Saturday, September 17, 2011
The Obedience Of Naaman; The Blessings Of Esther
Saints, pictured above is a King of Syria named Naaman who obeyed instructions given to him from Jesus by Elisha and was healed of leprosy after he dipped his body seven times in the Jordan river. The wonderful story is in 2 Kings 5 of a little maid for Naaman's wife who tells Naaman to go meet Elisha who can heal him of his leprosy. Naaman travels to meet Elisha and Elisha gives him instructions to dip himself seven times in the Jordan to heal his leprosy. Naaman was in a rage because he thought the rivers in Damascus Syria called Abana and Pharpar were better than all the waters of Israel. Also, Naaman felt insulted by Elisha when Elisha did not honor him as a king and refused to come out personally to bow before him and quickly heal his leprosy.
But eventually, Naaman decided to obey the instructions given to him by Jesus through Elisha and dip himself seven times in the Jordan river to be healed of leprosy. 2 Kings 5:13 reads And his servants came near and spake unto him and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather than, when he saith to thee, wash and be clean? Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan according to the saying of the man of God. And his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child and he was clean. Elisha was blessed and did not accept any money offered by Naaman to him after Naaman got healed. But Elisha's servant Gehazi was greedy and secretly took money from Naaman charging Naaman for the healing and as a penalty Gehazi and his seed forever all were plagued with leprosy for their love of money.
A puritan writer in 1664 wrote we should like Naaman obey the instructions of Jesus and deny our flesh to be blessed and healed daily. Don't question Jesus when he tells us to do something by his word. Use your heart and believe what Jesus tells us to do and don't reason the instruction out in your mind.
Any saint who reads this: Jesus told me to give you an instruction to spend a half an hour every day with Jesus. Brother Bob says if Jesus required us all to spend ten hours every day with Jesus, I profess that I know not how you could spend your time better. Be like Naaman and don't listen to your flesh and just obey the instructions of Jesus and you will be healed with great peace.
Saint look above at the clock, time is moving fast. What are you doing for Jesus. Ephesians 5:16 reads redeeming the time because the days are evil. The word redeeming is defined as making wise and sacred use of every moment you have to do good and talk about Jesus. Are we guilty of squandering the hours of our lives away vainly or sinfully pleasing our flesh. Can we all just take a half an hour a day to talk with Jesus and read the Word of God when we are not sure to live one week in this wicked world. Today, Brother Bob told his flesh to be quiet and took time on this internet to send out the good news of Jesus Christ.
Saints, Jesus is pleading with you today to obey his instructions and spend time with Jesus and the Word of God. Deuteronomy 32:46 reads And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you. Because it is your life. And through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. Saints if you obey the instruction of the above verse to set your heart daily unto the Word Of God, you will receive life and prolong your days on the earth.
Proverbs 9:12 reads If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself. But, if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. Be wise today and bless yourself and make a committment to spend time daily with Jesus. Look at the picture of the clock above. Time is moving quickly so do something now for Jesus. Only what we do for Jesus lasts. Everything else fades away. Heaven and earth will pass away but the Word Jesus will remain forever. Saints if Jesus had a price tag on Him, wouldn't you sell everything you had to buy the precious pearl called Jesus?
Psalm 90 has much in it about how time is moving so quickly and the importance of using our time for Jesus. Psalm 90:4 reads For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:9-12 reads For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Finally, I want to close out this blog with another revelation that Jesus gave to me through my friend Wes Strawser. The picture above is of Esther who found favour in the eyes of the King and was blessed. Jesus told me that Esther represents the church and the King represents Jesus. We as saints will be like Esther arrayed in the best clothes, with white robes washed in the blood of Jesus, and so appearing in the presence of King Jesus shouldst find favour in Jesus' eyes, that thy petition should be granted and thy request performed, though it were to the half, to the whole, of His kingdom.
Like Queen Esther we as saints will be ravished with just seeing Jesus and being in the presence of King Jesus. Song of Solomon 4:9 reads Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse. (Anyone that does the will of God like Jesus is a mother brother and sister.) Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse. How much better is thy love than wine! And the smell of thine ointments (defined as fruitfulness and fatness of the earth or fertile meadows of olive oil) than all spices.
When I look at the picture above of Queen Esther I think of Matthew 16:25 which reads For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Queen Esther had to go before the king to plead for her life and the lives of her people the Jews. If Esther went by law at a wrong time to go before the king and the king did not extend to her his golden sceptre, Esther would be condemned to death. But Brother Bob loves the words of Esther when Esther said If I perish I perish.
Saints have the attitude of Esther and be willing to die daily for Jesus. Jesus is the best thing any of us could have on this earth. Another puritan writer in 1669 wrote, With Jesus, your gleanings will be better than the most prosperous worldling's vintage. The smallest shack you could ever live in with Jesus is far better than a palace that an unregenerate emperor lives in on this earth. While thou continuest in this world thou shouldst be a blessed soul. When thou enterest into the other world, thou shouldst be a glorious saint.
In closing this blog today, I give to you Ephesians 3:20 which reads Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Now like putting a puzzle together, connect this verse with Psalm 21:4 which reads He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days forever and ever. We all ask for life maybe 70 to 100 years on this earth but Jesus is so good because Jesus gives us everlasting life and peace. Numbers 24:5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel.
Well another blog entry for Jesus finished. I am so happy writing out this book for Jesus and this blog. Many people all over the world are reading it and being healed by the Word of Jesus. Keep in contact and email me anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com Your friend in Jesus. Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133.
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