A Cure for the Incurable

Christ is who he claims he is we who believe in him are to be Jesus is the Savior. This man doesn't have a prayer stand a chance. His life is only going, worse, I couldn't help but they list it is better for us. Jesus is the Savior we don't have a prayer we don't stand a chance. We are the apostle Paul wrote, we are if he is legitimately the Messiah. We are all will. The Bible tells us that because a person or situation is terminal and incurable. We are in desperate need of rescue. So here's one of the most important questions you need to ask about Jesus.

Can Jesus pull off what no one else on the planet can you see the sovereign Savior, who is worthy of us risking everything as we place our faith fully in him. Can Jesus do what he claims he can do today on wisdom for the hard work taking a close look at Jesus who offers us a cure for the incurable. That's the title and the theme of Stephen Davies message few years ago I was flying back from a conference and was on that last leg, which I always look forward to Charlotte to Raleigh Lake.

Briefest of all, and I have my Bible out on my tray.

I was reading. I know that sounds really spiritual.

Honestly, I was behind on my Bible reading for the year I was cramming to catch up young woman was sitting next to me and she noted the Bible mentioned to me that she had one as well, which opened the door to begin a talk with her and told me that she had been raised in a Protestant church and her husband had been raised in the Catholic Church and as far as they were concerned they had their bases covered. And so I had the privilege of doing what I love to do and that's showing her from the word of God that her church and my church and the church in general cannot save anybody. I told her regular church wants to throw little water here and there and maybe an extra service or ceremony a few candles and and maybe check off the boxes but our problem is deeper. It is corrosive. It is terminal. We are broken we will die because it attorney begin a short verses in the first chapter of Romans about the sovereignty of God, for whom all mankind will stand them without any integrative Romans to the conscience of mankind which tells him he's wrong he's doing something bad. There's an intuitive sense of right and wrong is a moral there's a moral consequence to that he suppresses, but it keeps bubbling backup. She would often exclaim I've never seen this before. I've never heard of this before when the plane touched down.

We should of been a longer leg. I hadn't even made of Romans chapter 3 we had wrap it up I could tell she was struck with the realization that religion in general leads you to check all boxes and hopefully do a job may be if you're lucky and got his and so detail oriented to get in, that would be like Humpty Dumpty wouldn't be sitting down Obama wall getting out a big bottle of Elmer's glue saying I think I can I can fix this gospel means you and I are entirely helpless and hopeless probably was in any condition more telling of that condition. In Israel's early history and into the world's own history is that disease known as leprosy for the Israelite spell judgment according to Levitical law, the leper would live outside the camp. He essentially lost all contact with his family and his friends. His loved ones, his nation for centuries.

This particular disease baffled the medical community at an unknown origin painfully destructive process brought on the slow painful death. Eugene Masterman wrote a couple of generations ago. No other disease reduced a human being for so many years to so hideous a wreck it would begin with a loss of sensation to some part of the body.

The nerves would be affected muscles would not activate it and they would atrophy and waste away. Sometimes the tendons would contract and the arms brought in and the hands become like claws ulcers would break out on hands and feet, beginning there eventually body why those officers would develop an and in their development let off a foul discharge. The eyebrows would fall off and the vocal cords would become ulcerated voice becoming horse the breath described as wheezing extremities like ears and nose fingers, toes and feet would become infected and disease and without a feeling of pain become ulcerated and eventually even fall off the duration of the disease can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years was the kind of death one author wrote in which a person died by inches at a time. Death was certain effective in the medieval period right Europe during the Middle Ages the man became a leper. The priest would bring them into the sanctuary one last time and read over him. His burial service informing him that he was for lack of better terms, a dead man during the days of Jesus. No one feared any disease like they feared leprosy, they would come no closer to a leper that about 2 feet. If that Jesus began his ministry. Even the rabbis would throw stones at lepers to keep them at a distance was known that if food was bought an electric walk down that same street people would throw the food away so fearful of a work of contagion. One historian remarked during the days of Christ that even the rabbis were known to take to their heels at the site of an approaching leper lasts.

They become the file leprosy became perhaps more than any other disease. Over the centuries, the perfect illustration of the corruption and the corrosive the terminal nature of sin and the inability of mankind to heal himself. The need for someone outside of them to bring them cleansing so it's no surprise then that when Jesus began to reveal his deity.

His demonstration to heal and not just heal anybody but the shocking sovereign magnificent display of his power in healing lepers was unmistakable undeniable evidence that he was who he said he was back when John the Baptist was imprisoned, John, at the lowest moment of his life, having courageously defended the Lord and now he's in prison will die soon beheaded at the whim of Herod. He he sends a message to Jesus by way of his disciples, and the message is so pathetically despairing, he said to him, our use of the one. Nor should we begin to look for another one. Jesus sends back to John this faithful messenger the message that, among other things, that John don't overlook the fact that all actors are being healed his power to cleanse away when it become terminal became an illustration of his ability to deal with sin, which for all of us is terminal, and defined himself as true science as we prepare our hearts even as Lord's day to remember Lord's death and rescue of our own sinful state may have you take your copy of the New Testament.

If you have one with you today and turn to the gospel by Mark you find in chapter 1.

This is the first recorded Jew being cleansed of leprosy by the Lord that he chapter 1 and verse 40 just just the opening lines read in a leper came to Jesus beseeching him and falling on his knees before him the gospel of Luke included in this same event as did Matthew, but Luke more than likely, given the fact that he was a medical doctor added a footnote adding a medical comment to this account that it just wasn't a leper that he was covered with leprosy that were to be translated. He was for all of he was filled with leprosy is a very telling employment statement effect a Luke will use the same word chapter earlier in chapter 4 and verse one where he talks about Jesus being led into the wilderness, being full of the Holy Spirit uses a freight so this leper was filled with he. He was under the devastating effects of this disease was another way of saying this man was near the end of his life is telling you that this for 2025 maybe 30 years. With this debilitating disease. He probably didn't have much time left so for a moment here before we rush on, let's go back and enter the scene is an unwritten volume here about this man's life had he been married and had children which would be too far of a stretch of imagination.

It'd been 25 to 30 years since he held his children since he had a meal at his home to deduct his wife.

He had from a distance, watched them grow up and grow old, he would be nonbiased children is that man out there that Decker, who is always saying clean stay away.

The law required sin like leprosy robs us, doesn't it cripples relationships, it gladly takes us further and further in corruption and unholy states, a lonely state sparing and helpless isolated. So what you're watching here in this text as a final act of desperation and a leper came to Jesus beseeching him and falling on his knees before him alive were not allowed, but I like denial, like know how we got there I liked and I got this close. No doubt PeopleSoft coming again. He is right. That is, verities probably like the prow of a ship as you work through that multitude, and PeopleSoft coming of a just, they rippled away. Jesus is evidently different from the rabbis and that is not throwing stones at him to keep more ways evidently isn't afraid of being defiled is not running from Jesus. Jesus, by the way, isn't afraid of sinners he came to seek and to save them. Luke tells us in chapter 19 verse but I want you to understand your you're watching one of those amazing encounters where a terminal center comes face-to-face with the true Savior, Mark tells us further in the text that he falls to his knees and he begins the bag.

The Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean the tents of this verb informs us that he repeated his request over and over again very Niels.

He's hopeless.

He's disease.

He's outcast is incurable.

This is his only hope. So he repeats. If you are willing, you can make me clean. If you are willing, you can make me clean.

If you are willing, you can make me clean. If you are willing to make me clean. Did you notice he doesn't say if you are willing, you can heal me of this it if you are willing, you can rid me of this awful disease.

No see, he is essentially asking for a complete ceremonial spiritual judicial restoration. He's going to the deeper issue. Based upon this incredible statement of faith is making and he's saving everything you and I need to say to him as well. If you are willing, make me clean that the word Luke uses in his account for this man's kneeling prostration is a telling word.

It was used commonly when people knelt and worship their God's he gets it. He is kneeling here essentially worshiping no one he has come to believe is indeed the anointed Messiah. So what you have advantage you have this great statement of faith coming from the last person on the planet. You never think with would speak of this is astonishing. I know you can about what he saying I don't care. I know you can. You willing because I know if you're willing, you have the power to cleanse the victim to Jesus like that. There's some point in your life where you've understood that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. He's the Savior you vest for cleansing not help my wife to get better. I help my baby to get well that help me to get a new job in a dub dub, small things and I don't want to do again get to the core of it. I am a corrosive corrupt center will you cleanse me when a risk. By the way, here Jesus is in the Messiah. This man can be stoned to death for entering walled city which is a violation of rabbinic law for violating the laws of excommunication for putting other people at risk of the file but Jesus isn't the Savior. This man doesn't have a prayer or even stand a chance. His life is only going to become worse. I couldn't help but they listed is better for us. Jesus is the Savior we don't have a prayer we don't stand a chance doing we are the apostle Paul roadway are if he is an authentic and legitimately the Messiah, we are of all people must go to can Jesus pull off what no other person came on the planet is he really incarnate God the anointed Messiah. I live Jesus's immediate response in verse 41, moved with compassion. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched and don't move too fast.

Jesus could have spoken, but he touched. This is perhaps the first time in 30 years someone has touched him with kindness word for touches more than with a finger. This is, this can be translated to seeds to grasp picture Jesus's hand grasping this man by the shoulder. Jesus didn't have to touch and thought about the fact that Jesus could simply say the words be move along. He took that man by the shoulder and delivered the most precious words that man had ever heard.

I am willing to cleanse. I am willing to cleanse and become to Jesus and asked the same of him. Have you had enough of your sin and religion and ceremony, and good deeds of trying the best to keep your leprosy from spreading and you can't hide it anymore. Bring up the Jesus pray this this wonderful sinners prayer by the way, pray by a leper 1900 years ago, who if you take the nuances in the context together, what is he saying is a Lord Jesus.

I bow before you believing you are who you say are you are my only prayer you are my only option.

I've nothing, however, to offer you, but corruption and sin, that it doesn't get any better. By the way know you can.

If you are willing cleanse and whosoever will make up as I talk to people I have found two deceptions at that moment when awareness is visible in their eyes. Two deceptions of the enemy be at work in your own life and mind and heart.

Even now say don't do that one deception is that you're not really a sinner you done some bad thing you made a few wrong choices but how to use the word corrupt and corrupting. When I think of myself. I'm not all that I don't need the Savior. The first exception is that you're not too much of a center of the second deception equally dangerous is that you're too much of a center he wouldn't take me you don't know my story, Stephen.

I'm too far gone. I've done too much. The disease of my leprosy in spread too far taken from a man, his family probably stopped praying for him a long time ago a synagogue that had forgotten a long time ago a rabbi.

He didn't want to see them. That started a long time ago. His friends and family and stop holding out any hope a long time ago, he and everyone he knew had come to the conclusion that he was beyond hope.

He was beyond help by the grace of God.

Here he comes. But if you're willing cleanse.

Jesus reached out and seized him, grasp him and said what he says to you and me. I'm willing to cleanse so here's here's hopelessness coming face-to-face with holiness.

While this is going to be interesting here, here, is to pray pollution coming face-to-face with divine purity. Whenever a sinner comes like that in that encounter terminal sinners are cleansed by their triumphant Savior every time. In every case, guaranty to father, we thank you for the love and compassion of Christ, who knew you would die for that man sinful.

We know by faith. For we have come to your son as well. Knowing he died for. He was defiled. He was inundated he was covered with our sin is your word tells us he took in his body. All our sin on the cross and and when you Lord Jesus touch us file sinners. You are not defined, cleanse, because of the price you pay. Indeed, it all the lesson you just heard today here on wisdom for the hearts is entitled a cure for the incurable. It's part one of a two-part series called resurrection power will bring you the second message in the series tomorrow.

We hope these messages will help prepare your heart to celebrate in a very special way the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This coming Lord's day he came to do what we couldn't to pay the penalty for our sin and I hope that reminder has helped you focus your heart and mind on the atonement of Jesus Christ.

It might be that you joined us late and you missed the beginning of this lesson. Or maybe it would encourage you to hear this message again in its entirety.

We've posted it to our website and you'll find us online@wisdomonline.org you can go to that website to listen to this lesson, or read the written manuscript. In addition, you can access the archive of Stephen's entire Bible teaching ministry he's been the pastor of the shepherd's church in Cary, North Carolina for over 35 years that complete teaching archive is available free@wisdomonline.org again.

That's wisdom online.org. Another way you can access this or any of Stephen's sermons is on our smart phone app you'll find the wisdom international app for both iPhone and android devices in the app store for whatever device you use.

Once again the sermon you're looking for is entitled a QR for the incurable. In the few moments that we have left. I want to share with you some correspondence we've received recently and I hope it encourages you like it did us.

Vijay called into the office to share this with us.

He said I'm currently homeless and staying with the family on a reservation in Montana. It was important for me to call you from a payphone provided by the reservation and I don't know where I would be or how I'd be getting along through the difficult time of uncertainty without your sermons keeping me grounded in God's word. I'm so thankful for you. Thanks for writing Vijay Robert from South Carolina said I began listening to WY FG about 15 months ago while driving to work, although I'm only able to listen for part of the message it's been placed upon my heart to share with you how much these messages have meant to me, this truly remains a highlight of my day.

These messages speak to me in a very special way. That's truly indescribable. I thank and praise my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this extraordinary gift of encouragement and conviction for my heart and life as a believer and I will recommend these messages to my wife and children, as well as my fellow believers, and I pray these messages will lead many others to Jesus Christ as the day of his return approaches, and then Daniel from here in North Carolina said, I use the articles from the heart-to-heart devotional to help teach my Sunday school class. The topics pastor Davey covers like do babies really go to heaven and pride in the coronavirus grab the attention of any and all readers and are very helpful. No friends that resource that Daniel is referring to is our monthly magazine called heart-to-heart if you don't receive it.

We be happy to send you the next three issues heart-to-heart magazine is a gift that we send to our wisdom partners but we be happy to send it to you. Just call us today at 86 648 Bible or 866-482-4253. Now here's just one more note. Lori said I've recently begun counseling at a senior citizens retirement community. I plan on using your resources that I've accumulated over the years to encourage the hurting and help those needing comfort in the home listening to you has been what's led me to the decision to take God's truth and wisdom to his children, young and old. It's never too late for someone to come to Christ and I pray that many well wow thank you, Lori, and friends.

It would encourage us to hear from you as well.

You can write to us at wisdom for the heart PO Box 37297, Raleigh, NC 27627 that's wisdom for the heart PO Box 37297 Raleigh, NC 27627.

I hope you have a blessed day and that you will join us again tomorrow as we bring you more