Text: 2 Kings 5:13
(2 Ki 5:13) "And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?"
Introduction:
Notice:
1. CONDITION OF NAAMAN
(2 Ki 5:1) "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper."
A. Leper
1. Type of sin.
2. Had no hope.
(Eph 2:12) "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"
(1 Th 4:13) "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
3. Could not cure himself despite all of his qualities.
Captain
A Great Man
Honorable
Deliverer
Mighty Man Of Valor
4. All the qualities and efforts in the world cannot cure sin.
(Isa 64:6) "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
(Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."
2. CONCERN OF ONE
(2 Ki 5:2-3) "And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. {3} And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy."
A. Just a servant (slave or maid)
B. Realized who could help
C. Shared the truth.
There are many today who are dying with the dreaded disease of sin.
They have no hope.
They cannot save themselves.
But we who are saved know Who can and have the truth.
Illustration:
Imagine someone knowing the cure for cancer, but refusing to share the truth with the medical world. They would certainly not be known as someone or something great, but rather a uncaring, non-compassionate, self centered, egotistical, proud, individual in society.
But Christians today have the truth concerning the disease of sin and yet many are not concerned enough to share the truth with them.
3. COMMAND OF THE PROPHET
(2 Ki 5:10) "And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean."
A. Was sent by a messenger.
1. We too again have been sent.
(Mark 16:15) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
B. Was sent to the Jordan.
1. The Jordan was a dirty river.
2. The Jordan is a picture of dying to self.
If a person is to ever get saved he must not trust in self, but the Saviour.
If a Christian is ever going to become what God desires him to be and become, he too must die to self.
(Gal 2:10) "Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."
4. CONTENTION OF THE LEPER
(2 Ki 5:11) "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper."
A. Became angry because the prophet sent his messenger instead of coming and speaking personally with him.
B. Was humiliated by the simplicity of the prophet¡¦s command.
(2 Ki 5:12) "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage."
Often the lost stumble at the simplicity of the Gospel.
Often Christians become disturbed in the simple things ask of them.
Many are willing to do the great things, but neglect, or fill belittled to do the small things.
(2 Ki 5:13) "And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?"
God’s Word speaks concerning greatness.
(Mat 18:1-6) "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? {2} And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, {3} And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. {4} Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. {5} And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. {6} But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
(Mat 23:1-12) "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, {2} Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: {3} All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. {4} For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. {5} But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, {6} And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, {7} And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. {8} But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. {9} And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. {10} Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. {11} But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. {12} And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
5. Compliance Of Naaman
(2 Ki 5:14) "Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."
A. His flesh was made like a little child’s.
B. His leprosy was cured.
C. He became a new creature.
(2 Cor 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
6. CONCLUSION OF THE STORY
(2 Ki 5:15-19) "And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. {16} But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. {17} And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. {18} In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing. {19} And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way."
A. Wanted to do right.
B. Wanted to do something for the cause of Christ.
C. Wanted to go the church.
