Well today we have
an opportunity to meet
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The Leper of Matthew
8. Dr. Dick Stenbakken
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has a unique gift of
presenting Bible characters
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from a first person
perspective and we're
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blessed to have
him with us today.
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Dr. Stenbakken
served as a local pastor in
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Wyoming then spent
the next 24 years on
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active duty as an Army
Chaplain, including a year
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of combat duty in
Vietnam, and four years
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as the director of
Family Life Ministries for the
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Army Chief of Chaplain's
Office. After retiring,
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he directed
Chaplaincy Ministries for the
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general conference of
Seventh-Day Adventist.
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He is married to his
wife Ardis of over 30 years.
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He has two adult
professional children who
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are involved in
the local churches.
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Today, I know the
beauty and reality of the
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Bible will come alive
through his presentation
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in a way, I'm sure that
will lead us to a closer
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walk with Jesus. It
would be my pleasure
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to present to you
today Dr. Dick Stenbakken.
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I'm rejected, I'm
infected, I'm alone believe
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I'm living death.
Can you imagine what
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is like? People
look at you and run away.
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I have to carry
this stupid bell and warn
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people to stay
away. Yeah belief,
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belief is easy,
when your skin is running
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off your body. I
wasn't always this way.
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I had friends, I had
a family, I had a farm,
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I had a future. Now
I got this stupid bell.
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I grow up in a
family, we kept the Sabbath,
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we went to the
feasts. I paid time most
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of the time. I did
all the right things,
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but I guess my
religion was only skin deep.
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Now the irony is
because of my skin,
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I'm a total outcast.
Like I said I grew up
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in a believing
family and when I got
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older my father
gave me a peace of land.
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And I worked at
the farm, I work hard,
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my life was my work. And then,
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then I met her,
she was beautiful,
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I mean I haven't
paid much attention to
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woman before.
You see, I'm too busy
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working I paid more
attention to my mule
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than I did to woman.
That's a big mistake,
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and then, then I
met her and suddenly
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there is new
life and new interest.
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And my father
talked to her father and we
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were married. And I
was the happiest man,
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I was the happiest man anywhere.
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I loved her and she loved me.
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And now I had a
land and I build a little
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house for us. It
was back braking work,
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carrying the stone
and lying up the rocks,
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putting the
timbers, but it was the labor
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of love and I
remember one day I came
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in from the fields
to eat and I was sweaty
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and I was, I've
been working hard and
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my hands hurt and my back hurt.
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And she said to me
I have a surprise for
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you. Wow, I like
surprises. Do you like
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surprises? Do
you like surprises?
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Some surprises
are good and some are
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not good. You know
when your wife says
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she has a surprise
for you. Well it was meal
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time so the first
thing I thought was she
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fixed my favorite
meal. I didn't smell it and
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I said what is it.
She said well its surprise
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you have to
guess. If I tell you,
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it won't be a
surprise; I said I can't guess
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I don't know. I
noticed that she was gaining
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a little weight,
but that's not something
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you say to your
wife when she says I
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have a surprise for
you. And so I couldn't
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guess and she
looked at me and she went
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like this. And I
thought yeah she has been,
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but you know. And so
I said I don't what she
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said, you are
going to be a father.
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I was so happy
because you see that's
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the joy is to have
family and now I worked
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even harder and I
added on to the house
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and I worked in
then the day came and
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she said this is the
time get the midwife,
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I ran as fast as I
could and I got the
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midwife and she
went back into the back
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corner of the house
into the special room
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and I said what can
I do? She said you have
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already your part.
Go boil some water.
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She never used it
I guess to just keep
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me busy I don't
know. And I'm waiting
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and suddenly I hear,
I hear this little cry.
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And then
midwife came out and she
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handed me this little bundle.
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The tiniest little
child, she says this is
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your daughter. I
took that child I didn't
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know what to do with the child.
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But, I held the
child closely that littler
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daughter of ours
that little tiny hand
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reached up and
wrapped around my finger.
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And when that happen she wrapped
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herself around
my heart. And now I
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worked even
harder, I had a family to
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support, I remember
in the planting season
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in spring I was
working in the fields and
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my hands felt
tingling. Now there is one
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thing that we men
are good at and that's
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called denial.
You know, I was like,
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that was only
indigestion. So, I didn't
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think anything of it
and I just brushed it
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off and I'm a
man I can handle it.
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My hands got more and more numb,
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my feet, my
ankles. One day at harvest
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time, I came in for
lunch and I was washing
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my hands and
washing my face and when
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I put my hand
under the water I looked
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in the water was
stained with blood.
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My wife saw it; she
said there is blood all
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over your robe
too. Somehow when I
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was sharpening
the saw I cut my hand
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and I had lost
enough sensation that I
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didn't even feel
it and I was bleeding.
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She said you got
to go see the priest.
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Now I was
afraid, but I have to go,
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and he looked at
my hands and he looked
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at my arms and he
said, you have to go
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into isolation for
a week. A week without
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my family that's
unthinkable. But, I had
00:11:00.13\00:11:06.04
to do it. At
the end of the week,
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I came back out,
he examined me again
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and he said one
more week. My daughter
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is two years old, I
love her with my life,
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to be without my
child and my wife for a
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second week; the
longest week of my life.
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At the end of
that week I came again
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to be examined and
he said you are a leper.
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And with one word
I lost it all you see
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I had friends, I had
a farm, I had a family,
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I had a future and
with one word it was all
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gone. My wife
went out of scream,
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my daughter ran
to hug me. But, they
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stopped her. And
the priest said you are
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banished and he
gave me this bell to warn
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people. You know
where the bell comes
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from? It's an old
bell that used to be on
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the robe of the
high priest that he would
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wear on the day of
atonement to prepare
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the country and the
people for cleansing
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and now it's a
reminder that's I'm filthy.
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And that I'm
rejected not accepted then
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I'm judged. My wife
couldn't even give me
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clothing to wear;
she couldn't give me food
00:13:05.29\00:13:07.15
to eat. You see if
you wanted to give me
00:13:07.30\00:13:09.87
something, you
wanted to be good to me
00:13:09.90\00:13:11.32
you couldn't do that
because you are hating
00:13:11.40\00:13:13.90
sin. Did you
see the irony of it?
00:13:14.00\00:13:18.13
My religion is
only skin deep and now
00:13:19.23\00:13:20.75
because of my skin
people judge me that's
00:13:20.82\00:13:24.33
called prejudice and it's wrong.
00:13:24.36\00:13:27.95
Absolutely wrong
it doesn't matter what
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the shape of your
skin is, whether you are
00:13:31.59\00:13:33.23
a man or woman. It
doesn't matter whether
00:13:33.26\00:13:34.71
your skin is light or
dark. It doesn't matter
00:13:34.81\00:13:37.06
that's prejudice to
judge somebody because
00:13:37.09\00:13:38.78
of their skin. I'm
also called an invalid.
00:13:38.81\00:13:48.56
How do you spell
invalid? Spell it with me.
00:13:50.28\00:13:52.98
IN what?
Invalid, you don't count,
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you are nothing, you are nobody.
00:14:01.27\00:14:02.34
You see when you
have leprosy first,
00:14:06.29\00:14:08.10
first you loose
your sensitivity.
00:14:08.53\00:14:10.36
I guess that's why
they say it's like sin
00:14:10.80\00:14:12.30
you lose your
sensitivity. Then the skin
00:14:12.59\00:14:16.63
breaks then you
lose your integrity.
00:14:16.72\00:14:18.50
First you lose your
sensitivity, then you
00:14:20.15\00:14:22.83
lose your
integrity and then you begin
00:14:22.93\00:14:26.06
to decay and die.
Only people I could have
00:14:26.18\00:14:33.26
anything to do
with were other leprous.
00:14:33.33\00:14:35.93
And so a bunch of
this banned together.
00:14:39.70\00:14:41.16
Well you haven't
smelled anything until
00:14:45.87\00:14:47.25
you smell a bunch
lepers. We have to
00:14:47.41\00:14:56.32
forage for
garbage to eat. Garbage,
00:14:56.37\00:14:59.72
oh one day we
found some good garbage.
00:15:00.53\00:15:02.68
There is a
difference between good garbage
00:15:02.71\00:15:04.16
and bad garbage.
Bad garbage has been
00:15:04.19\00:15:09.14
garbage too long.
And its really bad,
00:15:09.27\00:15:13.09
good garbage hasn't
been in the trash that
00:15:15.02\00:15:16.47
long; its still is
somewhat edible. And we
00:15:16.57\00:15:22.23
found some good
garbage and that night
00:15:22.26\00:15:24.26
we decided to cook
some. We had a clay
00:15:24.69\00:15:27.43
pot it was broken,
but we were able to
00:15:27.51\00:15:29.79
use it and we were
cooking our good garbage
00:15:29.90\00:15:32.81
and after the
meal, I smelled the most
00:15:35.10\00:15:37.42
terrible smell that
I have ever smelled.
00:15:37.58\00:15:38.85
Like I say when
you are with the bunch
00:15:39.70\00:15:40.67
of lepers that's
pretty bad. And one of
00:15:40.68\00:15:45.16
our member had
fallen asleep after eating
00:15:45.19\00:15:47.77
his good garbage
dinner. And his foot had
00:15:47.85\00:15:50.84
slid into the fire.
And he didn't even feel
00:15:50.96\00:15:54.37
it, that's what
leprosy does. And his foot
00:15:54.99\00:15:58.74
was burning, and
the stench was the
00:15:58.82\00:16:02.10
cooking of his
flesh. I brooked away from
00:16:02.82\00:16:13.56
the group. One day I
saw a group of people
00:16:13.59\00:16:19.74
they were
listening to somebody teach.
00:16:22.43\00:16:24.13
Now see whenever
I'm around the crowd
00:16:27.63\00:16:29.37
I have to warn them
leper. But, sometimes
00:16:29.55\00:16:35.45
just because they
rejected me I play a
00:16:35.79\00:16:38.17
trick, I hold the
bell, and I sneak up on them.
00:16:38.29\00:16:44.60
And then I would
say leper. And they
00:16:47.29\00:16:52.01
scattered like
pigeons. You reject me and
00:16:52.21\00:17:01.98
I'll scary to
death. But, this group of
00:17:02.08\00:17:07.25
people was listening
and I decided not the
00:17:07.34\00:17:09.55
scar them I still
back at a distance and
00:17:09.62\00:17:12.57
there was a young
rabbi his name was
00:17:12.62\00:17:14.30
Jesus. And he said
things like this he said
00:17:14.41\00:17:18.81
the Father loves
you. He loves you like his
00:17:20.12\00:17:24.44
own child, he
wants you to come to him.
00:17:24.59\00:17:27.44
Oh yeah sure if
I'm. The Father loves me,
00:17:29.16\00:17:32.38
I'm glad you are not mad at me.
00:17:34.33\00:17:35.56
And I watch this
Jesus from time to time
00:17:41.92\00:17:43.69
and people flock
to him. And you know
00:17:44.02\00:17:47.81
what I noticed?
Jesus never turned
00:17:47.84\00:17:54.33
anyone away,
amen. Jesus never turned
00:17:55.11\00:17:59.50
anyone away,
amen. I wandered from
00:17:59.62\00:18:18.22
place to place it
had been five years since
00:18:18.35\00:18:23.04
I had been declared a leper.
00:18:23.07\00:18:24.66
For five years, no
human being had ever
00:18:26.60\00:18:29.27
touched me. I would
be delighted to have
00:18:29.30\00:18:32.94
somebody just
bump into me and say,
00:18:32.98\00:18:34.09
oh excuse me sir no
human touch for five
00:18:34.18\00:18:37.91
years. Then one day
I was wandering near
00:18:38.08\00:18:51.53
my home, you know
I was leaning against
00:18:51.68\00:18:57.84
a rock. Then I
heard the most pleasant
00:18:57.87\00:19:04.73
sound in the
world you know what that
00:19:04.81\00:19:05.95
is. The sound of
children laughing.
00:19:06.07\00:19:09.04
I want to have
the skin of a child,
00:19:11.59\00:19:13.10
to be carefree like a
child and as I watched
00:19:14.96\00:19:18.99
the children
playing tag and running and
00:19:19.03\00:19:20.69
laughing. I
noticed one little girl,
00:19:20.72\00:19:22.66
she was about
seven. She would be
00:19:23.42\00:19:24.80
at the age of my,
my daughter. Then I
00:19:24.98\00:19:31.32
realized I
wandered near my old home.
00:19:31.35\00:19:36.37
And as I watched
the children, the more
00:19:37.04\00:19:39.83
I looked to her
the more I knew she was
00:19:39.89\00:19:41.39
my daughter. And
then the children saw
00:19:41.44\00:19:43.24
me and they
scattered leper, one little boy
00:19:43.29\00:19:45.32
said, and they all
ran except that one
00:19:45.40\00:19:48.09
little girl. And
she turned and she waved
00:19:48.26\00:19:58.52
at me it was my
daughter. Then she
00:19:58.55\00:20:03.69
blew me a kiss. Oh
God how much I want
00:20:03.91\00:20:10.98
to be with my
family? I heard Jesus again
00:20:11.01\00:20:19.27
he was on a
mountain top and he said
00:20:19.79\00:20:21.45
things like this you
heard it, blessed are
00:20:21.49\00:20:24.61
the poor what?
For they inherit the
00:20:24.64\00:20:28.07
kingdom of God.
Poor you can't get
00:20:28.15\00:20:29.70
much more poorer then me.
00:20:29.82\00:20:30.81
Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst
00:20:31.74\00:20:33.25
for what? They will
be filled; I haven't
00:20:33.62\00:20:36.57
had a good meal
in years. Blessed are
00:20:36.60\00:20:41.49
the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
00:20:41.53\00:20:42.77
I'm not pure, I'm
putrid. When he got
00:20:42.80\00:20:51.25
through teaching
and preaching the crowd
00:20:51.28\00:20:53.56
started to come
down the mountain.
00:20:53.59\00:20:55.21
And I did something
I'm not supposed to do,
00:20:58.48\00:21:00.28
I drop my bell
because you see I said
00:21:01.79\00:21:05.94
I'm gonna take a
choice, a chance.
00:21:06.12\00:21:08.02
He will either care
me or he will kill me.
00:21:10.84\00:21:12.19
And I started
toward him and the crowd
00:21:17.10\00:21:19.10
parted like
Moses at the Red Sea.
00:21:19.22\00:21:21.17
And I thought he
will either curse me or
00:21:24.02\00:21:25.34
he will run. I don't
know what he will do,
00:21:25.37\00:21:26.63
but as I step
forward I said Lord,
00:21:26.80\00:21:28.39
you can cleanse me if you will.
00:21:31.63\00:21:33.19
Lord you can
cleanse if you will.
00:21:35.94\00:21:40.47
Shackled by a heavy burden
00:21:58.79\00:22:06.03
neath a load of guilt and shame
00:22:07.43\00:22:15.16
then the hand
of Jesus touched me
00:22:15.89\00:22:23.47
and now I am no longer the same
00:22:23.91\00:22:32.29
He touched me, yes He touched me
00:22:33.03\00:22:41.26
and oh the joy
that floods my soul
00:22:41.92\00:22:50.34
something
happened and now I know
00:22:50.83\00:22:59.64
He touched me and made me whole
00:22:59.99\00:23:08.49
Since I met this blessed savior
00:23:10.03\00:23:17.67
since he
cleansed and made me whole
00:23:19.31\00:23:27.13
I will never cease to praise him
00:23:27.64\00:23:35.48
I'll shout it
while eternity rolls
00:23:35.90\00:23:44.04
Yes He touched
me oh He touched me
00:23:44.51\00:23:53.92
and oh the joy
that floods my soul
00:23:54.30\00:24:03.08
something
happened and now I know
00:24:03.53\00:24:12.61
He touched me and made me whole
00:24:12.75\00:24:23.93
And when Jesus
touched me I felt power
00:24:50.92\00:24:55.13
go through my
body, and I looked at my
00:24:55.20\00:25:00.62
skin and it was
clean and it was clear
00:25:00.70\00:25:02.59
I couldn't believe
it. You see I have been
00:25:03.66\00:25:07.74
happy for Jesus
just to speak to me.
00:25:08.07\00:25:09.90
But, Jesus didn't
run away, he didn't
00:25:12.38\00:25:14.22
back away, he
moved toward me and
00:25:14.25\00:25:16.66
he reached out and he touched me
00:25:16.72\00:25:18.32
physically. The
first touch in five years.
00:25:18.54\00:25:20.84
Remember what I
said? Jesus never turns
00:25:24.84\00:25:28.94
anyone away, amen.
And I could see in his
00:25:29.19\00:25:33.73
eyes that he
hated leprosy even more
00:25:33.76\00:25:35.89
then I did. He
hated sin even more then
00:25:35.92\00:25:38.99
I did. And he was
right the Father loved
00:25:39.07\00:25:43.01
me enough to heal
me. You see when I
00:25:43.04\00:25:44.82
said Lord you can
cleanse me. I didn't just
00:25:44.87\00:25:49.39
say Lord you can
heal me, I didn't ask
00:25:49.53\00:25:51.10
for healing, I
asked for cleansing that's
00:25:51.13\00:25:52.85
deeper. I asked for
him not to therapure from
00:25:53.14\00:26:00.48
which we get therapy to heal me.
00:26:00.56\00:26:02.96
I said Katharizo,
which is a Greek word that
00:26:04.94\00:26:06.94
means healing
from the inside out.
00:26:07.01\00:26:08.70
And Jesus did that
and then he sent me
00:26:10.53\00:26:13.81
back to the priest,
the one who said that
00:26:13.85\00:26:15.60
I was unclean to
verify the miracle,
00:26:15.70\00:26:19.32
to offer the
sacrifices and then I ran,
00:26:20.70\00:26:24.59
I ran to home to
be with my family.
00:26:24.92\00:26:28.59
But, I learned
something. Those hands
00:26:33.88\00:26:37.76
that heal me that
touch, those hands that
00:26:37.79\00:26:40.79
touched and
healed me were nailed to
00:26:40.82\00:26:42.35
a cross. And you
see I realize that Jesus
00:26:42.44\00:26:47.77
cleansed me not
only so I could go home
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.73
and be with my
family. But, so I can go
00:26:51.80\00:26:57.81
home with him as
part of his family.
00:26:58.06\00:27:03.38
You know we are
all lepers. There is no
00:27:05.79\00:27:11.03
do it yourself leper
cure. Just like there
00:27:11.21\00:27:16.17
is no do it
yourself cure for sin.
00:27:16.20\00:27:18.18
It takes the touch
of Jesus and sometimes
00:27:19.69\00:27:24.74
our leprosy, yes
our leprosy because
00:27:24.77\00:27:26.74
I say we are all
lepers. Sometimes our
00:27:26.81\00:27:28.88
leprosy is inside,
where the only way and
00:27:28.91\00:27:31.05
God can see it.
But, when you say Lord
00:27:31.09\00:27:35.20
you can heal me,
see when I said that
00:27:36.01\00:27:37.65
I said not only Lord
you can believing you
00:27:37.74\00:27:40.85
have the power,
the strength, and the
00:27:40.88\00:27:42.11
authority but I
gave him permission
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.23
do you get that.
Lord you can heal me,
00:27:45.38\00:27:48.64
I'll let you work in
my life. Will you let
00:27:48.87\00:27:55.15
him work in your
life? Will you reach out
00:27:55.19\00:27:59.72
and touch
somebody else that's the
00:27:59.75\00:28:01.74
theme of this
whole special Sabbath.
00:28:01.78\00:28:04.22
We use it be his
hands, his heart to reach
00:28:06.66\00:28:09.15
out to some who
people feel invalid.
00:28:09.35\00:28:11.54
To somebody who
feels the sting of
00:28:14.61\00:28:15.89
prejudice and being pushed away.
00:28:15.97\00:28:17.55
Because when you
do and when I do we
00:28:20.07\00:28:22.63
are the hands of
Jesus to touch people
00:28:22.70\00:28:24.49
in there deepest
need. Praise God,
00:28:24.74\00:28:29.82
praise God he
touched me and he made me
00:28:32.01\00:28:38.71
holy and he will do
the same for you and
00:28:38.75\00:28:44.75
for those you touch
praise God, praise God, amen.
00:28:44.85\00:28:50.85
Amen, amen, praise
the Lord, praise the
00:29:04.46\00:29:07.62
Lord. There are
some questions if you
00:29:07.65\00:29:10.79
notice in your
program to help us reflect
00:29:10.82\00:29:15.29
on this
presentation it's important for
00:29:15.46\00:29:19.51
us to think about
these important stories
00:29:19.54\00:29:23.79
and deep thoughts
that you have heard
00:29:23.82\00:29:25.95
today. It's
important that we own these and
00:29:25.98\00:29:30.43
that will let the
touch of Jesus minister
00:29:30.46\00:29:33.81
to each one of us
today. These questions
00:29:33.90\00:29:36.15
are here to assist
us and I'm thinking just
00:29:36.18\00:29:39.42
we will look at
may be two, number one
00:29:40.35\00:29:42.44
says what does
touch mean to you today?
00:29:42.47\00:29:48.51
Physically,
emotionally, spiritually.
00:29:50.90\00:29:56.52
Do you need the
touch of Jesus today?
00:30:01.48\00:30:03.63
As I was sitting
there listening to the
00:30:07.37\00:30:10.01
presentation a one
point I felt unclean,
00:30:10.04\00:30:17.78
unclean the leprosy
of sin has caught us
00:30:19.59\00:30:23.97
all. And then
as he went into the
00:30:24.02\00:30:28.80
presentation
and as he met Jesus.
00:30:29.04\00:30:32.35
I joined in that
asking, if you're willing
00:30:34.36\00:30:38.98
you can cleanse me
too. And that's what
00:30:40.73\00:30:44.39
we want to
happen today not just a
00:30:44.42\00:30:46.58
wonderful
presentation and we walk away
00:30:46.61\00:30:49.07
thinking that was
great. We want us all
00:30:49.78\00:30:52.80
to let the spirit
of God minister to our
00:30:52.87\00:30:55.31
hearts and to let
his cleanse in grace,
00:30:55.35\00:30:58.76
touch your lives
today, wash all sins away,
00:31:00.10\00:31:03.80
are you willing,
have you been touched?
00:31:05.70\00:31:09.50
Do you need to
be touched by Jesus?
00:31:12.56\00:31:14.82
He will help you, he
is willing, Jesus will
00:31:17.22\00:31:21.61
do it for you today.
And this is the time,
00:31:21.64\00:31:25.50
this is the moment.
Let us reflect on our
00:31:25.57\00:31:30.05
lives individually
and ask the power of the
00:31:30.20\00:31:33.76
Holy Spirit to
come into our hearts and
00:31:33.79\00:31:36.19
since that touch
today, don't leave this
00:31:36.46\00:31:40.05
convocation
without been touched by
00:31:40.26\00:31:42.89
Jesus. And then
dropping down to number
00:31:42.93\00:31:47.99
five, I think this is a
very important question.
00:31:48.18\00:31:52.58
Who in our
society, church, community,
00:31:54.39\00:31:59.20
school is considered
untouchable, unpopular,
00:32:00.04\00:32:05.48
avoided alone,
who? In your way of
00:32:06.03\00:32:12.07
influence is
considered untouchable.
00:32:12.22\00:32:16.51
And the last
question is how can you
00:32:24.84\00:32:26.49
minister to their
needs? We need each
00:32:26.70\00:32:36.26
other, I know
Jesus is the only one who
00:32:36.36\00:32:41.38
can do the cleansing
and the cleaning that
00:32:41.41\00:32:44.00
we all need but
you and I can help each
00:32:44.65\00:32:49.91
other find Jesus.
You and I can help each
00:32:49.97\00:32:56.56
other on the stand
a bit more the love
00:32:56.61\00:33:01.48
of Jesus. The love
of Jesus at times is
00:33:01.51\00:33:05.41
expressed through
us and I'm thinking of
00:33:05.52\00:33:09.13
the great as Chicago
land area. I'm thinking
00:33:09.17\00:33:12.94
of the thousands
and thousands of people,
00:33:12.98\00:33:16.07
the thousands and
thousands of homes that
00:33:16.25\00:33:19.06
you and I call to
reach and to minister too.
00:33:19.10\00:33:22.10
I'm thinking of
those individuals in Avery
00:33:23.00\00:33:24.94
Churches, in Avery
schools, in Avery families
00:33:25.03\00:33:28.20
who feel to be
alone and feel that they
00:33:28.99\00:33:31.22
outcast, how can
you reach and touch
00:33:31.43\00:33:34.25
those individuals.
You know what you can
00:33:34.34\00:33:38.61
introduce him to
the marvelous Jesus that
00:33:38.74\00:33:41.17
you and I know
but before you can do
00:33:41.23\00:33:44.62
that in a real mean
and full way. You and
00:33:44.65\00:33:47.27
I need to know
Jesus, we need to know
00:33:47.40\00:33:49.85
the touch of Jesus
then you can testify
00:33:50.00\00:33:52.93
about his touch.
Can you imagine what
00:33:54.29\00:33:57.46
happened in that
village after the leper was
00:33:58.56\00:34:01.28
cleansed and heal?
Can you imagine the
00:34:01.37\00:34:04.00
marvelous
powerful witness that took
00:34:04.09\00:34:06.83
place in that city?
You and I need the touch
00:34:07.18\00:34:12.19
then we can touch
others. I invite you and
00:34:12.92\00:34:18.99
encourage you to
take this page with
00:34:19.06\00:34:20.62
you maybe later
today you may have some
00:34:20.74\00:34:23.72
free time and in
the days ahead please
00:34:23.88\00:34:27.49
reflect on the
story Matthew 8 is the
00:34:27.59\00:34:31.69
first few verses
in Matthew 8. And get
00:34:31.86\00:34:36.62
into the story in a deeper way,
00:34:36.65\00:34:38.70
let the Lord
Minister to your soul,
00:34:40.66\00:34:42.42
not just today,
but in the days ahead.
00:34:42.45\00:34:45.86
Let us pray, oh
wonderful Lord you've
00:34:47.84\00:34:56.19
blessed us in the
Sabbath school through
00:34:56.30\00:35:00.89
music, spoken word
and through the powerful
00:35:00.95\00:35:07.92
presentation of the
leper. I thank you for
00:35:07.98\00:35:13.95
Sabbath school, I
thank you for this time
00:35:14.23\00:35:15.77
that we can study
together, we can praise
00:35:15.88\00:35:18.52
your name and we
can think of the world
00:35:18.59\00:35:20.23
around us in the
mission field. Bless us
00:35:20.38\00:35:25.24
now as we enter
into the worship service,
00:35:25.33\00:35:27.99
prepare our hearts,
may your spirit direct
00:35:28.30\00:35:31.53
and lead each one of
us and maybe we truly
00:35:31.56\00:35:34.94
be touched by your
loving hands in the
00:35:35.02\00:35:39.47
wonderful name of
Jesus we pray amen.
00:35:39.50\00:35:42.66
can praise
00:35:42.69\00:35:43.66
your name and we
can think of the world
00:35:43.67\00:35:44.64
around us in the
mission field. Bless us
00:35:44.65\00:35:45.62
now as we enter
into the worship service,
00:35:45.63\00:35:46.60