Why are we a Lively Church in Kansas City, Kansas? Because there is NOTHING boring about being a follower of Christ and our church reflects that.
Many people believe that to be a Christian, you have to be very quiet or timid. However, in the Word of God we find that Jesus was BOLD and full of joy and power! Therefore, we, being a lively church in Kansas City, Kansas, try our best to live as boldly and powerfully as Jesus would. The world is becoming more and more dark but we are called to be a beacon of light and hope.
Over the centuries there have been times of great evil and darkness. But in the midst of such times God has always had a reserve. A remnant to do His will.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.” 1st Peter 2 :9-10
There was a time when we were nobodies, but God made us somebodies. He has made us royals. We are more powerful, more mighty than we know.
We keep asking where is the next Billy Graham. But God is raising up earth shakers that will tear down the gates of hell.
In chapter 7 of 2 Kings we find the most unlikeliest of heroes. In most Bible stories we think of the great patriarchs as the heroes. You know, men like Moses, David, and Abraham. But in this passage of scripture the heroes are the rejected and cast out. They are the diseased and written off.
Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other. “We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway. 2 Kings 7: 3-4
At the height of a great famine God highlights these four men with leprosy. Lepers were the rejected of Israel. Have you ever felt rejected? Have you ever felt disconnected from family, friends, and even the church because of some spot, some blemish, some spiritual leprosy in your life?
Leprosy eats away at the flesh. It erodes the limbs and eventually causes blindness. Let me ask you what’s eating away at you? Are you losing the battle against sin? Are you walking in spiritual blindness? Have you lost your vision?
These four men were not only living in the midst of a famine but their bodies were ravaged by an incurable disease. Yet they did not just sit in their mess and give up hope. Somehow they found it within themselves to get up and do something.
They were willing to go into the enemy’s camp and risk their lives. They knew that if they just sat there death was certain. But by taking a risk there was a chance, no matter how slim, that they might live.
If you don’t take steps of faith you’ll never know what God can do in you and through you. Someone has to step out of the boat. Why not you?
The fact is these men were desperate and many time that is just what is needed. Desperation. The problem is desperation does not come until we are at the point of hopelessness.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Rom 12:3 NKJV
Listen we have all been given a measure of faith. No one around you has been given more faith than you. You need to step out and walk in that faith of yours.
So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried to one another. So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives. 2 Kings 7: 5-7
Those lepers got up and walked to the enemy’s camp by faith. The Bible says when they got got there the camp was deserted. Why? Because when they arose and and began to step out, God went before them. The Syrians didn’t hear the feeble steps of lepers. They heard the sound of a mighty army headed their way.
When the men with leprosy arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.” 2 Kings 7:8-9
When the king heard the good news the people rushed out and plundered the enemy’s camp. Those lepers by just taking a small, desperate, step of faith saved a nation. Maybe they were just thinking of themselves but God Honored their willingness to shake off apathy and hopelessness and routed the enemy before them.
Get up!
Don’t just sit there. Don’t just wither up and die. God is with you and will go before you.
Be just like these four men. They didn’t hoard the blessing of God. They didn’t keep the good news to themselves. They got up and shared what God had done.
You do the same.
Pray with me.
Father against strong odds I choose to walk in faith. There are mountains and giants before me but I choose to believe you. Your Word says I can do ALL things through Christ. My faith may be only as big as a mustard seed but that’s all it takes. Grant me the grace to believe and step out. Grant me strength to push aside fear and doubt. Help me to keep my eyes on you God and to walk on water. And I will give you the glory Lord. I will tell others about your goodness and all you have done for me. In the name of your precious Son, Jesus!