God Moves in Mysterious Ways.
By James Wiese on January 19, 2024
Epiphany 3 (The Healing of Naaman) January 21, 2024
Text: 2 Kings 5:13-15a (1-19) Historic Series 24:2424
Theme: God Moves in Mysterious Ways
Some 12 years ago I was heading north on Hwy 65 when a deer slammed into the side of my car. It did a lot of damage. If only I had left a few minutes earlier or later, the deer wouldn’t have been there when I went by, and the whole mess would have been averted. Right? Just my luck. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“If only I had done this or done that differently….” How often have you felt a similar way? To us it may seem that the occurrences in our lives hang on our doing things. Change the circumstances, and things would turn out better, right? Maybe.
What if I left home 10 minutes earlier, missed the deer, but crashed into a car at an intersection in Buffalo? Which event would be worse? And what if I become paranoid and approach everything in life thinking I can plan it out. How unrestful that would be!
As Christians we are to be good stewards of our time, our talents, our treasures, everything God gives us. He has given us our reason to think our way through things. Yet, in every circumstance of life, our trust is in God, knowing that He guides all things so that in the end it turns out for our good. In that way things don’t just happen. He’s in control for all authority in heaven and earth is His. And He moves in compassionate ways that we don’t always see or understand. His ways can be so mysterious. Look how that played out in our text.
I. God moves in mysterious ways…directing us to Him.
Here we run up against a man called Naaman. He was the commander of the army of Aram, a great country which lay to the north and east of Israel. Naaman was a successful general, highly esteemed by his king and a great hero to his countrymen. But his success cannot be credited to him. These things didn’t just happen, due to his greatness for it says, “through him the LORD had given victory to Aram.” It wasn’t Naaman who was responsible for his success. The Lord was in charge, directing things. But Naaman didn’t believe in God. His confidence was in himself. So, God sent him a sickness which he could not control. It shattered his life. Through it, God intended to direct Naaman to Him.
On earth man’s confidence is often misplaced. We trust our strength; then illness lays us low. We build our assets and investments; then a recession hits and threatens our security. We trust our opinions, only to find that they often don’t square with the facts. With it we may find our ideals shattered, our goals unattained, our ambitions unfulfilled. We find ourselves in life’s predicaments. Naaman did. But it doesn’t just happen; God is on the move.
How often don’t the Scriptures remind us to redirect our trust and to focus our attention on God, who alone can get us through? Here there is no sure and snappy cure for all that ails us. There is no insurance policy that will protect us against illness and death. We cannot make our heaven here on earth. We really are not the masters of our destinies. God often shows us the truth of these matters through sickness or difficulties that lay us low. But His purpose is not to destroy. It is to direct us to Him. And He often direct us…
II. ….by means of insignificant things.
We like to think big; God works through the small. And there was nothing smaller or simpler in Naaman’s eyes than a Hebrew slave girl. But she was the one through whom God moved.
We don’t know her name; nothing about her family. One of Naaman’s raiding parties captured her when they attacked her village. Such raids tore families apart. Bodies and hearts were wounded, property and possessions stolen. This little girl was taken, transported far from home and family, and made a servant to Naaman’s wife. Were her parents killed? her home destroyed? her people brutalized? Could be. The Arameans were known for their violent and ruthless ways. Why would God allow this to happen?
You would think the seeds of bitterness were planted within her, wouldn’t you? You would think that when Naaman’s leprosy struck and grew worse, the little girl would rejoice and say, “Good. Serves him right for what he’s done to me.” But this little girl didn’t think that way. She understood what the Epistle Lesson meant when it said, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil…. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, but give place to wrath….If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Ro.12:17f). This is how that’s done.
This insignificant slave girl, whose life was turned upside down by this man, did not wring her hands in grief; she held no grudge against him even though he had snatched her away from family; she didn’t hate him who had reduced her life to slavery; she didn’t even loathe him covered and disfigured with leprous sores. Why not? She knew the compassion of the Savior who was coming to die for sin – her sin, too. That merciful love which the Savior would show her compelled her to love (2Co.5:14), even her enemy, and do good to him, like Jesus would do for her.
You see, the simple truth of the Gospel is that God loves even the unlikables in our world. He strives to show forth His glory to them for “He wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1Tm.2:5f). Yes, the ruthless bully, too. God often utilizes the most unlikely of people, for He moves in mysterious ways to direct people to Him, often by means of insignificant things.
That is why you should never say that you are too small or that your life is too narrow to have any effect in the world. So “always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you” (1Pt.3:15). Often God’s heaven-sent preachers who show forth His glory in the best way possible are not seminary trained men; they are little slave girls, the humble in life, insignificant ones whom God uses…
III. …to grace people’s lives with His blessings.
The girl said, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” Ah, a ray of hope held out by the little servant girl. Naaman grabbed hold of it; so did his king. He sent him to Israel with all kinds of gifts.
Naama went first to the king of Israel. But he was no help, faithless king that he was. Soon the prophet Elijah caught wind of the situation. Naaman went to him with horses and chariots, thundering to a halt at Elijah’s door. What a picture that must have been, the world’s most successful general standing before the door of an insignificant prophet’s lowly abode. Elijah didn’t even come out. He sent his servant to tell Naaman to wash in the Jordan River.
Ah, what a test! Bathe in the muddy old Jordan? How degrading! The rivers at home were so much better. And, Naaman wanted more. He expected some “holy words,” a little hocus pocus pronounced over him: “I thought he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot, and cure me of my leprosy.” So, he turned and went away in a rage. But, by God’s grace, another insignificant one, a servant stepped in to give advice, “Sir, this is only a small thing. If the prophet had told you to do something big, wouldn’t you have done it? How much more shouldn’t you when he gives you such a simple thing to do?”
Naaman thought big, but God moves mysteriously through small and insignificant happenings to draw us to Him. Naaman humbled himself and did as God told him through the prophet. God graced his life with blessing – he was healed. Mysterious ways? True. Yet they are divinely deliberate ways, too, for things don’t just happen. God is at work. All authority is His. He sees to it that events occur in such a way to accomplish His good purposes in our lives.
I like to think that I’m the one in control, planning for my benefit. But when I want to do one thing in life, God often does something else. Along with that He often refines in the furnace of affliction. It burns but does not destroy us. As He says, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake I do this…so as not to cut you off” (Is.48:9,10).
Did you ever watch a silversmith or glass blower at work? Starting with the raw material they progress slowly, patiently to fashion an object of beauty. They subject the material to stress and strains, even to the point where it appears they are destroying the object. But in the end, something of worth is made.
In such a way the Lord fashions His people into something of great value – from that which is tainted by sin to that which is set aside for His glory. He cleanses by the blood of Christ Jesus. He calls to faith in the simplicity of the Gospel. He refines through His mysterious ways that work through insignificant means to direct us closer to Him, always with the purpose of gracing our lives with His blessings. Even a simple run-in with a deer can serve His purposes, for with God things don’t just happen.
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. (TLH 514)
God grant us that assurance in faith; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield
(A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)
Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244
www.zionluthchurch.com email: revelehmann@gmail.com
You can also find us on Facebook
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 21, 2024
“The leper said, ‘Lord, if you are willing…‘I am willing,’ Jesus said.” Matthew 8:2-3
Welcome: The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.
U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e
“The LORD is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid. He will hide me in His shelter in trouble. Take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27).
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
Jesus Manifests His Glory in Healing the Sick. The Lord continues to reveal the divine glory of His Son born at Christmas.
The changing of the water into wine at Cana (last Sunday’s lesson) was the first of the miraculous signs Jesus performed. Many others followed. The Gospel Lesson today presents two more.
The first sign of Jesus’ divine glory last Sunday, as He changed water into wine, was performed in regard to inanimate, earthy elements. The miracles in today’s lesson are different in that they reveal Jesus’ grace and power that He wields upon people who desperately need His help.
Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus went about “healing all manner of sicknesses among the people.” He who came to save us from sin manifested His divine ability to save through His miracles.
Therefore, we pray: Almighty and everlasting God, in mercy look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and needs, stretch out the right hand of Your Majesty to help and defend us, through Your Son, our Savior; for Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen.
– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –
(The Lessons for the Day are from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)
The Old Testament Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-19 The Prophet Elisha heals Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army, of leprosy. By it Naaman learns to humble himself in faith before the God of Israel and to place all trust in Him even when Naaman cannot understand His ways.
The Epistle Lesson: Romans 12:17-21 The believer offers his body as a living sacrifice to God. He turns from anger and revenge, seeking to maintain peace if he is able. Placing all things in God’s hands, he trusts in the Lord’s goodness and seeks to overcome evil with good.
The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 8:1-13 In the gracious healings of the leper and the paralyzed servant, Jesus reveals His mercy and glory as the Son of God with power. As the believer places his trust in Him, he embraces hope in the Savior.
O u r P r a c t i c e o f H o l y C o m m u n i o n
Out of deep love for the truth of God’s Word and precious souls, we follow the practice of Close Communion in our congregation. This has been the practice of Christians for centuries and reflects the Bible’s teaching on unity of faith in the reception of the Supper (1 Cor.10:17). It does not judge a person’s heart but anticipates agreement in that which God says. Since we do not wish to put anyone in the position of declaring such agreement with us before study in the Word is possible, we ask that only those who are communicant members of this or another Wisconsin Synod or ELS congregation come to receive the Sacrament.
The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Point to Ponder: “When the leper here limits his prayer and says, ‘Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean,’ it is not to be understood as if he doubted the goodness and grace of Christ. For such a faith would be of no value…. But it is to be understood in this way: faith does not doubt the good will God has towards a person, by which He wishes him every good. But it is not known to us whether that which faith asks and presents is good and useful for us. God alone knows this. Therefore, faith prays in a way that submits all to the gracious will of God, not doubting that God will grant it. Or, if it cannot be granted, that His divine will withholds it in great grace because He sees it is better not to bestow it upon us.” — Martin Luther in a sermon on Matthew 8:1-4
Outline of Our Worship
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: #517
Order of Worship: The Service: Setting Two with Holy Communion: page 172-180
Prayer of the Day
The Ministry of the Word
2 Kings 5:1-19
Romans 12:17-21
Gospel Acclamation: Epiphany pg.179
Matthew 8:1-13
Sermon Hymn: bulletin back (#420)
Sermon: 2 Kings 5:14-15,19 God Moves in Mysterious Ways.
The Nicene Creed pg.180
Our Response to the Word
Prayer of the Church: pg.182
The Offering
The Lord Blesses Us
Preparation for Holy Communion Hymnal page 182-187
(Visitors: Please read the box on page 2 regarding Holy Communion)
Consecration and Distribution
Distribution Hymn: #370
Thanksgiving & Blessing Hymnal: middle of page 187
Closing Hymn: #376
Silent Prayer
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-19 Naaman Healed of Leprosy
1Na’aman, the commander of the king of Aram’s army, was a great man in the opinion of his master. He was highly honored because the Lord had provided victory for Aram through him. Although he was a powerful warrior, he had leprosy. 2 Raiding parties had once gone out from Aram and brought back a young girl. She served Na’aman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish my master stood before the prophet who is in Samaria, because he would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Na’aman went and told his master what the servant girl from the land of Israel had said.
5 Then the king of Aram said, “Go there. I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Na’aman went, and he took ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 Then he took the letter to the king of Israel. The letter said, “Now, when you receive this letter, you will know that I am sending my officer Na’aman to you so that you can cure him of his leprosy.”
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothing and said, “Am I God that I can kill and make alive? Why is he sending a man to me for me to heal him from his leprosy? See how he is looking for a pretext to fight against me.” 8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9 So Na’aman went with his horses and chariots and stopped in front of the door of Elisha’s house. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him to say, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan. Then your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.” 11 But Na’aman was angry and he left, saying, “Look, I said to myself, ‘He will certainly come out and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and wave his hand over the place, and I will be cured of the leprosy!’ 12 Aren’t the Abana and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a burning rage. 13 But his servants approached and spoke to him. They said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not do it? How much more when he says to you, ‘Wash and be clean’?”
14 So he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said. Then his flesh was restored like the flesh of a small child, and he was clean. 15 Then he and his whole escort went back to the man of God. He stood in front of Elisha and said, “To be sure, now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Now accept a gift from your servant.” 16 But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not take anything.” Even though Na’aman urged him to accept something, he refused.
17 Then Na’aman said, “If you do not want anything, please give me, your servant, as much dirt as two donkeys can carry, for your servant will never again burn incense or sacrifice to other gods, but only to the Lord. 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the house of Rimmon to bow down there and he supports himself on my arm, then I too have to bow down in the house of Rimmon. When I bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant this one thing.” 19 Then Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.”
Epistle Lesson: Romans 12:17-21 Guidelines for Christian Living
17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil. Focus on those things that everyone considers noble. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, maintain peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 But, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For by doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 8:1-13 Jesus Heals a Leper and Paralyzed Man
1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 2 Just then, a leper came to him and bowed down to him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean.” Immediately he was healed of his leprosy. 4 Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one. Instead, go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am also a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled. He said to those who were following him, “Amen I tell you: I have not found such great faith in anyone in Israel. 11 I tell you that many will come from the east and the west and will recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019
Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
| Today
Jan.21 |
Monday
Jan.22 |
Tuesday
Jan.23 |
Wednesday
Jan.24 |
Thursday
Jan.25 |
Friday
Jan.26 |
Sat.
Jan.27 |
Next Sun.
Jan.28 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service With Holy Communion online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Annual Meeting
Epiphany 3 |
11 am Midweek Bible Class
|
9:00 am
Divine Worship Service online – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study Slides of the Holy Land (and maybe a few others) Septuagesima |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
The Bible tells us that “through Jesus all things were made… In Him was life, and that life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3,4). Apart from Jesus there is no life. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6). In our lessons for today we see how Jesus reveals His glory as our Savior through His words and miracles. Only the Son of God could wield the power He displayed.
The Old Testament Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-19 (the answers are found on the back side)
- Who was Naaman, and what was his problem?
- What did the prophet Elisha tell Naaman to do?
- What happened when Naaman finally obeyed?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (Long’s son-in-law); Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Kathy Workentine; Robbie Woessner; Liz & Roger Lisenby; Lois Wiese; Kay Schmidt at Quail Creek Rehab after tumor removal; Liz Lisenby at home after heart valve replacement; Norine Richardson at home after pace-maker procedure.
Forward in Christ’s latest issue for January is here. You may pick up copies for family and friends in the narthex. Also if you have not yet received offering envelopes for 2024, you will find them in your mailboxes along with your offering statements for 2023. Should you need help, please see Jim Wiese.
Divine Call Sent At the joint call meeting of Zion and Peace this past Thursday, Pastor Jason Enderle was selected to whom our call for pastor will be sent. He is 38 years old and presently serves Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Washington, MI. He and wife Hannah are blessed with 2 children, 2 years old and under. Please keep Pastor Enderle and family in your prayers over the next few weeks as he prayerfully considers where the Lord would have him serve in His Kingdom of Grace.
Thank You very much for your kind holiday and retirement greetings by which you remembered me and our family this past holiday season. We very much enjoyed hosting many of you at our home for the Post-Christmas get-together, and, God-willing, will be able to celebrate such another gathering in the future. May the Lord bless your families with a rich measure of His grace in the days lying ahead. Pastor, Elizabeth and family.
Upcoming Services and Events
Sunday, January 21 – Annual Voters and WWFC Meetings following the worship service
The Week in Review
Last Sunday Worship: 17; Bible Study: 12; Midweek Bible Class: 3; Offerings: $1,598 (wintry weather day).
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Septuagesima: Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 9:2-10:5; Matthew 20:1-16 (Historic Pericope Series)
Answers to Today’s Old Testament Lesson Brief Study:
- Naaman was a commander in the king of Aram’s army. He was a great man, but he had leprosy, a debilitating disease.
- He told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan. At first Naaman went away angry, but his servants encouraged him to listen to Elisha.
- When Naaman washed in the Jordan he was healed. More importantly, he was brought to realize that the God of Israel was the only true God, the Savior of all who gives the crown of life.
This week I am praying for……