- INTRODUCTION
Today, we will study the ritual of cleansing a leper and in it, search for Christ and His finished work that pertains to our edification. But why pick this ritual and passage as our main sermon?
Reason #1 – We were all lepers once
Leprosy in the Bible is a type of sin: Just like leprosy, sin separates you from the family of God, eats up your life, and causes everyone around you to be infected. Hence, figuratively, we are all former lepers.
Another thing about leprosy is that the law of the leper is to be executed only when a leper is cleansed, not so that they can be cleansed. Until Christ came, no leper could be healed in all of Israel’s history. (This is precisely why when Jesus healed a leper in Mat 8, he instructs him to show himself to the priest as testimony to them –testimony that the messiah has indeed come!)
Reason #2 – The former leper now needs to undergo a cleansing
You see, even though the leper was healed, he had a process to undergo. Therefore, Jesus instructs the leper saying, “Go, show yourself to the priest, as a testimony to them” (Mat 8:4) -Though we are saved, for all benefits to be experienced, there is a spiritual process. In the same way, those who have been saved, there is a process that will cause you to cast away the old and experience the fullness of the blessing.
Reason #3 – There is a powerful secret on how the anointing of the holy spirit operates in a believer’s life (Look out for the mention of Oil in the story)
- THE PROCESS OF “CLEANSING”
Lev 14:1-7 (Read the full passage)
The priest takes two birds – one is killed, and the other is released alive after the ritual à The bird that was killed represents Jesus on the Cross, and the one that is alive represents our resurrected Savior.
One bird is sacrificed over an earthen vessel and then blood is drained into an earthen vessel which contains running water (river water or rain water) and three items in it: Cedar wood, Scarlet thread and a bunch of Hyssop à Wood in the Bible speaks of humanity so Cedar being one of the largest trees and the Hyssop being one of the smallest of herbs refers to the whole of humanity, from the greatest to the least. Scarlet in the Bible refers to the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross. We see that Jesus suffered for all humanity and that His shed blood is for every human being who put their trust in him.
After this, the live bird is taken and dipped into the blood-water in the earthen vessel, and the Priest sprinkles on the former leper seven times and each time declaring over Him, “You are clean!” → This is what happens when the believer attends Church – When the believer joins a local church community, attends the services, and receives teachings, they receive the ministry of the new covenant priesthood – The preacher proclaims the Blood of Jesus over you and declares how clean you are and how righteous and holy you have been made by the blood.
- BONUS POINT – The ministry of the Church is to keep reminding the Believer of who they are in Christ Jesus.
After this, the live bird is let loose in the open field → When you hear the truth that you have been made clean, healthy, prosperous and righteous by the blood of Jesus, the power of the risen Christ, which is in you by the Holy Spirit, is let loose to go to work in your life.
- BONUS POINT – When you keep hearing that you are cleansed by the blood, the power of the risen Christ is let loose in your life.
- THE SECOND PART OF THE RITUAL: THE 8TH DAY OF BEGINNINGS
Lev 14:14-18 – The former leper now comes into the city but is required to stay outside his tent until the ritual of the 8th day. On that day, He shall bring 3 sacrificial animals, fine flour mixed with oil, and a log of oil as an offering to the temple.
After the sacrifice, the Priest shall put the blood on the right ear, the right thumb, and the right big toe → when he was once a leper, most of what he heard was “You are unclean!” “You are cursed,” but no more! The blood sanctifies his “hearing” – no more words of curse and death allowed. While he was a leper, everything that his hand touched was deemed cursed, but not anymore – by the blood of Jesus, the blessing goes to work on all things that he does. When he was a leper, he was not welcome anywhere he went. His path was lonely, sad, and depressing, but now that the blood is applied every place he steps, he carries the blessing of God and the glory of God.
Here’s the best part: The Priest will then take the oil from the log and sprinkle it before the Lord, indicating that the ordinary olive oil has become anointing oil. After dedicating the oil, the Priest then applies the blood on the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe – where? On the blood!! The oil came on the blood. → The anointing abides on the blood of Jesus that is seen in your life. The Holy Spirit comes to live where the blood of Jesus has washed you clean!
What happens next? The rest of the oil is poured on the head of the cleansed!! →This talks about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which we have known as the outer anointing.
- THE ANOINTING ABIDES BASED ON THE CROSS
The principle that the oil rests on the blood is confirmed many times over in the Scriptures:
(1) It is after the flood that Noah releases the dove – The dove comes after the flood of judgment.
(2) John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God,” and then came the Dove – The Dove comes after the Lamb.
(3) In the 7 Feasts of Israel, Pentecost comes only after the Passover – no Pentecost without the Passover!
(4) In the story of Elijah, on Mt Carmel, the sacrifice came before the fire. The fire came on the Sacrifice.
- BONUS POINT – The basis of the anointing in your life is the blood of Jesus, which has made you prime real estate for the Holy Spirit.
- 3 PRACTICAL TRUTHS TO TAKE HOME
- Know the anointing abides in you (1 John 2:27); you don’t have to pray like David, saying “Take not your Holy Spirit from me”. (Ps 51:11)
- Do not give in to feelings of unworthiness or pride because it is neither your holiness nor your hunger – it is the blood of Jesus. (Lev 14:17)
- Operate in the anointing with boldness (Acts 4:31) because it is boldness that releases what faith has the potential for.
Beloved, I pray and believe that as you receive this truth and practice it every day of this week, May His anointing overflow and bring breakthroughs in your life.