Does God Challenge You? 6

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GOING TO GOD FOR CLARIFICATION

When service ended, God had healed and touched many but when I got home that night… actually that morning… 12 AM, I was very challenged…. I went to the LORD in silent prayer.  I brought up Peter and John and the man who couldn’t walk.

Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.…” Acts 3:6

Why didn’t something like this just happen?  Why all this other stuff?

Jesus reminded me.... of the unconventional ways he worked in.  He did not just lay hands on sick and they were instantly healed but he did other things as well.

“Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.…” John 9:6

Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”

The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Mark 8:23-25

A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue.  Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly! Mark 7:32-35

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” Matthew 18:6

^"So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.  But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”  So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!" 2 Kings 5:9-14

I think when we are uncertain or overwhelmed or beside ourselves about something God has shown us or told us to do, instead of excusing it or disregarding it, or becoming hardened by it, or running away from it… go to Him.

He will give you reassurance you need to settle the unrest within – to let go and let God - and you can add to the never-ending dimension of the understanding of God. You will realize the challenges were to awaken you to more of God.