Wanting More than God’s Will
An all-creatures Bible Message

Wanting More than God’s Will
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
9 October 2016
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

2 Kings 5:14-27
Psalm 66:1-12

Wanting more than God’s will is a common problem that is plaguing the world today.
 
God wants us to eat the plant foods He created for us to eat in Eden (Genesis 1:29-30), but human greediness led the people to raise and kill animals for food, and humans have been suffering for their ungodly actions ever since.
 
God wanted us to live in peace with the whole of creation, but humans fought against God and other humans, and made slaves of the animals.
 
The people had a problem, and still have the problem, of wanting more than God wanted them to have, and they always seem to suffer the consequences of their ungodly actions.
 
We see this in 2 Kings 5:14-27, when Gehazi wanted more than God wanted him to have.

14. So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

In the beginning, Naaman thought that what Elisha told him to do to be healed from his leprosy was too simple and that it wouldn’t work, but his men persuaded him to do as Elisha said, and he was healed.
 
Naaman reluctantly received the healing that God wanted him to have, but as we will see, Gehazi the servant of Elisha is seen wanting more and suffering the consequences.
 
Note the way that Naaman responds to the healing he received from God.

15. When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now."
 
16. But he [Elisha] said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

Elisha wanted Naaman to understand that the gifts of God are given without cost; all He wants is for us to be thankful and obedient.
 
Wanting more than God wants us to have is not in His heavenly will.

17. And Naaman said, "If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules' load of earth; for your servant will no more offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD.

Because of God’s interaction in Naaman’s life, he has come to the realization that there is only one true God.
 
We also find it very curious that people who are outside the faith can recognize the truth about God more completely than most of those who claim to know God, but who still want to live in the world.

18. In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter."

Naaman recognized that because of his servitude to his master he would be required to still seem to be a part of his country’s worship of a false god, and wanted forgiveness beforehand.
 
There is a good lesson to be learned here, but it is not intended to be for those sins and ungodly acts that we want to do.
 
Naaman doesn’t want to do the things that his master requires him to do.

19. And he said to him, "Go in peace." So he departed from him some distance.
 
20. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him."

God didn’t want Elisha to take anything from Naaman, and He definitely didn’t want Gehazi to take anything either, but Gehazi wanted what God didn’t want him to have.
 
Gehazi was greedy, wanting more than God’s will in his life.

21. So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came 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, 'Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.' "

Notice that Gehazi is compounding his sin of greediness by lying and trying to cover up his true intention.

23. And Naaman said, "Be pleased to take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes, and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him.

Naaman is more than happy to give Gehazi what he asks for, because he is so grateful for his healing, but now Naaman may also think that his gift from God was not free as God wanted him to know.
 
Gehazi was working against God’s heavenly will, which is the problem with most of the people in the world today.
 
We need to think about the consequences of our action, especially when we are wanting more than God’s will.

24. When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.
 
25. But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere."

Notice that Elisha is really offering Gehazi the opportunity to confess his sins and ask for forgiveness, but instead Gehazi is further compounding his sins against God by continuing to add even more lies.

26. Then he [Elisha] said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?
 
27. "Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
NASB

Wanting more than God’s will in our lives can often lead to the problems in our lives.
 
We need to think about what we are doing that is outside the heavenly will of God, and repent of our ungodly ways and return to living in his heavenly will.
 
Think about all of the chronic diseases that are plaguing people in the world around us, and almost all of these chronic diseases can be reversed and/or cured by returning to the whole plant food diet that God originally created for us to eat.
 
We strongly believe that the people who are suffering from these diseases are really suffering for being like Gehazi.
 
Now let’s turn our attention to Psalm 66:1-12, and continue to think about wanting more than God’s will.

1. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
 
2. Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
 
3. Say to God, "How awesome are Thy works!
Because of the greatness of Thy power
Thine enemies will give feigned obedience to Thee.

We believe that it is very important for us all to understand that anyone who feigns obedience to God is really making themselves His enemy, and we are seeing a lot of this coming from people in the churches and who call themselves Christian.
 
We cannot fool God; He knows our innermost thoughts and intentions.

4. "All the earth will worship Thee,
And will sing praises to Thee;
They will sing praises to Thy name."
Selah.

We strongly hope this happens soon, even if this includes the people who feign obedience to God, as this psalm seems to indicate.

5. Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.

We don’t have to go anywhere to see these things; they are all around us.

6. He turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through the river on foot;
There let us rejoice in Him!

And don’t forget that many of these same people soon rebelled against the God who did all these things.

7. He rules by His might forever;
His eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Selah.

This warning is meant for most of the people in the world today, for they are wanting more than God’s will, for they are greedy people of this corrupt world.

8. Bless our God, O peoples,
And sound His praise abroad,
 
9. Who keeps us in life,
And does not allow our feet to slip.

The Holy Spirit does warn everyone about the things that are outside the heavenly will of God, but most of the people fail to truly listen.

10. For Thou hast tried us, O God;
Thou hast refined us as silver is refined.
 
11. Thou didst bring us into the net;
Thou didst lay an oppressive burden upon our loins.

This only seems to happen when we desire the things of this corrupt and evil world.
 
If we live in the heavenly will of God as His peacemaking children, then His burdens are light.

12. Thou didst make men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
Yet Thou didst bring us out into a place of abundance.
NASB

When people are found to be wanting more than God’s will, they feel the inner conviction of their pending sins, and they are intended to burn inside of us so that we would turn away from these worldly ways and return to God’s heavenly will.
 
It is only then that God will bring them out of their worldly ways, and back into the abundance that comes from being in the heavenly will of God.
 
Either we are God’s children, or we are children of the devil.
 
We cannot have it both ways.
 
Amen?
 
Amen.

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