God's Way

GOD’S WAY

(2 Kings 5.1-14)

(v.1) I. Naaman was a successful man,

he had a lot going for him,

but he also had a big problem( a burden in his life).

“...commander of the army... a great and honorable man... by

him the LORD gave victory (in his profession)

... BUT HE WAS A LEPER.

(v.4) II. Naturally, Naaman wanted to find a way to get rid of his

problem.

A. He had more than likely, down through the years,

tried many other possible cures which people told him

about

B. But all had failed him, nothing had worked

(v.5b) III. But, Naaman was not just interested in getting rid of a minor

inconvenience, he was desparate to be freed from a problem

which consumed him, day and night.

*(approximately = $ 4 million)

**(some might think “Well, if he had that much money, why did

he care if he had leprosy or not?”)

***(How many know that Money can’t buy happiness...)

****(He would give anything to be free)

IV. God provided a way for Naaman to be healed of his problem,

but the ultimate reason God was willing to heal him WAS NOT

just for Naaman’s sake,... it was for the sake and the purpose

of bring glory to Himself - that word of His grace and mercy

would spread to a nation and that many would believe on Him.

A. (John 9.3; ...Jesus heals a man blind from birth, the reason

he gives is this:

“...that the works of God should be revealed in him.”)

B. God has provided a way for you and I to be healed of our

problem, of our burden - but understand, any healing that

will take place is not for us only but primarily that He be

glorified, that word of His grace and mercy be spread.

(v.11) V. Next, we see a common problem, Naaman wanted his problem

taken care of(removed), but he wanted it done HIS WAY.

A. By the time Naaman got to Elisha’s door,

he had things all firgured out...

B. He had picked out the HOW, the WHERE, & the WHEN

of his healing.

C. The problem was that GOD’S WAY required Naaman to

give up control of the situation and have FAITH.

1. A Faith that was HUMBLE

- told to get down off his “high” horse

- and bow down in a dirty little river

- in front of all of the soldiers and servants

and others standing by watching

- Naaman was concerned about his Image (pride)

- But if Naaman (or any of us) want to be healed

of our problem, we must humble ourselves

2. A Faith that was PATIENT

- Naaman was told to go and wash SEVEN times

- Not 5 times,

- Not 6 3/4 times

- ...but 7 times

*- the fact is, God hasn’t healed some people’s

problems, not because He is not willing, but

because we are not willing...

**- (...Not willing to have faith that is Humble

{get down off our “high” horse,

not caring what people think}

(...Not willing to have faith that is Patient

{doing it God’s Way}

If we want God’s result ...we have to do things God’s way

***- ...and God’s way is GREAT!

(v.14b) “...and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

VI. Q: What was the determining factor in Naaman changing his

prideful mind and coming back to the Jordan river where he

was healed?

A: The determining factor, without which Naaman would

have lived the rest of his life and eventually died a leper, ...

the determining factor(S) were the VOICES OF REASON.

(v.13, 14a) 13 “And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, ‘My father, if

the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done

it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?

14a “So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to

the sayings of the man of God;...”

VII. Every person, at any given time, has Something

they can point to as a sincere problem, a troublesome burden.

A. Christian People & Non-Christian People

B. Those problems often weigh very heavily upon our lives.

C. Those problems do not have to remain in our lives.

1. God has provided a way to remove our burdens

(1 Pet 5.7) “(cast) all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

(Matt 11.28) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.”

2. God’s Way is through FAITH...

- A Faith which is HUMBLE (give up control)

- A Faith which is PATIENT (God’s way, God’s time)

D. Sometimes we have a pre-determined idea of How,