Ready, Set, Go
Newscaster Paul Harvey told a remarkable story of God's providential care over thousands of allied prisoners during World War II, many of whom were Christians. One of America's mighty bombers took off from the island of Guam headed for Kokura, Japan, with a deadly cargo. Because clouds covered the target area, the sleek B‑29 circled for nearly an hour until its fuel supply reached the danger point. The captain and his crew, frustrated because they were right over the primary target yet not able to fulfill their mission, finally decided they had better go for the secondary target. Changing course, they found that the sky was clear. The command was given, "Bombs away!" and the B‑29 headed for its home base. Some time later an officer received some startling information from military intelligence. Just one week before that bombing mission, the Japanese had transferred one of their largest concentrations of captured Americans to the city of Kokura. Upon reading this, the officer exclaimed, "Thank God for that protecting cloud! If the city hadn't been hidden from the bomber, it would have been destroyed and thousands of American boys would have died."
God's ways are behind the scenes; but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. We have to learn this, and let Him work. In this story Naaman had to find this out for himself.
I. There is no dishonestly when seeking God.
1. Naaman
a. A mighty man
b. A man of honor
c. A leper
2. God makes Himself known (Israelite woman)
3. Israel thought it was a trick.
In late September 1864 Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was leading his troops north from Decatur, Alabama, toward Nashville. But to make it to Nashville, Forrest would have to defeat the Union army at Athens, Alabama. When the Union commander, Colonel Wallace Campbell, refused to surrender, Forrest asked for a personal meeting, and took Campbell on an inspection of his troops. But each time they left a detachment, the Confederate soldiers simply packed up and moved to another position, artillery and all. Forrest and Campbell would then arrive at the new encampment and continue to tally up the impressive number of Confederate soldiers and weaponry. By the time they returned to the fort, Campbell was convinced he couldn't win and surrendered unconditionally! Today in the Word, June 27, 1993
There is no trickery when you seek and God seeks you.
C God wants all kind of people. Even you. Your past or position does not put you below or above anyone else. God wants you to call on Him.
C Don't think that God only works in certain way. His way are not our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9, AFor my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Allow God to work his ways.
II. There is no word, but God's Word.
The messenger is not the same or is he?
1. Raging (Naaman)
a. Looking to man and he did not come
b. The rivers
2. Rebuked
a. By his servant
3. Restored
a. Had to obey
b. Skin like a child
He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho' disappointments come and hope burns dim,
He never fails.
Tho' trials surge like stormy seas around,
Tho' testings fierce like ambushed foes abound,
Yet this my soul, with millions more has found,
He never fails; He never fails.
He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho' angry skies with thunder‑clouds grow grim,
He never fails.
Tho' icy blasts life's fairest flow'rs lay low,
Tho' earthly springs of joy all cease to flow,
Yet still 'tis true, with millions more I know,
He never fails; He never fails.
He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho' sorrow's cup should overflow the brim,
He never fails.
Tho' oft the pilgrim way seems rough and long,
I yet shall stand amid yon white‑robed throng,
And there I'll sing, with millions more, this song‑‑
He never fails; He never fails. J. S. Baxter, in Explore The Book
God will never fail and He uses people to speak His word.
C When His messenger speaks do you trust Him (God that is)
C There must be decernment, but God has people as instrument to present His Word. Allow God to speak through His messengers.
C Be careful of messengers, test them according to 1 John 4:1-4.
III. There is no one to be worshiped, except God.
1. Affirmation of God
a. There is no God except in Israel.
2. The idea of the gift is to worship Elisha.
a. Gifts were normally given to false gods and their prophets.
b. Elisha is making the statement that he is not a prophet of a false god. Notice his statement AAs the Lord lives.@
During the tenure of the great orator Henry Ward Beecher, a
visiting minister (Beecher's brother) once substituted for the
popular pastor. A large audience had already assembled to hear
Beecher, and when the substitute pastor stepped into the pulpit,
several disappointed listeners began to move toward the exits.
That's when the minister stood and said loudly, "All who have
come here today to worship Henry Ward Beecher may now withdraw
from the church. All who have come to worship God keep your
seats!" Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 22
After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at
his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time
at church today‑‑but I wish you had been there!"
C Worshiping is something we all do, but who or what do you worship. I challenge you to worship the living God in all you say and do. When you rise and when to lie down. Worship the almighty.
C Don=t stopped blessing the ministry of God. The difference is give to His ministers because you give to the living God.
During his days as guest lecturer at Calvin Seminary, R.B. Kuiper once used the following illustration of God's sovereignty and human responsibility."I liken them to two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and over a pulley above. If I wish to support myself by them, I must cling to them both. If I cling only to one and not the other, I go down."I read the many teachings of the Bible regarding God's election, predestination, his chosen, and so on. I read also the many teachings regarding 'whosoever will may come' and urging people to exercise their responsibility as human beings. These seeming contradictions cannot be reconciled by the puny human mind. With childlike faith, I cling to both ropes, fully confident that in eternity I will see that both strands of truth are, after all, of one piece." ‑ John Morren, Lake City, Michigan