The Story of a Leper Who Thought It Was "Opposite Day"

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." 
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." 
And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 
And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." 
But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. 
--Mark 1:40-45

In this account, Jesus Christ heals a leper. Leprosy was a common affliction, and though the Gospels record only 2 events where Jesus healed leprosy (the other being Luke 17, where He healed 10 lepers), I imagine He healed many that were not recorded for us in the Bible.

“Leprosy” was a catch-all term for various skin afflictions. This man has what today would be called Hansen’s Disease. This terrible disease is caused by micro-bacteria that attack the nerves and anesthetize the skin. Without the sensation of touch, the victim would be prone to injury. The disease would go anywhere between 10-30 years, and the afflicted usually died from other diseases because they had no resistance.

The disease was also fairly communicable. Therefore in Jesus’ day, lepers were not allowed in mainstream society. The only people they could be around were… other lepers. You couldn’t be home, you couldn’t go to the Temple or synagogue, you couldn’t punch in at work; almost as terrible as the disease itself was the isolation it brought from a “normal” life. In fact, according to the Mosaic Law, lepers had to tatter their clothes so they would be easily recognized, as well as cry out “UNCLEAN” when they were in the vicinity of others. (Leviticus 13)

So this leper comes to Jesus (note: lepers were never allowed to approach people like this!). And the parallel account in Luke 5:12 says this man was full of leprosy. He wasn’t a recent diagnosis; he was advanced stages. He came with an attitude of reverence and met the Savior who had an attitude of compassion. One touch from Jesus took the man from Stage 4 to complete health!

Jesus sent the man off with 2 commands: 1) Say nothing to anyone. 2) Show yourself to the priest. What’s with the commands? Well, Jesus said why the man needed to show himself to the priest: for a proof to them. Show the priest that Jesus Christ is the anointed Messiah, verified by Divine miracles. But why keep mum about this to everyone else? Jesus didn’t say why. But He gave this command a lot, apparently (see Mark 3:12, 5:43, 7:36, 8:25).

To borrow a term from the 2nd grade, the man must have thought it was Opposite Day. He did exactly what Jesus told him not to do. And I think we see in the last verse why Jesus told him not to say anything. The news spread to the point that Jesus was getting mobbed when He went near a city. So popular was this miracle worker that He couldn’t even walk down Main Street because people were coming after Him from everywhere.

The man serves as a positive and a negative example, leaving us with 2 big lessons…

1) Where the leper had a big win: When you ask God for something, remember that HIS will for you is always more important than YOUR will for you. Because He is God and you are… not. The leper (now “ex-leper“) knew Jesus had the power to heal him, but he didn’t know if Jesus willed to do it. "If you will, you can make me clean."The man didn’t lay any claims, He didn‘t tell Jesus what He had to do - he just yielded to God’s will. Yes, pray. Yes, pray specifically. Yes, pray expectantly. Don’t pray presumptuously. Your prayers should ultimately be asking God only for the things that He would want for you. God knows what is best for you; you only think you know what is best for you. So you always want to go with God’s verdict on the matter. This is praying according to God’s will. I am willing to bet 1John 5:14 became this man’s “life verse”.

2) Where the leper failed: When God tells you to do something, just do it. You don’t need to know why.Sometimes God’s instruction doesn’t make sense to us. It doesn’t have to. Even if we haven’t reasoned out the why of a command from God’s Word, we should do what He commands anyways. It’s simple obedience. God doesn’t call us to figure Him out, He calls us to trust Him.

p.s. - Wonders if Simon the Leper, deep down, wished that nickname didn‘t stick

This is the month when you are supposed to appreciate your Pastor

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith…. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. --Hebrews 13:7, 17.

October is Pastor Appreciation month.

Do you appreciate your Pastor? I do!

What do you mean? You appreciate yourself?!

No, that would be… arrogant? Weird? A bit creepy? BUT... I do appreciate the Pastors that have been pastors to me.

So let me say thank you to two men in particular.

First is Pastor Robert Huber. Some may call him PB or Hubi, but he’s Pastor Bob to me. When I first came to Christ, I was discipled at North Street Christian Church in Butler, PA, where Pastor Bob serves as the Senior Pastor. After graduating from Bible College, I had the privilege of coming on as the Associate Pastor there, back to the very church that was so instrumental in my growth during my early years as a follower of Jesus. I was blessed to serve there for 11 years, and the lessons about being a shepherd that Pastor Bob taught me would fill volumes. The biggest lesson he taught me was grace - loving the very people who spoke and acted negatively against you. I have watched as people would harshly (and falsely) criticize Pastor Bob, and he never lashed back. Never felt it necessary to defend himself… and certainly never lash back. Yet when those same critics fell on hard times, who was the first person on the scene to minister to them…? Yeah, it was Pastor Bob. Thank you for your example of grace.

And I would also like to publicly acknowledge, honor, and appreciate another man who taught me so much about being a Pastor: Dr. James MacDonald. The months of training I had under him in 2010 was one of the most challenging and sweetest seasons of my life. He taught me so much about worship and preaching, and I strive to carry out these lessons in my ministry at Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North.

Many other men have made huge deposits in my life. However, these two men have shown me the example of the kind of pastor I want to be. By God’s grace, my I imitate their faith as I consider the outcome of their way of life.

Pastor Bob, Pastor James… consider yourselves appreciated!

p.s. - Never did get to celebrate Associate Pastor Appreciation Month

Top Ten Things You Always Need to Remember About Evangelism

Nothing fires me up like evangelism. By no means is that a commentary on me. That is just what God has put in me. I love to tell the story of Jesus, I love to wrestle through tough questions with skeptics, I love seeing the lights come on when it seems like someone is beginning to understand. Love love love love it.

And I have since 1995. Christ changed me so radically, that I remember praying to God and saying, “I just want to tell everyone about you.” And in an act of magnificent grace, He has given me the opportunity to be in ministry and do just that.

So not only do I get fired up about evangelizing, I get fired up about encouraging God’s people in evangelism. In preparing for last Sunday’s message, I went through some evangelism notes on courses I have taught in the past - 97 pages of notes! All that to say: the sermon could have been much longer!

I am not quite ready to get off the topic just yet. If you are born again, you are Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). You represent Jesus, who He is and what He is about, to your family, friends, coworkers, enemies… everyone you come into contact with! And as it is on your heart to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ, allow me to put a PS on Sunday’s message by sharing some encouraging principles of evangelism:

1. Evangelism is most often a process, not a sudden event. Generally, the Holy Spirit works over time in a person’s life. When someone actually receives the Gospel, there is usually much that precedes that, both in circumstances and other believers. (1 Corinthians 3:1-11)
    
2. Evangelism must begin with a holy lifestyle. 1 Peter 2:12 says Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
   
   The “day of visitation” means the day God shows up to save them! But notice how Peter encourages us to make sure our conduct displays we are authentic followers of Christ, because that is what is going to attract people!
    
3. Evangelism is especially effective when strong relationships are built. I am all for sharing the Gospel with strangers. (I was a stranger to the person who shared the Gospel with me!) However, once a relationship is established based on mutual love and trust, the foundation is laid for that person to really hear what you are wanting to share.
    
4. Apologetics (evidence and reasoning to defend the faith) is critically important in penetrating the skepticism of many people today. Some people have “studied” enough to learn a few “objections” that they believe have no answer. (I have a short list of these, another blog, perhaps?) Learn the answers, respectfully give them, and learn to ask questions of your own!
    
5. Once a person sincerely checks out Christianity, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll discover the truth about God. That is, according to God (Proverbs 2:1-5, Jeremiah 29:13). Be encouraged. God is faithful to make this happen.
    
6. Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. Again, be encouraged. Your job is to tell the story, God does the heavy lifting as He is the only one that can work on a person’s heart. (John 16:7-11)
    
7. Nobody wants to be your “project”. People can sense your motives. Love people, but don’t make them your “project”, that is, “Getting this guy to go to church is at the top of my bucket list.” Loving someone doesn’t have an end-goal of making them feel obligated to you.
    
8. There is no substitute for prayer. Pray big things. You are not alone in this work, you are partnering with the Almighty Sovereign of the Universe. (James 5:16)
    
9. Many times unchurched people are willing to visit a church if they are invited by a friend. Reminder from Sunday: just invite people. Sometimes, that’s all someone needs is an invite to church. And make sure your Pastor is preaching the Gospel. That’s important.
    
10. The church must objectively examine how they will be perceived by an unchurched visitor – without altering the message! Many people have bad thoughts toward the church in general, whether it is from a previous personal experience or an experience heard about second-hand. The church must be ready to love, welcome, and accommodate everyone who comes through the door - without prejudice or a spirit of judgment.

Many people are intimidated about witnessing to someone. Don't be! Let it be natural and authentic. Pray, love people, and take every opportunity God gives you to encourage someone one step closer to Jesus.

p.s. - Is just a nobody telling everybody about Somebody that can save anybody.

Sometimes the Answer is No

"Sometimes the Answer is No."

Parents, have you ever said that to your kids?

Your child makes a request. “Can I go to Joey‘s house?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“We can’t do that right now.”

“Awwwwwwwwwwwww…!”

“Stop whining. Sometimes the answer is no.”

And then we get frustrated when we ask our heavenly Father for something, and He says no.

Last Sunday we discussed prayer. Prayer moves the hand of God, and we should pray big things. God is never going to be intimidated by a prayer request. And knowing that He is powerful and He loves us certainly gives us plenty of reason to pray.

The burning question, though, we addressed briefly, is this one: “Why doesn‘t He answer sometimes?” Sometimes you pray and pray and fast and pray and fast - and there seems to be no answer. Or the situation even takes a bad turn. The cancer gets worse, the money gets tighter, the marriage is even more strained, the kid are even more rebellious…

This is by no means contradictory to what I said in the sermon or a detraction from Sunday. This is just a reminder. Well, 2 reminders:

1. God is not a vending machine. Prayer is not pressing B5 and getting a Snickers bar. I have seen people’s “faith” shattered because God didn’t give them exactly what they wanted when they thought they should have it, AKA immediately. It's a shame when your "god" is given zero latitude to say no because you have convinced yourself you know what is best.
    
2. God is, however, the most loving and perfect Father ever. He loves us. And He wants to hear from us, and He wants to bless us - but His knowledge is infinitely greater than ours, so His answer may look different than the one you were looking for. But He still answers. And His answer is always better than what we were asking for anyways. It’s like asking for God to remove a thorn, but instead He gives you His strength. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 says something about that.

Sometimes God doesn’t take away the adversity because He intends to reveal Himself to you through it. And I promise you, looking back on this life from the perspective of heaven, you will fondly recall as your favorite memories of earth the times God’s answer to your distress was His presence.

p.s. - Thanks God for unanswered prayers, just like Garth Brooks