Powerful Prayers: You Can Make Me Clean

In this captivating episode of The Heartbeat of Faith podcast, Dr. Andrew Farley delves into a profound and moving biblical narrative, exploring themes of brokenness and redemption that resonate with all of us. The episode takes us on a journey through the story of a man stricken with leprosy, a disease that isolated him from society, leaving him suffering and lonely. The vivid description of this encounter between the leper and Jesus serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual decay that sin can cause in our lives. Dr. Farley reminds us that we all bear scars from our past, making us feel unclean and unworthy of love. Yet, in our moments of despair, Jesus is there with a gentle hand to put us back together, showing us His willingness to cleanse our souls.

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As you listen to this impactful episode of The Heartbeat of Faith, consider the scars in your life, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. Take inspiration from the leper's story and remember that Jesus is eager to show His goodness even in life's darkest moments. Share this episode with friends and family to spread the message of hope, redemption, and the transformative power of faith.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall
be healed. Save me, and I shall be saved. For
Thou art my praise. Jeremiah, chapter seventeen, verse fourteen. Dear Lord,
you are a god of healing, comfort and renewal. Life

(00:22):
can bring about such immense pain. It can all be
too much to bear alone. But I thank you that
you are always with me and in me as my Lord,
my savior, and my very life. I will live to
day by your strength, your power, and your presence within me.

(00:42):
Thank you for saving me, in dwelling me, and forgiving
me so I can now praise you without the weight
of shame and sin dragging me down. In Jesus name,
I pray, Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through pray dot

(01:05):
COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with doctor Andrew Farley.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
We all have scars, wounds from our past that make
us feel unclean and unworthy of love. When we feel
alone and broken, Jesus is there to remind us that
we're forgiven and made whole in him.

Speaker 3 (01:39):
He held him in his arms as he wept. I
am willing Jesus whispered, be clean.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
You have a God who is eager to show you
his goodness when life seems at its worst. Do you
believe that today? Or have you forgotten that Jesus's mission
was to show us the heart of the Father. Hello,
I'm doctor Andrew Farley with today's episode of the Heartbeat

(02:09):
of Faith podcast. We've been on a journey together surveying
the story of Scripture and noticing themes, images and ideas
that transform our lives. Today, we continue to look at
powerful prayers in the Bible. We look at a man
plagued with leprosy who fell to his knees before Jesus,

(02:32):
desperate for healing.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Jesus was walking among one of the cities, observing the
needs of the people around him. As he was pacing
the city, Jesus stumbled upon a man stricken with leprosy.
The entire left side of his face was mangled and
he could barely lift his arms from the pain of
rotting flesh. The man approached Jesus gently. The men who
were following Jesus stepped back, but Jesus stepped forward. The

(03:00):
leper fell at Jesus' feet. Please Lord, have mercy on me.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
The man began to eat.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
If you are willing, I know you can make me clean.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
Leprosy was an insidious and dreaded disease. It rotted the
body and isolated the person from society. People with leprosy
were left to suffer on the outskirts of town, condemned
to a life of suffering and loneliness. Leprosy was a
punishment for King Uziah, who could not handle his success

(03:36):
and instead succumbed to pride.

Speaker 3 (03:43):
Husaiah rolled his neck back as he listened to the priest.
He was annoyed at them. He was about to respond
and anger when a strange tingling emerged on his forehead.
He felt lightheaded and feverish. He leaned against the altar,
trying to regain balance. Usiah grew fearful as he watched
the priests step back from him. Confused, Hsiah grabbed a

(04:06):
silver bowl and held it up at his face like
a rising tide. Usiah could see leprosy spreading across his forehead.
The priests rushed him out and took him to his chambers. There,
the king began to rot. His skin peeled back from
his face, His fingers and toes began to separate from
his body. A sharp pain was replaced by a dull

(04:28):
ache as his body decayed. For the rest of his days,
Usiah suffered as a leper. He died humbled by the
sovereignty of God.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
You might say that leprosy is a metaphor for humanity's
slow and painful decay apart from God. Being a slave
to sin can cause numbing pain or deterioration in one's life.
Sin can rot one's soul until they are shells of

(05:01):
their former selves. Then they feel hopeless and helpless, just
like the lepers on the fringe of society. The leper
who approached Jesus knew he needed cleansing, and Jesus was
there with a gentle hand.

Speaker 3 (05:21):
Jesus's eyes began to water as he listened to the
man's cries. He knew how much pain he was in.
He knew how lonely leprosy had made him. Jesus knelt
down and hugged him. He held him in his arms
as he wept.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
I am willing.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
Jesus whispered, be clean, and as Jesus spoke, the leper's
limbs and face began to show color. Once again the
leprosy had left him. The man leapt for joy. He
wiggled his arms and kicked his feet. He was a
new man.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
Remember, you have a God who is eager to show
you his goodness. We saw leprosy as a metaphor for
the corruption of sin, how it pervades and isolates us.
Yet in the midst of that disease, Jesus reached out
and healed the leper, touching the untouched and breaking down

(06:15):
barriers that once seemed insurmountable. In the same way, God
assures us that Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. He
was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us
peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

(06:36):
You might be sitting there today grappling with your past,
or perhaps even your present, wondering how the Gospel can
make any difference. But friend, remember this, the finished work
of Christ was designed to bring healing to the deepest
parts of your being. Through his sacrifice, you received total

(07:01):
and unshakable forgiveness and assurance that you'll never be cast aside.
In Christ, you find an unwavering safety and security, a
bond that transcends every worldly pain and challenge. More than
just an external change in Him, you discover a transformation

(07:25):
at the very core of your being, a new identity
where you are one with Christ, united with Him in love, purpose,
and spirit. Maybe right now you're battling physical pain, yearning
for a touch of healing. I understand that longing, and

(07:47):
I want to remind you of a powerful truth. Whether
or not you experience a miraculous physical healing in this lifetime,
God has promised never to leave you. Journeys with you
as your counselor your comforter, holding your hand through the
darkest valleys, and beyond this life, there's a promise that

(08:10):
eclipses all earthly pain, the guarantee of a resurrection body
free from suffering and decay. This body will reflect the
profound healing that has already taken place within your spirit.
So take heart in every season, through every trial, you

(08:33):
are held loved and healed by the creator of the universe.
Embrace His peace today and walk in the profound truth
of your union with Christ and all that the finished
work of Jesus has accomplished. Thank you for listening to

(08:53):
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith Podcast. If you
enjoyed today's episode or learn something new about the Bible,
share it with a friend or leave us a review.
Download the pray dot com app, and for more encouragement
in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org.