THE 1ST SHALL BE LAST & THE LAST SHALL BE 1st

Introduction

The will of God is both amazing and astounding, it is both mind blowing and mind-boggling at the same time. Definitively speaking, Gods will is his intentionality that is directly tied to his purpose or his plan either for someones life or a particular situation or circumstance. says .. “I know the plans that i have towards you plans to prosper you and to give you hope and a future” So Gods will is never accidental or coincidental…This is where you and I shout because that means that when he saved me he saved me on purpose He knew what he was doing he was both conscience and cognizant of what he was doing… (let me see if i can help you) he knew i was a wretch undone , a broken vessel damaged goods but he still wanted me( But God commended his love towards me that will i was yet sinning Gods will prevailed in my life) The problem comes when Gods will is apposed to i want. You remember when the Democrats successfully passed the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare? The democrats rejoiced over what the republicans regretted. So much so they are avidly trying to replace and repeal Obamacare today. but what they didn’t realize is that , the success of Obamacare was not by human might or by human power, but it was Gods will connecting with human effort

And thats what takes place in our text Gods will is revealed and it’s in favor of a unseemly character

and how do you handle it when Gods will is in favor of the bad guy

Background

Our text today is one of the many miracle narratives of the prophet Elisha

It comes to us a a very interesting time in Israels history

Divided Kingdom - you Bible historians remember God had a vendetta with Solomons sins so he promises to deal with them so in 1 kings 11:11 God pronounced swift judgement, He told Solomon Im going to rip the kingdom from your hands and whats even more interesting is God said it’s not going to be in your lifetime but under your sons reign. So God divides the United Nation of Israel In two , and they become know as the Northern and Southern Kingdom

Footnote: the decisions we make will inevitably have a domino affect on those we’re connected too

Footnote: the decisions we make will inevitably have a domino affect on those we’re connected too

ooohhhh if we could preach this at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue (the white house)

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but you don’t have to go that far ---take it to your house

because i believe there are some people in here just like me

you still mess up & you still get it wrong & you still struggle in some areas

you

and if thats you, you aught cry out.... GOD i need your grace to cover my disgrace

because i don’t want my mess to fall on my children, … wife.... the people i lead

So God cover me ...... matter fact cover them while your still working on me!!!(you aught to thank hin that He’s still working on ya) ( He who has begun)

2. Depravity/Changing of the prophetic Guard

But not only was the nation of Israel divided but they also were in a season of spiritual depravity or decline it’s revealed in our text

(2 Kings 5:1)

Now Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man before his master and ⌊highly regarded⌋, for by him Yahweh had given victory to Aram

this passage provides for us a conundrum

because it says Naaman was a very powerful, prominent , prestigious man but he also was a pagan and this brings me to my first point and that is .....

Now Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man before his master and ⌊highly regarded⌋, for by him Yahweh had given victory to Aram

Points

1. RESUME

Naaman has an impeccable resume He’s powerful, prominent, prestigious but he’s also a pagan.

How is it that God takes interest in him

the text says God used him.... this is the conundrum

he’s powerful , prominent, prestigious and on top of all that He’s a pagan

he got money power and respect but he’s a pagan whom God has purpose for

now i hate to meddle in Gods prerogative but it makes for good preaching because ...

here it is in God you the one that warned us about being unequally yoked and here it is you grace and anoint a pagan with success

and on top of all that you anoint him to trample over us

now keep in mind Israels Divided, Israels Spiritual Depravity

And God says what I gave to Naaman I tried to give to you

And what you giving to others,… you were supposed to give to me

you give them your time ..you give them money…you give them worship…you honor them above me

and God says i got a question, how does it feel when you get back what you been putting out

oohh aint no fun when the rabbit got the gun

and learn your lesson here ....

because God says .... whenever it is that you fail to walk in your anointing

He says ill anoint your enemy to walk all over you

i wish i had a witness ....

come here Joshua … Jericho was a piece of cake … but it wasn’t by your might it wasn’t by your power but it was the anointing

but when you stepped out of bounds AI which should have been a piece of cake became a problem

tell somebody walk in your anointing

RESOURSES

Naaman has unlimited Resources

He’s Prestigious , Powerful, and Prominent....

He’s a Pagan that God uses for his purpose

but did i tell you that Naaman has a Problem (he has an incurable skin disease - leprosy)

And i would have thought that with all of Naaman’s resources that he could have gotten it taken care of but there is no known cure known to man .. But GOD

and this is what Naaman is about to find out

because even though he’s overloaded with resources none of them could help him

and see you probably coveted his money his power and or his respect and what good are they without God

because there are some things money can’t buy

and out of all of Naaman’s resources i wasn’t intrigued by his money wasn’t intrigued by his power, wasn’t even intrigued by his respect

but what intrigued me the most is the most powerful resource that Naaman got that he overlooked

and tat was prayer

vs. 2-3 says that when Naaman conquered the Northern kingdom Israel , that he deported some captives

one of which worked for him in his house serving his wife

and although she is serving his wife as a slave, she practices Mathew 5:44 which says..... pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you

REMEDY

Naaman has found no remedy for his problem

Repentance

Jona