WHAT WE NEED IS A PERMANENT PRESS

WHAT WE NEED IS A PERMANENT PRESS

Today’s devotional is inspired from a sermon by Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White that I heard at the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in New Haven, Connecticut…way back in 1970.  Evangelist White began his message with a definition of permanent press.  It was actually invented in 1961, and swept through the popular culture by 1964.  According to Dictionary.com, “permanent press” is “a process in which a fabric is chemically treated to make it wrinkle-resistant so as to require little or no ironing after washing.” 

The obvious benefit is that permanent press clothing retains its shape despite the rigors of washing machine cycles, which serves to minimize or eliminate the need for extensive ironing.  To wit, the invention of permanent press was a creative solution to the public demand for carefree clothing.  There is a spiritual application embedded in this natural invention.  As we embrace the process of casting all our cares upon Jesus Christ, we encounter healing, wholeness and the reality of abundant (carefree) living…while escaping (not necessarily from, but through) our “fiery trials” and tribulations. (I Peter 5:7 – John 10:10 – I Peter 4:12)

Evangelist Richard White’s sermon text follows:

Mark 5:25-34  (NKJV)

²⁵ Now a certain woman had a flow [issue] of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” ²⁹ Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. ³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” ³¹ But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” ³² And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. ³³ But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. ³⁴ And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Throughout his message, Evangelist White artfully compared the tenacity and the press of this afflicted woman with the unique characteristics and benefits of permanent press clothing.  “What we need,” he contended, “is a permanent press!”  I will supplement his original message with the following Kingdom principles.

Kingdom Principle Number One: This unidentified woman had issues, as do we all.  You and I are keenly aware that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  Since we presently exist as ‘the church militant’ engaged in fighting “the good fight of faith,” every single one of us is involved in a life-or-death struggle with something. (I Timothy 6:12)  Two keys to victory are identifying and acknowledging our growth edges, so we can experience genuine development and deliverance.  This woman was no different from you or me.  Hers was an issue of blood; mine is ____; yours is ____.  From Heaven’s perspective, all of us stand in need of the practical assistance and powerful deliverance that is present via a personal encounter with Christ.  Therefore, all of us should be highly motivated to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Kingdom Principle Number Two: This seeking woman experienced deliverance through a process.  Mark details an epic struggle of considerable intensity and duration.  Indeed, this woman’s issue prevailed over the span of twelve long years, with innumerable visits to a veritable host of physicians.  The result? A tortuous twelve-year search for help left her ‘broke, busted and disgusted.’  Yet there was hope on the horizon.  Mark remarks, rather matter-of-factly, “she heard of Jesus.”  We are not privy to the identity of the witness[es] or their evangelical content, but the subject of their message was life-changing: JESUS CHRIST!  Undoubtedly, this woman had to resist inner voices that argued that this could be just one more failed attempt to become liberated from her chronic disease, but she obviously did not give up hope or effort.  My friend, if you embrace and endure the process, deliverance will surely come!

Kingdom Principle Number Three:  This sickly woman’s personal press was the seed of her healing harvest. Following the great flood, God made a natural/spiritual promise to humankind: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)  We know that God stands as a vigilant sentinel over His Word. (Psalm 119:106 – Ezekiel 12:25 –Jeremiah 1:12 – Romans 4:21)  God cannot lie.  So we believers have God’s immutable promise: ‘We reap what we sow.’ (Galatians 6:7)  As difficult and painful as it might have been, every single step toward The Great Physician was an expectant seed, a potent seed-of-deliverance, sown in tears but harvested in joy.  In the words of the psalmist, David: “He who goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:6) 

Kingdom Principle Number Four: This determined woman’s persistence was counted by Christ as faith.  Jesus’ final words to this woman were both informative and inspirational: “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace, and be whole of your plague.” (Mark 5:34)  Faith is fundamentally proactive.  In fact, “faith, if it has no works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17)  Faith never quits, and thus always succeeds.  What does this story say to us?  Firstly, our personal assets and resources are always insufficient to access the eternal.  Secondly, those family and friends who surround us cannot always answer the call of our deepest needs.  Although it is marvelous to partake of those loving relationships, what we need is a permanent press towards JESUS CHRIST, the author and finisher of our faith.  By any means necessary, get through to Him!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!