Sincere Faith

Greg recently shared with me that he was enjoying the fact that Jesus referenced two stories from the OT when He was giving a sermon. We were discussing the implications of sharing a story with in a story. I got all excited! I asked Greg to learn all three stories so I can post them, but then this sent me on a search to know more about this moment and it's significance. Oh boy, was I ever so richly blessed.

First, this was Jesus' first sermon written about by Luke and it happened when He visited His hometown. 

I love that Jesus stood to read and sat to explain the Scripture.

In this short passage, Jesus quotes three different OT passages and one proverb (not in OT). He quotes a prophecy about Him by Isaiah, and references the ministry of two respected prophets (Elijah and Elisha).

The people at first celebrated His graciousness, but they quickly turned fickle and sought to throw Him off a cliff. They liked Him until He pointed out that they needed to have a sincere faith and that God uses unlikely people. He wasn't going to do miracles for them because their focus wasn't in the right place or rather person. 

There are habits we need to recognize about Jesus that we should also live by.

1. It was His habit to go church on the Sabbath even while traveling. 

2. It was His habit to read, share and explain the Scriptures.

3. It was His habit to quote the OT. He knew it well.

4. It was His habit to preach the truth.

5. It was His habit to seek people of sincere faith. 

Notice how He calmly walked away when they tried to throw Him off the cliff.

Please understand that the people would have known well the story of Naaman and the widow of Zarephath. 

Jesus' one sentence reference would have conjured in their minds quickly the story and how in both cases the prophet of God ministered to the person that showed sincere faith. All of them would known immediately that both Naaman and the widow of Zarephath were NOT JEWS! The prophets were ministering to non-Jews or Gentiles because they were who showed sincere faith.

Jesus was declaring that He was taking the GOOD NEWS to the Gentiles. This is why they were mad! 

Jesus wanted to reach you and me! Now that is GOOD NEWS! 

Oh, there is always so much more in the story than we realize. 

It is so important to be in the Word so we can be with Jesus and be transformed. 

Shalom y'all.

Was Naaman Only Healed of Leprosy?

Some of the best stories have role reversals. 2 Kings 5 is always labeled: Naaman Healed of Leprosy. I get it that this story has a crazy miracle in it. But, I feel there is a deeper lesson.

1. Naaman is the servant of the king that worships false gods and is out to destroy the people of God. He is a commander in a big position. Well respected, but has leprosy (a skin disease).

2. Gehazi is the servant of the messenger of God, Elisha. Elisha serves the One True God, the Almighty. 

3. The king if Syria sent his commander to the king of Israel to be healed because they received word through a captive servant girl from Israel that the prophet of God from her home could heal Namaan. He sends an over the top generous offering so his commander can be healed.

4. The king of Israel freaks out. He thinks it's a trap. He should seek God. He is God's king after all. But nope. He just flips forgetting who he serves.

5. Naaman is healed. You will have to read about his own lesson on doing that which is simple even if it doesn't make sense. Oh, and he listened again to his servants when they gave advice. We see a pattern of humility and teachability in this.

6. Elisha doesn't show himself for the healing. His presence woukd cause Naaman to possibly worship him. But by not showing up and just letting Naaman walk by faith. It reveals that the God of Israel is the Most High God who can do the miraculous in dirty water.

7. Gehazi is upset that Elisha healed Naaman and took nothing. So he plots to deceive and fulfill his greed.

8. Naaman gives generously and Gehazi goes home to hide it.

9. Elisha confronts Gehazi because God revealed to him what he did. He gave Gehazi a chance to tell the truth. Gehazi lied again. In the great role reversals, the servant of the Most High God's prophet walks away with leprosy and the servant of the enemy king walks away healed worshipping the One True God. 

10. But the lesson that blessed me the most. Elisha told Naaman that when he had to bow while serving alongside the king to the false god to be at peace. Naaman was afraid of offending the Most High God. Ponder that for a moment. It isn't about your position. It is all about your heart.

Why? Because the Most High God knows the heart of men. Culture may make you go on bended knee and think it a sign of worship. But the Most High God knows when a heart is bent toward Him or a false god made of stone or even the false god of greed in wanting possessions. 

Go read the story. It is crazy amazing. So many powerful lessons.

Which one speaks most to you today?

2 Kings 5 Naaman is Healed

2 Kings 5 A Servant Girl Tells Naaman the Man of God in Samaria can Heal His Skin Disease

In today's Heaven's Hospitality lesson,  we get to meet 2 kings, several servants, a wife, and a commander. It is a crazy situation where two kings that are arch enemies are brought together by a servant girl suggesting that her Master go to the man of God from her land to be healed. 

Theologians call her an unwilling missionary. She was taken captive as a slave and yet she chose to give what she knew would be God's best to her captor. Crazy beautiful and wonderfully powerful. Yet, the servant in the house of God. He chose to seek personal bounty from the benevolence of the healed commander. He used his position to take and receive. 

As I pondered this passage, I realized the word "take" has such potential for power or poison. We can "take" and give blessing or we can "take" and rob blessings. 

I hope you listen and share. I really feel God wants someone to hear this story. It might be you! Will you take and receive the blessing?

Lessons from the Healing of a Leper

(Taken from https://forcommonground.com/2019/07/05/faith-of-women-series-the-servant-girl/amp/)

Reflections from 2 Kings 5 and the story of the servant girl telling her Master, the mighty warrior, Naaman to go to his enemy's prophet for healing.

1. Sometimes the unwilling placement of a servant girl can lead to the best opportunities for faith. Lesson from a servant girl.

Insignificant people can effect change! 

2. Sometimes people in high places must bow before prophets. Lesson from a mighty warrior.

Pride must be dealt with. Period!

3. Sometimes we create our own uneasiness by misinterpreting the words and actions of others that are well intended. It is a kindness to ourselves if we think no evil. A lesson from a king.

Dwell on the things of God it stops the stressful spiral.

4. Sometimes, the one who has the ear of the king is wise to give ear to his servants. A Lesson from a mighty warrior.

Be teachable it makes you reachable.

5. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the simplest step or process. A lesson from a mighty warrior.

KISS... Keep It Simple Stupid.

6. Spiritual healing does not come from showy or big displays, but from simple obedience and cleansing. 

Read your Bible, pray every day, and you will grow, grow, grow.