Breakthrough: Take The Plunge: 2 Kings 5:1-26

 

1. Everybody Has Significant Needs

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2 Kings 5:1 (NIV)

2. Everybody Needs Good News

Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She 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 5:2-3 (NIV)

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”
2 Kings 5:4-7 (NIV)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

If you have suffered you are coming out of this stronger. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3  (NIV)

He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3 (NIV)

3. Everybody Can Respond With Real Obedience

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
2 Kings 5:8 (NIV)

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
2 Kings 5:9-10 (NIV)

But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
2 Kings 5:11-12 (NIV)

Naaman’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’!” 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 restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
2 Kings 5:8-13 (NIV)

4. Everybody Needs A Changed Heart

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
2 Kings 5:15-16 (NIV)

After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”
2 Kings 5:19-22 (NIV)

When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
2 Kings 5:19-27 (NIV)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/breakthrough-take-the-plunge-2-kings-51-26/

Breakthrough: Poured Out And Filled Up: 2 Kings 4:1-7

 

1. Ask For What You Need

One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died.  You know that your servant feared the Lord.  Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”   Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you?
2 Kings 4:1-2 (CSB)

2. Work With What You’ve Got

Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your  servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
2 Kings 4:2 (CSB)

After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He also delivered Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with a cattle prod.
Judges 3:31 (CSB)

3. Expand What You Have

Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.  Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.”  So she left.  After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.  When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.”  But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped.
2 Kings 4:3-7 (CSB)

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special  instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (CSB)

4. Celebrate What You Receive

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”
2 Kings 4:7 (CSB)

Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Luke 6:38 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/breakthrough-poured-out-and-filled-up-2-kings-41-7/

Breakthrough: Resurrection Power: 2 Kings 13:20-21

 

Then Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to come into the land in the spring of the year. Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When he touched Elisha’s bones, the man revived and stood up!
2 Kings 13:20-21 (CSB)

But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.           
Matthew 27:50-53 (CSB)

1. I Am Dead

Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb.
2Kings 13:20 (CSB)

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world.
Ephesians 2:1-2 (CSB)

So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.                 
Romans 6:11 (CSB)

2. I Am Touched

Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When he touched Elisha’s bones, the man revived and stood up!
2 Kings 13:21 (CSB)

3. I Am Raised

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection.        
Philippians 3:10 (CSB)

Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When he touched Elisha’s bones, the man revived and stood up!
2 Kings 13:21 (CSB)

How does the resurrection power of Jesus work in me?

A)      Total Dependence On The Lord

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.                              
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

B)        Fervent Love For Others

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
1 John 3:14 (CSB)

C)        Consistent Power Over My Past

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)     

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/breakthrough-resurrection-power-2-kings-1320-21/

Fear Is A Liar: Great Faith For Troubled Times: Luke 7:1-10

 

Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.”
Luke 7:9 (CSB)

1. My Faith Is Built In Times Of Great Need

A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant. When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”
Luke 7:2-5 (CSB)

2. My Faith Is Built Through Great Humility

Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Luke 7:6-8 (CSB)

3. My Faith Is Built By A Great Savior

Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
Luke 7:9-10 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/fear-is-a-liar-great-faith-for-troubled-times-luke-71-10/