What does it take to make a difference

Home, and it might be something really small that was

meaningful at the time. I remember in our last church,

I'd gone through something painful and I was really hurting,

and a guy who was old enough to be my dad,

he knew what had happened, and as he went past

me in the corridor at church, he looked at me

with such compassion in his eyes, just gently squeezed my

shoulder and walked past. And that was exactly what I needed.

He went to be with the Lord years ago, but

I still remember that. So what does it take to

make a difference? Broadly speaking, Pray and do what you

can do, no matter how big it may seem in

your eyes, and maybe overwhelming, or how small and insignificant

it may seem to you, Just do what in your

gift to do. I was talking to someone this week

who's walking alongside someone who's exploring the faith, and she

was saying, whilst it's exciting, she also feels quite overwhelmed

and inadequate, And I said, good. She knew that I meant,

because that means she will lean on God so much

more because of how she feels, and it will therefore

be more fruitful than if she'd felt able to do

it in her own strength. I realize sometimes there isn't

time to pray. You just need to react in the moment,

like that guide did who gently squeezed my shoulder. So

it's learning to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about

what to say and do, and also what not to

say and do. That's one of many reasons why quality

time with the Lord is in his word the Bible

is so important. Like with any relationship, the more time

we spend with someone, the more we learn about their

likes and dislikes, et cetera. Similarly, we become more sensitive

to the Holy Spirit as we spend time with him.

Something Joyce Meyer, the American Christian author and speaker, says

that's relevant in certain situations is let emotions subside, then decide,

which is also sound advice. I'm also adding, do or

say whatever the Lord puts on your heart, to do

whatever you have peace about, and trust him with the outcome.

Let's turn now to our main passage for today, and

I'm reading from the Second Book of Kings, chapter five,

so two Kings five versus one to four, and I'm

reading from the NIV, so it's two Kings five, one

to five This took place in Aram, ancient Syria, approximately

in the ninth century BC. Now Nayman was the 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.

Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and

taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served

Nayman's wife. She said to her mistress, if only my

master would see the prophet who is in Samaria, he

would cure him of his leprosy. Naman went to his

master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.

The Hebrew word translated here there as leprosy was in

fact used to describe a number of different ailments which

may or may not have included what we understand to

be leprosy today, so skin disease may be a better translation.

A young Israelite girl was abducted and forced into domestic

slavery and made a difference where she was. She had

compassion for her slave master, and so spoke to his wife,

whom she served, about how he could be healed this

young girl's strength of character is amazing. She clearly didn't

let go of her faith. She drew on what she

knew and didn't allow her circumstances to dictate to her

what she would or would not believe, or whether she

would show compassion. One exult ample she is to ask,

and what does it say about her character that her

owners listened to her and acted on what she said.

Desperation maybe, but the girl would still have had to

have had integrity for them to listen to her and

act on it the way they did. To summarize the

next part in the story, Namon went to see the king,

then went with his blessing to Israel and ended up

outside the prophet Elisha's door. So two Kings five verses

ten to fourteen. Two Kings five, ten to fourteen. Elishah

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. But Naemon went away

angry and said, I thought that surely he would come

out to me, stand and call on the name of

the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot,

and cure me of my leprosy are not a banner,

and farper 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. Nayman

servants went 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. So he went down

and dipped himself in the Jordans seven times, as the

Man of God had told him, and his flesh was

restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

The NIV Cultural Background so Bible states that inscriptions from

this period depict a magic specialist with a raised hand

offering an invocation and prayer for the removal of disease

and evil. A magic ritual would have required the supervision

of such a specialist to oversee and supervise it. Elisha

clearly removes himself from this role. Whilst Naman probably expected

the presence of the practitioner to be key to the

success of the ritual. Interestingly, Naman was expecting to be healed,

but Elisha, the prophet, as God's mouthpiece not only brought

about physical healing in doing it this way, but distance

the One True God from practices of those who worshiped

false gods and addressed Naman's pride. This is God's love

and wisdom in action, seeing the bigger pit and bringing

about healing at different levels for this man who was

born into a pagan culture. Pride is a sin that

so easily hides itself to the one who is proud,

and yet is usually so glaringly obvious to everyone else.

Nayman was great in the sight of the king and

highly regarded. Unless your self esteem is rooted in the

truth of the word of God, what God himself says

about you, it's easy to see why someone can be

proud when they're doing so well. From a secular perspective.

Both pride and expectation were probably at the root of

Nayman's assumptions about how he should be healed, not just

washing in a river, which anyone can do, and fueled

the anger that nearly cost him his miracle. Notice in

verse thirteen it was the influence of Naman's attendance that

caused Naman to change his mind. These were trusted personal

aids in ancient Near Eastern military culture, high ranking officers

traveled with trusted staff who were able to offer their advice.

Their proximity to Naman granted them physical access and relational intimacy,

which is why they were able to address him with

the respectful idiom. My father a low state as slave

would likely not have addressed a high ranking general in

this familiar and advisory manner. So those who made a

difference in Naman's healing were his wife's maid, a slave,

his wife for passing on the information that the maid

gave her Elijah the prophet, and Naman's attendance. Obviously, name

and himself played a part in acting by faith on

the prophet's instructions, but if we consider who else was involved,

there were people with varying levels of influence and position.

My point is, use the influence that God has given

us well, and we can affect change for His glory.

It doesn't matter whether we get credit from other people

or not, whether other people ever learn our names or not.

I'm thinking of the maid, Naman's wife, and his staff,

none of whom are named here. But God sees everything,

and that's what matters. I do like considering what I

call the little people in the Bible, and I'm not

just talking about their height. Those who are named but

made a difference, Sorry, those who were not named, but

made a difference enough to have been mentioned in God's

eternal word and are obviously known by him. Most of

us will go through life only known by those in

our direct sphere of influence. Church, work, family, friends, places

where we may go for leisure purposes, et cetera. Although

I realize social media may broaden that significantly. But whether

we generally only impact those we know personally, or our

influences broader, each person that we touch matters, hence the

importance of how we touched them. To complete the story

of Nayeman, it's worth noting what happened in two Corinthians

five fifteen and seventeen. I'm omitting the parts at aren't

relevant for today's message. So two Corinthians five point fifteen.

Then Nayman and all his attendants went back to the

Man of God. He stood before him. Elisha obviously came

out to see him this time, as there was no

reason not he. So he stood before him, and Naman said,

now I know that there is no God in all

the world, except in Israel. Your servant will never again

make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other God. But

the Lord God brought good out of even this. Nayman

became a believer as a result. I've said it many

times and will say it again. God can bring good

out of absolutely anything. Our part is to pray and

ask him to do so, regardless of how impossible it

may seem, and trust God to do what only he

can do. I do just want to add that Naeman

was wise in the end, according to Proverbs twelve, verse fifteen,

and I'm reading it from the Living Bible. That's Proverbs

twelve fifteen. A fool thinks that he needs no advice,

but a wise man listens to others. A fool thinks

that he needs no advice, but a wise man listens

to others. Naman's initial reaction wasn't great, but he did

then listen. We've all said and done stupid things as

an initial response to something we didn't want to hear.

But how we move on from that can make a

real difference to our lives and the lives of others.

If we're we're more likely to receive a device from others. Yes,

of course we need to weigh it up, but it's

important that we receive it if we know it's right,

and dare I say it admit that we might have

been wrong. The other side of that coin is that

you can lead a horse to water, but you can't

make it drink. You can give someone opportunities or advice,

but you can't force them to make the most of it.

I have a friend whose friend has a really serious

life decision to make. Whilst God's best in this situation

is clear, the girl hasn't made her mind up yet

because of the complexities of the situation, and also she's

not got a great understanding of God and faith, and

I don't know whether she's actually surrendered her life to

him yet or not. My friend said to her friend,

whatever you decide, I will still love you. But if

you decide X, I can't condone it. That's unconditional love,

isn't it Respecting the fact that people have their own

free will and the right to choose what's right or wrong,

and choosing to love them regardless. It's a hard road

to walk, but God always strengthens us to do what's right.

But he's not obligated to support what he hasn't initiated.

Unconditional love will always make a difference, though, whether we

see the fruit of it or not. I think it's

worth mentioning Jesus here when he was facing the crucifixion

and taking upon himself the agonizing pain of the punishment

of the sin of the whole world, and prayed in

the garden of gethsemone, as recorded in Luke twenty two,

he submitted his will to our heavenly Father, fully aware

of the suffering it would entail. Then in verse forty

three Luke twenty two forty three, it says, then an

angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. Jesus, the Son

of God, in choosing to live with the limitations of

a man, needed strengthening. Unconditional love will almost invariably cost

us beyond what we can endure in our own strength.

But God is clearly willing to strengthen us to do

what we need to do. So what does it take

to make a difference. Nayman's wife's maid was kind. She

had the strength of character to speak up to help

her slave master when she really didn't need to. She

could have thought let him suffer, But she did what

was right because it was right behind closed doors, and

now she serves as an example to us in God's word,

which is eternal name and servants. His staff were faithful.

They respectfully challenged him when he was allowing anger to

cloud his judgment, which left unchecked, would have cost him

his miracle. They were able to say to him what

they did because of the relationship they had with him.

Often we earn the right, so to speak, to speak

into someone's life because of the relationship we have with them.

Although it can still take courage, especially to confront someone

the way that Naman's staff did, and wisdom to do

it in the right way at the right time, so

it's more likely to be received. A good friend will

do that too, as Proverbs twenty seven to six. Proverbs

twenty seven to six, and the New King James says,

faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses

of an enemy are deceitful, as our Lord Jesus well knows,

thinking of Judas, the wounds of a friend can be trusted.

A friend spoke to me a few months ago and

pulled me up about complaining I didn't enjoy hearing it.

But she was right, and she was right to challenge me.

I still find it hard not to complain in a

particular situation, but I'm a work in progress and I'm

doing better than I was. What I hadn't particularly considered

was the impact on her of my complaining. Whilst I

don't think that she mentioned that specifically, I became aware

of it because she challenged me. I appreciate her courage

in doing so. It can't have been easy. Proverbs twenty

seven seventeen. Proverbs twenty seven seventeen says, as iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another. Just as two pieces of

iron can be rubbed together to create a sharper edge,

People can improve become more christ Like through mutual interaction,

support and constructive criticism. This is why we meet together

as a church in the different ways that we do,

isn't it The Amplified puts it this way. As iron

sharpens iron, so one man sharpens and influences another through discussion.

Recently I enjoyed reading an autobiography, Captain Concord by Brian Walpole.

Brian was an experienced pilot tasked with managing the Concord

fleet for BA when he found himself getting to know

a guy called Gerald Williams, who was a well known

tennis commentator and journalist. Brian ended up taking Gerald to

New York on Concord for free in exchange for Gerald

waxing lyrical about it in his Tenants tennis commentary for

marketing purposes. At the time, Concord was hemorrhaging money. It

can't have been that hard to wax lyrical about a

trip on Concord, but nonetheless that was the deal. The

following excerpts from Bryan's book. After thoroughly enjoying his supersonic

flight to New York, Gerald was preparing to disembark when

he turned to me to express his genuine and heartfelt appreciation,

assuming he would then continue on his way. I was

somewhat surprised when he requested I do him the kindness

of having breakfast with him the next day after we

had eaten, Noting as he had that I seemed to

have everything, Gerald candidly inquired as to what part God

played in my life. I didn't realize that Gerald was

a Christian, and though his comment caught me off God,

my honest response of none didn't seem to surprise him,

and he promptly issued a second invitation. Gerald asked me

if I'd like to join him at his church in

Guilford one Sunday, still very much the church for weddings

and funerals kind of man that I was. The idea

of Gerald's invitation was less than appealing, so I politely

answered not particularly no. For anyone who knew Gerald, it

will come as no surprise that this did not deter

him one bit. A little while later, Brian ended up

joining Gerald at what sounds like a lively Baptist church.

Brian surprised himself by enjoying it, returned and became good

friends with the assistant pastor, who lent him a number

of books to answer his questions. The most significant book

for Brian as an analytical scientific man was just Josh

McDowell's investigative look at faith called Evidence that Demand's Verdict.

To quote Brian, this book deals head on with a

myriad of arguments which can be used for disbelieving the

Christian faith Proverbs twenty seven seventeen. As iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens and influences another through discussion. Such

was Gerald's influence. Then the assistant past us. They made

a difference. To quote Brian, I came to realize that

God was not some abstract concept who observed from a distance.

God knew everything about me and loved me. The more

I understood, the more I realized that I, Brian Woolpole,

the egotist pilot, was simply a man who thought he

had achieved everything in his own strength and abilities, but

was finally face to face with the greater truth. There

grew in me an unabashed gratitude in knowing that it's

not good works nor achievements, but rather faith in Jesus

Christ that is central to truly living Amen. This is

friendship that made a real difference. Use the influence that

God has given us well, and we can affect change

for His glory. We're most likely able to be able

to do this even when it costs us if we

make one thing the main thing Psalm twenty seven, verse four.

In the amplified that, Psalm twenty seven, verse four reads,

one thing I have asked of the Lord, and that

I will seek. If you could ask the Lord for

just one thing, what would it be. It's not an

easy question to answer. One thing I have asked of

the Lord, and that I will seek, that I may

dwell in the House of the Lord, in his presence

all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty,

the delightful, loveliness, and majestic grandeur of the Lord, and

to meditate in his temple. When God's presence becomes the

focal point of our hunger, when we learn to live

our lives centered on this one desire to live in

the Lord's presence, what difference do you think it will make?

I'm speaking to myself now too. What one change do

you think you could make that the Holy Spirit is

prompting you to make that would take you further along

this path. I appreciate that's a question that probably needs

some thought and prayer. The point is, we're most likely

to be able to be kind and faithful to make

a difference when we seek God's presence first and foremost

in our lives. When I was thinking about the qualities

that really make a difference in our lives, like kindness, faithfulness, etc.

I realized that they all come under one umbrella term love.

It's worth regularly rereading the famous passage on love in

one Corinthians thirteen. Just to keep it fresh, let's read together.

One Corinthians thirteen, verses four to eight. Love is patient,

Love is behind. It does not envy. It does not boast.

It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It

is not self seeking. It is not easily angered. It

keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil,

but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,

always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. It all speaks

of faithfulness, doesn't it, especially the always part, and is

summarized in verse eight love never fails. Agape is the

Greek word used here, meaning brotherly and affection. The apostle

Paul said in One Corinthians sixteen, verse fourteen, Let everything

you do be done in love. As we do this

more and more, by the grace of God, we will

make a difference in our generation for God's glory. Let's

pray about I can. Yes, God, Father, God, thank you

for the difference that you've made in our lives and

continue to make in our lives, and the privilege and

responsibility of our influence in other people's lives. Please help

us by your Holy Spirit to use the influence you've

given us wisely and well for your glory, increase our

capacity to receive your love for ourselves, and strengthen us

to love others whether we feel like it or not.

Because we asked this in Jesus' name, knowing that you've

promised to always hear us, and we're so thankful. Amen.

Thanks Evin,