Jan. 25, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IT’S PERSONAL, “OUR TEST AND TRIALS COME TAILOR MADE” OH WHAT LOVE!!

“Lord, You know what each day will bring, For You designed my destiny. Each test and trial comes tailor made for me….As I lay prostrate In the middle of the floor. Lord, I call out Your name, I am not ashamed to say I am At the end of my rope, and you are my only hope.” So today may I lean on You, because I’m too weak to stand on my own, (Maurette Brown Clark, lean on you)

My friends, these heavy burdens, every day a new trial, a different heartache, and each day we cry out “oh lord can I lean on you.” I know I should be able to handle what I am going through because I know, “Each test and trial comes tailor made for me.

In addition, my faith tells me I can handle this, I am special in God’s sight, it has become personal, because it is about my salvation, so we lean on our Savior for comfort and hope.

My friends, as we lean we must also search our heart because we must understand, with these trials comes a responsibility of the cross we must carry on this Journey Christ has placed us on.

Consistent with this, He is “the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2 (NKJV) Now if we are disciples of Christ we now have our on cross we must now endure so that we may also sit with our “father which art in heaven.”

But we must have a passion to have an intimate relationship with Christ, a love that transcends all others, like the love of a newborn child that clings to a mother with only a feeling from within that tells this child, I know this feeling “will never leave nor forsake” me.

That is what makes the statement so awesome “Each test and trial comes tailor made” because no greater love, then that of a parent, who will not allow [their child] to be tempted beyond what [we] are able, but with the temptation [they] will provide the way of escape,” 1 Cor. 10:18 (KJV)

In addition, we will be able to endure our trials, because God knows in order for our character “to be safe to save” and to “shine forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of this world.” We must have a story to tell of how we got over and how our “tribulation produced perseverance; and [how our] perseverance [produced], character; and character, hope….” Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV)

And my friends that hope [will] not disappoint, because one day “soon and very soon” “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,….the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 14-17 (NKJV)

We shall always be with the Lord my friends, that is a promise from the one who has brought His faithful “thus far by faith” Consistent with this, as these trials continue, we must continue on our journey, we cannot run for shelter in least it is in the arms of our Savior.

Remember “these trial comes tailor made” so that we can continue to study, pray and work as our God remains in the midst of our storm to guide us as we take the good news of the gospel to a world whose spiritual compass is pointing to the road that leads to perdition.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan. 24, 2015

MY FRIENDS, NEW WORD; “GAMESMANSHIP” OLD WORD; ALL SINS ARE AN ABOMINATION TO GOD!!

My friends, it is only “gamesmanship” the NFL says the balls should be between 12.5 and 13.5 psi, somehow 11 of the 12 playing balls were at 11.0 psi now the mystery is who dunnit or did it. Consistent with this, the fine for such atrocity if you are caught is $25,000. With such a minor punishment, the NFL even thinks the rule is trivial.

Tom Brady’s net worth as of today is 120 million, with a guarantee of another 24 million in the next three years. So New word, the hype over “ballgate” is no big deal it’s not murder. old word, “Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 20:10 (KJV)

New word minor transactions, old word “thou shall not bare false witness against thou neighbor” “thou shalt not steal” New word; it is just the nature of the competitiveness and competition of the world we live in, old word; There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12(NKJV)

My friends if you listen to the world you would think God’s word was obsolete and void of any real consequences if the precepts in them were not adhered to, the all knowing God has been reduced to a trivial being, if we live within the grey areas of life we will be all right, if you are a good person.

“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?

Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.” And as you continued in Acts 5 you will see his wife Sapphira had the same fate.

“An honest man, according to Christ’s measurement, is one who will manifest unbending integrity. Deceitful weights and false balances, with which many seek to advance their interests in the world, are abomination in the sight of God…. Firm integrity shines forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of the world.

Deceit, falsehood, and unfaithfulness may be glossed over and hidden from the eyes of man, but not from the eyes of God. The angels of God, who watch the development of character and weigh moral worth, record in the books of heaven these minor transactions which reveal character. (E. G. White Testimonies For The Church 4:310.)

My friends nothing is trivial in the sight of God. In addition, God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.” ” For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Num. 23:19 (NIV) Matt. 5:18 (NIV)

My friends we know the world is not serious about Salvation, but if we are a Child of God we must all recognize that nothing in God’s word is trivial and all sin is an abomination to God the Psalmist speaks of six sins our God hates in Proverbs 6:16 (ESV) and “a lying tongue,” is one of them.

“Trust and obey my friends, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” God’s Grace is still extended to His children. Please take advantage of it and give it all to the Master today, as we all tell the world that God is not a trivial God, but He does save.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan 22, 2015

MY FRIENDS, THE STORMS CONTINUE, THE PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING, BUT REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE FINISH LINE.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:24-27

A couple of years ago I ran a half marathon, I practiced for months so I could compete and complete in the race. Race day came, but there was a continual torrential rain coming down, in fact it continue throughout the 3 hours it took me to finish.

As we started things went well until 30 minutes into the race, my achilles became irritated to the point where I thought the heel of both feet were on fire. My goal was to run the race in two hours but the more I ran and the more it rained, the more I would continue to ask, was it worth it?

Why not just stop? The pain is excruciating. But my focus was not on a one mile race, or a six mile race, or even a twelve mile race, but my focus remained on the finish line 13.1 miles and as I came into the final stretch in spite of the rain and pain, I crossed over and received my prize.

My friends the race of life has been very long for some of us with a continual torrential storm, along with excruciating pains, of the death of friends and love ones, sicknesses, money and family problems, or just the fast moving pace of life itself,.

At times we ask ourselves, is Salvation worth it? Why can’t I stop now!! But at this point is not where the race ends, the finish line is still ahead. But If God is all knowing, all powerful and Omnipresence why does He not just stop the Pain? Why does the storms continue?

My friends it is all about our Faith, endurance and staying focus, because we all need to feel from within the high price paid for our salvation so that we will be “safe to save” as Christ prepares our character to live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity in a place no man has the mental capacity to imagine what has been prepared for the redeemed.

Consistent with this, it is all ours if we believe, But we still have to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:14 (KJV) John 1:12 (KJV) tells us “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

So if I understand that text correctly my faith in a Crucified Savior gives me the right to be a Child of God, even a wretched sinner like me “amazing grace how sweet the sound” Psalm 8:4-6. (KJKV) tells us “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”

My friends, that text tells me in spite of the torrential storms and excruciating pains, God is telling us we are His, So “Be strong and courageous [for the pain will only last for a season]. Do not be afraid or terrified [of the storms], for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” And one day soon His faithful will go and live with him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan 21, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IF THERE IS NO CROSS, THERE WILL BE NO CROWN!

“There at the foot of the cross was a man at his worst, loud, lewd, and base. There on the cross was man at his best, dying to save the very men who profaned his garment, pouring out His soul in prayer for gambling sinners.

In addition, If there is a place on God’s earth where a man ought to hang his head in shame, it is at the foot of the cross. And yet, if there is a place where man ought to raise his head in reverence, it is also at the foot of the cross.” (Lolyd. C Douglas)

The tragedy is we continued to seek the blessings of Christ, while neglecting what was done on Calvary and what Christ may ask us to do one day. We want the “crown without the cross” Why a cross we ask? Well what about the stake like Martyr Jerome of Prague:

“As the sentence of condemnation was passed upon him. He was led out to the same spot upon which Huss had yielded up his life. He went singing on his way, his countenance lighted up with joy and peace. His gaze was fixed upon Christ, and to him death had lost its terrors.

When the executioner, about to kindle the pile, stepped behind him, the martyr exclaimed: “Come forward boldly; apply the fire before my face. Had I been afraid, I should not be here. His last words, uttered as the flames rose about him, were a prayer.

“Lord, Almighty Father,” he cried, “have pity on me, and pardon me my sins; for Thou knowest that I have always loved Thy truth.” (Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 168.) His voice ceased, but his lips continued to move in prayer.  (E. G. White The Great Controversy)

My friends how much do we love God’s truth and what price are we willing to pay for it. The president stated last night “Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns, imagine if we did something different” Friends, Imagine if we gave all of our heart to the Master instead of just a portion of it.

Imagine no matter what type of car, house, TV or electronic device our friends and neighbors had, if what we had was still working for us, we will continue to serve the Lord and just thank Him each day for what we had.

My friends the cross and the crown are inseparable there is no either, or. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 24:13 (KJV) and along with salvation “there is laid up for [each of us], the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to [his redeemed] at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:8 (ASV)

In a few Days January will end and the cycle starts all over again, we look up it’s Easter then thanksgiving and then Christmas, and then we say to ourselves, again, where has the year gone? But what we need to be asking ourselves, what have I done for Christ this year?

The god of this world has us in such an intense and vicious cycle of go here do this or do that, Christ gets left completely out of our daily lives and before we know it, we have spent another year on self and what is important to us, not God.

So we must “Count [the cross with] all joy, my brothers [and sisters], when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” James 1:1-4 (ESV)

My friends, ask yourself today, How important is salvation and life eternal to me? and if it means to you, the same as it means to me, than pick up that cross and don’t look back, because the crown is just ahead.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan. 20, 2015

MY FRIENDS, GOD WATCHES, “NONE OF THESE THINGS HAS ESCAPED OUR NOTICE”

“As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.

For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”…..Acts 26:24-30 (ESV) My friends, we all sit in our various churches each week, the appeal is given for a show of hands, or a move to the alter down front, if one is convicted.

We often respond in one way or the other motivated usually by the surroundings we find ourselves in when the Spirit is appealing to everyone for a decision. If we are in a good mood we may allow the prayer warriors the privilege of praying with us, this should be adequate enough, until we return next week and now we can go about the rest of the week doing as we please.

We figure, we are a faithful trustee, deacon, or deaconess. We are liberal in our given, we are perfectly satisfied for “we are rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;” We understand what is required by God, our position and status in the community should satisfy any real relationship with Christ.

My friends “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man [or woman]; But the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 4:12 (NKJV) We go to the parable of the wheat and tares in Matt 13: 24-30 (NKJV) they both look the same, the difference is Wheat is a marketable crop, and tares are just weeds, with no value.

But to keep from pulling up the good wheat with the tares they are allowed to grow together until harvest time. So it is with everyone who calls himself a child of God, some will never become completely convicted by Gods Spirit.

In addition, “none of these things has escaped our notice,” and these things are whatever is not in accordance with God and keeps His Spirit from being able to make a full transformation in our lives.

These things are whatever is in this world that we have put in the place of serving the Master. But week after week, we are almost persuade to be a Christian not just one that “has a form of godliness [and] denies its power. ……always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2Tim 3:5-7 (NKJV)

We look exactly like Christians who have died to self and live in Christ, but there is a difference, the world is our master. As the final days of this life’s history are being played out, nothing has been done in a corner, “iniquity abounds, the love of many continues to wax cold” and God’s grace is gradually being removed from planet earth.

It will be a painful time in a Christian’s life who is determine to give it all to the Master, it will not be easy to lay aside “every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.

”But my friends, we must endure and focus on our goal, life eternal as we “Turn our eyes upon Jesus, Let’s Look full in His wonderful face, and if we do, the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” and in heartfelt prayer and supplication, call out Lord!! “Not my will, but thou will be done.”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan 19, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHY ARE YOU FEARFUL? HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD!!“

Psalms 119 David said it was good that I was afflicted that  I might learn my statutes, Job said though he slay me yet will I trust Him His plan allows some good days, & then maybe again it allows some bad days Some days it brings happiness, & some days then again it will bring some sad days. Whatever the lord allows in our life…its right and good!! (Walter Hawkins)

My friends, that doesn’t make sense, you mean whatever happens in my life it is right and good with the lord, death, divorce, sickness, money crises, God is OK with it. Well the subject is infinite when we think of one’s problems within the interaction of our day to day life and how we as Christians relate or handle each situation or circumstances that arises.

With Christ Humanity took it’s toil at just the thought of not conquering and being victorious. In the garden of Gethsemane, “He went through an intense spiritual battle, struggling with the temptation to save himself rather than following through with God’s plan for him.” (About Religion)

But He became a survivor and conquered. What about you today in the midst of your struggles and storms. John 12:32 (ESV) tells us “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” My friends have you accepted that invitation with a passion to be drawn to Christ today.

“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful?” Matthew 8:23-26 (KJV)

Those three words are where we will focus our attention today “why are you fearful?” His promise in Heb 11:6 (KJV) says ”…..He rewards those who seek him.” And He has already said He will draw you to Him if only you believe but like the disciples you must understand the storms of our life are natural occurrences.

In addition, they will never cease being a part of our life as long as the god of this world exist but what we all must understand is our Savior is in our presence, He stands right in the middle of our storms with us, while giving us the strength to endure just a little longer.

He bids us to stay focus and continue to let the world know that He saves even in the midst of their storm if they are willing to be saved.  And soon my friends everyone would have heard the good news that Jesus saves and that He is about to come and get His children to take home too occupy those mansions He has prepared for the redeemed in His kingdom.

My friends “Why are ye fearful?”  If our God is for us no storm will be able to ever overcome us. “When I saw what lay before me, Lord, I cried, what will you do? I thought he would just remove the storm, but, he gently led me through, on my way to the promise land because he knew without fire, there’s no refining, without pain, no release, without flood, there’s no rescue, without testing, no belief.

through the pain, and through the glory through the storm we will always, throughout eternity be able to tell the story, of a God whose power and mercy, never failed…to take us…” through the storm as he guided us on our journey to life eternal (Gaither vocal band)

My friends, once again “Why are ye fearful?”  “You can “overcome everything, simply because “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” that is a promise from a Father to his children to “walk by faith, not by sight.” as he transforms our character to endure and in a little while He will say no more my children, no more.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan. 18, 2015

MY FRIENDS, “HE ARRIVED AND THEY DID NOT NOTICE,” WHAT ABOUT US?

“A very important concept in Judaism is that of the Messiah. Originally the Jews believed that God would send a powerful messenger (the Messiah) who would deliver Israel from her oppressors and usher in a reign of peace and prosperity.

Today many Jews no longer hold to a personal messiah, but hope for a messianic age of justice and truth. For the Jews the coming of the Messiah or the messianic age still lies in the future.” So to most Jews who have not turned to Christianity they are still looking for the “anointed one” (Biblica Transforming lives through God’s Word)

My friends how did they get it wrong the first time, Isaiah 53 makes His arrival very plain. But yet they refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah. So Christ plainly tells them.

“You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” John 8:23-24 (ESV)

But my friends if we have not “Set our minds on things that are above, [but] on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (ESV) then we also have not figured out that He came among us 2,000 years ago, and we also have not figured out when He comes the second time “His reward is with Him, to render to every man according to what he [or she] has done.” Rev. 22:12 (NASB)

In addition, we also have not figured out that He gives hope to a world who’s Spiritual compass no longer points to Christ, but to the god of this world to solve their problems. John tells us “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:11-14 (ESV)

My friends, do our actions say we have received him as the Messiah or not? A Babe in Bethlehem when he first started His journey for us and then 33 years later, the Jordan Trail “Down the Vía Dolorosa called the way of suffering like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, came the Messiah, Christ the King.

But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me. His journey had many experiences, some good, some bad, but he never gave up, He remained focused as His life was continually threatened, unjustly tried and rejected as the Son of God.

Mark 14:61-64 tells us the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” And behind those words They all condemned him as worthy of death.

His mission is now belittled to that of a out of touch, Crazy street preacher, but the journey continues. “The principalities and powers of darkness were assembled around the cross, casting the hellish shadow of unbelief into the hearts of men, in leading the people to believe Christ the chief of sinners, and to make Him the object of detestation.

Those who mocked Christ as He hung upon the cross were imbued with the spirit of the first great rebel. He filled them with vile and loathsome speeches. He inspired their taunts. But by all this he gained nothing.” because he continued this journey for us (E.G. White Desire of ages pp. 760-761)

And now my friends you must believe as you tell the good news to everyone that “He did arrived and they did not notice,” but soon, He will come to take His faithful who have endured to a place “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him“ 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan. 178, 2015

MY FRIENDS, “IMMEDIATELY THEY LEFT THE BOAT AND THEIR FATHER, AND FOLLOWED HIM!!”

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Matt 4:21-22 (KJV)

My friends I need you to focus today on the word “immediately.”  In the context of this text the word tells me they did not say we need to ask our mother and father to see what they think, or you need to wait until we finish our work for today, or we have friends we are meeting after work, or we just need to know more about what you are offering.

In addition, once they left everything and followed Christ, James and his brother John along with Peter were honored to be the only three in Christ inner circle, the best of the best among the twelfe. The Jewish tradition has what you call Tefillin which consists of two small leather boxes attached to leather straps.

The two boxes each contain four sections of the Torah inscribed on parchment. Placed on the arm opposite the heart, and on the head, the Tefillin signify the submission of one’s mind, heart and actions to the Almighty.

Somehow from what they had been taught from their childhood by their parents, while also allowing the Spirit to instruct and convict, they knew going with this stranger was their only chance they had in life to make a difference. This sheds a guiding light and a  greater understanding of Matt. 10:37-39 (NKJV)

Christ tells us “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

So now let’s make it personal, what does the word “immediately” mean to you. We know Webster’s definition which states; “without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once.” But what does it mean to the one who has everything and need of nothing.

In addition, what does it mean to the one who has been a part of the body of believers for years if not all of their lives, or what does it mean to the one who is in the valley of decision in regards to his or her salvation.

My friends, if Christ? Not your parents, not your educational ambitions, not your job and not the overall curiosity of life itself has placed you on a journey, the word “immediately” must transcend beyond our finite minds all the way to the mind of Christ who is calling you today to “immediately” follow Him.

“He who loves Christ the most will do the greatest amount of good. There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.

If men will endure the necessary discipline, without complaining or fainting by the way, God will teach them hour by hour, and day by day. He longs to reveal His grace…..

If men in humble life were encouraged to do all the good they could do, if restraining hands were not laid upon them to repress their zeal, there would be a hundred workers for Christ where now there is one.” (E.G. White Desire of Ages pp 250-251)

My Friends Christ needs an immediate response, Hebrews 11:8, (KJV) states: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out…”

Those who hear God’s voice to come “immediately” are those who walk in the footsteps of God, and who have been saved by the transforming power of His love and grace through faith. These are the sheep who hear and recognize His voice, and respond “not my will but thou will be done, immediately”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Jan 16, 2015

MY FRIENDS, CHRIST IS LOOKING FOR CO-WORKERS IN A FOREIGN LAND!!

Today, let’s go to 2 kings 5 where “Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper.

Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.”

The bible doesn’t mention the girls name only “little girl” we always talk about Naaman and his faith and what God did for him while overlooking the unseen faith of the “Little Girl” what a witness for Christ in spite of being a slave in a foreign country.

In addition, that also says a lot about the faith of her parents and the values they instilled into their child at an early age, for they surely followed God’s councils to “Train up your child in the way she should go in the Lord; because they knew, “even when she is old she would not depart from Him” Prov. 22:6 (KJV)

Naaman himself had no real passion of faith and endurance to be healed. Read what the bible states he says when Elisha ask him to go and dip into the dirty river Jordan seven times. “Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha.

Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.”

Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?

How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”

Once again the faith of a slave in a foreign land pushed him to focus on the healing power of God not himself. God needed to humble Naaman so that he would recognize His power and love. Sometimes God’s saving grace is for us also to dip into the dirty waters of the Jordan in order to saved us from the bondage of Satan.

My friends as a child of God we are in a foreign land Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV) Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,” and it is only through our faith and endurance that the world will see God.

In addition, as God’s chosen the psalmist tells us we must sing the Lord’s song In [This] foreign land? Psalm 137:4 (NKJV) as we tell them of the good news gospel and about a place “no eye has seen, nor ear has heard and no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

As God’s children we must take a spiritual attitude of discernment, using the “little girl” and the servants as an example and how they allowed the light of Christ love, grace and their faith to shine even while slaves in a foreign land.

My friends Naaman was content in just walking away “as others who have no hope.” He was satisfied with allowing Satan to keep him in Bondage, but God like today, has his chosen from generation to generation. And today He Knocks and He waits at the door of our heart seeking entry as He seeks co-workers with Him in spreading the good news of His kingdom in this foreign land.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY