In spite of the rules, decide to practice some dangerous grace and get bold and aggressive. You’ve got to get close! Touch the hem! Cry Out!

DANGEROUS GRACE

As we approach the season of the Easter Celebration, we gather in this House, and in His Name, to worship and celebrate His gracious Lordship, and affirm our belief in His redemptive work at Calvary. Through the blood of the eternal sacrifice we have been made heirs of promise, and ambassadors of reconciliation, witnesses sent by our Savior to herald the good news of God’s gracious offer of salvation to all who believe.

Today’s message is a retelling of one of the first miracles of the Markan account of the gospel. Jesus has just began his ministry by calling ordinary men who made their living by fishing in the waters of the nineteen mile long, thirteen mile wide Lake of Genaseret, or what is called the Sea of Galilee. He had just preached in the synagogue in Capernaum, when a man came running to Him and knelt before him.

Mark 1:40-45
40. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him
44. And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: away but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

I believe that one of the most pressing issues for the church of our day, is the need to stay focused and retain our zeal and enthusiasm that was so evident at conversion and spirit baptism. Truly, God’s love is incomprehensible, and His grace is super abounding for cleansing the sin out of our lives. If God’s love is reckless, then God’s grace is dangerous, because it produces
change of heart and mind, body and soul.

Dangerous grace is revolutionary, it tears up things, for it violates the carnal will and quenches the violence of anger, clamor, and wrath. Grace marches into our judgmental courtroom and begins asserting forgiveness, compassion, and loving kindness, tender mercies, and patience, tearing down our strongholds of envy, malice, and greed.

I. A Man With An Issue (No name)

A. Identified by His Issue
1. Simon the Leper
2. Namaan the Leper
3. Uzziah the Leper
4. Isaiah was a man of unclean lips.

B. Everyone Has Issues
1. Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous
2. 2 Tim. 4:5 “endure afflictions
3. Acts 20:23 Paul said “bonds and afflictions abide me.”
4. Ruth (Moabitess) Rahab (Living in a condemned city)

C. What Is Your Issue??
1. Sick and can’t get well (Woman with issue)
2. Relationships on the rocks (Paul and John Mark) Sometimes we are just impotent to be intimate!
3. Finances. Never enough? (Disciples toiled all nite)
4. Fear and Anxiety (Disciples In The Storm)
5. Grief and Despair (Jairus Daughter)
6. Your identity can be consumed by your issues!
7. God told Moses “I am that I Am.” Not I Do, but I AM!

II. Leviticus 13 IS THE RULE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LEPROSY. That white spot that everyone fears.

Leviticus 13:24-25
24. Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
25. Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

A. He was ostracized from society. No contact with public!
B. Could not wash his hair or beard
C. Clothed in rags and torn clothing.
D. Forced to cry out unlearn, and hide his face. Lived in pain both physical and mental. Desolate and Lonely. He must stay 50 paces from people.
E. A man with no name, came to a man with THE NAME!
F The name of your issue must take a knee to THE NAME!

III. HE BROKE ALL THE RULES!

A. He counted the cost and said, “I’m just 50 paces away from healing.” In spite of the rules, he decided to practice some dangerous grace and get bold and aggressive. If I don’t make a move, I’m gonna die! I refuse to end like this! I’m gonna make a move that will change my life. I REFUSE TO STAY IN THIS LONELY PLACE!
B. He concluded that if He can do all those things that He has been doing down at the synagogue, surely He can do something for me.
C. Some of you make it to the building, but that 50 paces and all the other rules keep you at a distance. Because of your issue, people never see you as your really are; and the problem is that you never see GOD as HE really is! Intimacy requires proximity!

You’ve got to get close! Touch the hem! Cry Out!