What do a synagogue ruler on his knees and a woman crawling through a crowd have in common? Faith that refused to stay comfortable. In part two of Principles of Faith, Pastor Nana Boadum walks through Mark 5 and draws out four principles: God will challenge your culture, God responds to faith, people will get in the way, and God's power is bigger than your problem. If you've spent years trying everything else first — this word is your invitation to come to Jesus like it's the only thing left, because it's the best thing there is.
The seven movements
- Faith is not a mood — it operates on principles. Mark 5 places Jairus the ruler and the unnamed bleeding woman side by side: opposite ends of society, same working faith (Hebrews 11:6).
- God will challenge your culture. Jairus — a ruler of the synagogue — knelt, cried out, and begged publicly. Whatever your "way of doing things" is, faith will ask you to break it: the dignified may need to cry out; the hasty may need to slow down. Your deliverance matters more than your dignity (Mark 5:22-23).
- God responds to faith. "So Jesus went with him" (Mark 5:24) — the Master changed direction for a man who came in faith. Corollary: speak faith-filled words after you pray; don't be the voice that un-prays the prayer on the way out of church.
- People will get in the way. The crowd thronged Jesus and slowed the journey — not from evil intent, but obstruction is real either way. Faith needs discernment and perseverance for the people-shaped delays (Mark 5:24).
- Hearing built her faith. Twelve years, every physician, all her money — then she heard about Jesus, kept hearing, raised the volume on the Word and turned down the negative voices (Mark 5:25-28; Romans 10:17).
- God's power is bigger than your problem. She staked everything on one touch of His garment — and twelve years ended. Stop being a lifelong researcher of your problem; become a lifelong worshipper of your God (Mark 5:28-29).
- "Daughter, your faith has made you well." Jesus stopped a whole crowd for a woman nobody noticed — He notices you. The closing blessing: Psalm 1:3 — planted by the river, fruitful in season, whatever your hands find to do shall prosper.
Walk away with this
Two minutes of prayer on each principle: where is God challenging my culture? Am I speaking like God responds to faith? Where do I need perseverance with people in the way? Have I made my problem bigger than my God?