Today's message is a sample from my latest book, "The Mysterious Kingdom of Heaven" available now, right here at TheCrackedDoor.Com.

2 Kings 5:9-14 - So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman's pride owing to his position in Syrian society almost cost him his healing. At first, he would not accept directives that were below his standard. Why would Elisha send him to a dirty river when there were nicer rivers available? That's one of the greatest deceptions of the enemy. Some people really think that God considers their positions in society when He delivers instructions. God doesn't care who you are, He just expects you to obey Him. He is no respecter of persons and will do as He pleases. Pride cost Satan His place in heaven and can cost any Christian a place in God's Kingdom.

Naaman's deliverance from leprosy could have been attributed to his humble servants. His wife's maid opened the door by first mentioning the healing ability of the prophet in 2 Kings 5:1. His personal servants kept the door opened by reasoning with him when his pride took control. He thought that he knew how God worked through his prophet but he had no idea. In the Kingdom of God, individuals considered great by the world might find themselves at the bottom of the ladder.

Matt 18:1-4 - At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

God respects humility more than any earthly accolade or accomplishment. That's why the most successful Christian assemblies are those where people of different classes in society serve God side by side. Whenever societal status causes separation in the Body of Christ, miracles evaporate. It's impossible for God to function correctly in an environment sullied by pride.

Once again, the illustration of the little child clearly depicts the attitude that works in God's Kingdom. Little children are supposed to follow the directions of their parents without question. In an old fashioned family the kids do what they are told. Modern society has corrupted that system and now there are children ruling their households from a very young age. Well, that won't work with God.

You can either humble yourself or you will be humbled. Sometimes God doesn't need to do anything but just His inactivity in the life of a proud Christian will bring him to his knees. If you think you know better than God then you don't need Him to do anything for you. If you think you are above God's instructions then you don't need a miracle because you're powerful enough to take care of yourself. That's a major problem with people in the Western Church. They defeat themselves with the pride of life.