MY SPIRIT WENT WITH YOU
In the story of Naaman and Elijah, Naaman the nobleman contracted leprousy and was in desperate need of healing. All his money couldn't cure his disese, and he would die if he wasn't heled. As the story goes, Elijah the Prophet told him to go dip in the muddy Jordan river and he would be healed. After some consternation, he did as he was told, and he was healed.
Elijah had a man who traveled with him, as he ministered prophetically. His name was Gehazi. Who was this Gehazi? Gehazi is mentioned first in connection with the history of the woman from Shunem. He explains to the prophet her desire to have a son ( 4:14). Later, when she visits Elisha at Carmel, beseeching his aid in behalf of the child that has died, Gehazi rudely thrust her aside. Elisha, however, charges him to hurry to Shunem, saluting none on the way, and lay the prophet's staff on the child's face (4:27-29). Though he does as he is bidden, he fails to recall the child to life. (II Kings iv. 12; 5: 20, 21, 25; 7:4-5)
After the nobleman was cured, Gehazi hurried after him, and made up a story wich concluded with him asking for money for this healing. Elijah asked Gehazi: Where have you been? Oh no place. But Elijah said: "Didn't my spirit go with you...?" How did Elijah's "spirit go with" Gehazi? By the Spirit of the living God! God uses the surveillance os His Holy Spirit to provide that the intervention was needed. It exposes the sins people hide. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Walk as children of light, and not of the night. that which is light makes manifest! But expose or make it manifest as the Spirit wills or leads you!
19) "Go in peace," Elisha said. After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20) 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." 21) 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. 22) "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.'" 23) "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24) When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25) Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 26) 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, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27) Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.
GOD IS NOT THE ABSENT PARENT
God is not the absent parent in your case. He isn't away on a distant cloud somewhere, indifferent to human need! God robed Himself in flesh in the person of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, came to earth, and lived among men. Messiah was/is both God and man. He has existed from eternity as I Am, and the Ancient of Days. When the bible speaks concerning the realm of time, Messiah was born when "in the fulness of time," God sent forth His Son. As our Messiah, He didn't just come to earth to check on us. Or to show off that He was/is God. He came in the form of a servant. He as man, humbled Himself and served when He walked this earth. He died on the cross that we might have a propituation for sin. He died and paid the redemption price to redeem man out of his sins, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23, 6:23) He willingly laid down His life, for you, that you might live. He died on the cross. Raised from the dead. And ascended into heaven, where He ever lives to make intercession for you. As God Messiah spoke to the sea and it obeyed Him. He healed diseases. He commanded the dead to return to life. In Him was life, and that life was/is the light of men.
Do you know that Yeshua/Jesus cares? That He is not unaware of the problems that you go through each and every day? What's more, the Lord has the solution to all life's problems. He's not called the Saviour for nothing! He's a sure foundation. The scriptures call Him the Rock of our salvation. He is more than capable of accomplishing that which is needed in your life. And it all starts with you receiving forgiveness of sin and inheritance among those that are sanctified through faith in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:46-48, 19:5)
Messiah told the woman at the well: You have had five husbands and aren't married to the man you are living with now. She said: Sir: I perceive that you are a Prophet! There's security is knowing that God knows all about us. He sees our every move. He's also told us how we should live and move and have our being in Him, right there in His book.
WHO IS YOUR BIG BROTHER?
You don't have to worry about Big Brother, when you have Yeshua/Jesus watching out for you as your elder brother. Who you trust is important, and it's always been. It's important to have a nice family. A good friend. Yeshua/Jesus is the first-fruits of many brethren. That makes Him our older brother. Modern technology has given mankind many capabilities, and man puts a lot of trust in his abilities. Orson Wells book entitled 1984, coined the phrase "Big Brother is watching you." Cameras are used increasingly, for surveillance in a multitude of places. Your local Police Dept. utilizes them on their beat. They're in place in grocery supermarkets, office buildings and on some city streets. Many parents are installing cameras to keep an eye on their kids. Some parents have planted cameras to watch their nannies while they're at work. In some cases, the tapes revealed abuse, and police have arrested nannies caught on tape abusing babies.
Cameras are being used to provide the government with proof that the authorities need to intervene. Surveillance video cameras have caught people filing bogus workers' compensation claims. They reported job injuries to the extent that they were unable to work, but cameras showed them healthy enough to running around outdoors. A tape of a corrupt chiropractor, disclosed him coaching a patient to lie to collect insurance money.
A certain auto body shop was caught making extra work for itself by beating a customer's vehicle with a hammer. A computer repairman removed perfectly good parts, and replaced them with parts he'd removed from the computers of other customers whose work he'd done. A construction company doing remodeling work on a home, vented a fan into the attic, to shorten the work of venting it to the outside. They were caught, and had to vent it properly. Surveillance of this kind, is certainly helpful. But what about the type of government cameras that keep all of us under surveillance? The American dollar bill, states: Put your trust in God. Why? The founders of America recognized that even Uncle Sam needed somebody watching him!
Saul of Tarsus was a representative of that which was "lawful authority" in his day. Those he worked for held a dim view of the Messiah and His church. For this reason, they persecuted the believers in Yeshua/Jesus with a vengeance.
Acts 9:1) Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest cohen hagadol and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
After the crucifixion and ascension of Mashiach/Christ, the Jewish believers in Messiah boldly proclaimed their faith, in spite of the fact that they lived under constant threats, terrorism, imprisonment, and martyrdom. How? They were endued with power from on high. (Acts 2:1-4,8:16, 10:46-48, 19:5) They had God's Holy Spirit residing in themselves as His dwelling place. For He said: I will live in them and walk in them. They shall be my people and I will be their God. They were not alone in their fiery trials. God was on their side, watching over them.
The early church, as the church today, had been provided with powerful spiritual weapons. One of these was prayer. In prayer, the Lord revealed to me that as the church as prayed regarding terrorism, the families of terrorists are believing on Him. They are praying because they are weary of living in fear. I saw a vision of a teenager rebuking her terrorist father with the word of God. In her heart she said: We will not live very much longer. She wanted to be prepared to meet God face to face.
The early Messianic church prayed for their enemies. The Living God has manifested Himself, speaking in these last days "In His Son." (Heb. 1:1-2) He is in Messiah reconciling the world to Himself. His church has been given a divine commission that no one can stop. With His all-seeing eyes like a flame of fire, He knows what His enemies have been up to! And He will deal with them, even as you pray for those who persecute and despitefully use you!
AND ANOTHER SHALL CARRY YOU
"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you bound yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch forth, your hands, and another will bind you and take you where you do not wish."
(John 21:18)
As Saul was traveling, approaching Damascus suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" He replied, "I am Yeshua/Jesus whom you are persecuting! But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do. (Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he couldn't see. His friends had to lead him by the hand, and bring him to Damascus. For three days he couldn't see, having been blinded by the shekinah of God, and he didn't eat or drink anything. (Acts 9)
God knows your name and your address! The risen and ascended Lord Yeshua/Jesus appeared to a disciple named Ananias who lived at Damascus named Ananias. He called him by his name, saying: "Ananias," and he replied, "Here I am, Lord." Notice that Ananias is called a disciple. He was a follower of Yeshua haMashiach. How was this Jewish disciple able to see His risen Lord? He had been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, which gave him "spiritual faculties," of perception.
Then the Lord told him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight Street, and at Judas’ Y'hudah'shouse look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He's praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may receive his sight."
But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, Yerushalayim and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Yeshuaa/Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, his strength returned.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Yeshua/Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This man (Yeshua) is the Son of God." All who heard him were amazed and were saying, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners to the chief priests?" But Saul became more and more capable, and was causing consternation among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
By means of revelation Paul was guided to Macedonia to preach the gospel. (Acts 16:9-10) He was warned of what lay ahead of him in Jerusalem. (Acts 20:23, 21:10-13)
GOD WATCHES TO GIVE YOU A HOPE & A FUTURE
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11)
It's true, that God is watching lovingly over you, and wanting you to be looking to Him. More than that, His plan of salvation provides you with the same ability Messiah had as man to "watch and pray."
As you study the life of Messiah, you see that He was shown things before they happened. Before He went away, He said: I won't leave you orphans. I will come to you! (John 14:16) He exists with you now, if you have believed on His name. (Acts 2:38) If you do not know Messiah, trust and believe on His holy name. Be immersed in the waters of baptism, in the name of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ. Receive the promise of the Father, called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Then you'll be doing surveillance Psalm 91-type from the heavenly realm.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. (Psalm 91)
GOD'S WORD ACCOMPLISHES HIS WILL
God sent a message of hope to the nation of Israel and specifically to the Jews who were being held captive by the Babylonians. The captivity was a result of their own sin. Time and again, God had warned them not to worship idols. Yet His people returned to pagan worship. The Lord raised up prophets to warn them, but they persisted in sin. God warned that a nation would conquer them and their enemies would prevail.
Babylon came against God's covenant people and conquered them, carrying Israel into 70 years of captivity in Babylon. They ate the fruit of their own ways and doings. Babylon was the very center of pagan worship. The children of Israel cried to the Lord. God said: "And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace." (verse 7 NKJV). God was saying, "You are in Babylon right now. You don't like it. You want to get out of that place where you're at. Live for Me! Be good citizens. I am watching over you! I will deliver you from this place. Pray for it. Deliverance did not come as quickly as Israel wanted. It took 70 years, but God fulfilled His promise. God's ways are just. His word accomplishes what He sends it to do! We can't always leave our geographical location, but as we believe on the Lord, and place our total trust in Him as Saviour and Lord, we become citizens of a heavenly kingdom. God wants us to administrate from this heavenly position. The U.S. government must deal with terrorists. The police don't always like the beat they get. But they serve. Be faithful to your post. You've ben given all things pertaining to life and godliness in haMashiach/Christ. The Lord is with you! He is FOR you! He is watching over you!
