Killing Me Softly

Seems like my pursuit of Yaweh comes and goes. When I really push and begin to speak so my ears can hear in prayer that I want to be hungry for His truth and righteousness then it seems to grow within my heart stirring and growing that very hunger. I remember a saying about seeking that has never left me. What you feed the most grows the most.

Something Borrowed

~ LORD, if YOU are willing, YOU can make me clean ~ (Luke 5.12)

Saturday, 07 July 2012 17:56 | Written by Bana Puru

One of the most touching stories I have come across in the gospel of Matthew is mentioned just after the Beatitudes. (attitudes that oughta be!) Jesus has just shared His message to hungry souls. He has filled their hearts with the Joy of new hope. He has given them living water which quenches the thirsting, and now He is about to continue His ministry to those in need of a Saviour. Jesus finishes His blessings upon the multitudes, with the comfort that if they build their house on the foundation of the Rock, – storm, tempest and floods would not be able to break that house.

As The LORD comes down from the mountain, a large gathering of people make haste and follow Him. There is seen nearing the Messiah a leper. Though it was customary for him to call out, the cry “Unclean, unclean, unclean”, – this leper does not echo these words. Instead the very first thing that comes forth from his mouth is “LORD…”.

Just for a moment, picture the scene. Here is the Saviour, He has taught the people to “love your enemies, to bless those that curse you.” He has taught them saying “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God…take no thought for your life…give to them which have nothing…pray for them that hate you and persecute you…” But Jesus is now faced with a man filled with leprosy.

Where are those that were with the LORD as He came down the mount of blessings? How many people would have been standing next to Jesus when this leper came unto Him? If we follow the storyline, and what people did when they saw a man filled with leprosy, we would conclude that none would be near Jesus or the man. In fact, I would imagine that those who followed Jesus would have stood at a distance, not wanting to be contaminated by this fellow who bore the evidence of the curse. Instead they became spectators of something marvelous and wonderful to behold.

Leprosy was considered as the “Stroke” or another words, the curse from God. If a man was found with leprosy, whether be rich or Poor, free or bond, they were examined and sentenced by the priest as “Unclean”. Leprosy was seen as a curse for a dreadful sin committed. The man who was pronounced as a leper was considered an outcast to society. They were not to have any association with their neighbours or even their families. As both an outcast and a leper affected by this disease, when people saw them, they were to pronounce those words “Unclean, Unclean, Unclean!”

When we see this story of the leper meeting Jesus, I could only imagine that as those words from the Saviour from the beatitudes echoed through that multitude, this leper picked up on the hope that the Redeemer was here. I could imagine that when Jesus words whistled through the air, this mans heart, filled with fresh hope and in desperation, was longing to see his Saviour. Not aware of the crowd that followed Jesus, this leper meets Jesus face to face, falls down, worships and in close contact cries out these words “…LORD, if YOU are willing, YOU can make me clean.” (Matthew 8.2)

Here are the words of a sinner, whom pronounced himself unworthy of any good gift. His cry is “LORD, You are able to do so if You choose, but Father, if You are willing, – I know that for a certainty, You can make me whole!” Had that request been of a boastful nature, there would have been no healing. But here was a man who was poor in spirit, who was mourning, who was alone, had found a meek and merciful Saviour! Jesus looks upon this man with pity and compassion, stoops down “…put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, “I AM willing; be whole.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8: 3)

Before Jesus spoke, He touched the man. Before the Saviour said anything to this repentant leper, He puts forth that gentle hand and touches the man. “This is not how I made you, it was never meant to be this way. I created you in My image, and I know that I came to take away your sorrow. When I made Adam, I formed him with My hand, and breathed into him life, and now my son, “I Am”

That touch from Jesus spoke more than the most poetic lyrics ever heard to man. That hand that would calm the sea, raise the dead and eventually be nailed to the cross, was put forth to that man. The Saviour’s hand spoke more to that man than he had ever experienced in his life. Following that touch was the spoken word, from the Word made flesh “…I AM willing; “be whole.”

What wonderful joy filled this leper. As the showers from heaven fell like soft rain in a dry and thirsty land, this man received the ultimate blessing. The odour became odourless, and limb become life. Every nerve, every impulse was restored to it’s normality “…And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8: 3)

The Word which created the world, which called all things into existence, which breathed life into the crowning work of Gods creation, gave life to this leper, and now the leprosy was gone. What a fantastic scene, -what an amazing sight to see. What a joy to behold the Saviour alone in the crowd with the leper.

“And Jesus said unto him, see you tell no man; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” Matthew( 8:4). In order to have been pronounced free from leprosy, the man who had leprosy was to be examined by the priest, and be “officially” pronounced as clean. In doing this the priest would confirm that this man indeed was cured of the disease. Jesus commanded to tell no man, but first to show himself to the priest. This was done so that he would demonstrate the spirit of submission of God’s appointed agency, and that in testifying to this miracle, the announcement of the priest would confirm to the people, the miracle that Jesus had performed.

Here is an important lesson for us today. If we live in an independent spirit, not wanting to be under the umbrella of whom God has delegated over us, we display a spirit that is not of God’s Son, but a spirit of rebellion and hate. Unless we have a childlike spirit, not matter how many wonderful things we do or how many sermons we preach, the kingdom of Heaven will never be found in us. Only those who are submissive to the divine pattern in which the Spirit of the LORD is upon will inherit the blessings the LORD has promised them.

(Again,- when we are willing- He is able!)

This man’s testimony was to remind the leaders that there was someone greater than Moses, Who was in their midst. There was SomeOne, -One whom the prophet prophesied that would come in the Name of the LORD. If they had taken heed to the law and the testimony and were convicted by the spirit of prophecy, they would have seen in their Master, the Shekinah glory. But they didn’t, for their eyes were blinded and pride was set in their hearts. They envied Christ and wished Him to not exist. But that day the leper went away blessed, (leaping and dancing and praising God!) – for he was healed by the LORD.

Today leprosy is not as common as it was those times, but there is a leprosy that the human eye cannot see. It is the leprosy of the heart. The leprosy of the heart is sin. Sin is the transgression of the Law, desensitising those things which we would otherwise rebuke. There is a condition in the heart where all evil resides. (the yetser ha’ra?) Our hearts are full of worms, hole and residue, and there is nothing we can do of ourselves to rid this emptiness. But what we can do is place our choice on the side of the Master Redeemer, and He (alone) is willing and able to take away our sins. If would but come to the LORD, with all all warts, and all our faults, and present them before throne of Grace, the LORD our God will put forth His hand, He will also touch us and say those most beautiful words that He said to the Leper …~ I AM willing, be clean ~

~ Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool ~

If we would remember, our Bible is a picture book. Leprosy is a “picture” of sin and the horror and the stench of sin. And friends, Jesus did not just “touch” the leper! Jesus, the Holy One, the Sent One, (amazingly) “EMBRACED” the leper! Yes. This.., was far from “normal” behavior!

Should not our prayer be the same as the leper’s? LORD, if YOU are willing.. YOU (and You alone) can make me whole? If our Savior and our Redeemer embraced such an one as this, -would He also receive us in like manner?

This was not the last of the lepers either! There were ten who were healed, but only one returned to thank Him. Yes, “where are the nine?” ~ Let the redeemed of the LORD, say so!!~

They are not listening.. they’re not listening still…- perhaps they never will:

~ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst ~ (1 Timothy 1.15)

Until we are willing to take our place among the lepers of this sin infested world and say unto Him.. (ask) “LORD, – (if You are willing) save me.. ” we will remain lepers unto death.

How willing was the wandering son to go to his Father and say.. “I have sinned, and am no longer worthy to be called your son? – make me as one of your hired servants?” Was this an easy thing to do? No, – but it was necessary and it was welcomed and received by the Father, (“who ran to meet him!”)

Now, – Are we willing?

(John 5.2-5) ~ After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters;…for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.…A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.…When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?”…~

STOP!!

Do you want to get well? He did not heal him from afar.. He, our Savior said directly to this man, one who had “been there” for thirty-eight years, “do you want? do you desire? do you wish to be well?

This is amazing! All this crippled man had to do was answer in the affirmative! YES, “I want to be made whole!!!” Christ was willing (and able!) to heal him, but first He waited for the consent of the cripple!- Yes! I want this! LORD, heal me! Savior, (hear my words- hear the plea and passion of my heart and HEAL me!
I WANT to be whole!! “Wholly human!” I want to be like You! Is this at all possible? YES!! “Ask, and YOU will receive! Seek.. (diligently, purposefully, intentionally, willingly) and YOU (also) will find.. Knock.. – patiently-persistently- and you (too) will find..

Here is some really good news! God is NOT out to hide Himself from anyone! No, -not at all. But He is waiting… waiting for that glorious day (will it be today? when He hears from us and we give unto Him, our complete and entire “Yes.” Absolute surrender to the LORDship of Jesus (who is the) Christ.

When He has our unreserved, fixed and focused “Yes…”- What will “happen to happen” (lol!) next! Love will bloom and blossom. ~ A “marriage” made in Heaven! Ruth and Boaz (our Kinsman-Redeemer) are married! and ~ The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose! ~
We provide the sinner and He is and becomes to us, the ones belonging to HIm, -our Savior and Sustainer and Source of every good gift and every perfect Gift. Yes, Abraham.. God has provided Himself the Lamb!

Hallelujah!- What a Savior!

But, is there more? Friends, the half has not yet been told..

Do you know Him? Have you met this Man? May we now be bold enough to agree with the words of Paul?

~ for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day ~ (2 Timothy 1.12)

“CORRECTIONS! Yesterday’s TW had A LOT of typos. That’s what I get for trying to write on an airplane.”

Skip,

You would think that after all the travelling that you do, you would have discovered it’s a lot easier and more efficient to write on that Mac of yours rather than on the airplane!

Groan! Groan! Groan! I’m sorry Skip! I tend to drive my wife crazy being a literalist! But this is done all the time in Bible translation, especially in the Tanach. Of course, we are dealing with an idiom in your statement. But we forget that there were probably moe idioms in Hebrew than in English. Yet they get translated literally and we end up with all kinds of problems. This is something we hammer home in our small group. Obviously it is one relatively small part in understanding the Hebrew roots of our faith, but it is one that most people quickly understand. They likely won’t know what the idioms are, but conceptually it is very easy to understand and it really causes people to think. So instead of taking some strange wording in the Scriptures at face value, it gives them an alternative way of thinking and opens the door to the research and hard work that really is necessary to fully understand the Scriptures. And Skip, I think I will stay away from your strange cult who believe it is necessary to write on airplanes to fully know our Abba. Plus American Airlines won’t have to clean the writing off the interior walls of the fuselage each time you get off an airplane! 🙂

Skip, hag sameach Ha Yom Teruah. We will be joining in a celebration and remembrance of this Moed today with a group of about 70 people. TW is the same message that we have been receiving in these days leading up to this day. May I share your post with the group as an encouragement? I am sharing this eternal time with you and all Israel in Spurit and Truth. If you allow me to share what you have written, it will as I’d you are there. Isn’t living in the Eternal amazing. Praise Yah, He makes us one! His mercy endures forever and His Kingdom is near and not far. I give YHVH praise for His Presence in this day and for willing vessels of His Spirit in the earth. Please read Isaiah 66, I send it as a gift. In thanksging, I am blessed. Be Blessed precious saint.