Ash Street Church

10/18/2026

10/18/2026

Sunday Thought:
“Be Cleansed.”

“And behold, a l***r came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean’” (Matthew 8:2, NKJV).

God is very intentional, and I believe everything he included in his Word is there for a reason. So, to continue with last week’s topic, today I want to take a closer look at the spiritual parallels of physical leprosy.

Leprosy is most commonly transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and a healthy person breathes in what they just exhaled.
. . Be careful who you listen to. Use discernment, and avoid taking in the bitterness, hatred, or false teachings that many people expel!

“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2, NIV).

Leprosy begins as an infection on the inside of a person, growing slowly for years before making its presence known. It numbs the body, desensitizing the person; kind of like the seared conscience we just read about in that last verse.

Leprosy corrupts the body from the inside out, ultimately leading to the victims’ demise. Just like sin.

“Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15, NKJV).

Lepers are made unclean by their condition; all people are made unclean by our sinful condition.¹ And just as those with the physical affliction are isolated because of it, sin isolates us from the presence of our holy God.

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you . . . (Isaiah 59:2, NKJV).

Many l***rs live in remote or poverty-stricken regions, such as third-world countries, where they simply don’t have access to treatment.

Likewise, many don't have access to the gospel unless we take it to them. That's why Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel to those living in darkness. Just like those with physically blinded eyes, those suffering from spiritual leprosy have eyes, but do not see.²

“I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light . . .” (Acts 26:17,18, NIV).

Sadly, fear of how society will react often causes people with leprosy to hide their symptoms when they discover they have the disease. But trying to cover it up only hides the problem. Similarly, when we have sin issues, keeping them hidden will poison us from the inside out:³ We need Jesus in order to truly heal.

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13, NKJV).

In biblical times, healed l***rs were required to go through purification rituals. But when we are healed from the uncleanness of our sins, all we need do is walk in the light.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7, NKJV).

Though it is curable today, leprosy in ancient times was incurable by human means. Those who were made well were either healed by God (directly or through a prophet⁴), or touched by Jesus.⁵

Countless people around the world are still living with leprosy today as if there were no cure. But there is. And it is the same situation with the disease of sin! Millions of people are walking around isolated and in darkness. They live in fear and in pain, and they have no hope. But there is a cure: His name is Jesus.

When Jesus touched the l***r who approached him after his sermon on the mount, that man’s affliction didn’t transfer to him－Jesus' holiness made the man well. You cannot make Jesus unclean; so call on the name of the Lord today, and be cleansed.⁶

“Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:3, NKJV).

¹ Isaiah 64:6
² Mark 8:18
³ Numbers 32:23
⁴ 2 Kings 5:10-14, Exodus 4:6-7
⁵ Luke 7:22
⁶ Romans 10:13, 1 John 1:9

- Markie Doczi

10/14/2026

1 Kings 13

10/13/2026

Tonight, to close out their annual "Northbend Nights" event, Northbend Church will welcome Joyce Meyer as their special guest speaker!

The event is at 7pm, and the doors open at 6:30. There is sure to be a crowd, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

Northbend Church
500 Adamsville Rd, Mason, WV 25260

10/11/2026

“Why God?” 10/11/26

10/11/2026

Sunday Thought:
“Unclean!”

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6, NIV).

Leprosy is a devastating, essentially flesh eating, disease. I say ‘is’ because, though we tend to think of it as an archaic affliction, it is still around today. (It is now known in America as Hansen’s Disease.)

A missionary friend of mine visited recently, and showed me some pictures she'd taken at a l***r colony overseas. The people had damaged skin, blinded eyes, and many of their feet and legs were heavily bandaged. I immediately thought of the ten l***rs who cried out to Jesus, an account we read about in Luke 17.

“Now it happened as he went to Jerusalem that . . . there met Him ten men who were l***rs, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’” (Luke 17:11-13, NKJV).

Leviticus 13 dictated the treatment of l***rs under the law. I believe those measures were extensive and detailed so that when the time came for miraculous healing, as in the case of Miriam,¹ such an event would not go unnoticed－and moreover, that God would get the glory.

“Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’” (Leviticus 13:45, NIV).

One of the photos my friend showed me was of a man who had the worst case of leprosy at that hospital. His facial skin was cracked and darkened, his feet greatly swollen. One of his legs had a great open wound, and the skin of both legs was blackening as the leprosy made its way up his body. This man stood alone in the frame, and she explained that even among other l***rs he was to an extent isolated, because his condition was so severe.

This brought to my mind the one man who returned to thank Jesus after he’d healed him (v.15). I wondered if perhaps that man－the only one of the ten men to come back and give thanks－had been like this man in the photo, who had the worst case of leprosy among his peers. Then, when I revisited the story to write this devotion, one sentence jumped out at me like never before:

“. . . And he was a Samaritan” (v.16).

That man was an outcast among the outcasts; this account is a perfect illustration of how Jesus came not only to heal, but to save. The Greek word sozo means “to heal,” “to make well,” “to make whole” . . . and, “to save.” Even in language, God is intentional in his purposes.

Leprosy is a horrendous affliction that can be transmitted by touch, making it unappealing to embrace even the metaphor. But don’t miss this: God established laws for the cleansing of healed l***rs²－even though there was no cure for leprosy. Why? Because he knew Jesus was coming. Likewise, God established the plan of salvation before even the creation of the world,³ through Christ Jesus who fulfilled that law.⁴

“So when He saw them, He said to them, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.'" (Luke 17:14, NKJV).

As you are reading this devotion, the man from the photo is still living in an environment in which he is isolated because of, and surrounded by reminders of, his affliction. Maybe you’ve been living this way, too.

Guilt and shame for the sin of your past will eat you alive if left untreated－but here’s the Good News! Just as Jesus healed those with the physical disease, he can cleanse us of our spiritual leprosy.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).

Just as the ten l***rs did, all you need do is cry out to Jesus. He will meet you where you are. He will forgive your sins, bind up your wounds, and he will save your soul.

“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13, NKJV).

¹ Numbers 12:10-15
² Leviticus 14
³ Ephesians 1:4
⁴ Matthew 5:17

- Markie Doczi

10/07/2026

Beginning on November 4th, Pastor Mark Morrow will be teaching a Wednesday evening Bible study series on the Antichrist and Revelation.

All are welcome to join us! It's good to be informed regarding these last days.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come" (2 Timothy 3:1, NKJV).

10/04/2026

“The Battles of Life” 10/4/26

10/04/2026

Sunday Thought:
Cut to the Heart
Part II

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV).

In last week’s devotion, we learned that Peter and Stephen both stepped out in obedience. They each shared the truth of Jesus with those around them, and both crowds were cut to the heart by the truth of their words－but to very different ends. Peter got to lead a revival; Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian faith.

“Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16, NKJV).

Sometimes it seems like the sword of the Spirit is compared to a two-edged sword because, while one edge cuts the sinner to the heart, the other cuts you when they reject the truth.

When you were once that sinner¹ and you decided to accept and surrender, God gave you a new heart－and with it came compassion for the lost. So now, instead of just getting offended at their mockery and rejection, you feel saddened by it. Because you know the fate that awaits those who reject Jesus.²

“He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16, NKJV).

Rejection never feels good. But we need to understand that being rejected does not mean you’ve failed! Stephen’s words were spurned by the people, even to the point of death; but God’s purpose was fulfilled in his life. And even though eternity was just moments away, he blessed Stephen’s obedience by granting him a glimpse of heaven before he was stoned to death.

What we need to remember in these moments is that God is in control. He has a plan. And it is not our job to change hearts; that is the work of the Holy Spirit.³ It’s our job to be obedient in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.⁴ Sometimes you’re planting a seed, other times you’re watering; and when people reject the truth, shake the dust from your feet⁵ and keep on trucking.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you . . .” (Matthew 5:44, NKJV).

Remember, it’s not actually you that the world is rejecting; it’s Jesus,⁶ who is the living embodiment of God’s Word.⁷ That sword cut them, and it hurt－so they’re lashing out at you. But be of good cheer, fellow fisher(of)men; for yours is the kingdom of heaven.⁸

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin ” (John 15:18,22, NKJV).

¹ 1 Corinthians 6:11
² Matthew 7:23
³ John 6:44
⁴ Matthew 28:19
⁵ Matthew 10:14
⁶ 1 Samuel 8:7, Luke 10:16
⁷ John 1:1,14
⁸ Matthew 5:10-12

- Markie Doczi

10/03/2026

Camp Kiashuta women's study retreat!