IN SEEING GOD'S BLESSINGS

OBEDIENCE IS KEY (2 Kiungs 5:1-14, Deuteronomy 28:1-14) So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restoredv and became clean like that of a young boy. (2 Kings 5:14) If you understand something in the scriptures and God nudges you, that it is something you should do, what do you do? Leprosy,is a chronic bacterial infection. It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and mucous membranes, causing disfiguring skin sores and a dangerous loss of sensation in the limbs On our bible story today we see a man named Naaman who had Leprosy. Naaman at the time Elisha was prophet, was the only one ever healed of Leprosy. (2 Kings 5:1-14,Luke 4:27). But another main character in this story is a young slave girl, we do not know her name, but I would like to give her a name, I believe what she did for Naaman was very admirable and I believe she was obedient to Gods little nudge, to do what was right. I want to call her "Naoko" which means obedient child. Remember this is not her real name, The bible does not tell us what her name is. Being she was being enslaved to serve Naaman’s household (2 Kings 5:2). It would’ve been understandable for her to glad, happy even rejoicing in the fact that Naaman had Leprosy. But instead, she listened to the little nudge, and the love of God flowed from her. She wrked for Naamans wife, so she went to her misstress and told her that the God of Israel cold heal her husband, is only he would go to the prophet Elisha, he had the power from God to heal him of his leprosy. (v. 3). Speaking of being obedient to see God's blessings, in this stroy we have two people who had to be obedient to God to see this merical happen.. One the girl, who involved the wife, who must have taken this good news to her husband and he sought concel of his commanding officer, together they decide it would be best to obey and do as the prophet had said. To go and wash in the muddy Jordan river and He would be healed. "dip 7 times (the perfect number) in the river and you will be healed. What, "Naoko" did, is a great example of example of [overcoming] evil with good”(Romans 12:21). Galatians reminds us to “do good to all people” (6:10). Today,I know of many people who want to get great blessings from God, but are not willing to be onedient in doing the will of God. Let me give you another example. I was visiting a lady and she was asking me to come cleanse her house and pray a blessing on it. Because she said there was a spirit in the house and it was moving things arpund in her house. So I asked her if she was willing to give her life to God and to replace that spirit in her life with a life seeking after the heart of God? I said, because if you are not willing, the spirit will return seven times stronger, instead of one you can have 7 stronger one return. Now I can pray a cleansing and a blessing on your house, but you have to be obedient and do the will of God. But she refused and asked me not to clease her house, but instead pray for her. That I did. Do you see my point.. So many of us want God's blessing but do not want to follow Him, and then we wonder why we are not being blessed or seeing God answer our prayers. You see, the servant girl, and Naaman choose to obey God's nudge and showed obedience in their actions, and God blessed. When a child oneys us, we are to reward them for the same reason, it is better to obey than to disobey because it is rewarding. We see a blessing. Lets pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you today, please help me be obedient to you, because I love you and want to be a faithful servant to you Lord please show me how to act in obedience to you. Help me show your love to others, even to those who have treated me bad. God bring someone across my path today,, that I can extend Your care to them, help me be obedient to your little nudge. It is in your name I pray AMEN Dear God, I’ve experienced so much help from You. Please use me to help others.