Talitha Cumi

Talitha Cumi (Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.)

I studied these words from Mark 5:41 as I prepared for my trial sermon this month.  It is amazing how the Word of God can parallel with so many of life’s struggles.  In these verses we see Jairus coming to Jesus by faith and praying that He would come and lay hands on his daughter that she may be made well.  Before Jesus arrives at the home of Jairus, it was announced that his daughter was dead.

The loss and pain of physical death is real.  The loss and pain of spiritual death is just as real.  Have you ever found yourself in a spiritually sick state?  Because of the trials of life, your faith was shaken and as a result, your soul was injured. 

Death is separation.  It is separation from life.  Have you ever been separated from spiritual life?

My fight with depression was brutal.  During that time I should have held on to my faith in God with all that was within me, but I didn’t.  I did not want to admit it at the time, but I was making a conscious decision to let the fight overtake me. 

My mother was the Jairus in my life.  Her faith remained steadfast and her intercessory prayers sustained me until "I" was ready to rise.  As hard as life seemed to be for me at the time, I didn’t want to die.  My soul wanted desperately to live and thrive.

I needed a restoration of my faith, so I engrossed myself with scripture.  I memorized. I quoted.  I wrote.  The Word of God became embedded in me.  Faith comes from the Word of God. 

Finally I found the courage to face the reality of poor decisions I made and accept responsibility.  Yet, with all of my toiling, only God had the power to regenerate my spiritual life.  I cried unto Lord to lay His hands on me and in the spirit Jesus proclaimed

“Talitha Cumi, Damsel I say unto thee arise”

Just like the daughter of Jairus rose from physical death, I rose from my bed of depression and He renewed His Spirit within me.  His daughter rose and started walking.  Once God mended my brokenness, by faith, I walk in the Spirit.

Continually my prayer shall be…Lord lay your hand upon… according to my faith He will answer, “Talitha Cumi”

-Candra Evans

For Women Only: His name is Jesus

Since we were little girls, we dreamed of being a princess. In our despair a handsome prince would come and rescue us.  We’d fall in love and living happily ever after. We pulled pedals from flowers reciting the words, “He loves me, He loves me not” with hopes the last pedal would reveal mutual love from the boy we admired.

But for some, as we grew from girls to women, the harsh realities of an unjust world crushed those little girl dreams.

Never did we find ourselves in the arms of a handsome prince.  So we settled for relationships full of empty promises, sending us spiraling down dark paths where no amount of sex, clothes, drugs, or money can give relief for very long. It leaves us weary, tired, and longing for a deliverer.

Did you know that there is One who loves you past your faults and pain?  His love is courageous and the joy He gives is sweeter than honey. He is a Prince. He is a King. He is ruler of the universe. No, He is not a comic book super hero, but will rescue you when you call.  He will love you beyond an unjust society and battered dreams. Come to Him broken and He will mend and uphold you, making you the blessed woman you always knew you could be.

He is a man of honor. He does not use.  He does not abuse.  He has never cheated or lied.

He values the life of every woman.  He took great care of His mother. He came to the rescue of an adulterous woman. He defended the heart of a poor widow who could not give as much as others, but gave all she had. He esteemed the worship of a woman under fire by a room full of men. He healed a woman with an issue flowing blood from her body.  He touched the hand of a young girl and raised her from the dead.  Through Him their pain ended and new life began.   

They trusted Him, and He gave them love that never failed. He heals us, restores our destiny, and forgives our past.  He changes us from women of dishonor to women of nobility and total beauty.

His name is JESUS.

He gave his life…suffering…sacrificing himself to pay the debt of every sin from the past, the present, and of those yet to be born. He rose from the grave three days later, gaining victory over death. Jesus ascended back to Heaven to prepare a perfect place us, and sent back the Comforter.  His Spirit is on the earth today and waiting to dwell inside of you, to lead and guide you to all that is truth.

John 15:13 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Want to know what God has in store for you?

1 Corinthians 2: 9 – But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Leave your inhibitions behind and come. Leave your past behind and come. Leave shame behind and come.

Your Prince is here.  He died for your sins. He rose from the dead. He has come again in Spirit. He is waiting to rescue you, hold you, and love you. He is the greatest love you will ever know. 

-Candra Evans

Greater Community Church of the Apostolic Faith

3590 Alaska Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237