The woman with the issue of blood heard a message, but so did a lot of other people who were present that day. They heard, but went away in the same spiritual and physical condition as they had come. What was the difference?

This woman grasped onto what she heard. She fastened to it as her source of strength. It was more than a philosophy to her; it became life itself, apart from which she would die. She heard the message and believed it — but this still was not enough.

The woman thought to herself, “If I can just touch His clothing, I will be healed.” And sure enough, as soon as she had touched Him, the bleeding stopped and she knew she was healed! We could call this “the great transition” because she left the area of concept or theory and made her move. She acted on what she believed. The woman not only said, “If I can touch His garment,” she made the supreme effort to reach her goal and receive what she sought. Faith is a fact, but faith is also an act. Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life.” The Word within you must produce life. It must produce action.

One of the most central themes of the entire Bible, beginning with the first chapter of Genesis through the last chapter of Revelation, is the fact that when God speaks it must be a fulfillment. In the beginning of time when God spoke, the worlds came into being. They had no choice. Because of the Power of the Word, they could not hold back.

The centurion who came to Jesus to seek healing for his servant had this revelation, for he said, “Speak the word only and my servant shall be healed.” In that soldier's mind the possibility of failure did not exist. He knew that if he could just get the Son of God to just speak, it was already done.

Moses told the children of Israel:

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land. but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:5)

Here we see the extreme necessity for God to perform that which He had spoken. In this instance, His performance does not depend on the righteousness of Israel or any of their accomplishments. It depended on His promise!

This is a roadblock for many people, for they feel consciously or even subconsciously that through their own merit they will receive deliverance from God. It has nothing to do with their goodness!

God has already spoken the Word of deliverance. He has spoken the Word of healing. It is not dependent upon you; it is dependent upon Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished at the cross of Calvary.

God has already spoken the Word of deliverance in my behalf. He has spoken the Word of healing. It is not dependent upon me; it is dependent upon Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished at the cross of Calvary.