Today I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “A Woman Who Had Been Subject to Bleeding for Twelve Years.” Today’s scripture shows a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. Back then, it was considered as awful as leprosy. Those who suffer from such a disease not only go through physical pain, but also pain in their hearts because they have to live separated from their families and friends. Through this woman’s disease we realize that the devil tries to steal, kill and destroy us through diseases. This woman had been subject to bleeding for twelve years and had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. It’s been the same in any age, one’s disease is not confined to oneself; if one family member becomes sick, the whole family is shaken together. A medical fee jeopardizes family finances and then family quarrels start and it ends up in divorce or family breakdown, in many cases. Therefore, if one family member is stricken with a serious disease, not only his life but also the whole family together will be shaken. However, the devil is the force behind disease. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” When we become sick, it’s the devil working behind our diseases. On the contrary, Jesus always works behind all good things. Therefore, if we are inflicted with disease, we must fight against it relying on Jesus Christ. Mark 9:25-27 says, “When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. ‘You deaf and mute spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He's dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.” Wherever Jesus went, He always cast out the devil with diligence. As the devil is the main force to trample down our joy and peace, he must be cast out to restore our lost joy and peace. It is the devil who steals our hope and dream. He turns the light of faith off. Also, the devil makes people have negative thoughts, saying, “I cannot make it. It is impossible. It can’t be done.” Galatians 4:8 says, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.” How miserable it is to hear of this woman’s suffering from bleeding for twelve years. How painful and hopeless her situation as she had received all possible treatments from many doctors, yet instead of getting better she grew worse! Mark 5:25-26 says, “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” The more treatments she received, the worse her pain became. She became tired of being treated for bleeding for twelve years and gradually lost her hope for life. Now she thought that she could not move on so she almost gave up her life. The darkness crushed her dream and hope. The absolute despair completely oppressed her to give up any hope of life. She could not find any ray of hope in heaven and on earth. Disease also brings about mental pain with it. Today’s Scripture shows that this woman who suffered from bleeding had not only physical pain but also insurmountable mental pain, too. According to the law, bleeding disease was regarded as ceremonially unclean so these patients were forbidden to contact any so called clean people. Therefore, these bleeding patients were divorced from their spouses and forbidden to enter public gatherings or the temple of God. it was thought a person would become unclean if they touched a leper or a dead body. How miserable and hurt she would have been as someone became unclean as soon as he touched or even contacted her! Who could save her from this misery? We should think about this! You know what? There are so many more rumors than are known to us. Among rumors there could be lies or truth, but in her age, due to lack of communication tools, rumors would lead the direction of many people’s lives. It was a news that delivered a true joy to her. Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” She could not hear the Word of Christ in public, but she hid herself among the big crowd at the market and heard about a rumor. Jesus was said to come to the earth as the Son of God and to heal all the sick people by laying on His hands. Even though she was in despair, crushed in her heart, and hopeless, this news began to shine sunlight on her. It was such important news that brought hope to her despair, life to her death-like life, and restored her vigor. When she heard this news about Jesus, she became joyful and hopeful again. Matthew 4:23-24 says, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.” Jesus’ public ministry was not confined only to forgive sins, but also to heal the sick, which consisted of two thirds of His ministry. He did hate not only sins but also diseases. Therefore, wherever He went, He always prayed for the sick and healed them. So a big crowd of sick people waited for Jesus on the roadside wherever He went. Jesus healed them all, all the time. This bleeding woman had been in total despair with nowhere to go, but a ray of light began to shine in her frustrated heart when she heard about Jesus. First of all, she was healed because she heard about Him. Mark 6:56 says, “And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.” “It will be done according to your faith!” People heard that they could be healed if they touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak so whosoever touched His cloak was healed. This bleeding woman merely waited for her death in dark despair, but as soon as she heard that she would be healed if she touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak, she began to have a dream saying, “I can be healed if I go to Jesus!” When people have a hopeful dream in their hearts, a bright tomorrow will come to them. We should live with a dream and a definite goal in our lives. We children of God must have a goal in Jesus Christ and dream a dream according to the goal. When the Holy Spirit comes, He shows us a God-given goal to live out. When we dream a dream following the goal, God’s power will lead us to fulfill that dream. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit comes, He gives us a dream and a goal. We must be careful about this. To overcome the devil is the most important thing in our life. If we have negative thoughts and desert our hope and dream and give up faith and speak negative things only, we will be enslaved to the devil, stolen and killed. However, if we have joy and hope and look to our dream and proclaim our faith with our mouths, we can destroy the work of the devil. When we have joyful hearts and dream a hopeful dream and pray with faith, the devil will flee from us in seven ways even if he comes in one way. This bleeding woman had a definite dream to be healed so she could pass through so many obstacles and finally touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak. She must have been forbidden to meet her own family or neighbors; if she had stepped outside, she would have been killed right there. Without firm conviction that she would be healed as soon as she touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak, she could not have done that bold move. However, as she heard the news about Jesus it became her dream so she began dreaming of herself touching the edge of His cloak and being healed right away day and night and believed it without doubt. One day Jesus was passing through her town, she was firmly determined and struggled hard to pass through the big crowd and finally touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak and was healed! Those who have a purpose and dream will bring miracles by the help of God. It is our dream that brings us hope for a future. When we have a dream, we can have hope and a future. With a dream in our hearts, we can have the faith to resist the devil. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” This devil keeps attempting to steal, kill, and destroy us while following us so we must be alert to resist him. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We must not step back without resisting the devil. Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” How marvelous she thought that she would be healed if only she could touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak! It was such a positive and active thought. Once we have faith, we must speak it like this bleeding woman. She walked around all alone, but she kept confessing her faith with her mouth, saying, “I would be healed as soon as I touch His cloak. I would be healed as soon as I touch His cloak. I will touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak because I will be healed right away!” If we confess our faith with our mouths actively, it will become a mighty power. When we accept God’s blessing in 3 John 2 which says, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well,” we should always confess it with our mouths, saying, “’Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.’ This is what God says for me!” We can bless and encourage ourselves and declare our faith. To the sick, we must proclaim, “By His stripes you are healed.” If we keep confessing, “By His stripes you are healed,” it will cross the mountain and the sea to perform miracles. This bleeding woman heard news about Jesus and it renewed her whole life and she became a new person! The Holy Spirit always goes to those whose hearts are ready; only those who have positive thoughts can work with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a positive Spirit so He works with those who also have positive thoughts. The Holy Spirit is also a Spirit of dreams. He enters into you to plant God-given dream in you and then the dream will lead you. Today Jesus Christ is waiting to pour out His mighty grace on you. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will have a great miracle to meet Jesus by the help of the Holy Spirit. Miracles will happen to you! The Lord said to His disciples before He left the world. “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Whatever we ask, believe, give thanks to God, and follow before the Lord, miracles will happen to us and our desires will be met. Our enemy devil always follows us in the darkness and tries to make us fall down. If we follow the devil by having negative thoughts always, without any dream but come and go empty-handed, and never expect any miracle before God, the devil will succeed! However, we must let the devil flee from us in seven ways even if he comes to us in one way. When our hearts are filled with joy and thankfulness relying on God, it will resist the devil. When we have joy and dream in our hearts and keep confessing faith with our mouths, miracles will continue in our life. You are all precious and beautiful children of God. When you pray, you should pray more actively. Today when we ask something before God the Father, do you pray formally like this, "Father, kindly please listen to my prayer. Would you please make it happen,"? No, rather pray intimately like this, "Abba daddy, you love me! Please help me! You can do it so help me now!" You won't pray in a formal way like this, "Father God, I am waiting for you. Would you please kindly help me!" God the Father loves us much more than our physical father loves us. We can be intimate with God, calling Him, "Abba Father." However, we act like God is a million miles away. When you pray, please do this as I tell you. "Daddy! Father! I pray to you and I rely on you!" Then God will also say, "Okay, My dear sons and My dear daughters. What do you want me to do for you?" You can be more intimate with Him than before. God loves you so dearly. He sent His only begotten Son to be crucified on the cross to save you. He loves you so much that when you come before Him and rely on Him, He will make the impossible possible. The Spirit of God never leaves you alone but is with you all the time. He gives visions to the young and dreams to the old. Yesterday one foreigner said to me, "Korea is now in a crisis. I don't know how you can survive this." So I said to him, "You don't know anything about Korea. We have survived much harder crises than this." In Korea we have many churches and the Holy Spirit is with us and in us so we can overcome any crisis and expect miracles to happen. Where can you find such a country that has the early morning prayer meeting, all night prayer meeting, fasting prayer at prayer mountain, and then regular prayer at Sunday worship service? Furthermore, next to the USA, Korea sends the second largest group of missionaries around the world. The Spirit of God is here with us in Korea and also in Christians’ hearts, if we have the same thought with Him, share God-given dreams with Him, and believe the same faith with Him, and proclaim creative confession with Him, darkness will turn into light, death into life, and failure into success. Therefore, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."(Hebrews 10:38) I bless you in the name of the Lord that you do not shrink back or be afraid or be discouraged, but move on with faith and follow God.