GOD SPEAKS

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3-4.

This instance is a perfect example how God sees people. A leper is not outwardly healthy and good looking and therefore we do not give them respect.  Our respect towards others is for their outward appearance. This happens even in our churches today. In the churches of God there should not be any partiality in respecting the believers. But this leper is great within. He has certain good qualities and the Lord has seen them. He has showed His love by touching this leper. Cannot our Lord, who created the heavens and the earth just by His word, heal this leper by saying a word? Is there any necessity in touching this leper? His touch denotes His love. A leper is considered to be unclean but still God has touched him. Why? Our Lord loves our hearts but not our appearances. His wounds of leprosy cannot stop God in touching this leper. God has no partiality. He never cares what and how you are in outward appearance. He sees your heart and he seeks only a pure heart that worships him. The Bible says the only thing that God wants from you and me is our heart. My son, give me thine heart, Proverbs 23:26.

The attitude of a man towards others’ is simply looking outward and thereby guesses their character. In this regard, even God servants and god fearing people also may make wrong guess at others. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. 1 Samuel 16:6. Prophet Samuel saw Eliab, he thought within himself that God’ anointed was before him. He made this guess just by looking outward appearance. As it is written –thou understandest my thought afar off. Psalms 139:2, God had known the thoughts of Samuel and immediately told him that his guess was wrong by saying – But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him : for the Lord seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.1 Samuel 16:7.

In this connection, the word of God also advises the members of church not to show partiality and discrimination in the churches. Read this verse-My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment ; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place ; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool : are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts ? James 2:2. What is our basis to respect others in the congregation? Is it their gay clothing or goodly apparel? Is it their richness or gold? If so, are we not partial and becoming judges? We need to look other’s inward beauty as the Lord has seen in the above said leper.

Look at the inward beauty of this man which pleased the Lord:

(a)  He came to Him: This would mean he humbled himself before the Lord. Read this verse- And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in  Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 2 Kings 5:11. Naaman came for his healing. He was a great warrior and honorable man but had leprosy. He was also a leper like other man whom Jesus healed.  Naaman thought that the God’s Servant would come to him and heal his leprosy. He could not humble himself go to him before the Lord’s servant or even before the Lord as we may see that the Lord is with the prophet Elisha. Your greatness, your fame, your status in this world is nothing before the Lord. The Lord will love him who humbles himself before him.

(b) He worshipped him:   Whatever may be your condition of your living on the earth, you need to worship him. This leper came and then worshiped Him.  Now a day’s people coming to Him to receive a miracle, healing etc,.  After receiving them they are worshiping Him. Sometimes, after receiving his grace they will not come to worship Him. Read this verse- And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine ? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. Luke 17:17-18.  Jesus was asking for the other nine lepers who were healed by Him.  Out of ten, ten were healed. One came to Him to worship Him. Remaining nine went away forgetting His goodness. Is not this leper who worshiped him before receiving his miracle is greater than the stranger leper who worshiped him after receiving his miracle? This is what is good to look inside beauty of this leper.

(c) He believed that Jesus can do it only if it be His will: This leper has faith because the same can be ascertained from his words –if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. He has uttered that God can heal him which is nothing but his faith. Bible also says- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6. Before receiving his healing, the leper has believed that Lord can do it. At the same time, it may be noted that he had good knowledge about how to ask the Lord. He has understood that Lord can do anything for him only if such thing is in His will. He has correlated his prayer with the will of the Lord. Many shall not understand this but ask the Lord. They wait sometime and they will not receive anything from the Lord as their prayers are not in the will of God. They neither have faith nor understand that their asking should be in the will of the Lord. Simply, after seeing their prayers unanswered they leave God by saying that there is no God. The Bible says- The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Psalms 14:1.  Look at this what David had done when his prayer for the child was not accepted by the Lord. But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped : then he came to his own house ; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 1 Samuel 12:19-20. Did David think that there was no God when his prayer was not accepted by the Lord?

Therefore, we may see that this leper’s faith has pleased the Lord. It made Him to touch the leper as a token of His love. Assessment of others by looking at their outward appearance may not be right always.

and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23.

Human spirit can discern existence of certain supernatural things like heaven, paradise, hell etc., while a man is alive on the earth only if he is willing to know. In this regard, the word of God says –But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Job 32:8. But this understanding by a human spirit may not be comprehensive as the word of God also says- For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God 1 Corinthians 2:11.  To understand the things of God, you need the assistance of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of God shall teach you things of the Lord and leads you into the truth. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

The spirit of a man has the ability to discern certain things of supernatural realities after his death. It can be ascertained that this rich man never saw Abraham but probably might have heard teachings in the synagogues about the faith of Abraham. Still, how could he confirm that the man was Abraham whom he never saw? He could also see Lazarus who also died but not with him in hell? His human spirit after coming out his body was able to sense some of the supernatural things of which Word of God testifies. But his understanding about them was not complete in Hell.

From the above verse, a human spirit after entering the hell –

(1) Can see –the things in hell and in Abraham’s bosom or paradise of God. But these were eyes blinded by the devil while the human spirit in his body on the earth. It may be understood that human spirit can lift up spiritual eyes after his death which were blinded by the god of this world. As the Bible says – “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them 2 Corinthians 3:14; also read –because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:11

(2) Can feel –torments by the fire in hell. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:24.  How could the water come in Paradise?  In this regard, read this verse –To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of   life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 Also read –In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations Revelation 22: 2. In this paradise of God, there are (1) tree of life & (2) the river of God flowing from the city of God. These are accessible only for them that have right to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14) but not for them in Hell.

(3) Can remember – The rich man spirit told Abraham that he had five brothers. Though he was not alive, still remembers his family on the earth.

(4) Can reason –   At the first instance, the rich man asked to send Lazarus to send him with dip of water to his present place –hell. But Abraham replied that there was great gulf fixed between Paradise and Hell. Why could not the rich man see this gulf? He understanding in the hell was partial in nature.  Immediately, the spirit of the rich man thought for the alternative. If Lazarus could not come to him, he reasoned and asked that Lazarus may be sent to his five brothers on the earth. Here, the rich man thinks that if a man resurrected from the dead goes to his family, he may testify the realities of hell and heaven so that they will be saved. Abraham replied that they would not believe even if a resurrected from the dead- JESUS CHRIST- goes to them. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets ; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham : but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead Luke 16:29-31

(5) Can regret – the rich man spirit asked Abraham to send Lazarus, whom he never cared on the earth though he was in a worst condition before him, to his five brothers on the earth. The human spirit may regret for his negligence to the gospel of the Lord and the Word of God. But the right to take decision to receive HIS salvation was granted to human beings as long as the body and spirit were in-separated on the earth. The time to make a decision to have salvation elapses after death. If you are not saved by the blood of Christ, remember your chance for making decision to receive Him as savior will be time barred after your death.

Remember the spirit residing in you is from the Lord. If it is from the Lord, how much great it is and how much better it can think about all the things of eternal life.  The same spirit resides in you and me on the earth too. But your sin and disobedience allowed the god of this world to blind your eyes. But the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. If you hear and do not believe the word of God, it is difficult for you to enter His Kingdom. Ask our Lord to open your spiritual eyes to believe the things of spirit. Read this- Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures Luke 24:45 .You may believe the things of heaven and eternal life after the spirit residing in you leaves. But the opportunity to receive His free gift of salvation will not be available to you in Hell. This is the reason the Bible says –Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed John 10:29. How many of us will get this opportunity to see and then believe? Unbelievers will also get an opportunity after their death to see and believe but it is of no use as it will be too late for them like the rich man.

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.Mark 10: 44

Who is great among us ? Disciples had this issue. Whosoever wants to be the chiefest among the people is concentrating on himself. He gives importance to “I” than anything else.In the ministry of the Lord, if someone wants to be chiefest, does not it mean he is projecting himself to the people rather than glorifying God among the men? Is the Lord’s service for showing our skills and seeking praises from others? The Bible says For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.John 12: 43. Which has more value -priases from the Lord or men? Receiving good report from the Lord lifts you up to next steps of your ministry or anything else. Read this verse- His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.Matthew 25: 21. Whosoever receives His certification and praise will move him up with more talents and blessings. Praises from men profits you nothing.

Moreover, is it not whosoever wants to be the chiefest and having a desire to be identified by the people stealing the glory of the Lord? Satan desired for the same. The Bible says Satan thought this within himself -I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.Isaiah 14: 14. What kind of desire is this? Does not it mean Satan wants to steal the glory of the Lord. ? Only God is to be glorified.You and I can never take the place of God. The desire to be the chiefest is stealing His glory as whatever miracles, healings etc.,, happened is from the Lord but not from your greatness. The Bible also says Thou shalt not steal.Exodus 20: 15. This scripture also applicable to stealing from God. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.Malachi 3: 8. If those who are not giving tithes and offerings robbing God, how much more it is stealing His glory?Thus, stealing His glory is sin as it is disobedience to His command( Thou shall not steal). Concentrating on “I” than on Christ is simply an imitation of the first sin committed by satan.

Further, the Bible says -The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.Matthew 10: 24. Therefore we are under Him. We are mere servants to the Lord. We must learn to say- So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.Luke 17: 10

Read this verse -A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.Proverbs 29: 23. From where shall this honour come to us? This honour is from the Lord. Have this desire to receive His honor as the praises from men is of no use. The same tongue of man who praised you yesterday may defame you tomorrow. People may praise you but never forget to glorify the Lord who gave this opportunity.

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.Acts 12: 21-24. Forgetting to glorify Him will be equivalent to seeking glory from men and thereby stealing His glory.

A man cannot be a servant until he humbles himself. God loves people of humble spirit. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.James 4:6 Proud wants to be the chiefest whereas a servant knows that he has done what he is supposed to do and remembers his master is the Lord who is observing this. His honour is from the Lord. He knows His lord will say unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. What is more required than this honour from the Lord?

Therefore, let the Christ live in you who is worthy to be praised as He laid down His life on the Cross. As St Paul said -I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: Galatians 2: 20. If Christ lives in you, you are no more. If you are no more, there is no question of desiring to be identified and be the chiefest among the people. If Christ lives in you, you will never prefer to be the chiefest.Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 18: 4