lepers – The Jesus Chick

For the most part, the quarantine hasn’t effected me too much. I still work, with the water system being an “essential” part of our community. So I’m out and about. I go the store for myself and my mother, and I feed and water the chickens. I was the broadcaster of our Sunday service so I was under the spout where the glory comes out. But from my mother’s stand point, I realize the world is not so blessed.

I imagined a true quarantine being much like that of the leper’s in biblical days. Luke 17 has the story of 10 very famous men of quarantine that I thought were a good illustration for a message on the Statewide day of Prayer. I personally don’t know much about our Governor Jim Justice, but I must say that I was very touched as he announced the Day of Prayer. It seemed heart felt as he (under comment persecution) said that we needed to spend the day lifting our precious people to the Lord. Glory! I say! It may not seem like much to the world, but us of faith know that prayer can be a game changer!

The Day of Prayer

Luke 17:11-17 KJVS

[11] And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. [12] And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

THEY WERE QUARANTINED

It was a desperate time for them. Much like we are experiencing now. There was no cure and there was no hope without God’s intervention. These men could not experience family, nor could they experience love and hope. They were social outcasts and loudly humiliated having to yell to those who walked near them “unclean, unclean!” So they’d know not to be socialized with. How sad. But today, those who wish to stay well are the ones having to distance themselves from others. And the disease is silent.

The Day of Proclamation

THEY WERE NOT QUIET

[13] And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. [14] And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Just like now! Today we need to cry as the lepers did, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Those who are saying separate church and state obviously have no concept of hopelessness. Their hope is in this world which is nuts! There is no hope outside of the Lord’s intervention in this day we are in. The fact that our Governor (who personally doesn’t strike me as a man of faith, and that’s me being judgey in all honesty) gives me great hope! Because I don’t think that decision came easy for him. He knew there would be ramifications from a liberal thinking society who wants to throw God under the bus at every opportunity, forgetting that He is the only one with a license to drive.

Today is our opportunity to cry out to the Lord for healing! It’s not a time to be quiet. It’s also not a time to doubt. Before they had experienced the healing, Christ’s order was for them to go tell the priests they were healed. Hmmmm. Should that not tell us something. We’ve got to have faith going into this that God will do what He says!

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJVS

[14] If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

He’ll heal our land! But it takes a humbleness to acknowledge that God is God! And that He will do what He says if we do what we are asked to do.

The Day of Promise

ONE WAS QUICK TO PRAISE, NINE WERE QUICK TO FORGET

[15] And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, [16] And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. [17] And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

The fact that scripture mentions that the one who turned back to praise God was a Samaritan, makes me wonder if the nine were not Jews? It also makes me think of our own religious tribes who will say “these people only cry to God because they are desperate, not because they know Him” which is probably true. But it still didn’t stop God from healing them. And it caused the Samaritan to acknowledge that Christ was God. And the religious went on and enjoyed their healing. God’s not in religion, He’s in relationships. He wants us to spend time getting to know Him, to turn back! Just as it said in 2 Chronicles. Then we receive the promise.

President Trump’s Easter wish. I heard and seen the mocking of the President’s desire for the country to be back to normal by Easter. Well, I bet their were mockers of the lepers to, who cried out to God. Well… who’s laughing now?

That’s going to be a part of my prayer today! “Lord heal our land, and please do it by Easter!”

Will He? I don’t know, I’m not God. But I know Him and I know He can. And I want Him to shut that liberal, Devil servin’ crowd up! I want Easter Sunrise services across our country to have new life and great praise!

Amen!

Where ever you are, PRAY! PROCLAIM OUR GOD AND HIS PROMISES

I do not have questions of God… well, I do, but I more have questions of those who will likely not read this, but perhaps they will. “Those” are they that I used to attend church with – – those who used to stand and testify about the goodness of God; but now their seat is empty. They’re memory fades from the mind of the congregation and many wouldn’t know who they were if I called their name in prayer because they’ve not darkened the door of God’s house in forever.

Am I angry?

Only that Satan won a battle. I’m not angry at the individual. I just don’t understand it. I will mention a few “generic” situations and perhaps it will prompt you to call someone out in prayer today, or perhaps it’s your story.

There was a couple in our church who served God faithfully for many, many years. He retired, she was a homemaker and a beloved mom. Little by little they stopped serving, slowed their attendance, and then stopped altogether. He got a job that had weekend hours, she got cancer. And God cured her! And through it all they never returned to God’s house. I don’t understand and my question is why? Why did you not return to praise Him?

Another couple with the same story of attending many years. They struggled to keep their marriage together, God healed their home and they left church. Their home was no longer strong enough to to fight the world and it separated due to infidelity. But they managed to get back together. He got cancer. He was cured. No return. Why?

Throughout the years I have watched countless people battle, win, and walk out on God. And they will say almost assuredly “I still worship God, I just do it at home.”

That may be true. But I doubt it. Because I know how hard it is for me to stay faithful to worship while I’m in the house of God at every opportunity. My focus can get so worldly in a heartbeat…

And speaking of heartbeats. The reason I wonder about those who struggle and do not return to God’s house is because I remember laying in the hospital facing open heart surgery and needing and receiving the presence of God in that place. I remember feeling the prayers of the saints of God that I knew were lifting my name to the Lord. That’s what friends of faith do. But if you’re not there, they’ll likely not remember you. But this morning I remember them. And I’ll bet there’s someone on your heart too.

In my teen group this week we watched a video of Francis Chan. I love this guy! He wrote “Crazy Love” and other books, but his back story is just so doggone amazing! His mother died in childbirth and then his father remarried a few years later. His second wife died when Francis was 8 in a car accident, then his father died at when Francis was 12, leaving him orphaned. He goes to a youth rally and gets saved and finds God’s purpose for his life and he, his wife and seven children continue to serve the Lord. And he stood on the stage and thanked God for the life he was given because it caused him to seek God. Glorrrrraaaaayyyyyy! Can you say that about your struggles? I cannot always. But I can say that about the heart attack because it got my attention on what’s important, and who’s important.

My family is important. My friends are important. But God is the most important of all. Without Him I would not know healing, peace, love to the depths of the ocean and beyond. I would not know sacrifice. His sacrifice.

Luke 17:17

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

I asked the same question today. “Where are the nine?

Tomorrow’s Sunday. Make the plan to go to the house of the Lord! Don’t let Satan convince you that it’s not necessary. It is necessary and He is worthy. Go and praise Him!

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