"Go Jump In A Lake!"

“Go Jump in a Lake”

II Kings 5:1-14

2KI 5:1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." 11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. 13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, `Wash and be cleansed’!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

INTRODUCTION

• There are three people in this story whom I think we can relate to this morning…I think they will challenge us, wherever we may be in our spiritual journey.

• Let’s take a look at these three people:

I. One who had a HURT {vs 1, 5, 9-14}

NAAMAN

• This is the obvious character we would look at. Let’s take a look at him really closely:

1. His Past

• This man was used by God to do great things

• Sometimes some bad things happen to some really good people

2. His Pain (vs 1)

• This was a death sentence…no answers at all for this man

• You may be facing a very difficult situation as well

3. His Price (vs 5)

• He was ready to do whatever he could in his own power to get his answer

• Friend, please lose the idea that you have somehow merit God’s good graces in order for Him to love you

4. His Process (vs 9-13)

• There is NO way Naaman had planned on his answer coming this way

Elisha didn’t “do the spectacular” thing

In fact, Elisha didn’t even talk to him

He had to dip in a filthy river

He had to do it seven times

• We need to realize that God often answers our prayers in ways that we would never expect

5. His Patience (vs 14)

• I am glad Naaman didn’t stop with 6 dips in the water

• Be patient, Friend, God knows what He is doing!

You may be here and are saying in your heart, “Well, Pastor, I’m really not facing any major problem or hurts today.” I have a word for you as well this morning!

• Let’s look at:

II. One who had HELP {vs 2-5}

A SERVANT GIRL

• This young lady had the answer for someone who was hurting