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LEVITICUS 14:2

"THE LEPER IN THE DAY OF HIS CLEANSING"

Brief history of leprosy - Hansen's Disease, Carvilie La -  still incurable.

I. LEPROSY AS A TYPE OF SIN.
        A. It was and is an incurable disease, by human standards.
        B. It is progressive in its nature.
                1. Begins with just a skin blotch.
        C. Renders one insensible to pain of own disease.
        D. It is fatal.

II. THE PROCESS OF THE CLEANSING OF THE LEPER.
        A. Here the grace of God In operation, no natural cure.
        B. Priest would come cut of the camp to meet him.
                1. The leper did nothing; the priest did it all.
                2. The priest would examine the lepers.
                        a. One with bright raw healthy flesh.
                        b. One with just a few red blotches.
                        c. Another covered from head to foot with scaly whiteness pronounced
                           clean.
                3. Bring sinners before our high priest Jesus Christ.
                        a. I know I have sinned but I have done some good also, 
                           counter balance of evil.
                        b. Second man knows it is there but hopes to do some good deeds
                           to erase it.
                        c. Third totally undone in his sin. Conscious of his guilt,
                           desiring a new life.

III. THE SACRIFICES FOR A LEPER. VS. 4 - 7.
        A. First there must be a sacrifice.
                1. Bird slain and blood put in earthen vessel filled with living water.
                2. Living bird dipped in blood of dead bird then turned loose to Soar
                   heavenward.
                        a. Christ's resurrection spoken of here.
                        b. Now the leper is to be Sprinkled with the blood and
                           pronounced clean.
                                1. Must be personal application.

IV. AFTER CLEANSING CERTAIN THINGS LEPER MUST DO.
        A. He did nothing up to this point.
        B. Wash his clothes, shave his hair, and wash himself.
                1. Washing follows - blood sacrifice first.
                        a. "Now ye are clean through the word."
                2. Our works follow our conversion - they cannot precede it.
        C. After seven days to bring sacrifice.
                1. Blood put on ear, thumb, toe - cleansing.
                2. Oil put on ear, thumb, toe - anointing.

V. CHRIST DIED FOR THE SINNERS. IF YOU ARE A SINNER AND STILL THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT
   YOUR OWN WAY, GOOD LUCK. I HAVE NOTHING FOR YOU.
        A. If you are a sinner in despair, you feel bound and helpless, you're conscious
           of the weakness of your own flesh; you've tried and failed, I have good
           news for you. The High Priest is here this morning to bring you back into
           fellowship.