Title: “How to mess up a perfectly good miracle?”
Introduction: There is a time to speak up and there is a time to shut up! We need to speak up when Jesus is passing us by: The leper was full of leprosy. It was prophesied that the Messiah would be able to heal even the leper. If I you are the leper and Jesus is passing you by, let me encourage you to speak up.
Leprosy pictures the lost man’s spiritual condition. As a thirteen year old boy, I was lost in sin, and when I heard the message of the gospel, I called upon the name of the Lord to be saved?
Have you ever “cried out” for God to save you?
And there is a time to shut up…
The rest of this message will deal with that subject. Why would Christ tell the healed leper to “tell no man?” Hasn’t God told us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel?” What can be so wrong in telling others about Christ?
Here are the seven points that God has laid upon my heart to share with you on “How to mess up a perfectly good miracle?”
Seven reasons why Christ told the healed leper to “tell no man:”
1. I do not want the miracle to overshadow the importance of divine obedience.
(Mark 1:44 KJV) And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man…
Some people think of themselves above the law. This leper has had a miracle performed upon his life. Certainly, that miraculous experience would take precedent over the word of God, right? Wrong. Your experience is not greater than God’s recorded Word! That is, “Mr. Leper, shut up because he told you so, even if you do not understand the why of it!”
Someone said, “Many times understanding only comes after an act of obedience!”
2. I do not want the miracle to overshadow the Word of God.
(Mark 1:44 KJV) … but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded…
God had instructed Moses to write down at least three chapters of instructions for the leper to obey in the Book of Leviticus. Finally, a leper is healed and he completely ignores what God has written for him to do. (Lev. 13, 14, 1nd 15.)
Dear New Christian, you have an entire Book written for you to obey!
3. I do not want the miracle to overshadow the preaching of the cross.
(Mark 1:44 KJV) …for a testimony unto them.
An offering was to be made. This offering would beautifully picture for us the power of the cross. Running water and the blood of a sacrificed bird would be poured over the wings of a living bird and be set free in an open field.
This leper would not make this sacrifice and thus, he would nullify that beautiful picture of the cross.
As a pastor of a local Church I certainly pray over the needs of the sick, but my primary job is to proclaim the gospel of Christ. The salvation of a soul is the greatest miracle that can ever be achieved!
4. I do not want the miracle to overshadow my true mission in life.
(Luke 5:15 KJV) But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Christ did not come to heal the masses. Christ said that his primary mission in life was to “Seek and save that which is lost!” (Luke 19:10)
Too many people follow Christ today for the loaves and the fishes. (Luke 4:4)
5. I do not want the miracle to overshadow my ability to minister.
(Mark 1:45 KJV) But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Christ had more work to do in the city. Now that the leper had blazed his name abroad, he could no longer minister in the city. He was forced into the wilderness.
6. I do not want the miracle to overshadow my love.
(Mark 1:41 KJV) And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Christ did not do this miracle to become famous. He did not do this miracle for the money. He healed the man of his leprosy because he had compassion on him!
What is your true motive for ministry?
7. I do not want the miracle to overshadow who “I am.”
The healed leper would know the happiness of good health, but he would never know the joy of holiness!
(Mark 1:45 KJV) But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Conclusion: Now is that Christ has spoken, it is time to speak up! Let there be no holding back. The mission of Christ was completed at the cross. Let us now go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature!
