The Desire of Ages--27--"Thou Canst Make Me Clean"

[Beacon]

"The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy."

"Its deadly poison permeated his whole body."

"The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement."

"His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed."

"Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power."

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6.

"But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution.

" His presence has healing virtue for the sinner."

"Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," shall hear the answer, "I will; be thou made clean." Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V."

What an amazing promise is found in the above passage.! When troubles come and test "Our Faith" to whom do we turn first?? It should be "Jesus" should it not!!

============================

1
Come, every soul by sin oppressed,
  There’s mercy with the Lord;
And He will surely give you rest
  By trusting in His Word.
    Only trust Him! Only trust Him!
  Only trust Him now!
He will save you! He will save you!
    He will save you now!
2
For Jesus shed His precious blood
  Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
  That washeth white as snow.
3
Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way,
  That leads you into rest;
Believe in Him without delay,
  And you are fully blest.
4
Come then, and join the holy band,
  And on to glory go;
In Christ’s redemption take your stand,
  And all His goodness know.

[Beacon]

"The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy. Its deadly poison permeated his whole body."

"The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement."

"His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed."

"Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,--deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power."

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isaiah 1:5, 6.

"But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution.

"His presence has healing virtue for the sinner."

"Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," shall hear the answer, "I will; be thou made clean." Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V."

What an amazing promise is found in the above passage.! When troubles come and test "Our Faith" to whom do we turn first?? It should be "Jesus" should it not!!

============================
1
Come, every soul by sin oppressed,
  There’s mercy with the Lord;
And He will surely give you rest
  By trusting in His Word.
    Only trust Him! Only trust Him!
  Only trust Him now!
He will save you! He will save you!
    He will save you now!
2
For Jesus shed His precious blood
  Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
  That washeth white as snow.
3
Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way,
  That leads you into rest;
Believe in Him without delay,
  And you are fully blest.
4
Come then, and join the holy band,
  And on to glory go;
In Christ’s redemption take your stand,
  And all His goodness know.

Lyrics:John Hart Stockton (1813-1877)
Music:John Hart Stockton (1813-1877)

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon! And God does not wait to answer such a prayer. When Saul prayed "O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?" Jesus revealed Himself to him on the road to Damascus!

  In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

[Dorine]

"Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil." "In Him was life," and He says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is "a quickening spirit." 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He "forgiveth all thine iniquities," He "healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:3."

God has given us the laws of health to keep us from disease and suffering. We may not see instant healing like in the stories in this chapter but there are wonderful testimonies by those who have incorporated them into their daily lives. If followed relief can be experienced within days and even hours. The most important component of these laws is trust in divine power.
1. Trust in God brings new vigor to the soul and allows the Holy Spirit to bring about spiritual and physical healing.
2. Good nutrition (without the use of animal products)
3. Fresh air
4. Water inside and out
5. Adequate sunshine
6. Exercise
7. Temperance (discarding anything harmful and moderation in all that is good)
8. Adequate rest

And it's all FREE.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon, Brother Richard, and Sister Dorine!

Can you imagine being a leper? Well, we have a condition worse--and that is sin. But Jesus can heal lepers as well as cure and cleanse sinners! There is nothing too hard for the Lord!

"In the region of Christ's ministry, there were many of these sufferers, and the news of His work reached them, kindling a gleam of hope. But since the days of Elisha the prophet, such a thing had never been known as the cleansing of one upon whom this disease had fastened. They dared not expect Jesus to do for them what He had never done for any man. There was one, however, in whose heart faith began to spring up. Yet the man knew not how to reach Jesus. Debarred as he was from contact with his fellow men, how could he present himself to the Healer? And he questioned if Christ would heal him. Would He stoop to notice one believed to be suffering under the judgment of God? Would He not, like the Pharisees, and even the physicians, pronounce a curse upon him, and warn him to flee from the haunts of men? He thought of all that had been told him of Jesus. Not one who had sought His help had been turned away. The wretched man determined to find the Saviour. Though shut out from the cities, it might be that he could cross His path in some byway along the mountain roads, or find Him as He was teaching outside the towns. The difficulties were great, but this was his only hope." {The Desire of Ages, page 262, paragraph 3}

When we realize that Jesus really is our ONLY HOPE for salvation, our priorities shift. Moved by the love of God and what we know of Him to be true, we become willing to come, just like the leper who was willing to go to Jesus. God is wooing us to be saved to the uttermost by grace through the faith of Jesus which brings us into holy harmony with God's law of love! As we are fully converted in a whole-heart surrender and healed from the leprosy of sin, we can keep testifying of His loveliness of character and pointing others to Him! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will flow forth from a life that lives by faith on Christ as a personal Savior from sin and its defiling, unsatisfied desires. Jesus satisfies us like no one else ever can, for He made us and knows what is best for us!

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

If He did it in the beginning, He can do it again! Just as surely as Jesus can create a human being from the dust, He can restore the life that has been marred by sin. By beholding His loveliness, yielding the whole heart to Him in humble faith, and accepting the Holy Spirit into the life, we can become new creatures in Christ Jesus!

"It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation 'spake, and it was,' who 'commanded, and it stood fast,' (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, 'that ye may know,' He said, 'that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.'" {The Desire of Ages, page 269, paragraph 5}

The miracle of a truly converted life is revealed as all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing are flowing in the life and character to bless others! And it is not just about being converted ourselves and understanding the truth, but we are to share with others, who will share with others faithfully, who can in turn share with others! "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). Are you willing to let God use you to teach others, who will teach others, who will teach others, and help make many more disciples? Jesus is coming soon! Oh, how He longs to see an active disciple-making movement going to reach all the peoples of the world! That is what spiritual life is all about--living to bless others!

[Beacon]

"When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask."

"But not so when we ask for deliverance from sin."

"It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life."

"Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." "

"Galatians 1:4.And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9."

What wonderful promises Jesus has given to "US"  Are "WE" willing to Trust & Obey?

=====================
1
When we walk with the Lord
  In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
  While we do His good will,
  He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
 
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
  But to trust and obey.
2
Not a shadow can rise,
  Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
  Not a doubt or a fear,
  Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3
Not a burden we bear,
  Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
  Not a grief or a loss,
  Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4
But we never can prove
  The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
  For the favor He shows,
  And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5
Then in fellowship sweet
  We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
  What He says we will do;
  Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

[Philip T]

  Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer?


In the miracles read today we see the unmeasurable love of Jesus for sinful and fallen man. It is hard to understand an all-powerful God, being willing to not only heal us physically, but mourn even more over our sinful state and being willing to immediately forgive us our sins as soon as we ask. Oh, the love of Jesus for us. It makes it hard to understand why doubt enters our hearts, we should know and cling to the promises of God.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear friends!!

In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.  DA 266.

Knowing this, when did Saul pray "O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?"

[Beacon]

"Since the days of Elisha the prophet, such a thing had never been known as the cleansing of one upon whom this disease had fastened."

"They dared not expect Jesus to do for them what He had never done for any man." "

"There was one, however, in whose heart faith began to spring up. Yet the man knew not how to reach Jesus."

"Debarred as he was from contact with his fellow men, how could he present himself to the Healer? And he questioned if Christ would heal him." "

"Would He stoop to notice one believed to be suffering under the judgment of God?"

"Would He not, like the Pharisees, and even the physicians, pronounce a curse upon him, and warn him to flee from the haunts of men?

"He thought of all that had been told him of Jesus. Not one who had sought His help had been turned away. The wretched man determined to find the Saviour." "

"Though shut out from the cities, it might be that he could cross His path in some byway along the mountain roads, or find Him as He was teaching outside the towns."

"The difficulties were great, but this was his only hope."

When all earthly support and hope seems to vanish like the vapor of a cloud in the sky this man did not give up!! His faith was rewarded. "WE" must remembers the words of Jesus who said...Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy hearted and I will give you rest. Are "WE" willing to Trust Jesus??

=======================
1
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
 
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.
2
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!
3
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Lyrics:Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961)
Music:Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961)

[Dorine]

  Then he who had been borne on a litter to Jesus rises to his feet with the elasticity and strength of youth. The life-giving blood bounds through his veins. Every organ of his body springs into sudden activity. The glow of health succeeds the pallor of approaching death. "And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."      

Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer?

[JimB]

It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to the body had renewed the heart. He who at the creation "spake, and it was," who "commanded, and it stood fast," (Psalm 33:9), had spoken life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins. The healing of the body was an evidence of the power that had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and walk, "that ye may know," He said, "that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."

What a God we serve! Ready to heal and to forgive!

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brothers and sister!  Healing of the body is tied directly to healing of the heart. What a God we serve!

     Oh, wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal the guilty and the afflicted! Divinity sorrowing over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity! Oh, marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of salvation? Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer?......The paralytic found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, "Thy sins are forgiven." The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give, would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body.
     Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil." "In Him was life," and He says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is "a quickening spirit." 1 John 3:8; John 1:4; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:45. And He still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He healed the sick, and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He "forgiveth all thine iniquities," He "healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:3. 

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon, Sister Dorine, Brother Jim, and Brother Richard!

Let us learn to trust how God answers our prayers--for forgiveness and cleansing from sin, it is immediate! But in other areas, let us believe that He knows what is best and will grant us what is ideal in His great loving plan!

“In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ ‘gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.’ Galatians 1:4. And ‘this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.’ 1 John 5:14, 15. ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:9.” {The Desire of Ages, page 266, paragraph 2}

As a result of coming into a fully surrendered converted relationship with Christ, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives without one missing. He thus makes possible for us to consistently obey God’s law of love from the heart!

[Beacon]

"When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin."

"It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ ‘gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.’"

"Galatians 1:4. And ‘this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.’ 1 John 5:14, 15. ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:9.”[/color]

Isn't it joyful to know that Jesus wants each one of us to be with Him in Heaven & in the New Earth?? For all eternity to come. Praise His Holy Name.

====================

1
More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fulness see,
More of His love who died for me.
 
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fulness see,
  More of His love who died for me.
2
More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.
3
More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.
4
More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

Lyrics:Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920)
Music:John Robson Sweney (1837-1899)

[JimB]

Standing afar off, the leper catches a few words from the Saviour's lips. He sees Him laying His hands upon the sick. He sees the lame, the blind, the paralytic, and those dying of various maladies rise up in health, praising God for their deliverance. Faith strengthens in his heart. He draws nearer and yet nearer to the gathered throng. The restrictions laid upon him, the safety of the people, and the fear with which all men regard him are forgotten. He thinks only of the blessed hope of healing.
     He is a loathsome spectacle. The disease has made frightful inroads, and his decaying body is horrible to look upon. At sight of him the people fall back in terror. They crowd upon one another in their eagerness to escape from contact with him. Some try to prevent him from approaching Jesus, but in vain. He neither sees nor hears them. Their expressions of loathing are lost upon him. He sees only the Son of God. He hears only the voice that speaks life to the dying. Pressing to Jesus, he casts himself at His feet with the cry, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean."

This is a good example of why I'm more-or-less convinced that its hard to have a truly repentant heart until we realize the wretchedness of sin and its results and how offensive it is. Its not until then that we truly desire a remedy. Then looking around and seeing where others have found true healing that we seek Christ out to apply the remedy to us personally.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brothers!  Today's reading reveals God great desire to heal us from sin. This  is the most important prayer we ever can pray. Christ came to this dark spot that we might be cleansed from sin.

  In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

Yes, Jesus came to save us from sin. How many truly believe we can live a holy life? Why? The sin and ruin of a nation was due to their religious leaders. We must study for ourselves. Do not keep going to others to find out what God has said. Today God tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Praise the Lord, Brother Beacon, Brother Jim and Brother Richard!

Tomorrow my wife Joella and I leave, Lord willing, for Papua New Guinea to go forward in faith to ministry to the Ama tribe!

What an amazing Savior we have in Jesus!

Jesus CAN make us whole!!

God loves to restore our lives as we trust fully in Christ! All of the fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in our lives as we walk by faith in His word and rely on His promises in full-heart surrender to Christ!

"In the home of the healed paralytic there was great rejoicing when he returned to his family, carrying with ease the couch upon which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short time before. They gathered round with tears of joy, scarcely daring to believe their eyes. He stood before them in the full vigor of manhood. Those arms that they had seen lifeless were quick to obey his will. The flesh that had been shrunken and leaden-hued was now fresh and ruddy. He walked with a firm, free step. Joy and hope were written in every lineament of his countenance; and an expression of purity and peace had taken the place of the marks of sin and suffering. Glad thanksgiving went up from that home, and God was glorified through His Son, who had restored hope to the hopeless, and strength to the stricken one. This man and his family were ready to lay down their lives for Jesus. No doubt dimmed their faith, no unbelief marred their fealty to Him who had brought light into their darkened home." {The Desire of Ages, page 271, paragraph 2}

What a joyful experience we can have with Christ as we walk in harmony with Him in the joy of divine communion!

[Richard Myers]

Praise God!!!  We will be praying that God's blessing rests upon your ministry to the Ama people!    Keep us informed as God blesses your work!  Pastor Sean and Joella in Papua New Guinea

[Dorine]

Pastor Sean we are lifting you up in prayer and will continue to do so each and every day. May God's blessings go with you as you share Jesus with these precious souls.