The Leper Believed His Power

Matthew 8:1-4 (NASB95) - When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Introduction:

1. Psalm 77:1–15 (NASB95) - My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. 4 You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. 6 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: 7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? 8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. 10 Then I said, “It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed.” 11 I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

Main Points:

1. The Leper believed the power of Christ and risked great public shame.

**a. Matthew 8:2 - And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him**

b. Luke 5:12 - BEHOLD, there was a man, covered in leprosy

2. The Leper believed in the power of Christ and **humbled himself to worship.**

**a. Matthew 8:2 “2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him”**

b. “The Greek verb is *proskenein*, = prostrate oneself – “he bowed down.”

i. Mark 1:40 - “falling on his knees”

ii. Luke 5:12 - “he fell on his face”

3. The Leper believed the power of Christ and he asked for cleansing.

a. Matthew 8:1 - When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

**b. He placed himself at the mercy of the will of God.**

i. Isaiah 40:31 - Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

ii. Psalm 123:2 - Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He is gracious to us.

**4. We must believe the Lord is willing.**

a. Matthew 8:3 - Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Conclusion :

Matt 8:4 - And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”