A leper ... insights from David & Val Hutt

In the parable of the Leper, we read the story and often find it difficult to relate to, simply because

this person was suffering from a horrid skin disease, and we don’t. The reality is that although the person suffering from this disease; the result was that they were excluded from worship, they could not be part of normal society and they were rejected from being part of a family because of this.

We need to understand that we do not have to have leprosy to suffer in this same way, that many people

feel rejected from their families for many different reasons, others are isolated from worship for reasons that they believe to be relevant, yet there are others who seem never to be able to cope in society, no matter how they perform.

We all sometimes feel unclean. Each of us in someway or another will come to that point where we understand that we are not always the most popular on the block. Where we are hurt, rejected by others no matter what we have done, it is Jesus who is willing to reach out and lift us up. It is Jesus who answers us when we ask Him to heal us, He answers, ‘Yes I am willing’.

Matthew 8:2 A man with

leprosy came and knelt before

Him and said ‘Lord if you are

willing, you can make me

clean’

For you and I we need to have the courage to ask Him to heal us and set us free from those things that prevents us from being who He has called us to be. We need to recognise our needs in order for us to ask that these needs are met.

It is a sad day when we believe that we are not in need of Christ, for we all fall short of where we need to be, the grace of God is to actually realise this. Like so many parables, this parable has many different layers of meaning, so that you and I will know that this is also meant for us. been well utilized by the church, although there are few people that make use of the counseling and retreat facilities offered.

The number of churches using Linga Longa for church camps and teaching over weekends has increased, most of the ministry undertaken is by their own Pastor/Teacher.

We need to have input and prayer guidance, so that we seek the wisdom of Christ in this regard. How Val and I are praying that the path ahead in our ministry will become clearer so that we do what pleases God and not ourselves. The big question is where is the Lord leading the Christ Healing Fellowship?

What is the role of Linga Longa, in the healing ministry, and is there a need to have Linga Longa as a centre

of healing? How do we get ministers to actually come and spend time and rest at Linga Longa? We are here to serve the church, to pastor those in need, to help those in distress, to pray for those who are struggling and to be refuge for those who have lost their love for Christ.

Please pray for us.

David and Val Hutt

NOTE: Rev David Hutt will be leading a Healing Seminar at St Mark's this weekend.