People who are said to be failures are judged harshly in our world. Our text is the recoding of a man who failed. If we look back at the totality of his life, he was not the stereotype of a failure. There were many things about this man that were admirable, but in this one instance he failed in his duty. The subject of our story was given charge to guard a prisoner who escaped. He was not overpowered, outwitted or surprised. The prisoner escaped because the one who was tasked with guarding him was - busy. He did not do the things that he should have done because he was too busy. Life is filled with so many things and competing priorities that it is not hard to be busy. Why did this man fail? Did he fail out of ignorance? No, he understood what his responsibilities were. He failed because he did not do what he knew to do. More knowledge would not have helped him. He simply needed to to what he needed to do. The reason that people fail, that people live unclean lives; is because they are unwilling to do what they know they should do. We know enough today to do what we should do and that is to live a Godly life. Our subject did not fail because he lacked ability. He was qualified for the task given him. He did not fail because he was lazy. He was busy, but just not busy with the thing he needed to be busy with. The reasons for failure are not because of a lack of knowledge, ability or because he was idle; he failed because he was too busy with the wrong things. He was busy with important things, but he neglected essential things. He was busy, but with what? Too many have been engaged in good works, but in the process they forget to pay attention to the essential things. We need to be busy, but busy with the right things.

People who are said to be failures are judged harshly in our world. Our text is the recoding of a man who failed. If we look back at the totality of his life, he was not the stereotype of a failure. There were many things about this man that were admirable, but in this one instance he failed in his duty. The subject of our story was given charge to guard a prisoner who escaped. He was not overpowered, outwitted or surprised. The prisoner escaped because the one who was tasked with guarding him was - busy. He did not do the things that he should have done because he was too busy. Life is filled with so many things and competing priorities that it is not hard to be busy. Why did this man fail? Did he fail out of ignorance? No, he understood what his responsibilities were. He failed because he did not do what he knew to do. More knowledge would not have helped him. He simply needed to to what he needed to do. The reason that people fail, that people live unclean lives; is because they are unwilling to do what they know they should do. We know enough today to do what we should do and that is to live a Godly life. Our subject did not fail because he lacked ability. He was qualified for the task given him. He did not fail because he was lazy. He was busy, but just not busy with the thing he needed to be busy with. The reasons for failure are not because of a lack of knowledge, ability or because he was idle; he failed because he was too busy with the wrong things. He was busy with important things, but he neglected essential things. He was busy, but with what? Too many have been engaged in good works, but in the process they forget to pay attention to the essential things. We need to be busy, but busy with the right things.

Life is a battle field. We will not live without battles and struggles. Often times those battles will come to spoil our hopes and frustrate our future. None of these battles are so subtle and destructive as the enemy mentioned in our text today. Naaman is a man who belongs in a class all his own. He was a brave and courageous man. He was a wise and successful leader. He was a commander and been given great authority because of his accomplishments. Naaman had faced many enemies and had been victorious. The bible tells us that deliverance was given to Syria because of Naaman's efforts. Many things had come against him, but nothing seemed to be able to stop him. Out text highlights an enemy that came from within. Somehow Namen contracted leprosy. The law was that anyone with leprosy was to be cast out, but Naaman retained his position even with this disease. Our text tells us that Naaman was a great leader, BUT. He was a great man, BUT. That one word spoils the entire narrative of Naaman's life. So Naaman's life was marked. He was a great man, but he was a leper. Word came to Naaman one day that there was one who could clean that from his life. He travels to the prophets home. Surly he stood outside the door with great expectation of some kind of a moving ceremony and healing. That is not what happens. Naaman was told to simply wash in the Jordon river seven times and he would be clean. He was angry. The bible tells us that he went away in a rage. Instead of being thrilled at an answer, he was angry. There was an enemy that arose before him that day that was greater than any other. That enemy was his own pride. Something in Naaman made him think that he was better than the simple word of God he had received. Pride is a subtle enemy that is not our friend; it is our worst enemy. It is the one thing that will rob us from the miracle that God wants to give us. Pride will do more harm to us than any disability we have or issue that we face. Allowing pride to stand in our face and tell us things that are contrary to God's word will keep us from God and His blessings. Naaman almost let pride steal his miracle. Pride is clever. It hide behind many things. It shows up as righteousnesses, but it is a self-righteousness. It is comparing ourselves to others and observing that that we are not so bad. Pride is an excuse for doing what we know we should not be doing. Pride masquerades as knowledge, power, and wealth. It will stop us from recover, healing, and blessing. We can overcome sickness, limitations and limitations, but pride is the most difficult to overcome.

Pride prefers drama over deliverance. Some people love their drama more than their deliverance. Pride will destroy relationships. Pride holds us in a false sense of measurement and justice in life. Pride can cause us to develop a false measurement of life. We apply one measure to others, but another to ourselves. Pride would rather hold on to a reputation than have a recovery. It is not our problem that is our problem; the problem is our pride. When God provides an answer and we stay away from that answer because of our pride, we are facing our worst enemy.

Life is a battle field. We will not live without battles and struggles. Often times those battles will come to spoil our hopes and frustrate our future. None of these battles are so subtle and destructive as the enemy mentioned in our text today. Naaman is a man who belongs in a class all his own. He was a brave and courageous man. He was a wise and successful leader. He was a commander and been given great authority because of his accomplishments. Naaman had faced many enemies and had been victorious. The bible tells us that deliverance was given to Syria because of Naaman's efforts. Many things had come against him, but nothing seemed to be able to stop him. Out text highlights an enemy that came from within. Somehow Namen contracted leprosy. The law was that anyone with leprosy was to be cast out, but Naaman retained his position even with this disease. Our text tells us that Naaman was a great leader, BUT. He was a great man, BUT. That one word spoils the entire narrative of Naaman's life. So Naaman's life was marked. He was a great man, but he was a leper. Word came to Naaman one day that there was one who could clean that from his life. He travels to the prophets home. Surly he stood outside the door with great expectation of some kind of a moving ceremony and healing. That is not what happens. Naaman was told to simply wash in the Jordon river seven times and he would be clean. He was angry. The bible tells us that he went away in a rage. Instead of being thrilled at an answer, he was angry. There was an enemy that arose before him that day that was greater than any other. That enemy was his own pride. Something in Naaman made him think that he was better than the simple word of God he had received. Pride is a subtle enemy that is not our friend; it is our worst enemy. It is the one thing that will rob us from the miracle that God wants to give us. Pride will do more harm to us than any disability we have or issue that we face. Allowing pride to stand in our face and tell us things that are contrary to God's word will keep us from God and His blessings. Naaman almost let pride steal his miracle. Pride is clever. It hide behind many things. It shows up as righteousnesses, but it is a self-righteousness. It is comparing ourselves to others and observing that that we are not so bad. Pride is an excuse for doing what we know we should not be doing. Pride masquerades as knowledge, power, and wealth. It will stop us from recover, healing, and blessing. We can overcome sickness, limitations and limitations, but pride is the most difficult to overcome.

Pride prefers drama over deliverance. Some people love their drama more than their deliverance. Pride will destroy relationships. Pride holds us in a false sense of measurement and justice in life. Pride can cause us to develop a false measurement of life. We apply one measure to others, but another to ourselves. Pride would rather hold on to a reputation than have a recovery. It is not our problem that is our problem; the problem is our pride. When God provides an answer and we stay away from that answer because of our pride, we are facing our worst enemy.

Life is perplexing. Sometimes we know that we need to talk to God, but we don't even know where to start. We are all traveling down a road that is unknown. No matter how far we have traveled, the path ahead is filled with unknowns. There are some things in life that are troubling, but the uncertainties cause us the most problem. The unknown creates tension and frustration in life. Often, the unknown rouses anger in us. In our text, Paul was writing to a people much like us. They had been tried and suffered much adversity. Paul writes to these tired people with the objective of reminding them of a river of comfort that flows into their lives. Paul clearly defined life: We know not what. In this brief text, Paul offers several bits of wisdom for dealing with the unknown. First, Paul reminds us that when we know not what, we must remember who: We are children of God; we are heirs. When we are dealing with the unknowns in life, we have to remind ourselves that we are a child of God. We may not know His plans, but we know that His plans are good. We may not know, but He knows. We may not see, but He sees. We are children of God and He will not let his children be lost. There is an amazing glory reserved for us because we are His children. He holds tomorrow and He holds us; somehow it will all work out. When we don’t know what, we still know who and that is enough to carry us through. Paul tells them, and us, that the Spirit that is within us helps us when we do not know what to do. The Spirit will help with our infirmities and uncertainties. He reminds us that when we do not know what, prayer is the answer. Even when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit will make intercession for us. Prayer will help us see the mercy's and grace of God. When we pray, our eyes are opened to see hands that are greater than ours that are working on our behalf. Prayer allows God to touch us, and comfort us. What we do not know must never seal from us what we do know: We are children of God. We have in us His spirit. Most of all, we have the ability to talk to Him though prayer.

Life is perplexing. Sometimes we know that we need to talk to God, but we don't even know where to start. We are all traveling down a road that is unknown. No matter how far we have traveled, the path ahead is filled with unknowns. There are some things in life that are troubling, but the uncertainties cause us the most problem. The unknown creates tension and frustration in life. Often, the unknown rouses anger in us. In our text, Paul was writing to a people much like us. They had been tried and suffered much adversity. Paul writes to these tired people with the objective of reminding them of a river of comfort that flows into their lives. Paul clearly defined life: We know not what. In this brief text, Paul offers several bits of wisdom for dealing with the unknown. First, Paul reminds us that when we know not what, we must remember who: We are children of God; we are heirs. When we are dealing with the unknowns in life, we have to remind ourselves that we are a child of God. We may not know His plans, but we know that His plans are good. We may not know, but He knows. We may not see, but He sees. We are children of God and He will not let his children be lost. There is an amazing glory reserved for us because we are His children. He holds tomorrow and He holds us; somehow it will all work out. When we don’t know what, we still know who and that is enough to carry us through. Paul tells them, and us, that the Spirit that is within us helps us when we do not know what to do. The Spirit will help with our infirmities and uncertainties. He reminds us that when we do not know what, prayer is the answer. Even when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit will make intercession for us. Prayer will help us see the mercy's and grace of God. When we pray, our eyes are opened to see hands that are greater than ours that are working on our behalf. Prayer allows God to touch us, and comfort us. What we do not know must never seal from us what we do know: We are children of God. We have in us His spirit. Most of all, we have the ability to talk to Him though prayer.

It has been said that our prayers are not answered not when we have received what we have ask, but when we are challenged to be what we can be. Jesus grew up in a carpenter's shop. One of the things about wood working is how much can be hidden in a piece of wood. There is much hidden in a piece, and that it takes a lot of work and effort to transform a common piece of wood into something beautiful. The flaws and blemishes in a piece of wood are not evident until the work begins. Transformation is not something that happens in a moment of time. What is in us is often obscured by what we are. What we have the capacity to become is hidden behind what and who we are. Even so, God calls us with a divine purpose and a divine idea for what we are to become. LIke the wood worker, He has to work through many things to get us to where He wants us to be. When he began working with Simon Peter, he had to start with someone with a vile tongue. He couldn't simply remove it, because then Peter would not have been Peter. Like Peter, we are all a work in progress. God has work around our flaws and deficiencies to achieve His purpose. God has to work though a lot of stuff to make us what He needs us to be. Within every one of us is a framework and capacity for better things. God made us the way we are so that we will fulfill His divine purpose. In every human heart is an imprint of God. We are all made in HIs likeness. If we submit to his working an will, that better man or woman will be revealed. In our text, Jesus addresses him as Simon Bar-Jona, but in the next verse, he is Peter upon whom the church will be built. The Peter we first meet and get to know is not someone that anyone of us would anticipate amounting to anything in the kingdom of God. Oh, but the work and transformation that took place in Peter's life. There was a better man in Simon-Peter and Jesus was intent in bringing it out. That same divine purpose in Simon-Peter, is in us. God knows there are flaws in us, but He works that into His overall plan. The transformation is not an overnight process. It is a lot of trial and error. It is one step forward, and two steps back. It is a lot of prayer. We must not give up before God finishes His work. As much as we may think it is hopeless, God is not finished. It takes time for God to work it out. He has not written us off. He is trying to reveal in us the beauty that is hidden inside.

It has been said that our prayers are not answered not when we have received what we have ask, but when we are challenged to be what we can be. Jesus grew up in a carpenter's shop. One of the things about wood working is how much can be hidden in a piece of wood. There is much hidden in a piece, and that it takes a lot of work and effort to transform a common piece of wood into something beautiful. The flaws and blemishes in a piece of wood are not evident until the work begins. Transformation is not something that happens in a moment of time. What is in us is often obscured by what we are. What we have the capacity to become is hidden behind what and who we are. Even so, God calls us with a divine purpose and a divine idea for what we are to become. LIke the wood worker, He has to work through many things to get us to where He wants us to be. When he began working with Simon Peter, he had to start with someone with a vile tongue. He couldn't simply remove it, because then Peter would not have been Peter. Like Peter, we are all a work in progress. God has work around our flaws and deficiencies to achieve His purpose. God has to work though a lot of stuff to make us what He needs us to be. Within every one of us is a framework and capacity for better things. God made us the way we are so that we will fulfill His divine purpose. In every human heart is an imprint of God. We are all made in HIs likeness. If we submit to his working an will, that better man or woman will be revealed. In our text, Jesus addresses him as Simon Bar-Jona, but in the next verse, he is Peter upon whom the church will be built. The Peter we first meet and get to know is not someone that anyone of us would anticipate amounting to anything in the kingdom of God. Oh, but the work and transformation that took place in Peter's life. There was a better man in Simon-Peter and Jesus was intent in bringing it out. That same divine purpose in Simon-Peter, is in us. God knows there are flaws in us, but He works that into His overall plan. The transformation is not an overnight process. It is a lot of trial and error. It is one step forward, and two steps back. It is a lot of prayer. We must not give up before God finishes His work. As much as we may think it is hopeless, God is not finished. It takes time for God to work it out. He has not written us off. He is trying to reveal in us the beauty that is hidden inside.

Paul's explanation of the Lord's supper is significant not only of the rites of a ceremony, but for our remembrance of the meaning of the taking of communion. We must remember that our salvation was paid at a great price. We must never forget the price of redeeming our life. He paid a price for our salvation and in so doing, He place a value on our life. By doing what He did, He revealed the magnitude of His love for us. God saw something in all of us that God deemed to be worthy of saving. Do not live a cheapened life, because our life has a great value to God. The world presents a view of life that is cheap and tawdry. Pop culture celebrates, and presents as normal, cheap and trashy living. The amount of money someone has does not prevent them from living cheaply. We live cheaply when we fail to recognize the value of the body and life that God has given us, we fail to realize the potential that God has placed in us. Paul says that someone who partakes the Lord’s supper without proper reverence and consideration fails to discern the body of Christ. The body can refer to our physical body as well as the church we discern the body In our physical bodies we look past the imperfections to see the purpose. None of us have a perfect body, but none of us are willing to cut off our arm because it hurts. The church is the same. We will have struggles and issues, but we cannot do harm to the body just because there is some struggles. Just as we value or own bodies, we must value the body of Christ that is the church.

Paul's explanation of the Lord's supper is significant not only of the rites of a ceremony, but for our remembrance of the meaning of the taking of communion. We must remember that our salvation was paid at a great price. We must never forget the price of redeeming our life. He paid a price for our salvation and in so doing, He place a value on our life. By doing what He did, He revealed the magnitude of His love for us. God saw something in all of us that God deemed to be worthy of saving. Do not live a cheapened life, because our life has a great value to God. The world presents a view of life that is cheap and tawdry. Pop culture celebrates, and presents as normal, cheap and trashy living. The amount of money someone has does not prevent them from living cheaply. We live cheaply when we fail to recognize the value of the body and life that God has given us, we fail to realize the potential that God has placed in us. Paul says that someone who partakes the Lord’s supper without proper reverence and consideration fails to discern the body of Christ. The body can refer to our physical body as well as the church we discern the body In our physical bodies we look past the imperfections to see the purpose. None of us have a perfect body, but none of us are willing to cut off our arm because it hurts. The church is the same. We will have struggles and issues, but we cannot do harm to the body just because there is some struggles. Just as we value or own bodies, we must value the body of Christ that is the church.