Road To Recovery

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:12-13 (NIV)

• I love the simplicity of the life and teaching of Jesus.

• Modern man with all of our technology cannot surpass their depth.

• One of the great principles of the Bible: God is not a respecter of persons.

ROM 2:11 For God does not show favoritism. (NIV)

• God will do for me what he has done for others if I will meet the same conditions.

Luke 5:12-13 Illustrates a pattern I need to follow in order to reclaim wholeness.

1. STEP ONE: I Have To Admit That I Have A Problem I Can’t Fix.

1- A leper has clear qualifiers (Skin changes, parts missing, NO PAIN, Smell.)

2- Leprosy is a picture or type of sin in the Bible.

i. Outward signs, Emptiness, Numbness or Over Sensitiveness, your Life STINKS.

3- There is no help for a person who does not recognize he needs help.

4- This is the foundational step of “Alcoholics Anonymous” and Drug treatment.

5- The debt of sin is a problem I cannot solve without God’s help. (Guilt, fear, loneliness)

2. STEP TWO: Recognize God’s Ability to Make you Whole.

1- God created the world and all that is in it, from the smallest to the greatest.

2- This leper realized Who Jesus was. “You can make me clean!”

3- Jesus is the Son of God.

MAR 3:11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." (NIV)

LUK 22:70 They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am." (NIV)

1 JOHN 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. (NIV)

1 JOHN 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (NIV)

1 JOHN 5:10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. (NIV)

4- Only God can meet my deepest needs. “Without Me you can do nothing” Jn. 15

5- When I recognize Him for Who He is I too will worship Him.

3. STEP THREE: Pray. (No short cut, no substitute)

1- Prayer is the God appointed way for me to touch the power of God to my need.

2- Passionate prayer is a mighty force. (For the Saints and the Aints!)

3- Remember, change is directly equal to your willingness to humble yourself!

4- I can’t do more than pray until I have prayed.

4. STEP FOUR: Believe God Is Willing To Meet My Need.

1- God is able, but is He is willing. (Separate “Wholeness” from “Selfishness”)

2- My problem at this point is faith. (Why aren’t all physically healed? Ask Him!)

3- But don’t fail to ask because of some unknowns!

4- The words of Jesus in this passage ought to settle this question once and for all.

5- He loves, accepts, forgives, heals, delivers and transforms!!!!!

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jn. 6:37-40 (NIV)

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; MAT 9:29 (NIV)