MISSING an OPPORTUNITY
You Want Me To Do What? Part 2
June 29, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
* Last week this principle…
"We discovered in scripture that God's ultimate goal is NOT simple to get out COOPERATION, but it is to get out faith to intersect with His faithfulness we experience God."
- God becomes ALIVE & REAL to you... and we walk away from those events saying, "I know that I made the right decision.
- The God of the universe has come DOWN to my little insignificant life and made a difference.
* God not simply after your cooperation but your AFFECTION.
God sent Jesus into the world NOT just to obey- love Him.
God wanted to have a relationship.
The currency of relationship is TRUST!

Phrase:
"To understand WHY, submit & APPLY."
Last week story was @ Naaman
2 Kings 5:15b Naaman comments are not about the leprosy- he KNOWS the God of heaven!
- Now he takes some dirt & put it over his dirt… Because he is a CHANGED man.
- Remember he came to Israel to get healed not to meet God…
* That is what God is UP TO in your's & my life…
So God nudges us out past our comfort zone. To trust Him.
The story doesn't end with Naaman leaving & going home healed.
Another part:
- Gahazi was the servant of a poor prophet
Remember what Naaman brought with him…
When Gahazi sees all that Naaman has & begins to make his shopping list…
- Naaman wants to reward him for this miracle but Elisha won't take anything.
2 Kings 5:15-16
2 Kings 5:19-20
- This is where the story gets a little personal for me… that is MY tendency.

* Because very few of us in a prayer would say to God,
"Dear Heavenly Father I just want you to know that I am NOT going to do what you want me to do. I Jesus name Amen."
* We rarely say NO to God directly. No I am not going to do that.

* Most of us because this is so subtle that at this point are very confused at that moment & we get like Gehazi. (I need to help God out)
* This is why God says,
- "I would like you career & I will give you what is in my pocket."
- "I would like your relationships & I will give you what is in my pocket."
* But we say, "What is in your pocket?"
* God says, "If you know me you'll trust me, & you would if I said to you, "If you trust me you would KNOW that what I want for you is better than what you are trying to do."
"And if you know what is in my pocket you'll bypass me altogether, and I am not after your
COOPERATION but your AFFECTION- and you've got to learn to trust me."

* So Gahazi heads on down the road to find Namaan- because he has a BETTER PLAN…
2 Ki. 5:21-24 The story… makes up a story
2 Ki 5:25- How smart was it to argue with the prophet.
How smart is it to argue with the God of the universe about what I should do?
How smart is it to say, "But God…"
2 Kings 5:26 Here is the point - "Hey Gahazi who healed Naaman?"
Gahazi, "God."
Elisha, "Then why should be we paid for something God did?"
* But now you messed that all up.
* See Gahazi's dilemma

Conclusion:
* Here is what most of us already know but most of us forget on a daily basis…
- There are two ways to discover why God said what He said:
1. You can submit & apply & breathe a sigh of relief.
2. Or you can take matters into your hands & live with a sense of regret.
* At the end of time we will figure it out, "Oh now I see what you were doing."
- For some is will be a sigh of relief because we TRUSTED Him
For others it will be with regret because I didn't get it I turned my back on God.

* Here's the challenge more next week…

* What is God nudging you to do?
Have you made the mistake of confusing the value of what is in your hand for what's really at stake?
- The value of what God is asking for is not the issue, but can God be trusted.
- If you don't figure this out there will be consequences but it will be too late.
Gahazi figured it out but it was too late.
* Some know what I am saying you have a story to tell,
- They told me NOT to MARRY that man/woman. I had a bad feeling but I…
- They told me NOT to go out with him/her- I knew it was wrong but I…
- They told me not to partner with that guy in business- I thought something might go wrong.

* What are you arguing with God about?
* What is He nudging you to do but you are struggling to trust Him?

* Why not trust Him!