There is a Prophet

Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease.

Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”

So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”

So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 changes of clothes. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read: When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with me.”

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel tore his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
(2 Kings 5:1-9 Holman Christian Standard Bible® ©)

We live too often in little pens of our limited imaginations. Our world views are as small as our experiences or they are shrunk by others’ lack of imagination. Even worse are the limits of our expectations that there might be someone around whom we could trust to have abilities or wisdom that we need.

Joram, the king of Israel, could only think from his little pen of suspicion and fear when king BenHadad sent him a letter that sought a miracle for his general, Naaman. The servant girl in Naaman’s household had a worldview that stretched far beyond her captivity and limits. Her hope was as big as Yahweh.

Pastors can’t trust prophets without a supernatural dose of the fruit of the Spirit. Evangelists can’t trust pastors or prophets to raise up the new believers they lead to the Lord without a dose of faith from the Spirit that makes them able to see over the fence of their pens.

We will soon begin to grasp that as we work together, trusting each other because we have prayed over each other’s ministries, that God can actually use the rest of His silly people just like He can use us – by transforming us into His likeness.

We will bless each other and expect that when someone comes forth with a need, no matter how great it is, that there is a servant in God’s household who can manifest the Lord of the house and meet that need.