Hello my friends
This time we will discuss the obstacle of self-control. Most of us are in control of our lives. We direct our affairs and we control our own interest. We are CEO’s of “My Life Inc”. To become a difference maker we cannot be in control. Difference makers relinquish control to the One who ultimately is in control of everything. Let’s face facts we don’t really have much control of anything. We cannot guarantee anything without God’s intervention. We will take a look at those who gave up control so God could do the miraculous in their lives.
The first person I want to discuss in the man called Naaman. Naaman was commander of the Syrian army, however he came down with leprosy. Naaman was used to being in control, but now his life was completely spiraling out of control. God had a plan for Naaman for His glory. All Naaman needed to do was relinquish control to the King. Scripture tells us in 2Kings 5 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.“ NKJV Leprosy was a death sentence. Naaman was now living in the land of faith. Again Scripture says in 2Kings 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. NKJV Naaman didn’t like God’s plan. It didn’t fit into his concept of how a healing should take place. How many times have we discounted God’s plan for our lives. It just doesn’t fit with plans you have for your own life. We can be like Naaman and risk missing a move of God in our lives. Again in 2Kings 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. NKJV Naaman finally releases control and he receives an incredible miracle. He sees the move of God in his life when he allows God to lead the way. Our lives are in so many ways similar to Naaman’s in that we realize the greatest move of God when we allow Him to lead the way. A difference maker must be willing to allow God to lead in order to see His incredible miracles.
We see the same scenario with the blind man of the Gospel of John. We read in John 19:13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.“ The man was instructed to wash in the Pool of Siloam to receive his sight. He followed the instructions of Jesus and his eyes were opened. We read also in John 19:18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.“ 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.“ NKJV My friends we all have to be willing to have our eyes opened. We cannot be in control and make a difference for the Kingdom of God. The blind man would have never been able to see without allowing Jesus to direct his paths. God has a miraculous path ahead of us if we will just stay in the lanes God has ordained for us. More so to become a true difference maker, we must follow the Messiah wherever he leads us.
How much of our Christian life has been dedicated to My Life Inc.? Isn’t it time we begin to fully yield to the King’s life. Remember the blind man and some of his most memorable words “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see“. When will we see? Don’t let the Obstacle of Self Control limit you service to the King. Allow Jesus control and you will be on your way to making a difference for Jesus Christ.
There is Hope in the Cross
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Here this sermon in it’s entirety at http://fbcbagdad.org/content/december-11th-2011-1100am-service
