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Read: 2 Kings 5:1-14
We may see Naaman and Elisha here taking big parts in story, where God creates a radical change in the life of someone who never had a faith in Him before.But in this picture we can also learn and see the extraordinary participation of some ordinary characters in this one specific turning point of someone to God. We can learn the two major roles of a Christian when it comes to reaching the nations.
1. Preach
The young girl from IsraelShe said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:3 NIV
This young girl is just a captive from Israel who became a servant of Naaman's wife. And who would expect that she knows the way to Naaman's healing of leprosy.
She is just nothing in the "society". She is a captive who became a servant. She has no good profile, but she knows the good news and did not hesitate to share it when she knew that someone would need it.
Our first role is to share the good news to those who do not know it.
2. Prompt
Naaman's servantsNaaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”
2 Kings 5:13 NIV
It was never our role to transform anyone or to save anyone from eternal death. Its the role of God. We, as instruments of God, should know this role so that we, ourselves would know our limits and does not take any spotlight and credit, and avoid immature expectations to those who are we reaching out.
Our second role, is to be with them and encourage them and remind them. Naaman's first response upon knowing the way to his healing was to doubt and get angry, because he thought that Elisha's words different from what he expected - to wash himself into the dirty Jordan river seven times. But with this negative response, we saw the good participation of his servants towards his belief. They were the ones who encourage him to think again and reconsider what Elisha was telling. They're not the ones who had the healing but through their encouragement, this guy received healing and real radical change.
3. Pray
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:13-20 NIV
Prayer is powerful, all because of the God we are praying for. If you can think of someone tonight who is whether unpreached or have gone astray, tonight join me in taking part of our third point, that is to pray for them. Again it is not us, who transform anyone. Our role is to preach to them, to prompt them, and this one - to pray for them.
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20 NIV
Photo by: Myunguen
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