There is so much presently happening in our country and around the rest of the world at an alarming rate of speed; the economy continues to be cratering in numerous countries. The question for us here in the States is: is the American dollar going to totally fail? Will gas prices soar to five, six or even seven dollars a gallon like it is in other parts of the world? Food prices are soaring. The Middle East is a hotbed right now. There are disturbances one after the other. The last Pharaoh of Egypt has been brought down. Iran has sent warships up the Suez Canal. Libya, Jordan, Yemen and others are on the radar. What does this imply? By the time you read this newsletter, this will be old news and there will be an intensifying of the just mentioned events taking place. There are wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes in numerous places. The talk of a one-world order someday is now developing right before our own eyes. There is a one-world religion that is just as formidable and possibly even a greater threat. This threat is not only to us who are Christians, but to the unsaved as well. We should be awakened, attentive, and activated by all these labor pains the world is experiencing. This should really be getting our attention, hopefully prompting us to draw closer to our Lord more than ever before to know His voice. Furthermore, we should be sensing an urgency to be busy fulfilling the great commission commanded to us. Today, we are living in a day of uncertainty apart from God. Together we have been called for such a time as this. We who are anchored in Christ will be signposts, unwavering in the storms and turbulence, pointing to Jesus.
Three Main Areas
There appears to always be three main arenas in the world that play a significant part in our lives: politics, the economy, and religion. In the remainder of this article I want to address the arena of religion. To be as clear as I can, I'm concerned that Islam is leavening Christianity and good-hearted people, meaning our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christian leaders are falling for a false unity and the shaping of this one-world religion. They in turn are misleading others.
In the first paragraph you will notice that some of what I've written is also found in the early part of the Gospel of Matthew 24. This chapter has always been a reference point in regard to the end times and our Lord's return. In the first fourteen verses the word deceive(s) is mentioned three times. I see this as significant.
We are living in very deceptive days. Don't be deceived and think that America is immune to any combination of trials, tests, and tribulations that are found in other parts of the world today. We aren't untouchables. Multitudes are being led astray by false prophets with their false messages. Christians are giving in to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons in this hour (1 Timothy 4:1). For example, there are ecumenical gatherings going on between Muslims and Christians. This concept of “Chrislam” is taking place all in the name of loving our neighbor. Meetings are taking place where the Quran and Bible are placed side by side in the pew! I believe we are to love our neighbor, but to partake in their beliefs, water down the gospel and walk together as one is totally detrimental and out of order.
To say Christ alone is the Savior of the world is now being called narrow-minded and considered hate language. The belief is that there are many religions and many ways to Heaven - only mentally deficient people believe otherwise.
Naaman
With that being said, let's look afresh at the story of Naaman found in 2 Kings 5:1-19. In the Hebrew language, Naaman means “pleasant or agreeable”. He was obviously a man of stature who held a position. As his name identifies him, he was one who was agreeable and pleasant to be around. You get the sensing he did his job and did it well, finding himself promoted time and again. But he also may have been a yes-man. Maybe he didn't want to cause too much trouble or didn't want the headaches of confrontation and so forth. Possibly he had the attitude of, “You're good, I’m good. You're okay, I'm okay. Let's just keep peace, neighbor. You live your life and I'll live mine. You don't bother me, and I won't bother you. Let's live in peace together.”
As pleasant as Naaman was, he appeared to have one significant problem. He was a leper. Fortunately for him he had brought back captive from one of his raids on Israel a young girl who waited on his wife. This young servant girl mentioned 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) So Naaman asked his king for time off, and his wish was granted. He immediately packed and left for his quest to find the prophet. He packed similarly to how you or I would when we travel. He packed silver, gold and clothing. He also had a letter from his king to take to the king of Israel. This letter said, “Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:6)
The king of Israel read this letter and had a total meltdown. He knew this was asking the impossible and came to the conclusion that the king of Syria was really just looking for a reason for war. Elisha the prophet heard about the situation and sent a letter to the king of Israel saying, “Why the meltdown?” “Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel” (2 Kings 5:8)
Naaman got his directions and went with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's home. Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman so that his journey to healing could continue. The next set of directions were given, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” (2Kings 5:10) At this point Naaman, Mr. Agreeable, Mr. Pleasant-to-be-around, turned into Mr. Hyde. He got furious and walked away. “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.” 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.” (2 Kings 11-12)
Naaman’s servants convinced him to do what the prophet said. If the prophet had asked him to do something great, he would have done it in a heartbeat. They were probably thinking, “After all, we've traveled so far, what could it hurt?”
The Scripture says of Naaman, “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.” (2 Kings 5:14) Naaman returned with his servants to stand before Elisha and spoke the following, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15)
Crossroads
When Naaman was presented with the one answer to his problem, he was furious and enraged. Mr. Agreeable was now at the crossroads of truth and found it extremely difficult to go down to the Jordan. He basically said that there were all kinds of rivers to dip in and the Jordan would be his last choice.
Brothers and sisters, we are inundated with good people who have good ideas, thinking and professing that their river (religion or belief) is sufficient for healing and eternal life. We can spend time together as friends and be good people to a certain point, but when the truth of Jesus Christ being the Son of God and the one way to the Father is presented, the same reaction that Naaman had may come. This is always the differentiating factor. The Jordan represents the way of humility and lowliness, the way of accepting the finished work of Calvary (dipping 7 times) and the atoning work of Jesus. For Naaman, the Jordan was identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ just as it was for the Hebrew children crossing into the promised land. This was symbolic of his faith, or belief, at work and he was now being baptized into Christ. The evidence is found in verse 14: “…and his flesh was restored as a little child, and he was made clean.” Matthew 18:3 says, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will be no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” That day Naaman found the Truth, the Way, and the Life and entered the kingdom! Healing (salvation) came that day by the word of the Lord. The prophet brought the message that appeared foolish, but was the one and only answer to this man’s dilemma.
The Right Garments
Remember how Naaman rode on his horses and chariots and brought his own provisions in his quest for healing? They were silver, gold and clothing. In the Bible, horses and chariots are symbolic of strength. Silver is symbolic of redemption, while gold often speaks of kingship and glory. Clothing has reference to a covering. Most religions have a mentality that salvation can be purchased and maintained by works, all done in their own strength. They don't believe the righteousness or graciousness of Christ can save them and make them carriers of His glory. Naaman wanted to purchase his healing with his own substance and wealth and in his own strength. He also wanted to clothe and cover himself. One must be clothed in the right garments in order to enter into the wedding feast at the end of the age. Our covering must be Christ and Christ alone.
Until a person humbles himself, realizes his true state and receives the truth of who Jesus is, more than just a prophet and more than just a good man, there really can't be any true fellowship or walking together. I find it interesting that when Naaman returned after his conversion to thank Elisha, who is a type of Christ, he found that the door of fellowship that was previously shut was now wide open. Where there's no true conversion, there can't be any true fellowship or unity.
There is such a need in this hour for prophets to speak the truth in order for sinners (lepers), including Muslims and all the other false religions, to have a choice to go to the place of repentance and baptism (Jordan) to find their healing. Paul made it very clear in 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” This portion of scripture is clearly a companion to what took place with Elisha and Naaman.
Litt Little Girls Faith
Naaman’s healing started with the faith, boldness and obedience of one young girl. She could have easily kept her faith and truth to herself, but she didn't. She could have been thrown into prison or even beheaded if Naaman came back the same way he left. She stepped past embarrassment, rejection, self centeredness and even possible death to let love win. Secondly, Elisha wasn't going to miss an opportunity to involve himself in an occasion to bring God glory. He also had a faith working that said, “Please send him to me”. He wanted the ministry; he wanted to see God go to work! He knew he had the message that would make the difference in Naaman’s life.
Authority and Agreement
Beloved, two can't walk together unless they're in agreement. There aren't multiple ways to God. The Scriptures make it clear: there is only one Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. There is also only one message and one way to God the Father.
We have a serious problem in both the church and government today. This problem is similar to what the Lord addressed through Hosea to His covenant people. We find this in Hosea 5:10 “The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour out my wrath on them like water.” The leaders of Judah were dismissing their convictions, beliefs, standards, values and truths. They had removed any and all forms of parameters and boundaries that would have made them distinguished from the rest of the nations and religious practices on the earth. They had lost their centeredness. We too see this happening now in our day all in the name of unity and love. This is taking place within the world governments and within the church.
Conclusion
Saints, God has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. We have been called to walk and live as ambassadors and spokesman, being a standard-bearer and a voice of truth in this deceptive day. Proverbs 22:28 says, “Do not remove the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” Our Landmark, our Cornerstone, our Head, our Pre-eminent One, our Centrality, our Way, our Truth, our Life, our Message and our Mission is Jesus Christ. To discount and dismiss Him from the equation of unity is tragedy at best.
“The Devil is not fighting religion; he is too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it.” - Vance Havner
Let's take our place as prophets on the earth, by preaching the person of Christ, His work at Calvary and the way of the cross. God help us maintain our borders, patrolling our perimeters often to be sure everything is in place and that nothing has crossed in.
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