Okay. The notices God willing for the
coming week are as follows. Next Lord's Day, our pastor is
expected to preach at 10.30 and 2 p.m. and on Thursday at 7 p.m. There will be no prayer meeting
on Tuesday this week as there are Thanksgiving services at
Macfield Chapel afternoon and evening. Lord help us. Commence our services
today by singing hymn number 778. The tune is City Road Chapel,
805. who straight be the way, with
dangers beset, and we on the way are no farther yet. Our good
guide and a saviour has helped us thus far, and it is by his
favour we are what we are. A favour so great we highly should
prize, not murmur, nor fret, nor small things despise. But
what call we small things? Sins all cancel some, which is
greater than all things, except those to come. Hymn number 778. O say can you see by the dawn's
early light What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last gleaming ? And be on your way ? ? God
bless America ? ? The good Lord, that Saviour,
has loved us thus far ? ? And is at His feet now, we adore
and we adore. ? O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave? ? But what will be stolen ? ? Sin's
own person's soul ? ? Is greater than all this ? ? Let shepherds do watch
? Thy brethren, brethren, of those
we have been, now go and respond to us of their sin. ? Evermore and evermore ? ? We
ever will adore you ? ? Each and all his power ? ? And statures profane ? Rejoice, and cheerfully sing,
Because heaven rejoices in Jesus our King. U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.,
U.S.A. ? O blessings thy peace ? ? Surround
justly him ? ? The prospects of peace ? ? And foretaste of
heaven ? ? His strength for this first night
? ? To sing and adore ? ? Thee and the full present ? ? Have
merit to give ? We read together this morning
two parts from God's holy word. Firstly, the second book of Kings,
chapter 5, and then Psalm 38. Two Kings, chapter 5, we'll read
the first 14 verses. Now Naaman, captain of the host
of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and honorable,
because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria. He was
also a mighty man in valor, but he was a labber. And the Syrians
had gone out by company. and had brought away captive
out of the land of Israel a little maid, and she waited on Naaman's
wife. And she said unto her mistress,
would God, my Lord, were with the prophet that is in Samaria,
for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in and told his
Lord, saying thus, and thus said the maid that is of the land
of Israel, The king of Syria said, go to,
go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And
he departed and took with him 10 talents of silver, and 6,000
pieces of gold, and 10 changes of raiment. And he brought the letter to
the king of Israel, saying, now when this letter is come unto
thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee,
that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. And it came to pass, when the
king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and
said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth
send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? Wherefore consider,
I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. And it was so, when Elisha, the
man of God, had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes,
that he said to the king, saying, wherefore hast thou rent thy
clothes? Let him come now to me, and he
shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses
and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 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 robbed. 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. God ought to barter and farper
rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel. May
I not wash in them and be clean So he turned and went away in
a rage. And his servants came near and
spake unto him and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do
some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather
then, when he saith to thee, Wash and be clean. Then went he down. and dipped
himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the
man of God. His flesh came again like unto
the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Now turn to
the book of Psalms number 38. Psalm 38. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy
wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in
me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in
my flesh because of thine anger, neither is there any rest in
my bones because of my sin. But mine iniquities have gone
over my head. As an heavy burden, they are
too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt
because of my foolishness. I am troubled. I am bowed down
greatly. I go mourning all the day long,
for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease. and there
is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken. I have roared by reason of the
disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before
me. My groaning is not hid from me.
My heart panteth, my strength faileth, As for the light of
my eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends
stand aloof from my soul, and my kinsmen stand afar off. They also that seek after my
life lay snares for me, and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous
things and imagine deceits. all the day long. But I, as a
deaf man, heard not, and I was as a dumb man that openeth not
his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth
not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord,
do I hope, thou wilt hear O Lord, my God. For I said, hear me,
lest otherwise they should rejoice over me. When my foot slippeth,
they magnify themselves against me. For I am ready to halt. My sorrow is continually before
me. For I will declare mine iniquity,
I will be sorry for my sin. But my enemies are lively, and
they are strong, and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for
good are mine adversaries, because I follow the thing that good
is. Forsake me not, O Lord, O my
God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord,
my salvation. May God bless to us each the
reading from his holy word and teach us to pray. Dear Lord, almighty God in heaven
above, we do ask for thy help now to come before the emperor. Oh Lord, teach us each what we
need and teach us how to pray. Do grant unto us each, oh Lord,
that real prayer in our hearts. May we be united in our desires
before Lord, we thank Thee that there is that way made through
the Lord Jesus Christ, where guilty sinners such as I can
plead Thy holy name. Lord, we do thank Thee for the
privilege of calling upon Thy name. Lord, the privilege of We pray
that we might be found more often in prayer, more often calling
upon Thee, pouring out our hearts unto Thee. Lord, even those that are sighs
and groans. Lord, we pray that we might be
kept from the prayer of words only. We might be kept from the
prayers without the heart. Lord, we thank Thee also for
Thy word. for the many precious truths that it contains. We do
pray, Lord, that it might be truly made a precious book to
us each. May we each be enabled to say,
oh, what a heavenly field and what handfuls that it contains. Lord, as we meet in thy house
week by week, we pray that there might be a few handfuls It might
be that which is sown in our hearts, that which shall remain
and bring forth fruit. Lord, how often we confess we
have stony hearts. Lord, we pray that we might be
among those who hear the word of God and keep it. So Lord, may we each, this Sabbath
day, have our hearts prepared that we might each be given that
spirit of worship and praise. Lord, we do thank Thee for all
Thy many mercies. We thank Thee for the returning
day of rest. We pray, O Lord, that it might
be, even today, a day that is set apart. A day, Lord, where
we are set apart from the things of the past week and the things
of the the coming week as we may be spared. Lord, that we
might each be enabled to lift up our eyes and see that no man
saved Jesus. Lord, we pray that it might be
a good day. Lord, without Thee we can do
nothing. Without Thy presence there can be no profit in our
gathering together. Lord, we do pray that it It might
truly be a day of feasting. Lord, thou knowest what we each
need. Thou knowest how we each come into thy house. Lord, we
do pray that there might be something for us. In all compassion on
us, have we prayed that an empty send us, but not away. Lord, we do pray before each
one gathered here, and any who are not able to be with us who
would be here if they could. Lord, we do pray for thy blessing
upon us each. We pray for our dear friend,
the pastor. We do especially remember him
and help him today at Black Voice to preach in thy name. We pray
that there might be a blessing there. Lord, do uphold support and strengthen
him in his bereavement and his loneliness. Lord, do draw near,
and the family also, those here and those elsewhere. Lord, we pray that their hearts
might be comforted. We pray, Lord, that they might
know a little of this, a friend that loveth at all times, a brother
are born for adversity. Lord, there may be others here
who have sad homes, those who have been bereaved, perhaps recently
or perhaps many years ago. Lord, do draw near and do make
thy special presence known. Lord, we do pray for the little
ones, the babies, the children, We will all be thankful for them.
We do pray, O Lord, that those watch over them, help them as
they grow up and develop. Lord, we will not take these
things for granted. Lord, we do pray that they might,
each, in thy time, be made manifest as one of thine. We pray for
the young people, Lord, do help them, to keep them near a wall
of fire round about, to keep them from the many evils and
temptations and that which would draw them away. Lord, we would bear them before
Thee, seeking that Thou would remember them for good, and that
they might remember their Creator in the days of their youth. It
might not be among those who forsake Lord, may it be so for
us each. Lord, whether we are younger
or older, or somewhere in the middle. Lord, we cannot keep
ourselves. We each have a fearful adversary. We each have sinful hearts. Enemies without, and enemies
within. Lord, we pray that we might be
kept. Ever keep us to thy word. Keep us to thy house. Lord, keep
us from being deceived. We do pray, Lord, that we might
each be taught by the Holy Spirit. It might be within each of our
hearts, that growth in grace and the knowledge of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. We do pray, O Lord, for that
blessing upon the preaching of thy word, that there might be
that leading into thy truth, leading in the ways everlasting.
The Lord that we might each, in our various ways, in our various
circumstances, be found in that narrow way which leadeth unto
eternal life. The Lord we read there are few
that find We do pray, O Lord, in thy mercy that each one of
us might be among the few. Lord, leave none of us out. We
pray that we might each be prepared for a never-ending eternity.
We see the signs around us of death and decay and sorrow. Lord, we pray that these things
might cause us to consider to consider our latter end, to lift
up our eyes unto Thee. We do pray, O Lord, for the parents
and those in the midst of life, and those with many burdens and
troubles, and those who are older, and
those in weakness and affliction. We do pray, O Lord, that we might
each, whatever be our state or We find Thee to be the very present
help. We do pray, O Lord, for Thy people
everywhere, for those in this land and those throughout the
whole earth, each one known unto Thee. We pray Thy blessing upon
Thy word. We pray that there might be a
building up of Thy earthly kingdom. Lord, that there might be many
prepared for that kingdom of heaven, that kingdom above. Lord, we do pray for our nation
at this time of great uncertainty and confusion with many changes. And we do pray, O Lord, that
many might have that work of the Spirit in their hearts. they might see that there are
those things which cannot be shaken. And even those in authority
over us, we pray, O Lord, that they might be among those who
are taught of the Lord. O Lord, how many needs we have. O Lord, our greatest need is
the everlasting gospel, that many might be brought in the
confession of sin, feeling well their ruined state, to humbly
fall at Jesus' feet. Lord, we pray that it might be
so. We pray for a revival, not just in our nation, but in the
church of God and in our own hearts also. So Lord, do remember us for good. We pray now for thy help as we
turn to thy word. Lord, how we need thee. whether
speaking or hearing. Lord, we can do nothing without
you. We do pray that there might be
that power attending the word. There might be something that
enters in. Lord, thou hast said, my word
shall not return unto me void. Lord, may there be a few purposes
accomplished in thy name and for thy honor and glory. So Lord,
do help us each. Keep us from anything wrong in
thy sight. Keep us from grieving thee in our worship. Lord, may
we each know the forgiveness of every sin. May we each be
washed in thy precious blood. We ask, O Lord, for the forgiveness
of everything that we have failed to ask for or asked for wrongly. We ask all these things for Jesus'
sake. Amen. We continue our service by singing
hymn number 351, which really is Arnold's number 91. The sinner that by precious faith
has felt his sins forgiven is manifestly passed from death
and sealed an heir of heaven. Though a thousand snares enclose
his feet, not one shall hold him fast. Whatever dangers he
may meet, He shall get safe at last. In number 351. ? And shall not be seen again ?
? In the heav'nly place ? ? With rush of rain ? ? And still be
there ? Whose broad stripes and bright
stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? Amen. O say can you see, by the dawn's
early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's ? And watch the earth ? ? In heavenly
peace ? ? And watch it ? ? Till the end. ? The Spirit comes to this land
The Lord, the Son, and the Blood ? As she disperseth from his breast
? ? And slowly goes to his side ? ? Praise to you my God ? ? For
this we bless ? ? This grace my holy birth ? ? If one may live ? O say can you see, by the dawn's
early light, His virtues are all but true.
? Be with you ? ? Which ever ?
? I shall see ? ? And be with you ? ? And be with you ? ? This
the night to be your best ? ? Forever you must be there this night
? The dependence upon the Lord
for his help. I ask you to turn to the gospel
according to Luke chapter 5 and Just a few words in verse 12. Luke chapter five, verse 12. A man full of leprosy. We read verses 12 and 13. And it came to pass when he was
in a certain city, Behold, a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus
fell on his face and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt,
thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand and
touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately
the leprosy departed from him. A man full of leprosy. What we have before us in just
these few words is a pitiful case, a deplorable case, a desperate
case, a man of leprosy. Leprosy, particularly in Bible
times, and really even to the middle of last century, the most
dreadful disease. It still is a dreadful disease,
but in the Lord's mercy, more is able to be done with the medical advancements
that have been made, and we ought to be thankful for that. Just to pause here, we think
of how over the history of the world, since the days when these
words were written, since the days of Naaman, whom we read
of. Oh, there has been that, the cure, that treatment for
leprosy. And yet as we will consider how
leprosy, in the word of God, represents the sin itself, and
though there is that better treatment for leprosy, how much we are
in the world itself that lieth in wickedness. What do we have
that comes to my mind at the very first chapter in the book
of Isaiah? Ah, a sinful nation. That is us, that is Britain,
that is the nations of the earth, that is you and me, in our hearts
by nature, a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, the seed
of evildoers, the children that are corruptors, they have forsaken
the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger,
they are gone away backwards, a sinful nation, the people laden
with iniquity. And it goes on to say this, from
the sole of the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness
in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. What a picture. What a sad, desperate
case. What a picture of our nation.
What a picture of you and I personally. And as we may consider what the
Word of God teaches us concerning this, the terrible disease of
leprosy, may we be enabled to look within. This man, this poor man, in this desperate
case, he was full of leprosy. that you know, you and I, we
may be spared from this dreadful disease, that you and I are each
full of sin. Now, I wonder how many of you
know that. I don't just mean you know that
because you have been told and your pastor has told you that
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, I'm sure
he has. How many of you really know it in your heart? How many of you have been brought
to say like Job, behold, I am vile. I am vile. Behold, a man full of leprosy,
a man And this is what has struck me with these few words. He didn't
just have a few scabs, a few sores, a few boils, but he was
full of it. He was covered from head to toe
in this miserable, wretched disease. He had that dreadful condition. His skin was inflamed, his skin
was numb. as it was with leprosy. We read
a great deal of detail in the Book of Leviticus, particularly
chapters 13 and 14, concerning what the leprosy meant in those
days, and what was to be done with those who had this terrible
disease. Rising a scab, a bright spot,
the plague of leprosy, they had to be brought unto the priest. Their hair would turn white. And so this dreadful plague would
spread throughout. And then what has always struck
me concerning those who had this plague, they had to go forth,
they were pronounced, they're unclean, they were rejected,
they were cast out, They were outcasts. They were not to be
anywhere near anyone else unless they should spread this terrible
disease. And if anyone came near them
and had not realized that they had this terrible plague, then
they had to shout, you're unclean, you're unclean. He is unclean. Well, let us continue to keep
in mind the parallel, the type, if you will, of leprosy as it
concerns the sin that is within us each. A leprous man, he is
unclean. The priest shall pronounce him
utterly unclean. In other words, they're completely
defined. That his plague is in his head,
and the leper in whom the plague is is close, it shall be rent. And his head bare, and he shall
put a covering upon his upper lip, and he shall cry, unclean,
unclean. You read through those two chapters,
Leviticus 13 and 14, and you'll see the sorry state the desperate
case for those who had this terrible disease. But the point is, what
about you and me? What has this got to do with
us? When we read these few words, a man full of leprosy, a woman
full of leprosy, a boy, a girl full of leprosy, full of sin,
do you know anything about it? We've been brought to say, like
David, like others, that I have sinned. I have sinned greatly. David himself said that on two
occasions at least, I have sinned, or I have sinned greatly. And you know, he didn't blame
anyone else. It wasn't like Adam when sin
entered the world and he said it wasn't me. Eve, Eve beguiled
me. Eve told me to do it. Eve said
it was the serpent, it wasn't me. David, when he sinned concerning
Bathsheba, when he sinned, as he numbered the people, he said,
I, that I have sinned. He didn't say I have sinned,
but someone else encouraged me. I have sinned, but everyone else
doesn't. I have sinned, but I've done lots of other good things.
He didn't come like that, he came just as he was. I have sinned. You know, I've thought this before,
just to pause here with David's life for a moment, but he said,
I have sinned. As he spoke to Nathan, and Nathan
said, the Lord also that hath put away thy sin, thou shalt
not die. There, in one verse, is the Gospel
in the Old Testament. I have sinned, the Lord hath
put away thy sin. It just is the Lord Jesus himself. This man, in a desperate case,
he came to the Lord Jesus and said, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou
canst make me clean. Behold, a man full of leprosy,
a man full of sin. Well, that is each of us by nature. As in Adam, all die. Sin entered the world and so
death by sin. and death hath passed upon all
men, that for that all have sinned. But if we are among the Lord's
people, if he has a purpose of mercy towards us, there will
come a time, in his own way, in his own time, in a greater
or lesser way, according to his sovereign will, when we will
be brought to realize these things, that for ourselves, and will
be brought to say that I have sinned. That is why we read that
Psalm 38, how there, David, he compares his sin to a loathsome
disease. Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath. He sees the justice of God who
would be just to condemn him to eternity in hell. There is
no soundness in my flesh. He says twice, no soundness in
my flesh. Do you know this? For in me,
that is, in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing. I wonder if we
really know that. Nothing we can do, nothing we
can say, Nothing we have done is of any use. Nothing that we
can do will merit our salvation within me, that is, in my flesh. And you know we must be brought
to this point because if we try to work out our own salvation
by what we may have done or what we could do, then it takes the
glory from Almighty God. We have to come just as we are,
to fall down at the feet of the Lamb, to come empty and poor
and blind and wretched, to come with all our sin, our wounds,
our sores, to come with all our guilt. And the Lord has promised
to take away and behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the
sin of the world. And that doesn't mean the sin
of everyone. It means the sin of everyone who, having been
brought to see that they are sinners, to look to the Lord
Jesus alone for forgiveness, for cleansing. All of those shall
have their sins taken away. But what a weight of sin David
felt. How strong the words he uses
to describe his own feelings, the bitterness of his soul. My
wounds stink and are corrupt. I am troubled, I am bowed down
greatly. He felt the heaviness of his
sin. He speaks of his sin as a heavy
burden. a burden that is too great for
me. I am sore broken. I wonder, even this morning,
perhaps there is one of you feeling feeble and sore broken about
down because of your sin. But can you say this? Lord, all
my desire is before thee. My groanings, such as they are,
you can't really call them prayers. that you have those real desires
in your heart. The Lord will be gracious to
you. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst. My strength, faith, but perhaps
you feel like the leper. Perhaps you feel like David here
that you cannot go on. Satan tells you to give up and
call no more on Jesus' name. Cast not away. that your little
hope come hither and behold the Lamb. Behold the Lamb who taketh
away the sin of the world. And so David is brought to this
point. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope
thou wilt hear, O Lord, my God. He has that hope raised up that
the Lord will hear him. even in his lowest state, even
when he is ready to halt, he has his sorrow continually before
him, even with those enemies that were round about him. But he says, forsake me not. O Lord, O my God, be not far
from me. So if this is one of you this
morning, full of sin, and you will be enabled to say like the
hymn. It's in the young people's hymn book, and it's for older
ones also. I need thee, precious Jesus,
for I am full of sin. My soul is dark and guilty. My heart is dead with thee. Can you say that this morning
from an honest heart? I need Thee, precious Jesus,
for I am full of sin. Well, the Lord will regard Thee
in prayer of the destitute. He will not despise their prayer. He will have mercy upon those
who call upon Him, feeling they are sinners and looking alone
to the Lord. for his mercy. I will declare
mine iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. Well, this verse here, it speaks
to us of real repentance. May you and I know more of what
repentance really means. To be truly sorry, you young
ones, Perhaps you find it's very hard to say sorry. If you've
done something wrong, it's not easy to say sorry. I don't think,
if we are honest, those of us who are older will find it any
easier either. How much concerning. There are
many, many sins. We cannot ourselves be truly
sorry. I will be sorry for my sin. But you know, the Word of God
tells us it is a gift. It is something given by the
Lord Jesus. A repentance. It is something
to pray for. It is something that you and
I each need. And something that you and I
can each pray for. Him. That is Jesus. Him hath God exalted. to be a prince and a savior,
for to give repentance and forgiveness of sin. Repentance and forgiveness. It is with the Lord Jesus to
give to all those who are brought to feel they are full of sin. You come to him feeling their
need, Feeling what they are, feeling what they need, in him
hath God exalted. That is, the right hand, with
his right hand, to be a prince and a saviour. Well, may you
and I be enabled to pray for these great gifts. We don't deserve
them, we don't deserve that repentance and forgiveness to be given,
but we are. encouraged to pray for it. And all those who pray from the
heart for these things, it will be given. The Lord has promised
repentance and forgiveness. A man full of leprosy. Well, of course, we read concerning
Naaman. Naaman himself was a man at first,
full of leprosy. He was many other things. He
was the captain of the host of the king. We read, it's very
interesting to notice that the Lord himself had given deliverance
unto Syria before Naaman knew the Lord for himself. The Lord
knew Naaman. The Lord gave him deliverance.
He was a great man with his master. He was a great man with the king.
He was honorable. By him the Lord had given deliverance. He was also a mighty man in valor. Well, so far we think he has
so much. He has everything. What more
could he want? And then the last part of the
first verse, but he was a lamb. And you know, you and I could
have many things in our life. We could have many possessions.
We could have a great reputation. We could have a very good job,
a nice house. We could have so many things,
material things. And of course, if the Lord has
provided for us, we are to be thankful. How solemn if in our lives we
have all these things. All these things that shall one
day be dissolved. All these things that shall be
one day burnt up. And yet still, but he was a leper. We know nothing of that cleansing,
that repentance and forgiveness given by the Lord Jesus. And so I'm sure you know well,
the account of name and how he was recovered. of his leprosy. But what has struck me is how
I was named and went to the king of Israel, and the king was displeased. Am I God? It's a cure of leprosy. But Elisha, when he heard of
these things, when he heard that the king had rent his clothes,
he said, let him come now. to me, and he shall know that
there is a prophet in Israel." A wonderful thing, that if you
and I are here this morning, feeling to be full of sin, know
that there is a God in Israel, a God in Israel still who lives
and reigns and works His will for His people. that ever cares
all he is or has that is theirs. And so Naaman came. He came to
the prophet Elisha. And here we see Naaman's old
nature. Here we see how he had it all
planned out in his head, how the Lord would deal with him,
how Elisha would deal with him, how he would be cured from his
leprosy. And I wonder if it struck any of you, these three words
in verse 11. Behold, that I thought. I think many, the Lord's people
as they are, brought in that way of repentance and forgiveness,
brought to that hope in the Lord Jesus as their only hope for
heaven. You know what these, three words
mean, behold, I thought. He had all these different ideas
of how the work would be accomplished, of how his leprosy would be cleansed,
and his own thoughts, his own ideas were completely wrong. He had it all in his head. But he had to prove, my thoughts
are not your thoughts, and neither are your ways my ways, said the
Lord. He had these rivers of Damascus,
they were much better than all the waters of Israel, well, they
might have been, but it wasn't the Lord's will. We see his old
nature, he turned and went away, in a rage. And you know, we haven't
got any stones to throw at Naaman, How often, if we don't get our
own way, how cross we can get. And as the Lord leads his people,
we will have to find that it is by his way and not our own. Behold, I thought, perhaps a
few of you here this morning can look back. You thought the
Lord would do this and do that and do it in this way. and do
it in that way, and it was something completely different. And do
not have to acknowledge that what he does is ever best. That his way is higher than our
way, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. To behold
the I-thought. Well, they haven't had many things
to behold. Later, does he say this, behold,
that now that I know, behold, now I know, he knew the way that
he had had to go. He knew the Lord's purpose in
dealing with him. But this, behold, that I thought,
well, So do watch that if the Lord in mercy is dealing with
you, that you do not get set down, as it were, the way in
which the Lord has to go. How foolish and how ignorant
we are in thinking that Almighty God has to do things just as
we wish. Behold, I thought that he had
these faithful servants They told him that he was wrong, they
told him that it wasn't a great thing that he had to do. May
I not, may you not wash in them, and be clean. If you'd been asked
to do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much
rather when he said, wash and be clean. We have so much in the Word of
God concerning the deliverance, our delivering God. Call upon
me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. Don't forget the last bit, and
thou shalt glorify me. In name approved, the delivering
God. that his God was able to deliver.
He went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan according
to the man of God, according to God's will, according to his
way, and not according to Naaman's own way. But it was the right
way, and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little
child. Images of people that have had
leprosy, how damaged, how raw, how rotten almost the skin is.
And yet here we have a full deliverance. The flesh of a little child,
and he was clean. Well, perhaps you're a poor,
tempted one this morning, feeling to be full of leprosy. He is
able, he is willing. doubt no more. He came again
like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And here he says this, Behold,
now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. And how he was so thankful for
what had been done through the prophet Elisha. How he tried
to to pay something for it. There's a lesson for us there.
Elisha would not take anything for it. How often, if we are
brought to feel our need of being cleansed, we want to pay something. We want to come with something
in our pocket, as it were. We want to come with an offering.
We want to come with a gift. We want to come to make ourselves
more acceptable How is it that come just as you
are, with your woe, and fall down at the feet of the Lamb? Come empty, come raptured, come
bare, come filthy, all leprous as you are. He came, He tried
to pay something, He tried to make an offering, but there is
only one offering that shall take away the sins of each of
the Lord's people." And then when he kept coming back, he
said, well, take this then. Take something else. What about
this? What about that? Christ, by one
offering, hath perfected forever those that are his. That one
offering that he made at Calvary and laying down his life in love
to his people. That is the only offering that
will suffice. And in it there is nothing that
you and I can do. It is all of grace, at last,
that any man should boast. And so there is much for us to
consider in the life of man. May we be kept from this, behold
I thought, that we be kept from striving to go our own way. I
think we hope to sing at the end of those leprous souls, pressing
through the crowd, pressing to the Lord Jesus, seeking to know
that forgiveness, that cleansing. Leprous soul, press through the
crowd in thy foul condition. Struggle hard and call aloud.
that on thy great physician wait till thy disease he cleans. Begging,
trusting, cleaving, when and where and by what means, to his
wisdom leaving. It's not easy for our nature. We want things to be done according
to our own wisdom, but that will never do us any real good. If you are one this morning,
not this man, full of leprosy, struggle hard, wait till thy
disease he cleanses, he will come, he will cleanse you from
all uncleanness, begging, trusting, cleaving, leaving it to his will,
when and where, and by what means, to his wisdom at leaving. So we have this man who came
to the Lord Jesus, full of leprosy, covered from head to toe, completely
defiled. And yet when he saw Jesus, he
was struggling through the crowd. You think of it, those who had
leprosy had to stay away from everyone else. They weren't permitted
to mix with others. and yet so desperate, and so
urgent and pressing was his case. He came even into this great
city, perhaps it was the Capernaum, and he came, and he saw Jesus,
he was following him, he was pressing through the crowd, and
if unto Jesus thou art bound, the crowd about him, it will
be found. It will be the crowd of Satan
trying to keep you back, He doesn't want you to be looking unto Jesus. He doesn't want you to come just
as you are. He doesn't want you to come seeking repentance and
forgiveness. There'll be your old heart, your
hard heart, your unbelief. The crowd about him will be found.
Maybe the things in the world, those things that would, as it
were, put you off, that would keep you back. full of leprosy. And yet, what
a difference in the second part of this verse. Who is seeing
Jesus? When you come to the house of
God, is it your desire that you see Jesus? That you see in him
one who is able to cleanse from all uncleanness? Who's seeing
Jesus that fell on his face? He put his mouth in the dust.
He came just as he was, with all his uncleanness. He must
have been quite close to the Lord Jesus. No doubt there was
a crowd about him. But he must have come so close,
pushing through that crowd. And he fell on his face. He came
in all humility, in his sense of unworthiness, and besought
Jesus. like the centurion. What did
he say? O Lord, I am not worthy, but
speak the word only. I am not worthy. And that is
how the poor man, full of leprosy, came, feeling to be unworthy,
feeling lost and wretched and undone. But he looked unto Jesus. He knew where his only hope of
a cleansing could be found, he fell on his face and besought
him. There is an emphasis, there is a strength in this word, he
besought him. If we beseech someone, it is
with grace, urgency, almost desperation, asking for that thing that we
need. And so it is here, Lord, if thou
wilt, thou canst, and made me clean." It doesn't seem that
he thought there was any lack of power or ability in the Lord
to cleanse him. But would he do it for me? Perhaps
that is what you want to know this morning. Do you believe
that the Lord can cleanse from sin and from uncleanness, that
the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, taketh away all sin. But you say, is it for me? Has he taken away my sin? Lord,
if thou wilt, in spite of all my unbelief, in spite of my unworthiness,
if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And here we see the
tender compassion and mercy of the Lord Jesus He put forth his
hand and touched him, saying, I will. What a remarkable sight
this must have been. Not just this man, full of leprosy,
riddled with this loathsome disease, pressing through the crowd, feeling
himself, if he didn't say it himself, outwardly feeling within,
unclean, unclean. But such was his need, such was
his desperation. He pressed through. And here
again, the Lord Jesus. He doesn't shrink from this one
with this terrible disease. He doesn't even just stand still,
but he puts forth his hand. And he says, I will. He touches
him. pronounces that forgiveness,
that cleansing, I will, be, thou clean. And what an answer, what
a deliverance. The leprosy immediately departed
from him. There was that complete cleansing,
that complete deliverance. There was that complete change.
What a sight that must have been, that the Lord told him to go
and show thyself unto the priest, to do that which was commanded
in the law. We read that many others came. Many others came,
is that news of the Lord Jesus, his great deliverances, they
went abroad. They came to be healed by him.
at their infirmities. And from that day until this,
many have come to Jesus to be healed by him of their infirmities. Many who perhaps have tried to
heal their infirmities themselves. Many who have tried to set things
out in the way that they think their infirmities should be healed.
But to be brought to this, to be healed by him, in his perfect
way and not our own, when and where and by what means, to his
wisdom leaving. Well, I wonder if there are those of
you this morning who feel the infirmity of sin, who feel that
sin is a loathsome disease. And when we speak of these things,
We don't just mean at the beginning, the Lord's dealings. You know,
we need to be continually reminded if we are among those who have
known a little of that repentance and forgiveness, knowing what
it is to have a hope of being cleansed in the blood of the
Lamb. We are still in a body of sin. We still have that old man of
sin that strives. That struggle, that warfare within.
How we have to be brought to see continually that we are full
of sin. There's that hymn that speaks
of backsliding, how we each need to be kept from it. It speaks
of wandering from the Lord, but now made willing to return. There is an advocate above, a
friend before the throne of love. And here is your hope, if you
are in a backsliding condition, if you know what it is, to fill
your heart full of sin. Oh Jesus, that one word, that
is your hope. Oh Jesus, full of truth and grace,
more full of grace. than I have sinned. Just think
of that, what a depth there is there. He more full of grace than we
are of sin. Yet once again I seek thy face,
open thy arms and take me in. All my backslidings freely healed
and love that they're faithless, that sin is still and it came
to pass. When he was in a certain city,
behold, a man full of leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, fell on his
face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean. May the Lord forgive anything
amiss. Amen. We're going to sing the closing
hymn, part of hymn number 306. The tune is Ramsgate 589. I'll read the first two verses
and we'll commence from verse three. Oh, the pangs by Christians felt
when their eyes are open, when they see the gulfs of guilt they
must wade and croak in, when the hell appears within, causing
bitter anguish, and the loathsome stench of sin makes the spirit
languish. Now the heart disclosed betrays
all its hid disorders, enmity to God's right ways, blasphemies
and murders, malice, envy, lust and pride, thoughts obscene and
filthy, sores corrupt and putrefied, no heart sound or healthy. From verse 3, hymn number 306. ["Pomp and Circumstance"] O say can you see, O come, O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful Joyful
and triumphant O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? ? Who is He who made thee there? ? ? Heaven and earth sing for
us ? ? The light and the strength. ? ? Heaven and earth sing this sacred
night ? ? With thee, O believer ? ? As this glorious Christmas
night ? ? Christ, Lord of all ? ? Christ,
Lord of all ? ? With the Lord. ? ? In this holy place, ? ? Where
we can see the light, ? ? Heav'nless love and still and calm ? ? Renite
the heart each day ? ? Star of God and Lord of love ? ? God
of our great nation ? ? Praise him, all ye citizens ? ? Make me trust in thee ? ? Ever,
ever, I will be near thee ? ? Till earth, space, and heaven ring
? Now may the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the
Holy Ghost be with us all. Amen.