• Teach me, O Lord, by Your tender mercies.
  Sermon given on 4 th January 2026 at the South Asian Pakistan Church

Corruption of God’s Testimony

In 2 Kings 5, we read about Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. He was a powerful man, a great leader of men, and a mighty warrior. He was highly honored by the King of Syria and held in great esteem. Yet despite all his power, influence, and wealth, Naaman had a problem—he was a leper.

In those days, there was no cure for leprosy. All the authority and wealth Naaman possessed could not save him. He was destined to live—and eventually die—as a leper. His earthly success could not deliver him from his condition.

In Naaman’s household lived a young Hebrew servant girl. She told her mistress about a prophet in Samaria who could heal Naaman of his leprosy. Through this unlikely witness, God begins to draw Naaman towards Himself. With the permission and the blessing of the Syrian King, Naaman set out and eventually came before the prophet Elisha.

Elisha instructed Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Though Naaman initially resisted and doubted the instruction, he eventually obeyed. When he dipped into the river the seventh time, his flesh was restored, and his leprosy was completely healed.

Naaman immediately returned to Elisha, and this is the confession he made:

2 Kings 5:15 | And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

The greatest miracle in this passage is not merely that Naaman was healed, but that he came to the knowledge of the One True God. God entrusted Elisha to be a faithful witness of who He is, even raising up a young servant girl in a foreign palace to bring Naaman to Samaria to meet Elisha.

Out of gratitude, Naaman urged Elisha to accept a gift. But Elisha refused. Had he accepted it, it would have implied that God’s work was transactional—that Elisha profited from Naaman and Naaman profited from Elisha. Elisha refused because the testimony had to point to God alone.

However, the account does not end there. As Naaman departed as a newborn believer, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, pursued him. Gehazi used Elisha’s name to request gifts—silver and changes of garments—for himself. Naaman gave them willingly. Gehazi then hid the gifts, attempting to conceal his action from Elisha.

But the good Lord revealed this to Elisha. Elisha confronted Gehazi and said:

2 Kings 5:26 | 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?”

Elisha asked, “Is this the time?” Is this the time to accumulate wealth? Is this the time to profit from the work of God? The Lord had healed Naaman so that His name might be glorified, and that Naaman might be saved—not so that His servant might become rich in His name.

Elisha reminds Gehazi that being used as a vessel of God is by itself a privilege and a blessing. Why allow greed to rob you of that blessing? Why turn the work of God into profit for the flesh?

Because of Gehazi’s greed, the leprosy that left Naaman came upon him instead. Gehazi’s sin was not just taking money but using the name of God and the work of God to satisfy his flesh. Using the name of God for his own profit.

The Pattern Repeats in the New Testament

When we turn to the New Testament, we see the same pattern repeating. As soon as the church was born in Acts 2, the work of the Holy Spirit was clearly visible. The Spirit united new believers in Christ, and this unity became a testimony to those who had not yet come to faith.

Scripture tells us that great grace was upon all of them. When believers saw that other believers were in need, those who had possessions sold them and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. The apostles then distributed what was given so that no one among them lacked.

The early church did not love the world or its wealth. They had found true liberty in Christ. They understood that material riches were not necessary for a faithful Christian life.

As long as they had what was needed, they freely gave away the rest. Their labor was not for earthly success but for provision and service, because their hearts were fixed on the things of Christ.

They lived as Christ lived—content without possessions—because His kingdom was not of this world.

It is in this context that we read in Acts 5 about a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. They sold a piece of land and brought part of the proceeds, laying it at the feet of the apostle Peter. They claimed that what they brought was the full amount.

Peter confronted them and asked why they had lied—not to men, but to the Holy Spirit. Neither God nor the apostles had asked for any money. They were free to keep their money, and free to give a part of it, and free to be honest. But they chose instead to lie, pretending full surrender while secretly holding back for themselves.

Because of this, Scripture proclaims that both Ananias and Sapphira fell dead at the feet of Peter.

What is the Lord teaching the Church?

Ananias and Saphira wanted one foot in the world, and one foot in the church. They desired comfort and security in this life, while also wanting eternal life in the world to come. They were lukewarm, seeking both the kingdoms at the same time.

But Christ has already warned us that no one can serve both God and Mammon.

Ananias and Saphira acted as though they were sold out to the Lord, when their hearts were divided. Their intention was to live well on earth and live well in heaven. They believed they could secure both by appearance rather than complete surrender to the Lord.

Peter made it clear that they had not merely lied about money—they had lied to the Holy Spirit. Their greed, their love for the world, and their desire to preserve the flesh made them hypocrites—actors who appeared righteous outwardly while remaining unchanged inwardly.

Scripture repeatedly warns us about such people. The apostles describe them as those who speak impressive words yet are empty within—clouds without water—twice dead—professing faith but lacking holiness and righteousness.

When Jesus Christ walked on this earth, the only group of people who He constantly rebuked was the hypocrites. They knew the truth but loved the world too much to obey the truth.

They wanted the benefits of faith without the cost of discipleship. They refused to crucify their flesh, choosing instead to live in its lust and greed.

The Lukewarm Church of Today

Nothing has changed today. Many who call themselves Christians still love the world. Christ is now sought—not so that He may be known—but so that life in this world may be more comfortable.

The understanding of holiness and righteousness has been lost. Yes, we speak the right words, but they are empty. Scripture describes such faith as clouds without water and twice dead (Jude 1:12).

If we truly believed the message of the gospel, then where is the evidence of holiness and righteousness in our lives? Faith that does not produce transformation is not the faith Christ calls us to.

This brings us to the final message Christ gives to the Church. In the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, the good Lord addresses the seven churches. And to five of them, His command is the same:

Repent.

Christ does not ask the churches to do more work.

Christ does not ask them to give more.

Christ does not ask them to build more buildings.

Christ does not command them to expand the missionary programs and send more people.

Christ calls them to repent.

To turn away from their love of the world and return to Him (Revelation 2:4-5, Revelation 3:19).

To understand this call, we must understand what the Church truly is, and why did Christ establish a body called Church.

The Church is not merely a gathering of believers. The Church is the body of Christ—the visible presence of Christ in this world (1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 1:22-23).

Christ has ascended, but He did not leave us as orphans. He gave us His Spirit—the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit—so that we may be united in Him until we are with Him.

Today, if the world is to know Christ, it will know Him through His body—through us. Not just through gospel tracts or programs, but through a living testimony of Christ in and through His people.

Yet here we are, with one foot in the world and one foot in the gospel. We know the truth. We know we need Christ. But we refuse to leave the world because we love the flesh and the world too much.

Like Gehazi, we now use the Word of God to profit the flesh. We seek Christ so that we may live well in this world. And the Lord asks us again:

Is this the time?

Is this the time to add more houses, more cars, more wealth, more health?

Is this the time, Gehazi?

Like Ananias and Sapphira, we have become hypocrites—professing Christ before the world, yet unable to live like Christ. We have corrupted the body of Christ with the love of the world.

Christ desires renewal in His body, and that renewal comes only through true repentance.

And repentance comes only when we return to the Word of God so that we may truly know Christ.

If we lose our witness—if the lampstand is removed—we no longer function as the body of Christ in this world. And if there is no Spirit, there is no more true repentance in us.

If we have heard this message, let us understand this: Christ does not need anything from us but repentance—a repentance that flows from turning our hearts back to Him and to His Word.

The Church—the Body of Christ.

Scripture gives us a clear picture of what the body of Christ looks like when it has embraced true repentance. The apostle Paul prays this prayer for the Church in Philippians 1:9-11.

Philippians 1:9 | And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.

Philippians 1:10 | that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.

Philippians 1:11 | being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

This is the call to the Church—that we may grow in His love. As His love abounds in us, it flows among us and overflows to those outside the Church.

The world should see our love for the Lord, not our love for the world. They should see in us the same love that the Lord demonstrated on the cross of Calvary—made visible through His people.

This love does not come because we decided to love. It is not the product of human effort. This is the love of the Father, given to us through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and perfected in us through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit by the Word of God.

This is God’s love made visible in His people. It is not our work—it is the work of the Lord in us.

This love, however, will not be evident in us unless there is a desire to repent and to sit in the presence of God.

This is the “first love” that the Lord warned the church of Ephesians about in the book of Revelation. They were diligent in service and careful in doctrine, yet they had forgotten to love the Lord Himself.

They were so occupied with serving the Lord that they neglected fellowship with the Lord.

They were so focused on ministry and preserving truth that they failed to guard their own hearts. And the Lord warns them that without repentance, even their faithfulness in work could not replace love.

So, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the only way we remain in the love of God and guard our hearts from loving the world—by seeking Christ and desiring to dwell in His presence.

This is true revival: that the believer repents, turns towards the Lord, and chooses to sit in His presence—desiring Him above all else.

When this happens, Scripture teaches us that we are built up in Christ. And as each believer is built up, the body of Christ—the Church—is built up as well.

Transformation is the testimony of Christ.

Love is the evidence of Christ.

Holiness and Righteousness are the desire of Christ.

And this happens when our deepest desire is to be with Him more than anything else.

In Christ — Noel Kingsley

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