Ears To Hear

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Naaman

Although Naaman was a great man (Captain of the King of Syria’s army), yet still, he was a leper. Leprosy in the old covenant was symbolic of sin and Naaman desired to be free of this disease just as any Christian should desire to be free of the dominating power of sin. After being told of a prophet of God, Naaman set out, but the prophet just sent a messenger with a message for Naaman. The message was, “Go dip in the river Jordan seven times”. Naaman wasn’t pleased saying, “are not all the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel?

The Jordan River, Jordan meaning descender, descended from Galilee into the Dead Sea. The Jordon is representative of Calvary. Just as the Jordan runs into the Dead Sea, so does Christ’s baptism by John identify Himself with man and the purpose on His life. The Jordon points to His death and ours as well, because we were crucified with Him being baptized into His death (Romans 6:3)

All other waters (messages) look and sound good, but for those who have ears to hear and desire to walk in a place where leprosy (sin) doesn’t have dominion over you (Rom. 7:14), take note; It is only your faith in what Christ did at Calvary that allows the Holy Spirit to bring the victory you need. All else is just water that will not satisfy or sanctify. Remember: Your faith is not in the cross of Christ if your preacher isn’t preaching the cross of Christ.

The Lord will be coming any moment, in a twinkling of an eye, and the difference between the one’s that are gone with Him and the one’s remaining behind will be what the object of their faith has been. Months ago, the Lord revealed to me that for years I learned about ministry, but never learned what to minister. If we’ve been called by the Lord ministers of reconciliation, and have had the Word of reconciliation committed unto us, and have been reconciled by the blood, what is the ministry of those whom the Lord sends? Over the last few years, I’ve found my faith in many things that are good things, but none of them were things that allowed the Holy Spirit to work in my life. He only works in me based on my faith in His finished work at Calvary. (Romans 8:2)

1 comment:

Pastor Ronnie Creason said...

I could'nt have said it better brother! You keep preaching & teaching the finished work of the Cross of Christ which, alone, is the true object of the believer's faith.