Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Every family in America
has been or will be affected by the deadly disease known as
cancer. Hospitals are full of people
being treated for it in its various manifestations. Every one of
us can name someone who is presently suffering with this awful illness.
No one seems immune to its ravages. In many ways it is a silent killer,
for it often comes upon men and women with little if any warning.
It usually begins with a small spot of growth that often rapidly
increases in size, until in many cases it has brought its victim
to the brink of death before they even realize its seriousness.
Fortunately, we live in an age wherein the Lord has blessed
men with great understanding and skill in dealing with this
disease. Many survive cancer today because
of these advances in treatments who would have perished quickly
even twenty years ago. During Bible times, leprosy was
a much feared and incurable disease, as far as men knew. Its effects
could be likened to cancer, as we see it in the present day.
It had no bounds, affecting the rich as well as the poor, the
learned and the unlearned, rulers as well as their subjects. Leprosy,
like cancer, is a devastating disease, often leaving its victims
scarred for life. Throughout the scriptures we
see leprosy as being a type or illustration of sin. In fact,
all disease and sickness, being the result of our fallen state,
is likened unto sin. Sin in all of its forms is a
deadly disease that ultimately destroys all of its victims,
unless they are delivered from it. As far as the law is concerned,
there is no differentiation as to the degrees of sin. For whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all. Yet just as it is true that there
are forms of cancer that are more deadly than others, so also
it is true that some sin is more destructive to the very soul
of a man than others. Some sins are openly displayed
and cause harm. Yet I submit to you that there
are many sins which men harbor in their hearts, which if left
unchecked will utterly destroy them. They may go about their
everyday lives as if nothing is wrong, but all the while this
wickedness eats at their vitals, sapping them of joy and strength
and destroying their usefulness. James describes such as bitter
envying and strife, which he says is devilish. The children
of God must be on guard, watching and praying, that such a sinister
spirit and attitude does not control them. Their flesh would
like nothing better than to mire them down in this pit, which
has very steep sides and is exceedingly difficult to climb out of. I
think this malady can be seen manifesting itself in several
ways. One is in unforgiveness. There is probably no sin as destructive
to spiritual life and growth as that of an unforgiving spirit.
Our carnal nature makes it easy for us to glory in unforgiveness.
We deceive ourselves when we think that we can justify such
an attitude regardless of the offense. Often this spirit simmers
just under the surface. We tell ourselves we have forgiven
others of alleged wrongs committed against us, yet we don't actively
seek the benefit of those who have offended us. It is not enough
just to put these things out of our minds. We must pray that
God will bless the offenders. We have not conquered unforgiveness
until we love mercy more than justice. Great sorrow and spiritual
weakness constantly visit those who do not move on from past
and present injustices. Then we see envy or jealousy.
Though we have all visited this house from time to time, we must
not dwell here. This spirit often manifests itself
among brethren who envy the blessing of the Lord upon another brother,
whether it be spiritual gifts or material wealth. For who maketh
thee to differ from another, and what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? The sons of God must rejoice
in the blessings God pours out on their brethren, knowing that
the same Lord is rich unto all that call upon his name. We have
not conquered jealousy until we receive greater joy at the
blessing of our brethren than we do at our own. And then there's
contentiousness. Disagreement does not have to
gender strife, but it often does when contending becomes contentiousness. There must never be a spirit
of contentiousness in the church. Let nothing be done through strife
or vain glory, but in loneliness of mind let each a seem other
better than themselves. Contention arises because of
pride. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth. Let this mind be in you which
was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross. Do you desire to be like him?
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