common knowledge, Gehazi would have known that Elisha received a double portion of his master’ s anointing. How powerfully God would be able to use Gehazi if he was to get a double portion of Elisha’ s anointing. Would the power of God continue to double from servant to servant? No it wouldn’ t, because Gehazi’ s desire was not for spiritual things. After Elisha healed Naaman of leprosy Naaman offered to give him gifts of gold, silver and clothing but Elisha refused them. No doubt Elisha did this because he knew it wouldn’ t please God to accept gifts in payment for healing; but Gehazi was not pleased. After Naaman left Gehazi went after him and falsely collected gifts in the name of Elisha. For his greed Gehazi and all his descendants received the curse of leprosy.
Elisha was a great man of God and one would have thought that Gehazi would begin to value spiritual things a lot more, especially after witnessing such wonderful, mighty miracles. Greed is a crippling disease that numbs the heart and distorts our thinking so not even the truth of Jesus who was God in flesh could get through.
What Judas Wanted Elisha received what he desired, asked for and was assured he would get if he saw his master taken up to heaven, and in a similar way our master’ s promise assures us that we will do greater works than He did if a single condition is met.“ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12
This will happen for those who believe after He is physically taken and ascended up to His Father. Accounts in the Acts of the Apostles are proof that it happened just as He promised. We see God working greater miracles through the apostles than anything Jesus did. In Acts 5:12-15 it seems that the apostles miracles included people being healed and delivered by the very shadow of Peter. In Acts 19:12 people were delivered and healed when handkerchiefs or aprons that Paul touched was taken to them.
Wow, how greatly blessed Jesus’ apostles must have been? Well, except for Judas; the promise of greater works, though also given to Judas, could not be realised because he had other things in his heart and on his mind. He loved this world’ s goods and coveted the purchasing power of money. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver but soon after hung himself. It seems his partially decomposed body later fell from where it hung and burst open.
There are many more promises for those who love and believe God, none of which will be realised by the greedy.
Oh, what a glorious future we abort when we cannot be content with what we have. When our hearts are filled with the things of this cursed and condemned world instead of the heavenly things promised to us through Christ. Depression and suicide are increasing at an alarming rate all because we continue to neglect the only gift that can satisfy the soul. p
Further Reading
Quoted from clinical-depression. co. uk
Major depression is the No. 1 psychological disorder in the western world. [ 2 ] It is growing in all age groups, in virtually every community, and the growth is seen most in the young, especially teens. At the rate of increase, it will be the 2nd most disabling condition in the world by 2020, behind heart disease.
Facts on major depression First and foremost, clinical or major depression is growing at an incredible rate.
• People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities suffer from major depression, with a few exceptions.
• Up to 20 % of people experience symptoms of depression.
• 10 times more people suffer from major depression now than in 1945 [ 3 ]
• The average age of first onset of major depression is 25-29
It is a fact that we all have basic emotional needs that must be met for us to thrive and enjoy life. After the primary human needs for food, water and shelter come commonly shared emotional and physical needs. Without exception we find depressed people are not getting these needs met.
Traditional communities naturally meet many‘ basic needs’ for emotional support. In the traditional Amish society in the US major depression is almost unknown, as it is in the equally traditional Kaluli tribe of New Guinea. In these societies individual concerns are group concerns and vise-versa. You know that if you have a problem other people will help you and you are expected to help out when others need support. We know we are meant to do these things but it’ s not a‘ built in feature’ of modern society in the same way.
www. clinical-depression. co. uk / dlp / depression-information / major-depressionfacts /
By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer
[ 1 ] Bibliographic Reference is Uncertain: Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 150ff. [ 2 ] Seligman, M. E. P.( 1990) Learned Optimism.[ 3 ] Seligman, M. E. P. In J. Buie( 1988)‘ Me’ decades generate depression: individualism erodes commitment to others. APA Monitor, 19, 18.“ People born after 1945 were ten times more likely to suffer from depression than people born 50 years earlier.”
October- December 2016 SHARE | MAGAZINE | 15