While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." (Luke 5:12)
Another verse that goes hand in hand with this (Ps 51:2): Wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. We are covered in sin. We spend our days fighting off Satan's temptations. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail. It's not an easy job (no matter what anyone says). If you live in this world (i.e. - you are not secluded from society while living in a bubble), you face sin and it's consequences. Some people don't reach out to be cleansed, they continue to live in the mud like the swine that Christ sent the demons into (Matt 8:32).
"Leprosy" can be replaced with any diseases (according to the AMA's list). Our Great Physician can and will heal! There are many "apparent" diseases that medical society has given ICD-9 Codes (diagnostic numbering) to. I am not going to get into a debate on what is a disease and what is a tool of Satan. What I will tell you is this: when Jesus becomes your focus, when the center of your life is Christ - all things that are of the enemy seem to fall away. Yes, the temptation to sin will remain (it's inescapable), but the possessions of demons are cast out. No, you do not need an exorcist...all you need is Jesus!
If you think that demon possession is something that occurred only before the coming of Christ, if you think it's all Hollywood, if you think it requires a ritual to send them on their way - think again. Casting our demons out is as simple as calling on the name of the Lord to cleanse us! He can and will if our hearts are right with Him. Often medication and self-help groups only tend to prolong the inhabitance of those demons within us. Having the faith that the cure for what ails us is in the hands of the Almighty and asking for that cure is what is required of us. Our struggles with our "character defects" only prolong the effects of our sickness. We need God to change our hearts, not a book or a list of do's and don't's.
The strength we draw from, the strength that becomes a large part of us can and will slip away if we do not constantly recharge it. Like the sleep at night to rest and restore our physical being, we need the word of God to restore our souls daily. Walk away for a few days and watch as your world begins to take on a life of its own! Keep the focus on the healing that comes from the Creator. Keep the focus on the word of God. Tell the enemy to take a hike, that he'll find no room to "spread out" in you! Stop looking to self-help books for your answers and start looking in the only book that has them all -- the Bible! Go to Him in faith and ask expecting to receive...Jesus is still in the healing, casting out of demons and miracle business - save your money and go see Him! He's the only miracle elixir you'll ever need!!!
