It was around 4am this morning when the Lord woke me up with this phrase from the scriptures: “I will; be thou clean.”
Naturally the first thing that came to my mind was the story recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that records Jesus speaking these words to the man full of leprosy. Let’s go look at these scriptures together:
Matthew 8:1-4
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Mark 1:40-45
40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Luke 5:12-16
12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
***We have read these 3 accounts of Jesus cleansing the man with leprosy and I want to point out a few observations that I have from the story. Some of these are very obvious but they are worth highlighting because serving the Lord should be the most natural thing that you do.
**I want you to look at your neighbor and say this: I was created to be in communion and relationship with all mighty God.
Today is “Seasoned Saints” Sunday at Joy. On this Sunday we highlight some of of the older praise and worship songs. One such song from the early 1990s is the Song Emmanuel that I believe was made famous by Christ for the Nations Worship.
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Song Lyrics
I was born to be God's dwelling place
A home for the presence of the Lord
So let my life now be
Separated unto Thee
That I might be what I was born to be
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Your name is called Emmanuel
You are God with us, revealed in us
Your name is called Emmanuel
****So tell your neighbor again: I was created to be in communion and relationship with all mighty God.
As we look at these accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke of Jesus interaction with this man who had leprosy, the first thing we see is that he came to Jesus and he worshipped him.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a Christian hymn originally written by preacher Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother, who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Later the words of the poem were set to music an became a hymn:
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
***The first point of the message today: Worship it puts you in a position to receive something from Jesus.
Look at the accounts again:
Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
***Can I ask you a question this morning, What is your posture and position when you approach the Lord?
All throughout God’s word we see that when people come into the presence of God that there posture and position changes.
- Abraham falls facedown in reverence to God in Genesis 17
- Moses and Aaron both falls facedown at the entrance of the tent of meeting to cry out to God in Numbers 20
- Joshua falls facedown before the Ark of the Lord in Joshua 7
- Throughout the book of revelation people are bowing, keeling, falling on their faces before the glorified and resurrected Christ Jesus.
- The list goes on, and on….Ezra, Solomon, Daniel, Stephen, Paul the Apostle…
What am I saying? Church I am telling you that people who are I the presence of the Lord are bowing, kneeling, worshiping, or just on their face.
The first point of the message today: Worship it puts you in a position to receive something from Jesus.
***The next thing I would like to point out is that he was not afraid to ask Jesus for what he desired.
***The man with leprosey that came to Jesus was not afraid to ask him for what he desired. What he needed.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
James 4:1-3 New Living Translation
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
**The problem with most of us today is that we do not have the boldness to ask Jesus for what we need. We come into his presence and we worship him. We may even get in the position and posture to receive from him but then we pretend we are all fine and do not need anything from the Lord. There is a great scene from the 1975 comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In this scene the stubborn Knight refuses to give up fighting King Arthur who has cut off both his arms and his legs, insisting it is only a flesh would and nothing serious.
It is clear to everyone around that it is much more than a flesh wound but he is in denial. Friends, Jesus can see you are hurting. Jesus can see you are in need. You do not have to pretend everything is okay. Listen to the 2nd verse of What a Friend we have in Jesus:
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
The first point of the message today: Worship it puts you in a position to receive something from Jesus.
The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus is waiting for you to ask in faith for what you need.
James 1:1-8
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
John 14:12-14
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
***So the Man came to Jesus. The man got into a position of worship to receive from Jesus. The man asked Jesus in faith for what he needed, desired.
Jesus responds…….
Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Luke 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
***Another great, “Seasoned Saints” Sunday song: He touched me, oh he touched me, and oh the joy that filled my soul. Something happened and now I know. Jesus touched me and made me whole……..
***The 3rd point of the Message today: All you need is a word from the Lord to change your life.
Jesus said: I will; Be thou clean.
In the Bible, getting "leprosy" is typically described as a sudden act of divine judgment from God rather than a normal biological infection, and it refers to a wide range of ritual skin conditions rather than modern Hansen's disease.
Modern Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is caused by slow-growing bacteria. It spreads slowly through close, long-term contact—usually via droplets from the nose and mouth when an untreated person coughs or sneezes. Most humans are naturally immune and cannot catch it easily. It mainly targets the skin and peripheral nerves. Early signs include discolored or pale skin patches that lack feeling, alongside muscle weakness, thickened nerves, and a stuffy nose.
While Living with the Disease
- Go to the priest: Report for inspection so the condition could be evaluated.
- Isolate: Live outside the boundaries of the Israelite camp away from the community.
- Show mourning and grief: Wear torn clothes, leave hair unkempt or loose, and cover the lower face/mouth.
- Give warning: Cry out "Unclean, unclean" whenever anyone approached so others could keep a safe distance.
***When this man came to Jesus he was asking to be cleansed. He was asking for Jesus to make him clean. For years his identity was: Unclean, unclean.
Listen to me today because Jesus is in the house to bring cleansing to someone here today. Jesus is in the house to bring health, healing and wholeness but more importantly than what Jesus is can do to your physical body……Jesus wants to change your identity.
The leper lived his life having to where a mask. He had to give a warning that became his identity. His condition became his identity. His friends, his family, children that met him along the way knew him as the self-proclaimed, UNCLEAN.
***The first point of the message today: Worship it puts you in a position to receive something from Jesus.
The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus is waiting for you to ask in faith for what you need.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: All you need is a word from the Lord to change your life.
***The 4th point of the Message today: The word from the Lord will change your very identity.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
***The next part of the story is very interesting. Jesus told the man two things after he cleanses him:
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- Do not say anything (Sometimes we lose our blessing by blabbing)
- Complete the process of confirmation of your cleansing by me under the law. (God is a God of order, justice and mercy)
- That will be the testimony to the priest. (There is always evidence of God’s work)
***Why do you think Jesus did it this way?
Turn with me to Matthew 5
Matthew 5:14-18
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
When Healed (The Cleansing Ritual)
- Initial inspection: Meet the priest outside the camp to verify the healing.
- The bird ceremony: Provide two clean live birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop. One bird was killed over fresh spring water in a clay pot, and the living bird and materials were dipped in its blood before the living bird was set free.
- Personal hygiene: Wash clothes, shave off all body hair, and bathe in water.
- Camp reentry: Return to live outside their own tent for seven days.
- Final shaving and washing: On the seventh day, shave all hair again (including beard and eyebrows), wash clothes, and bathe again.
- Offerings: On the eighth day, bring lambs and flour/oil for a trespass, sin, burnt, and grain offering, where the priest placed sacrificial blood and oil on the person's right ear, right thumb, and right big toe to make atonement for them.
***In Closing I want you to turn with me to Psalms 51
David wrote it after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his secret affair with Bathsheba and his plot to have her husband, Uriah, killed in battle to hide the pregnancy
Psalm 51
51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
1 Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
cleanse me from ev'ry sin and set me free.
***The first point of the message today: Worship it puts you in a position to receive something from Jesus.
The 2nd point of the message today: Jesus is waiting for you to ask in faith for what you need.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: All you need is a word from the Lord to change your life.
***The 4th point of the Message today: The word from the Lord will change your very identity.