What to Do When Things Go from Bad to Worse
Pastor J.B. Whitfield
B. Whitfield is the Senior Pastor at Agape Faith Church in Clemmons, North Carolina. In addition to preaching, he is the president and founder of International Covenant Connections Fellowship (ICCF) and Impact University, a teaching and practical training Bible college. He has authored several books including: The Daily Dose of Joy, This Joy That I Have, Salvation More Than Heaven, and S.O.S. A Simple Outline for Soul Winning. Pastor Whitfield holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with a minor in Psychology, a Masters in Theology, and is a certified professional John Maxwell Leadership Coach. He and his wife, Susan, have been ministering at Agape Faith Church since 1982.
For more information about J.B. Whitfield Ministries, speaking engagements and leadership coaching, please visit our website jbwhitfield.com. Follow J.B. Whitfield:
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The following article is an excerpt from Pastor Whitfield’s book, What To Do When Things Go From Bad to Worse. You can pick up your copy at jbwhitfield.com/store or visit his website to find other materials from J.B. Whitfield.
Everyone has experienced moments that have “marked” them for life. We call them “AHA” or “DUH” moments. These are times that you know something supernatural just happened, and you are a recipient of a life-changing, life-altering revelation. This book is the result of one of those for me.
I was taping a TV program and was going over my notes in the green room, waiting to go out to preach. The call came that it was time, and as I was walking out to the set I heard the Lord say to me, “I want you to teach them what to do when things go from bad to worse.” He told me to go to Mark 5, and I saw the four main truths that make up the heart of my experience and shared within this book.
As I look back and forward at the same time, I can honestly say that the title of this book is for everyone that is still on earth today. Looking back, I understand that the truths written here are what brought my wife, my family, and I out of defeat and into victory. As I look forward, I know that these truths will work for anyone who will apply them.
1. A Place of Influence
We are all being influenced by someone or something. You may think you are a free-thinker, and you don’t allow anyone to influence the way you act or think, but you are a result of the influencers you have had in your life. Influence is the capacity to affect a person, thing, or outcome of events. Sometimes we face situations in our life, marriage, family or finances that the influencers around us can’t help. When that happens we must be like Jairus and “FIND OUR PLACE OF INFLUENCE.”
Mark 5:21-24 KJV
And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto Him: and He was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at his feet, And besought Him greatly, saying, my little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him.
Jairus was an influencer himself. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He was an official appointed by the elders. He was in charge of the order of worship. His responsibilities included making sure the proper prayers and scripture readings were scheduled. But now he finds himself in a “BAD” situation. Those around him could not help him. But he had heard of Jesus and His healing ministry. And he decided to go to Jesus. He knew he had to change his place of influence in order to experience change in his situation.
There was a multitude surrounding Jesus, but this man of influence, “one of the rulers of the synagogue,” fell down before Him and he sought Him greatly. He didn’t care what others thought. He humbled himself before the one he knew could help him. He asked Jesus to come and lay His hands on his daughter and she would live. Jesus agreed to go with him.
2. Properly Attach to Your Place of Influence
Can’t you imagine how excited Jairus was? Jesus is coming to his house to lay hands on his daughter and she would live! He was now walking with the answer to his “BAD” situation and then……….
Mark 5:25-31 KJV
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes? And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?
This is definitely a bad situation that has gotten worse. This woman had been bleeding for twelve years. She spent all she had and was no better but rather grew worse. We must realize that natural influence is great, but only the influence of Jesus and His word will bring lasting change to keep bad from going to worse. When she heard of Jesus she came and touched Him and immediately she was healed.
Jesus stopped and said: “Who touched Me?” His disciples said unto Him, “You see the multitude thronging You and You ask who touched me?” The multitude was “THRONGING” Him but this woman “TOUCHED” Him. Thronging means to encompass on all sides; to bump up against by mistake. We’ve all been in a crowd of people and brushed up against them by mistake. You touched them but it wasn’t intended for you to receive something from them. The multitude thronging Him didn’t stop Him, but a touch from a certain woman did.
Touch is to attach oneself to, to fasten to or to stick to like glue. This woman didn’t just brush up against her place of influence. No. What she did was properly attach herself to it. You can’t just find your place of influence and think that’s going to bring change. You must properly attach to it and stick to it like glue. Many lose their healing or blessings because they aren’t properly attached to their church. If you are not tithing, giving offerings or serving, you are not properly attached. Quit bumping up against the anointing weekly with no change, but rather properly attach to your place of influence.
3. It’s Never too Late
Can’t you imagine the excitement Jairus was experiencing? The answer to his problem was on the way to his house. Every step brought them closer. I am sure he was imagining his daughter rising from her deathbed. He knew his “BAD” was about to be changed. He risked his reputation, position and future in asking Jesus to come to his house. But then suddenly they were stopped by someone else’s problem.
Mark 5:35-36 LBT
While He was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’ house with the news that it was too late — his daughter was dead and there was no point in Jesus coming now. But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust Me.”
While Jairus was talking with the woman about what had just happened, some folks came from Jairus’ house and told him he didn’t need Jesus anymore. It was too late. His daughter was dead. He had to be thinking, “Wait a minute! Why did that woman come today? Jesus why did You stop? My answer was on its way, and now because of this delay my situation has gone from bad to worse. It’s too late!”
Jesus overheard the bad news. He knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew that fear was going to overtake Jairus, and so He said, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.” Jairus now had a choice to make. In the midst of an impossible situation, Jesus was telling him not to fear but to trust instead. I believe He was saying, “Jairus, don’t be afraid. It’s never too late.”
I want you to take hold of the importance of what Jesus said. It doesn’t matter how many times you have missed it or failed. It doesn’t matter how many times you have done what you knew you were not supposed to do. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.
4. See Like Jesus Sees
I am sure you have heard the saying “I can’t believe my eyes.” Many times our eyes do fool us. Everything you can see with your natural eye is temporary. The seriousness or magnitude of the situation has nothing to do with its temporal existence. The length of its time is determined by our perspective concerning it.
Mark 5:37-42 NKJV
And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement!
When they arrived at Jairus’ house the mourners were there. They were paid to help families mourn. In that day, the more influential a person was, the more mourners they would hire. Jairus was very influential and so there was a multitude present. You can’t always trust the multitude.
Jesus asked them why they were mourning. The child was dead but Jesus responded that she was just taking a nap. I imagine Peter, James, and John wanted to leave. But remember regardless of how bad your situation is, or even if it goes from bad to worse, as long as Jesus is around, it will be okay.
Jairus, the mourners, and the three disciples were seeing death. Jesus was seeing the future. When we are in bad to worse situations we must change our perspective of things. If you are standing in a certain spot in a room, you have a visual perspective of everything in the room. When you change your position you can still see everything yet it’s from a different perspective. All they could see was death. Jesus was looking at it from His perspective and He could see life.
It doesn’t matter what the enemy is presenting to you. It could be the death of your finances, business, ministry or marriage. What matters is are you looking at it like Jesus does? Maybe it’s your physical body, or as in Jairus’ case, your child or a family member. Once again you must see like He sees.
When Jesus told them the little girl was sleeping, they laughed and ridiculed Him. He proceeded to put them all out. If others can’t see what you see, put them out. Don’t let them keep you from receiving your breakthrough. He then took the little girl by the hand and raised her up. He’s ready to take your situation and raise it up.
I encourage you to learn these four important points and use them. They will turn every bad to worse situation into victory.
