“destiny”

Q: Charles Allen tells the story of a wise man who always gave right answers to the difficult questions of life. One day
a young and arrogant man sought to stump the older sage by concealing a live bird in his hands and asking, "Sir, is the
bird in my hands alive or dead?" His plan of deception was simple. If the wise senior said it was dead, then he would
open his hands and let the bird fly away. If he said it was alive, he would give his hands a quick squeeze and open them
to reveal a dead bird. Surprisingly, though, the old man never looked at the younger man's hands. He looked deep into
his eyes and quietly said, "My son, it is whatever you wish it to be." Dr. Allen then wrote, "So it is with each of us. The
life we live is the one we wish to live--God's way, or some other way. The choice is in our own hands.

Pt,1 the insanity of Gehazi

2 Kin. 4:8-37 Gehazi is first mentioned when Elisha asked how he could reward the Shunammite woman who had
welcomed him into her home…..Gehazi suggested that the childless woman and her husband might be given a
child.

A son was born to the couple but after a few years he died. The Shunammite woman sought Elisha for help.

Elisha sent Gehazi to lay his staff on the dead child so that he would get healed….. Nothing happened.

when Elisha went to the child, the child revived…..why would God heal the child for Elisha & not for Gehazi?

Texts: Gehazi's true character came out in the story of NAAMAN the Syrian, whom Elisha cured of leprosy. Elisha
refused any reward, but Gehazi ran after Naaman to claim something for himself……He told Naaman that Elisha
wanted a talent of silver and two changes of clothing for the needy…….Because of his greed, lying, and misuse of the
prophetic office, Elisha cursed Gehazi with the same disease from which Naaman had been cured.

 we see what is really in the heart of a man when he is refused something that he really wants Texts: Elisha says to
Gehazi, this is not the time to receive…..the only thing that Gehazi can see is the money / new close / a chance to be
rich……Gehazi thinks his pastor is just out to keep him in poverty / he doesn’t want me to prosper.

 Elisha was telling Gehazi that this was not the will of God, Gehazi could not understand how this could not be God,
it’s a chance to get rich / new close / we will be able to live in a nice house…..Gehazi runs after success & as a result
loses his position as a prophet & becomes cursed.

 Gehazi is a picture of so many today, leaving the will of God to chase after something that they think they really
want / need & after getting it finding out that is was not worth what they had left.

 today we have many people leaving there church / ministry / call of God, for what? A better education / job / money /
marriage…..I wonder after they get it, is it really worth it.

Matt 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in
and steal; {20} but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves
do not break in and steal. {21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 you can tell what is in someone’s heart by what they casing after in life or by what they are investing in.

Pt,2 deep down in the heart

Texts: the reason Elisha said no to Gehazi was to see what was deep down in his heart….it was not to keep Gehazi
from getting a head in life, Gehazi was a prophet, he was the next in line, he must learn how to say no to the world &
yes to the will of God.
 Gehazi must learn that the will of God for ones life is of more value than success / wealth / riches…..Gehazi look
really good up to this point, he prayed / followed Elisha / obedient / lived clean Texts: Gehazi weakness was money /
success / wealth…..God was testing Gehazi’s heart, did he love God more than money or would he love money more
than God?

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Texts: Gehazi love for money / wealth / success lead him to lie about his pastor / lie about the situation / lie to his
pastor….the love of money is the root of ALL EVIL.

 what does the love of money mean? Gehazi answers that question for us…..the love of money pushes God back to
second place, you still want to live for God & do His will, But you want to make your money first even if that means
violating God call upon your life / pastors trust / position in the church.

 The love of money comes with many different faces…..job offers in another city / business that will pull you out of
church / marring someone for there money / moving away / Etc.

Q: Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

Q: Have you ever thought a little more money would solve some of your problems? Phyllis Cohen isn't so sure money
will solve hers. This Durham, North Carolina, resident was the only million-dollar winner in McDonald's first round of
Monopoly. She won the instant prize when she picked up a Big Mac and Coke on her way home from a round of
chemotherapy. Ms. Cohen was receiving treatment for kidney and breast cancer. The sixty-nine-year-old woman said,
"I'm worried I won't live to collect it. With all that's happened to me, I'll be glad if I reach seventy." We wish Ms. Cohen
improved health, because her situation reminds all of us that money won't solve most of life's problems.

Pt,3 the curse of Naaman on Gehazi

Texts: V:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian,
while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something
from him. {21} So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot
to meet him, and said, "Is all well? {22} And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Indeed, just now
two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent
of silver and two changes of garments.' {23} So Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound
two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they
carried them on ahead of him. {24} When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away
in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. {25} Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to
him, "Where did you go, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant did not go anywhere. {26} Then he said to him, "Did not
my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to
receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? {27} Therefore the leprosy of
Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.

Leprosy: an infectious disease affecting skin / nerves, resulting in mutilations & deformities.

 so many today like Gehazi thinking that they can beat the odds, I can hide this / no body will no / I can just one day
leave / disappear….Texts: Elisha seen this coming for awhile, this was the reason why Elisha sent Gehazi to the
woman with his staff to lay on the dead child, Elisha wanted to see if his suspicion were true about Gehazi.

II Ki 4:29-36 Then he said to Gehazi, "Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you
meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.
{30} And the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So he arose
and followed her. {31} Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there
was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has not
awakened." {32} When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. {33} He went in
therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. {34} And he went up and lay on the child,
and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the
child, and the flesh of the child became warm. {35} He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again
went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. {36} And
he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite woman." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said,
"Pick up your son.

 Gehazi was still obedient, but that is about it…..he has no faith of his own / there is no persistence…..the drive /
determination / zeal / fire / passion for God & to be used of God is not there any more. V:32 I did what you said pastor
but it didn’t work, the child didn’t get up.

 today’s Gehazi, he is the main disciple / he has ministry / God is using him / the church no’s that this guys got the
goods / there is a zeal, fire & a passion for the things of God / he is fruitful {this was Gehazi, this is the reason why
he became the main disciple}

 the bible doesn’t really tell us exactly what happen to Gehazi, we find him in our texts running after Naaman
riches….we can only speculate what lead up to that…..we do no that he lost his fire / passion / zeal / faith & that is
enough to cause a man to chase after something else.

 it is up to you & I to keep the fire burning…..when a man quits doing what he use to do in the church, outreach /
ministry / soul-winning he begin to head down Gehazi’s lane.

 the real curse place upon Gehazi that day by Elisha was a change of destiny…..he could no longer be used by God /
him running after wealth, riches disqualified him for the ministry…..so many today think that they can just leave make
there riches & return & pick up where they left off.

 how many untold stories are there today, people leaving there ministry / church to gain something from this world &
in the mine time lose everything that God had planed for there lives.