Say Less

How great is our god

Matthew 8:1-4

"Say Less"

“When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

Matthew 8:1-4 KJV

Say Less

Bacground of the text

In the Bible, the word leprosy is mentioned upwards of 40 times, depending on the Bible version being used. Leprosy was common in Bible times, and the many references to it were well understood by those who lived in unsanitary conditions. The main reason why leprosy is talked about so much in the Bible is that it is a graphic illustration of sin’s destructive power. In ancient Israel leprosy was a powerful object lesson of the debilitating influence of sin in a person’s life.

God had given the Israelites very specific instructions on how to deal with leprosy and other skin infections (Leviticus 13). Anyone suspected of having this disease had to go to a priest for examination (Leviticus 13:2-3). If found to be infected, “the leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46). The leper then was considered utterly unclean—physically and spiritually.

My brothers and sisters although we can't neccacerily de

The proof is in the pudding is an expression that means the value, quality, or truth of something must be judged based on direct experience with it—or on its results. The expression is an alteration of an older saying that makes the meaning a bit clearer: the proof of the pudding is in the eating

My brothers and sisters often times I believe we as people of God feel the need to prove to others around us what God has done for us. I believe that many of us seek validation from others when God has brought us out of something.

Say Less do more

My brothers and sisters believe it or not, there are somethings that God want us to verbally express to explain to others, what he has done for us, and there are some miracles that God says we don't even have to say a word.

All we have to do is show up, and when we show up it will be proof of what God is doing in your life.

Is there anyone here that can agree that some times, although I thank God for testimony service, but I don't have a long testimony, if you really want to know my testimony, just look at me.

I'm still here, I'm still in my right mind, I still have breath in my body.

My brothers and sisters while reading this text, I asked myself why would Jesus tell this leper not to tell anyone, isn't it true that i. Revelations that the enemy was overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony,

My brothers and sisters truth of the matter in the court of law there something called an eye witness testimony. Which means the person saw what was done with their own eyes and, gives them proof..

My brothers and sisters I believe some of us are in a season of our life when we don't have to open our mouth, Some people are going be witnesses of the eye as to what God has done in your life.. This that saw you weeping is about to see your joy that cometh in the morning,

Those that saw you down, is about to see you up,

Your not going to have to open your mouth,

"Your presence is about to be your proof"

I don’t have time to tell you my testimony but just know he’s been good.

He worshiped he asked then he got what he needed

God is a spirit and they that worship must worship in spirit and truthfulness

Lord I know you can, but will you?

When we look at this man's condition, Matthew explains that this man had Leprosy

Jesus had just preached,

A great multitude of people were following Jesus.

The scripture starts out as saying Behold- The word beholds draws attention to the remarkable scene that was about to take place..it means to fix our eyes on something, Whever we behold something we pay close attention to with our eyes, in Hebrew it means to look observe notice..

So out of all the people there a leper came and got Jesus attention,

How did he get his attention, well the next phrase shows us how he got his attention he came and worshiped..

Worships gets the attention go God.

A leper came and…

It’s proof that you can come to Jesus, no matter what Ms your condition or circumstances.

When we following Jesus we don’t need to broadcast it, the proof will be in the pudding.

This man followed Jesus regardless of the crowd-

He had to press through the crowd.-

There is something about true followers of Christ, that really needed something from him, in the Bible, they were able to press through the crowd

In Matthew 18 Jesus departed Galilee and a multitude followed him and he healed them all there.

In luke 8 43

We know the story of the woman with the issue of blood, and how she had to press her way to the crowd to see Jesus.

In mark the 10 chapter we know of Blind Bartamesus who was told by crowd to be quite when he got to Jesus, however, he cried the more Son of David. Have mercy on me.

My brothers and sisters when you really want something from God, sometimes you have to press through people. We can’t be so focused in what people are going to think that we miss the promise.

The many of us are looking to healed from our condition.

However. Before Jesus can cure your condition, you must be cured from the crowd.

Your desire to please the crowd will never qualify you for a miracle.

The truth of the matter is that it something about those who really fit in contact with Jesus iyn the Bible it was something about them that stood out from the crowd.

The woman in Luke pressed through the crowd.

Blind Bartameaus corrected the crowd when they told them to be quiet, he cried all the more, son of David Have mercy on me.

and the leper navigated his way through the crowd.

There was steped to this man getting his miracle-

He first worshiped him-

He then asked-He prayed and ask if thou will-

As I read this I begin to understand that God is not obligated to anything for us far to oftent we beleive that God is at our peckin orders. But the truth of the matter evertything he does is because he wants to and because its in his will. He is sovereignt and he can do anything he want to. Is there anyone in here that understand that Im not taking for granted anything that God does for me because I understand that it could have been another way….

God I’m not taking for granted you heal my body, because I know many who passed from the same desease I had.

God Im not taking for granted that I have a job. because there are many who are in the un-employment.

God Im not taking for granted that I have breath in my body, because I understand that there were millions who didnt make it but I was one of the ones who did.

I understand that It could have been the other way.

Although there are sometimes we should say less, that shouldnt stop us from asking. They used to say it like this a close hand dont get fed. Sometimes we need to upon up our mouth and ask, Jesus said Matthew 7:7 like this, ask and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

As matter of fact some of us need to take a 30 second prayer and just ask God for what you want.

Jesus response was that Im willing.

So when we understand that he does not always responds to our wants, be he responds to his will.

After the miracle he followed directions and kept his moth shut.

Jesus’ response to the leper’s faith is positive. While Jesus frequently heals with just his words later in the narrative, here Jesus also touches the leper. This is significant because of the unclean state that lepers were in. They avoided public and touching others so as not to spread uncleanness to others. Jesus reverses the flow: instead of uncleanness spreading from the leper to others, it is Jesus’ cleanness that spreads to the leper.

He followed the directions -

When we obey the word it produces manifestation in or life..

This man obeyed by not tellin anyone.

It was Simon and Andrew that obeyed and launched out to the deep at word of Christ to get their healing

Jesus’ instructions is that going to the priest ought to be his first priority, not going to tell family and friends.

Offer the gift that Moses commanded,

Christ often told people not to tell what was done.

It could be because Jesus understood his mission and he was wise enough to understand that although he knew he came to die for our sings, he also knew that it wasn’t his time as of yet and if too many folk found out they will try and crucify him before his time.

You can not tell everybody everything before the time has come…. Somethings God has to do for us be we need to learn how to not talk until the time is right..

It’s speaks for itself

Let the miracle speak for you.

The walking testimony

He tells him to tell the preist but show thyself to the pries as a testimony unto them..

Some people misinterpret the text and say that Jesus tells him to tell the priest. However he never said speak he says show thyself..to the priest.

This man Im sure was know for his condition, but when he showed back up, hid condition spoke for itself

Sometimes just showing up is a testimony, Sometimes I may not talk but for the simple fact that if you knew my condition and you see me no you can say look what the lord has done.

Say less and show more——-

You miscellaneous will speak for itself

God has plan.

Charlotte gamble