written. He was really thirsty. For what cause?