[In What Attitude Are You Standing?]
Pastor Sung-Hoon Lee
2 Kings 5:9-19
We sometimes lose our directions in life and meet unexpected sufferings. But a believer can stand firm not being swayed back and forth because the Holy Spirit stays in him, the temple, and works with him. Therefore, we have the responsibility to apply the Word as it is. Let us think of how to stand firm in our given positions through Naamans three attitudes that had been changed.
First, only wrath awaits us if we stand on self-conviction. Naaman did not go to Elisha directly. He first stopped at the palace in Samaria paying visit to King Jehoram with various gifts from the king of Aram. Naaman reached Elishas house with the horses and chariots which tells us that he was fully confident of himself. But he was furious when Elisha sent a servant to receive him. Heagain was furious because Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Looking at Naaman, we can assume that we will be driven farther from God in the absence ofpeace of the Holy Spirit if we have a bigger self-conviction. I married with my wife thinking that I could be a good husband and a great minister even without my wifes support. However, this thought eventually made me want to take credits for everything I did, and it even brought a divorce crisis after uncontrollable disharmony and disagreements. I was being arrogant with self-conviction, and then I left God among anger when a suffering came. This was the conclusion my life that had nothing to do with the Word.
Second, we will be grateful if we stand on the grace we have been given. Naaman was furious with Elisha, but his servants persuaded him to wash seven times in the Jordan River, and he was healed. His disease and an experience of being ignored brought him a miracle even though he did not obey the Word voluntarily. He could have returned to Aram directly, but he visited Elisha, who had mistreated him, to offer gifts. As he stood amonggrace after breaking his self-conviction, he could be grateful to the Lord who poured grace upon him and the prophet. Naaman became humble as he went through a long pain of disease, and as he became humble, he was able to listen to the Word. And then he experienced a miracle. That is why suffering is blessing. Suffering is the most effective method to guide one towards salvation.
While we were in the States, I and my wife had a big fight. After that, she left for Korea with our son. I lived in despair. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law took my wife to Wooridle Church. There, my wife experienced the Word. She invited me to share QTs with her, and I put down self-conviction and pride as Naaman did after he listened to his servants. I listened to Pastor Kims sermons and the church became our community my family was restored. Through Leviticus 25:55, I confessed that God saved my family with Wooridle Church. I also got accepted as an assistant pastor at Wooridle church. I pray that every one of us would hear the Word of Life through the grace of the Holy Spirit. I believe that meditating and giving worship would be accepted as equally as Naamans obedience.
Third, we can guide others when we stand in front of God. We are waiters. The phrase, I serve in verse 16, means I stand before in original text. It means that he was waiting to obey and being sensitive to hear what God had to say to him. Elisha rejected Naamans gratitude gift in front of the Lord to let Naaman know that Gods grace was given unconditionally as a gift. And Elisha also rejected the gifts for Naamans salvation and growth. After he was rejected to give the prophet the gifts, he asked for some dirt to take back home with him to use in worship for the Lord. He also asked for forgiveness in advance that he had to bow down in front of an idol at national ceremonies he had to attend as a royal general. Elisha bid him peace, guiding him for salvation and vocation at Naamans level.
I am an assistant pastor at Wooridle Church and also a Ph. D. student at seminary. After giving many thoughts, I selected the theme for my thesis about the Holy Spirit emptying Himself. Meanwhile, the sermons on the book of Acts began. Pastor Kim said that it is a book of the acts of the apostles, not of the Holy Spirit, because God is interested in nurturing the apostles who were to receive the Holy Spirit and us who have to receive the Holy Spirit. This sermon spoke to me greatly at the time when I was going through many sources for my thesis. Pastor Kims sermons on Acts are based on a concrete Bible passage, allowing the theological mysteries interpret our lives in details. I pray that I could put this theological insight together in my thesis so that it may add good to the church and that it may be an acceptable offering to God.
In conclusion, I bless you that you would lead others to salvation and vocation in front of God and that you may ask God and obey Him to have the grace worshipping in the way of the Holy Spirit. I pray that all of you may endure the mission of salvation at home, workplaces, and other places you may go by believing, living, and enjoying the Word.
