March 3: You Pentecostals are too legalistic!

Today's Daily Bible scriptures are: Lev. 13:1-15:33, Deut, 24:8,9, Num. 5:1-4

Pastor Claude Stauffer has this to say: 

"Dealing with Leprosy – A Type of Sin

Leviticus 13:1-2 - And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: ² “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.

In Leviticus 13 we see instructions concerning outbreaks of skin disease or leprosy. Leprosy as described in this chapter was identified by swelling and rash (13:1-8), whiteness and raw or tender skin (13:9-17), boils (13:18-23), connected with burns (13:24-28), and various skin irritations (13:29-44). In dealing with the forms of leprosy people (13:1-46), clothing (13:47-59) and houses (13:33-57) were involved in treatment. This leprosy evidently also involved dealing with mildew and fungi that were very destructive (Deut. 28:22; Amos 4:9).

Disease is a type of sin in the Bible. Leprosy is a type of sin and this chapter gives us valuable insight into the nature of sin. David Gudzik makes the following parallels between leprosy and sin:

1. It begins as nothing.
2. It is painless in its first stages.
3. It grows slowly.
4. It often remits for a while and then returns.
5. It numbs the senses - one cannot feel in the afflicted area.
6. It causes decay and deformity.
7. It gives a person a repulsive appearance.

Someone has said, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny." Like leprosy, sin starts out slowly and if left unchecked it will spread and will consume us. It numbs us to the still small voice of God. It makes us insensitive spiritually as well as toward others. Sin like leprosy makes a person ugly and repulsive. God is especially repulsed by sin (Hab. 1:13)."

legalism:

1.     strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit.

2.

Theology .

a.

the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.

b.

the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.

Okay yeah. I guess I am legalistic in some ways. I'm very strict about what goes into my head and what comes out of my mouth. I'm strict about the friends I associate with. I'm strict about my outward appearance. I obey God's laws to the best of my ability. (I fail a lot, but God helps me get pointed back in the right direction.) But I have my reasons! I don't want to go back where I came from! I was in a pit of despair!

Sin begins as nothing. Sin is painless in its first stages. So what's the big deal? It grows slowly. It's not even noticeable! It remits for awhile and returns. It numbs the senses. It causes decay and deformity. It gives the person a repulsive appearance.

This reminds me of the depression I was in for many 

years. At first it was not even visible, not even to me! 

I felt nothing! It would come and go. The numbing of 

the senses is the very best explaination of depression I've ever heard! OMWord! For years I put on a happy face to those around me and no one, not even my own family, knew. For one thing I was ashamed. I had NOTHING to be depressed about. So I hid it. Just like people hide their sin. I was self-absorbed. Trying to please myself so I wouldn't feel the depression. Soon I found myself at the point of tears ALL THE TIME. My depression became visable to everyone. People were constantly asking me if I was okay because I looked awful. 

Okay, I will just say it. If you are allowing depression to take over your life, you are allowing sin in your life. You have the tools to fight this. You have the whole armor of God just laying there. Pick it up! Put it on! Okay, I know it's not that easy, but do it anyway. be systematic about it. Pray. All day. If people are around, just say quick prayers under your breath or in your mind. I'd say get up early every morning and pray, but when you're depressed, sleep is your one happy place. So getting up early is pretty much impossible. And sometimes you're on meds to help you sleep. So just start by putting on the whole armor of God. Jot these scriptures down and tape them to your dashboard. Put another copy in your wallet or purse. Put a copy on the bathroom mirror. Recite these scriptures until they are written on your brain forever!

Ephesians 6:11-18

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

And it says it right in verse 18. Praying always. Just do it even if it feels like absolutely NOTHING is happening. What if you need to lose a hundred pounds? At first, as you start to make MAJOR changes in your lifestyle, you see absolutely NOTHING. It sometimes takes six months or more before you and others start noticing real changes in your appearance. You have to just do it by faith!!! It's the same with your mental health. With God you just start making changes in your lifestyle. You may be numbed by the depression now, but just start talking to God about it. Every day, every second of the day. Just talk to Him. It's so hard at first to verbalize anything. But it gets easier. And I PROMISE. And God's word PROMISES! You WILL start seeing changes. Okay, I could talk all day long on the subject of depression. Because I lived it. And accepted it. And hid it. And made excuses for it. Until I became paralized by it in my 40's. Then I finally realized I had no choice. I absolutely HAD to take action. I was allowing it to destroy my life. Depression is sin, plain and simple. Negative thoughts are sin. Push them out of your mind by shoving as much of God's word and prayer in your mind as you can each day.

"Dear Jesus please help me climb out of the sinful pit of depression I'm in! I'm ashamed that I've allowed depression to rule my life for years. I don't want to accept it any longer! Please transform my mind! Heal me! Deliver me! I dont want to be bound by this any longer! I want YOU to be Lord of my life! I want to worship and praise my way out of this even though I'm not feelin' it at all! My situation seems hopeless, but all things are possible with YOU! Thank You and praise You for the miracle You are going to do in me. In Jesus' name, AMEN."