Breath of Power - Week 45/04

Week 45: November 1 - 7, 2004

LIVING DEAD Part 1

Key Passage: 2 Kings 5: 1

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.

One would wonder what the result will be if the searchlight of life is turned on and the secrets of everyone are exposed for all to see. It is obvious that many would be ashamed to walk the street. It is a true life reality that all things are not the way they seem; many people are dead while they are alive.

The above passage tells the story of a man named, Naaman, whose name means, “pleasant”. He was described as a great and honorable man, an army chief of staff of a great kingdom, who had done great exploits for his nation, but who had a reproach in his life that negates his glory – he was a leper.

In the olden days, when a person is leprous, he is taken as dead while alive. His mourning begins as soon as he is declared unclean. He rends his clothes, shaves the head bare and covers his upper lip with his clothes as if in lamentation for his virtual death. He is ostracized and when he goes around he has to warn passers-by to keep away from him by crying out, “Unclean! Unclean!” (Lev 13: 45).

Leprosy is regarded as an infliction from God to a person for his sins. The disease begins with an anesthetic speck on the skin, and gradually spreads throughout the body, turning the hairs white, and coating the affected parts with white scabs, causing terrible swellings and sores. It eats inwards from the skin into the bones causing the body to rot little by little. In the same vain, sin is a reproach that needs to be mourned. It may result from a little compromise, lust or greed, but if not repented of, it spreads and eats deeper until the person becomes hardened. At that state sin becomes more deceitful as conviction is lost and the weight of the sin appears light.

Notwithstanding, the destiny of the sinful is definite: “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek 18:4). This speaks of eternal condemnation in hell. The medicine for sin is not for one to pretend or be in denial (Num 32:23); rather, it is true repentance and atonement by the blood of Jesus. Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3). God is calling you today to awake to righteousness and live by the power of God. Fall before God with a broken spirit and a contrite heart and ask Him to forgive you for your sins. Pray that He will cleanse you and make you whole by the precious blood of Jesus.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi



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	Week 45: November 1 - 7, 2004 LIVING DEAD Part 1 Key Passage: 2 Kings 5: 1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. One would wonder what the result will be if the searchlight of life is turned on and the secrets of everyone are exposed for all to see. It is obvious that many would be ashamed to walk the street. It is a true life reality that all things are not the way they seem; many people are dead while they are alive. The above passage tells the story of a man named, Naaman, whose name means, “pleasant”. He was described as a great and honorable man, an army chief of staff of a great kingdom, who had done great exploits for his nation, but who had a reproach in his life that negates his glory – he was a leper. In the olden days, when a person is leprous, he is taken as dead while alive. His mourning begins as soon as he is declared unclean. He rends his clothes, shaves the head bare and covers his upper lip with his clothes as if in lamentation for his virtual death. He is ostracized and when he goes around he has to warn passers-by to keep away from him by crying out, “Unclean! Unclean!” (Lev 13: 45). Leprosy is regarded as an infliction from God to a person for his sins. The disease begins with an anesthetic speck on the skin, and gradually spreads throughout the body, turning the hairs white, and coating the affected parts with white scabs, causing terrible swellings and sores. It eats inwards from the skin into the bones causing the body to rot little by little. In the same vain, sin is a reproach that needs to be mourned. It may result from a little compromise, lust or greed, but if not repented of, it spreads and eats deeper until the person becomes hardened. At that state sin becomes more deceitful as conviction is lost and the weight of the sin appears light. Notwithstanding, the destiny of the sinful is definite: “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek 18:4). This speaks of eternal condemnation in hell. The medicine for sin is not for one to pretend or be in denial (Num 32:23); rather, it is true repentance and atonement by the blood of Jesus. Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3). God is calling you today to awake to righteousness and live by the power of God. Fall before God with a broken spirit and a contrite heart and ask Him to forgive you for your sins. Pray that He will cleanse you and make you whole by the precious blood of Jesus. Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi

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