The Connection of Prayer, Preaching, and the Cleansing of a Sinner in Galilee

1. The Connection of Prayer, Preaching, and the Cleansing of a Sinner in Galilee Mark 1:35-45

2. Context Mark 1:34 • And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils [demons]; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

3. Mark 1:35 • And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

4. “And in the morning” When do you commune with God? (to communicate intimately)

5. Mark 1:35 • And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Intra-Trinitarian Communication

6. Don’t think in terms of Jesus praying to the Father far, far away. Look at John 14:10

7. John 14:10 Jesus said: • Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? • the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

8. Application • So while I do go before the Father’s throne of grace in prayer, that throne is not that far away since the Spirit of God lives in me! • What is your solitary place?

9. Communion with God • For us, prayer involves two things: • Reading the Bible to hear from Him • Communicating words/thoughts to God w/o both He is nothing but a cosmic vending machine

10. Communion with God • For us, prayer involves two things: • Reading the Bible to hear from God • This means I interact with the text! • This involves responding to the message of the author. • Seeking the Spirit’s illumination is a must.

11. Communion with God • For us, prayer involves two things: • Reading the Bible to hear from Him • Communicating words/thoughts to God but NOT in a cosmic vending machine sense

12. What do I say? Turn to Luke 11:1-13

13. An Outline for Prayer • Praise God • Express Thanksgiving • Confess Sin • Articulate basic needs of life • Express your heart’s desires • Communicate the need for deliverance from specific temptations

14. Notice v. 2 and v. 13 • When I am most concerned about the advancement of His Kingdom (v. 2), I will understand that the greatest gift I can ever receive in life is the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).

15. Why is the Spirit such a Great Gift? • The Spirit makes intercession for me • The Spirit guides me in truth • The Spirit convicts me of sin • The Spirit illuminates the Word of God

16. At this point, the disciples are struggling at understanding: “thy kingdom come” Notice: Mark 1:36-37

17. Mark 1:36-37 • And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. • And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. “All men seek for” a Jesus who heals and casts out demons—but not one who says, “take up”

18. Mark 1:38 • And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. Turn over to Luke 4:17-19

19. 11x Mark 1:39 • And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. How is the kingdom of God advanced today?

20. Fact There is nothing coincidental or accidental about the layout of information in the books of the Bible.

21. Mark 1:40 • And there came a leper to him, A leper had some kind of skin disease that was often thought to be contagious.

22. Leprosy • a chronic disease caused by a bacillus and characterized by the formation of nodules or of macules that enlarge and spread accompanied by loss of sensation with eventual paralysis, wasting of muscle, and production of deformities and mutilations • a morally or spiritually harmful influence Merriam-Webster

23. According to Levitical Law Leviticus 13:45 • And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

24. Ephesians 5:5 • For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

25. Before I was saved, I needed to be cleansed from being a morally or spiritually harmful influence to the people on planet earth! The Opposite of Humanism!

26. Mark 1:40 • And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Symbolically represents submission

27. Commentary This man knows he has a disease that is making his life miserable. He doesn’t have to be convinced to ask for healing—he doesn’t have to be told what to say.

28. Mark 1:40 • And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Notice his faith; he believes

29. Mark 1:41 • And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him,

30. Mark 1:41 • And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. Jesus Makes Us Clean!

31. Q: How is the Kingdom advanced today? A: The cleansing of one leper at a time

32. Kingdom Advancement • Mark 1:27 • Jesus is casting out unclean spirits [removing Satan’s influence] • Mark 1:41 • Jesus is making unclean people clean [people are getting saved]

33. Commentary • The Bible never speaks of healing leprosy, always of cleansing it. • Part of the reason may be the loathsome nature of the disease, but a more likely explanation is that leprosy is a symbol of sin that must be cleansed. • James A. Brooks

34. Mark 1:42 • And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. A Picture of Biblical Justification

35. Being cleansed as a leper is equal to being declared “just.” “The Just live by faith” Romans 1:17

36. Justification • The act of God in bringing sinners into a new covenant relationship with himself through the forgiveness of sins. • It is a declarative act of God by which he establishes persons as righteous—that is, in a right and true relationship w/ God. Tyndale Bible Dictionary

37. Let’s Look at Jesus’ Use of “clean” In the Gospel of John

38. You Are Clean • John 13:10–11 • Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. • For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

39. John 15:3 The Declarative Act • Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. This is the message that Christ has the power to forgive sins! Look @ Mark 2

40. Look at Mark 2 • Mark 2: • V. 2 “preached the Word” • V. 3 “sick of palsy” • V. 5 “thy sins be forgiven” • V. 10 “But that ye may know….”

41. Mark 1:43-44 • And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; • And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

42. Christ’s Instructions • An immediate publishing of this event would create crowds and distract Christ from preaching • However, Jesus does want the religious leaders to hear the testimony that He is cleansing lepers

43. In the End Every religious leader was without excuse—just like everyone in this room is now without excuse.