Sun.’s Devo - Sins of the Flesh

Leviticus 13:1-59; Mark 6:1-29; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 10:10 Today we read about diseases of the flesh and spreading diseases in the skin and in garments. Rather than getting really detailed we are going to step back and see it as a whole. *** In the New Testament we are told that sin is a disease of the flesh. 1 John 2:16 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Jude 1:23 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 1 Peter 2:11 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Galatians 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. *** Every time their disease became apparent to them they brought it before the priest to examine it. He was looking to see if it was more than skin deep. Once it goes beyond the skin, it is in the heart. He is also looking for a scar to show that it has healed. A scar reminds us of a wound that has healed, but we don’t want to repeat it. He did this on the seventh day. As a Christian we live crucifying the flesh and on the seventh day - the day of judgment we will stand before Jesus our High Priest and he will declare us clean. *** The different diseases of the flesh caused different manifestations. Anger and pride could be associated with swelling. Chronic diseases could be addictions. A burn could be caused by an offense someone did against you. An itching disease could be unforgiveness or gossip. We fight all this with the fruit of the Sprit which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. *** In Mark, Jesus came to his hometown and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. The people questioned everything about him because they knew him as a child. Now, he was doing miracles and teaching with authority and they were having a hard time believing he was anything other than their neighbor they had known as a child. Jesus couldn’t do many miracles there because of their unbelief. *** Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He told them to take nothing but their staff and sandals. If they are not received they are to shake off the dust as a testimony against them. They went out preaching repentance and cast out many demons and healed many who were sick. *** King Herod heard about Jesus and all he was doing. Some of the people said Jesus was John the Baptist who Herod had beheaded. He had been tricked by his wife, Herodia to kill John since John spoke out about their marriage. She was married to Herod’s brother but had left him for Herod. Herodia used Herod’s sin of lust to get him to behead John the Baptist. *** Lord, may we see the sins of our flesh and bring them to you to be sanctified. We consecrate our ears, our eyes and our hearts to you. Thank you that you gave given us authority over every unclean spirit.