Signs and treatment of Leprosy (Uncleanness): "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;" (Isa 64:6) In the light of this Scripture, it is interesting to see what the Bible says about leprosy, since leprosy is a type of "uncleanness". The water and the fire of God comes to cleanse us from uncleanness - even as Christians. Leprosy was known as the "scourge of God". The cure for leprosy is called "cleansing" because the condition is considered "unclean".
(1) Starts with an insignificant spot. (Uncleanness usually starts out with a "little bit".)
(2) Person doesn't realize it at first. (Don't realize that the activity made him unclean.)
(3) Progressive. (It creeps up on you and gets harder to control.)
(4) Affects the whole person (can't compartmentalize behavior.)
(5) Causes numbness and the hair to fall out. (Affects other behaviors.)
(6) Estrangement; incurable to any but Jesus.
(7) Even garments are unclean. Jude 1:23 "Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." - anything brought into contact with uncleanness.
RESPONSE: Uncleanness destroys us. The Holy Spirit is the antidote to what is killing us. May the fire never go out. What does not burn becomes His dwelling place.
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matt 3:11-12)MARK 6:1-29
Here we see not only growing opposition to Jesus, but also a growing realization of Who He is. This slap in the face by Jesus' hometown gives the disciples a taste of what is to come. Jesus sends them out in the atmosphere of unbelief and rejection.
In fact, the story of the demise of John the Baptist is sandwiched here between the disciples being called, given authority, instructed, and sent; and in vs 30 where they return. It shows the effect of the disciples' mission to have aroused superstitious speculation, with amazement and bewilderment, and then either belief or unbelief.
RESPONSE: Who do we say that Jesus is? Jesus asks us directly. He is my Friend, my Counselor, my Holiness, my Guide, my Help, my Master, my Confidant, my Savior, my Sanctifier, my Deliverer, my Freedom Fighter, my Peace, my Redeemer, my Joy. I could go on and on. I rejoice, laugh, giggle, shout, scream, jump up and down, shout, run in circles, wave my arms, twirl, smile, dance a jig - when I contemplate all He is to me. Jesus' hometown was scandalized at Jesus. They would probably be scandalized at me too! That's okay. I don't carry their dust around with me - I won't let their "dust" weigh me down.
PSALM 39:1-13
"I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue..." I have that underlined in red. WHEN YOU ARE OFFENDED, (angry, hurt, insulted, etc.) KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! When you speak, speak to God in repentance.
In view of eternity, life is short. Vs 5 in the KJV says, "Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity." Man without God has an empty life that leads to hopeless despair. All meaning and satisfaction is to be found ONLY in Jehovah. The greatest emptiness is to live life for yourself.
PROVERBS 10:10
To speak deceitfully (with a wink) and to speak rashly are both foolish: the first hurts others, the second hurts himself.
RESPONSE: I used to think that if I were unable to speak, I would probably never sin. My worst sins are with my mouth. MOST of my sinning is with my mouth. When I speak, I should repent for getting myself into the situation where God has to correct me. Life is too short to complain. Life is too short to draw things out by refusing to repent.
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