A PERSON OF INFLUENCE :
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.” —2 Kings 5:3
If you Google “person of influence,” the search will take you to various lists of “the most influential people in the world.” These lists usually include political leaders; business entrepreneurs and athletes; along with people in science, the arts, and entertainment. You will not find the names of cooks and cleaners who work for them. Yet those in so-called lowly positions often influence the people they serve.
The story of Naaman, a high-ranking military commander, includes two kings and a prophet of God (2 Kings 5:1-15). Yet it was the servants in the background whose words led to Naaman being cured of leprosy, a career-ending, life-changing disease. A young servant girl taken captive from Israel told Naaman’s wife that a prophet in Samaria could heal him (vv.2-3). When Elisha’s instructions to bathe in the Jordan River angered Naaman, his servants urged him to follow the prophet’s orders. The result was Naaman’s restoration to health and his declaration, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel” (v.15).
What a beautiful picture of our role as followers of Jesus Christ! We are called to be people of influence—the Lord’s servants who point others to the One whose touch can change their lives.
Lord, I would like to live a life of influence like Naaman’s servant girl—to be brave and bold to touch the lives of others by pointing the to You. Fill me, Holy Spirit, with Your power.
Christ sends us out to bring others in
OVERCOME THE WORLD :
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] - John 16:33, AMP
When trials and tribulations come, as children of the Most High God, we can take courage; we can be confident, and we can have perfect peace. Why? Because perfect peace doesn’t come from the world. Courage doesn’t come from the world and neither does confidence. These things come from a relationship with Almighty God. We can have hope in challenging times because God has promised us victory. As long as we stay in faith, as long as we put our trust and hope in God, we will stay in victory.
No matter what you are facing today, remember, faith pleases God and opens the door for His supernatural favor, strength and wisdom. Don’t settle for defeat because you are preprogrammed for victory. Choose to thank Him for what He is doing in your life and for the victory that is on the way. Be strong, be bold and take courage today because God has overcome the world!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for loving and setting me free. Thank You for Your promise of peace and victory in every area of my life. I choose to keep my mind focused on You today, knowing that You always cause me to triumph in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HOW TO GRADUATE WITH HIGHEST HONOURS :
'...That...day...God will reveal who His children really are.' Romans 8:19 NLT
By living a sacrificial life. Salvation is free, but graduation with highest honours costs dearly: 'I have suffered the loss of all things.' (Philippians 3:8 NKJV) Paul once had a comfortable life, then everything changed. He was beaten almost to death eight times. He faced danger at the hand of friend and foe. He endured nakedness, sleeplessness, starvation and thirst (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Did he get discouraged? Yes. Did he give up? No. 'I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake...' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NAS) Did he pray for relief? Of course. Three times he asked the Lord to alleviate his suffering. When God replied, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT), he learned to 'take pleasure in...insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT), leaning on God for strength. Where did he find such joy? Through 'the infinite value of knowing Christ.' (Philippians 3:8 NLT) Intimacy with Christ was his consuming passion. Though conscious of his problems, he stayed consecrated to his Lord. 'For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.' (Philippians 3:8 NLT) Paul decided that whatever the cost, graduation with highest honours was worth it. 'To share [Christ's] glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later' on that 'future day...God will reveal who His children really are.' (Romans 8:17-19 NLT) Live today with that picture foremost in your mind.
ONLY GOD GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.
Psalms 98:1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world --- our faith.
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.” —2 Kings 5:3
If you Google “person of influence,” the search will take you to various lists of “the most influential people in the world.” These lists usually include political leaders; business entrepreneurs and athletes; along with people in science, the arts, and entertainment. You will not find the names of cooks and cleaners who work for them. Yet those in so-called lowly positions often influence the people they serve.
The story of Naaman, a high-ranking military commander, includes two kings and a prophet of God (2 Kings 5:1-15). Yet it was the servants in the background whose words led to Naaman being cured of leprosy, a career-ending, life-changing disease. A young servant girl taken captive from Israel told Naaman’s wife that a prophet in Samaria could heal him (vv.2-3). When Elisha’s instructions to bathe in the Jordan River angered Naaman, his servants urged him to follow the prophet’s orders. The result was Naaman’s restoration to health and his declaration, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel” (v.15).
What a beautiful picture of our role as followers of Jesus Christ! We are called to be people of influence—the Lord’s servants who point others to the One whose touch can change their lives.
Lord, I would like to live a life of influence like Naaman’s servant girl—to be brave and bold to touch the lives of others by pointing the to You. Fill me, Holy Spirit, with Your power.
Christ sends us out to bring others in
OVERCOME THE WORLD :
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] - John 16:33, AMP
When trials and tribulations come, as children of the Most High God, we can take courage; we can be confident, and we can have perfect peace. Why? Because perfect peace doesn’t come from the world. Courage doesn’t come from the world and neither does confidence. These things come from a relationship with Almighty God. We can have hope in challenging times because God has promised us victory. As long as we stay in faith, as long as we put our trust and hope in God, we will stay in victory.
No matter what you are facing today, remember, faith pleases God and opens the door for His supernatural favor, strength and wisdom. Don’t settle for defeat because you are preprogrammed for victory. Choose to thank Him for what He is doing in your life and for the victory that is on the way. Be strong, be bold and take courage today because God has overcome the world!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for loving and setting me free. Thank You for Your promise of peace and victory in every area of my life. I choose to keep my mind focused on You today, knowing that You always cause me to triumph in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HOW TO GRADUATE WITH HIGHEST HONOURS :
'...That...day...God will reveal who His children really are.' Romans 8:19 NLT
By living a sacrificial life. Salvation is free, but graduation with highest honours costs dearly: 'I have suffered the loss of all things.' (Philippians 3:8 NKJV) Paul once had a comfortable life, then everything changed. He was beaten almost to death eight times. He faced danger at the hand of friend and foe. He endured nakedness, sleeplessness, starvation and thirst (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Did he get discouraged? Yes. Did he give up? No. 'I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake...' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NAS) Did he pray for relief? Of course. Three times he asked the Lord to alleviate his suffering. When God replied, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT), he learned to 'take pleasure in...insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT), leaning on God for strength. Where did he find such joy? Through 'the infinite value of knowing Christ.' (Philippians 3:8 NLT) Intimacy with Christ was his consuming passion. Though conscious of his problems, he stayed consecrated to his Lord. 'For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.' (Philippians 3:8 NLT) Paul decided that whatever the cost, graduation with highest honours was worth it. 'To share [Christ's] glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later' on that 'future day...God will reveal who His children really are.' (Romans 8:17-19 NLT) Live today with that picture foremost in your mind.
ONLY GOD GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.
Psalms 98:1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world --- our faith.
WALTER KAMBULOW
FACEBOOK:
WALT KAM
Gordon
Williams http://gordwilliams.com/
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