What does it take (Making a Difference)

I'm in. It might be something really small. That was meaningful at this time. My I remember. And I lost chat. I don't respond saying painful and I was really sing on a guy who was old enough to be. My dad's he knew what has happened. Unless you went past me in the car. At church, he looked at me with such compassion in his eyes just gently squeezed, my shoulder and walked past and that was exactly what I needed. He went to be with the Lord years ago, but I still remember that. So what does it take to make a difference? Broadly speaking, pray and do what you can do. No matter how big it may seem in your eyes and may be overwhelming or how small and insignificant it may seem to you. Just do. What's in your gift today? I was talking to someone this week, who's walking alongside someone, who's Explorer in the face, and she was saying was, that's exciting. She also feels quite overwhelmed and inadequate. And I said, good. She knew that I meant because not means she was laying on God, so much more because of how she feels, and it was bad for be more fruitful than if she felt able to do her own strength. I realize sometimes there isn't time to pray, you just need to react in the moment like that guy, did she gently? Squeezed my shoulder so it's not going to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about what to say and do and also what not to say and do That's one of many reasons why quality time with the lord. It's in his word. The Bible is so important. Like, with any relationship, the more time we spend, with someone the more we learn about that likes and dislikes excetra. Similarly, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we spend time with him. something, Joyce Maya, the American Christian Author and speaker says that's relevant in certain situations is let emotions subside, then decides Which is a sound advice. I'm also adding do or say whatever the Lord puts on your heart today. Whatever you have, peace about, entrust him with the outcome.

Lepton. Naruto main passage for today, and I'm reading from the second book of Kings chapter 5. So 2 Kings 5, verses 1 to 4, and I'm reading from the NIV, says 2, Kings, 5 want to fool This took place in aurum ancient Syria approximately and the 9th century BC.

No Naman was the commander of the army of the king of iron. He was a great man in the sight of his monster. I'm highly regarded because through him the Lord has given Victory to Orem. He was a valiant Soldier, but he had leprosy. Not bands of Raiders from RM. Have gone out and taken captive. A young girl from Israel and she subbed niemann's wife. She said that her mistress. If only my master would see the prospect who is in Samaria. He would kill him of his leprosy. Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. The Hebrew word translated hair is leprosy. Was, in fact, used to describe a number of different elements which may or may not have included. What we understand spell leprosy today. So skin disease skin disease, may be a better translation.

A young Israelite girl was abducted and forced into domestic slavery. I made a difference where she was. she had compassion, suppose slave master I'm so I spoke to his wife who she served about how he could be healed. This young girl, strength of character is amazing. She clearly didn't let go of her face. She Drew on what she knew and didn't allow her circumstances to dictate to her what she would or would not leave or whether she would show compassion. Walton example, she is.

And what does it say about a character that he has listened to her and acted on what she said? Desperation maybe but the go would still have had to have had Integrity for them to listen to her and act on it the way they did. To summarize the next part in the story name, and went to see the king then went with his Blessing to Israel and ended up outside the profits. A lot of ships. So 2 Kings 5 verses 10 to 14, 2, Kings 5, 10 to 14. Elijah sent a messenger to say to him, go wash yourself, seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed. But Naaman went away. Angry and said, I thought that surely he would come out to me and stand and cool on the name of the Lord. His God, wave, his hand over the spot and kill me. If my leprosy. I'll not abide by the rivers of Damascus. Better than all the Roses of Israel couldn't I washing them and be cleansed. So he turned and went off in a rage. Name and servants went in and said my father. If the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more than? When he tells you wash and be cleansed. So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him and his flesh was restored and became clean like that young boy. Then I've a cultural background Study Bible states that inscriptions from this. Depict a magic, specialist with a rape, and offering an invocation and prayer for the removal of disease and Evil. A Magic Ritual would have required the supervision of such a specialist to overstaying supervisor. Elijah clay. It removes himself from this role was named and probably expected the presents to the practitioner to be key to the success of the ritual. Interesting late night, my name and was expecting to be healed. But Elijah, the prophet astarte's mouthpiece, not turn the approach about physical healing, it doing it this way but distance the one true God from practices of those who worshipped full skirts and addressed, Naamans Pride This is God's love and wisdom. An action, seeing the bigger picture and bring it back. Healing at different levels for this month. Who is born into a pagan culture? Pride is a sin that so easily hides itself to the one who is proud. And yes, it's usually so glaringly obvious to everyone else. name, one was great in the sight of the king and highly-regarded Unless your self-esteem is rooted in the truth of the word of God, what God himself says about? Yeah it's easy to see why someone can be proud when they doing so well from a secular perspective. By surprise and expectation were probably at the root of Naamans assumptions about how he should be healed. Not just washing in a river which anyone can do. And feel the anger that nearly cost him, his miracle. Note to self s13. It was the influence of Nike men's attendance that cools name on to change his mind. These with trusted personal aides in ancient near Eastern military culture. High-ranking officers, travels with trusted staff who are able to offer their advice. That proximity to name a bunch of them physical access and relational intimacy, which is why they were able to address him with the respectful idiom. My father,

Has a state slave would likely not have a dress, a high-ranking general in this Familia and advisory Mana. So, those who made a difference if name is healing, well, his wife's made a slave, his wife for passing on the information that the maid gave her. Elijah, the prophet a name into tendons, Office a name and himself. Played a part in Act 2 by faith on the prophets instructions. But if we consider, who else is involved with people with varying levels of influence and position my point has used the influence that God has given us well and we can effect change to his It doesn't matter whether we got credit from other people or not. Whether other people ever learn our names or not. I'm thinking of the maze named as wife and tastes off none of whom I named her but God sees everything and that's what my sis. I do like, considering what's Michael the little people in the Bible and I'm not just talking about that height. those who are named, but made a difference, it's already those who would not named, but made a difference, Enough to be mentioned in God's Eternal Word and the office scene known by him. Most of us will go through life. Only known by those who now directs of influence Church work, family, friends, places wearing makeup Fellowship, addresses excetra. Although I realize social media May broaden that significant today, but whether we'd been really only in part, there is we know personally or influences Broda. Each person that we touch matches. Hence, the importance of how we touch them. To complete the story of Naaman. It's worth noting what happens in 2 Corinthians 5, 15 and 17. I'm a missing parts that aren't relevant to today's message. So, 2 Corinthians 5:15, the naiman and all his tendons. Went back to the man of God, he stood before him, and I shall obviously came out to see him this time, as there was no reason not to So he stood before him and named and said, now I know that there is no God in the world except in Israel. you'll 7 will never again, make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other God but the Lord

God broke it out of even this. Name. It became a Believer as a result. I said that many times. I will say it again. God can bring good. Absolutely anything. Our part is to pray and ask him to do so regardless of how impossible it might seem and trust God to do what only he can do.

I do just want to add that name and was wise in the end according to Proverbs 12:15 and I'm reading from the living Bible, That's Proverbs 12:15. A fool thinks. He needs. No advice. But a wise man listens to others. A fool thinks that he needs. No advice. But a wise man listens to others. Naamans initial reaction wasn't great, but he didn't. Listen. We've all said, and done. Stupid things has an initial response for something. We didn't want to hear, but how we move on from that? It can be a real difference to our lives and the lives of others. It will humble way more likely to receive dry ice from others? Yes, of course, we need to weigh its up. But it's important that we receive it if we know it's right. I dare, I say it admit that we might have been wrong.

The other side of that coin is that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. You can give someone a picture in the taser advice. I'm to make the most of it. I have a friend whose friend has a really serious life decision to make. While Scott's pest in the situation is clear. The girl hasn't made her mind up yet because of the complexities of the situation and all species. Not got a great understanding of God and face and I don't know whether she's not, she surrenders her life to him. Yes, or no. My friend said to her friend, whatever you decide, I will still love you but if you decide X, I can't condone it. That's unconditional love, isn't it? Respecting the fact that people have their own free will and the right to choose what's right or wrong and choosing to love them. Godless It's A Hard Road to walk, but God always strengthens us to do, what's right? But he's not obligated to support what he hasn't initiated.

unconditional love will always make a different side whether we see the fruits of it or not,

I think it's worth mentioning. Jesus said when he was facing the crucifixion and taking upon himself, the agonizing pain of the punishment of the scent of the whole world and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. As recorded in Luke 22. He submitted his will. So, I have only father, fully aware of the suffering, it would entitle the new verse 43. Luke 22:43 has has been an angel from heaven, repaired and strengthened him. Jesus, the son of God in choosing to live with in imitations of a man needed strengthening Unconditional love will almost invariably cost us beyond what we can enjoy in our own strength but God is clearly willing to strengthen us to do what we need to do. So what did they take to make a difference? Naamans wife's maze with kind. She had the strength of character to speak up to help her slave master. What you really didn't need say she could have still let him suffer. But she did what was right because it was right behind closed doors enough. She serves as an example to us and God's word, which is a tunnel. Demon servants, his stuff was faithful. They respectfully challenged him when he was allowing Anga to Cloud his judgment which left unchecked would have cost him his miracle. They were able to say to him what they did because of the relationship they had with him. Often we on the right. So to speak to speak into someone's life because of the relationship we have with them although it can still take courage especially to confront someone the way that name and stuff that I'm wisdom to do it in the right way at the right time. So it's more likely to be received. A good friend will do that to you. Does Proverbs 27:6 Proverbs 27:6 in New King, James says, faithful of the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful, as all Lord, Jesus Will nice thinking of Jesus. The wounds of a friend can be trusted. A friend spoke to me a few months ago and pulled me off about complaining, I didn't enjoy hearing it. But she was right and shooting, right to challenge me. I still find it hard not to complain in a particular situation, but I'm a work in progress. And I'm doing better than I was.

What happened to taking it? Consider it with the impact on the hood of my complaining? what's the don't think that she mentioned a specifically, I became aware of it because she challenged me I appreciate her courage in doing so it can't have been easy.

Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 27:17 says, as iron sharpens iron. So one person sharpens another Just as two pieces of mine can be rub together to create a shopping people. Can improve become more christ-like through mutual interaction, support and constructive criticism. This is why we meet together at church in the different ways that we do, isn't it? Amplified puts it. They sweat as iron sharpens. Iron spider one man. Sharpens and influences. Another 3 discussion.

Recently, I enjoyed reading an autobiography. Captain conquered by Brian v. O. Brian was an experienced pilot toasted, managing the Concord flea to be a when he found himself, getting to know a guy called Gerald Williams, who was a well-known tennis commentator and journalist Brian ended up taking Gerald to New York on Concord first spray. In exchange for Gerald waxing, lyrical about it and his 10:10 is coming trick for marketing purposes. Other time Concord was hemorrhaging money. It can't have been that hard to wax lyrical about a trip on Concorde, but none the less that was the day of The following I asked for the excerpts from Brian's book. Off the thoroughly enjoying his supersonic flight to New York. Gerald Was preparing to disembark when he turned to me to express his genuine and heartfelt appreciation. Assuming he would then continue on his way. I was somewhat surprised when he requested, I do him. The kindness of having breakfast with him. The next day. Often we hit Eaton nursing as he had that. I seem to have everything settled candidly inquired. As to what part that played in my life. I didn't realize that Charles was a Christian is coming caught me off-guard. My honest responsive known didn't seem to surprise him and he promptly issued a second invitation, Gerald Alston me. If I'd like to join him at his church in Gilford one Sunday. Still very much the church for weddings and funerals. Kind of man that I was the idea of Gerald's, invitation was less than appealing. So I politely on said no to anyone who knew Gerald. It will come as no surprise that they stood not deter him, warm bed. A little while later Brian ended up joining Gerald Baptist Church, Bryan surprised himself by enjoying it returned and became good friends with the assistant pasta who lent him a number of books to answer his question. The most significant book for Brian as an analytical scientific man was just Josh McDowell invested investigative evidence. That demands a verdict. The quote Brian this book tells head-on with a myriad of arguments, which can be used with this believe in the Christian faith. Proverbs 27:17 as iron sharpens iron. So one man, sharpens and influence is another three discussion. Such was geralt's influence. Then the assistant pastors, they made a difference to Crave Bryan I came to realize that God was not some abstract concept, who observed from a distance, God knew everything about me, and loved me. The more I understood, the more I realize that I Brian will Poe, the egotist pilot was simply a man who thought he had achieved everything in his own strengths and abilities, but was finally coming face-to-face with the greater truth. The Gruen met an unabashed gratitude and knowing that it's not good Works North Chief months, but while the faith in Jesus Christ, that is Central to truly living, this is friendship that made a real difference. You do seem fluence that God has given us well and we can effect change for his glory. when my slightly able to be able to do this, even when it cost us, if we make one thing, the main thing Psalm 27 verse for an amplified that Psalm 27 verse 4 reads. One thing I have all stood the Lord and that I will sake. If you could also Lord for just one thing, what would it be? It's not an easy question to answer.

One thing I have off that the Lord and that I will sake. The time, I dwell in the house of the Lord in his presence, all the days of my life. To gaze upon the beauty, the delightful loveliness and Majestic Grandeur of the Lord and to meditate in his Temple. When God's presence becomes the focal point of our hunger when we learn to live our lives as centered on this one desire to live in the Lord's presence. What difference do you think it will make I'm speaking to myself now to What one change do you think you could make that the holy spirit is prompting you to make that would take you further along this path? I appreciate that's a question that probably needs some thoughts and prayers. The point is, when my slightly to be able to be kind and faithful to make a difference when we seek God's presence, first, and foremost, in our lives.

When I was thinking about the qualities that really make a difference in our lives, by kindness faithfulness, Etc. I realize that they all come under one umbrella term love. It's worth regularly reading the famous passage on love in 1, Corinthians 13, just to keep it fresh. Let's read together. 1 Corinthians 13 verses 4 to 8. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud, it does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love, does not Delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth, It always protects. Always, trusts always hopes, always Pacific. His love, never fails.

It all speaks of faithfulness doesn't especially the old ways and is summarized in verse 8 Love. Never Fails. Is the Greek word used hit and meaning Brotherly Love and Affection.

the Apostle Paul said and 1 Corinthians 16 verse 14, let everything you do be jumping in love As we do this more and more by the grace of God, we will make a difference in our generation for God's glory. Let's pray.

Father God, thank you for the difference that you've made in our lives and continue to make in our lives and the privilege and responsibility of our influence in other people's lives. Please help us to use the the influence you've given us wise. They end well, For Your Glory, Increase our capacity to receive your love for ourselves and strengthen us to love others, whether we feel like it or not cuz we all space. In Jesus name knowing that you've promised to always hear us. I'm with so thankful all men,

Thanksgiving.