DO WHAT YOU CAN AND GOD WILL DO THE REST : DO WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND GOD WILL DO WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE
OUTLINE
THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD - EXAMPLES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. MARY OF BETHANY POURED PRECIOUS OINTMENT ON JESUS . JESUS COMMENDED HER AND SAID SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD AND THAT IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
2. FRIENDS OF THE PARALYTIC MAN CARRIED HIM TO JESUS TO BE HEALED. JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH AND HEALED THE PARALYTIC MAN
3. THE LITTLE BOY GAVE HIS FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES WHICH JESUS MULTIPLIED TO FEED THE FIVE THOUSAND
4. THE WIDOW WHO GAVE TWO MITES AND WAS PRAISED BY JESUS THAT SHE GAVE MORE THAN ALL THE RICH PEOPLE
5. PETER LENT HIS BOAT TO JESUS AND WAS BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANT CATCH OF FISH
6. THE PEOPLE WHO ROLLED AWAY THE STONE AT THE TOMB OF LAZARUS DID WHAT THEY COULD AND THEN JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
7. PETER AND JOHN DID NOT HAVE SILVER AND GOLD . BUT THEY USED THEIR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY TO HEAL THE LAME MAN
EXAMPLES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. MOSES : GOD ASKED HIM WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND . GOD USED THE ROD IN THE HAND OF MOSES AS A MIRACULOUS SIGN TO MAKE THE PEOPLE BELIEVE
2. AARON AND HUR UPHELD THE HANDS OF MOSES WHEN HE WAS WEARY AND HELPED THE ISRAELITES TO WIN THE BATTLE
3. THE FATHER IN LAW OF MOSES GAVE VALUABLE ADVICE WHICH GREATLY ENHANCED THE LEADERSHIP ABILITY OF MOSES
4. GIDEON : GOD TOLD GIDEON ’GO IN THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE AND YOU WILL DEFEAT THE MIDIANITES’
5. DAVID DEFEATED GOLIATH WITH A SLING AND A STONE IN HIS HAND. HE DID NOT NEED TO USE THE UNFAMILIAR ARMOUR OF THE SOLDIER
6. THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH FED ELIJAH WITH THE LITTLE FLOUR AND OIL THAT SHE HAD. SHE THEREFORE RECEIVED DIVINE PROVISION TILL THE END OF THE FAMINE
7. THE LITTLE SLAVE GIRL TOLD HOW NAAMAN COULD BE HEALED OF LEPROSY. SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD AND NAAMAN WAS HEALED OF LEPROSY.
INTRODUCTION
The Lord wants us to do what we can and He will do the rest. When we do what is possible then God will do the impossible. When we give what we have then God
can use it to perform miracles. The Lord does not ask to do what we cannot do . He does not ask us to give what we do not have . He is not putting
unreasonable pressure on us to do what is beyond our ability to do. He only wants us to faithful to do what we can do and give what we can give and He will
be faithful to bless us abundantly.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 3:27-28
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you"-- when you already have it with you.
JAMES 4:17
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
GALATIANS 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
JAMES 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
PSALM 41:1-3
Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.
The LORD protects and preserves them-- they are counted among the blessed in the land-- he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.
MATTHEW 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown
out and trampled underfoot.
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
ROMANS 12:6-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it
cheerfully.
THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD : EXAMPLES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. MARY OF BETHANY POURED PRECIOUS OINTMENT ON JESUS . JESUS COMMENDED HER AND SAID SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD AND THAT IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
She just did what she could and Jesus considered it worthy to be known and remembered throughout the world. The Lord is satisfied when we do what we can.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MARK 14: 3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure
nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume?
It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.
She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
2. FRIENDS OF THE PARALYTIC MAN CARRIED HIM TO JESUS TO BE HEALED. JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH AND HEALED THE PARALYTIC MAN
The friends of the paralytic man did not have the power to heal him. But they did what they could . They carried him to Jesus. We should do the same and
bring people with their problems to Jesus who can solve their problems.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MARK 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the
man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
"Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?
Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Get up, take your mat and walk’?
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man,
"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
3. THE LITTLE BOY GAVE HIS FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES WHICH JESUS MULTIPLIED TO FEED THE FIVE THOUSAND
Jesus did not ask if they had five thousand loaves of bread and two thousand fishes. He only asked how many loaves do you have. The Lord is only asking us to
give what we have and He will use it to meet our needs. If we refuse to give what we have and hold on to it , we will miss our miracle.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MARK 6:34-44
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it’s already very late.
Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on
bread and give it to them to eat?"
"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five--and two fish."
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to
the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
4. THE WIDOW WHO GAVE TWO MITES AND WAS PRAISED BY JESUS THAT SHE GAVE MORE THAN ALL THE RICH PEOPLE
The poor widow did what she could. She gave all she had. She could not give as much as the rich people did but that did not matter to Jesus. Jesus said that
the two mtes she gave was more than all the offerings of the rich. The Lord values every sacrificial offering very highly.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MARK 12: 41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in
large amounts.
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
5. PETER LENT HIS BOAT TO JESUS AND WAS BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANT CATCH OF FISH
Peter did what he could do and then Jesus did for Peter what he could not do by himself. Peter lent his boat and then Jesus blessed him by helping him catch
a huge haul of fish which he could not do the night before. When we give what we can the Lord will help us get what we could not get in our own strength.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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LUKE 5:1-7
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
6. PEOPLE WHO ROLLED AWAY THE STONE AT THE TOMB OF LAZARUS DID WHAT THEY COULD AND THEN JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
Jesus asked the people to roll away the stone at the tomb of Lazarus before He raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus asked them to do what is possible and then
He did the impossible and raised Lazarus from the dead. When we do what is possible for us to do then God will do the impossible
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 11:38-44
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let
him go."
7. PETER AND JOHN DID NOT HAVE SILVER AND GOLD . BUT THEY USED THEIR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY TO HEAL THE LAME MAN
Peter and John did not have the money that the lame man was asking , but they gave him what they had and healed him in the name of Jesus. When we do not have
money to help people , we can still bless them using our spiritual authority . We can pray and intercede for them and bring down God’s blessings on them.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ACTS 3:1-9
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon.
Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple
courts.
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!"
So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had
happened to him.
THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD : EXAMPLES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. MOSES : GOD ASKED HIM WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND . GOD USED THE ROD IN THE HAND OF MOSES AS A MIRACULOUS SIGN TO MAKE THE PEOPLE BELIEVE
God used what Moses had in his hand to perform miraculous signs. When we allow God to use what we have with us , then the Lord can use it to perform
miracles.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EXODUS 4:1-5
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ’The LORD did not appear to you’?"
Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied.
The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in
his hand.
"This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has
appeared to you."
2. AARON AND HUR UPHELD THE HANDS OF MOSES WHEN HE WAS WEARY AND HELPED THE ISRAELITES TO WIN THE BATTLE
Aaron and Hur were not mighty warriors who fought the battle . But they did what they could. They held up the weary hands of Moses and that helped the
Israelites to win the battle. We may not be great leaders or champions , but we can uphold our leaders with our help and support and prayers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EXODUS 17:8-13
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my
hands."
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so
that his hands remained steady till sunset.
So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
3. THE FATHER IN LAW OF MOSES GAVE VALUABLE ADVICE WHICH GREATLY ENHANCED THE LEADERSHIP ABILITY OF MOSES
The father in law of Moses was not a great leader or warrior . But he helped immensely by giving valuable advice to Moses which greatly enhanced his
leadership ability. We can help people with the knowledge and wisdom and life experiences that we have . We should not be mere spectators watching others
struggle with their problems but should come forward to help them with our counsel which could solve their problems.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EXODUS 18:13-26
The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.
When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while
all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"
Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.
Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions."
Moses’ father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good.
You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to
him.
Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.
But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds,
fifties and tens.
Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That
will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.
If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
4. GIDEON : GOD TOLD GIDEON ’GO IN THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE AND YOU WILL DEFEAT THE MIDIANITES’
Gideon was focused on what he did not have rather than what he had. The Lord encouraged him and said ’ Go in the strength you have . I am with you. I am the
One sending you and you will defeat the enemy ’. We must use the strength that the Lord has given us and have faith that we can defeat the enemy because the
Lord is with us.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JUDGES 6:11-16
The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress
to keep it from the Midianites.
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
"Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us
about when they said, ’Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."
The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?"
"Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive."
5. DAVID DEFEATED GOLIATH WITH A SLING AND A STONE IN HIS HAND. HE DID NOT NEED TO USE THE UNFAMILIAR ARMOUR OF THE SOLDIER
David simply used what he had , a sling and a stone to defeat Goliath. These were his familiar objects and that was all he needed. The Lord can use what we
have and what we are familiar with to defeat the enemy. We need not fear or panic because we not have the weapons that the enemy has. The Lord will grant us
victory using what we have in our hands.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 SAMUEL 17:38-51
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.
David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am
not used to them." So he took them off.
Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand,
approached the Philistine.
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.
He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.
He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
"Come here," he said, "and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!"
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine
army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our
hands."
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown
on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
6. THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH FED ELIJAH WITH THE LITTLE FLOUR AND OIL THAT SHE HAD. SHE THEREFORE RECEIVED DIVINE PROVISION TILL THE END OF THE FAMINE
The widow of Zarepath was willing to share the little food she had with the prophet of God. God richly blessed her with divine provision for her whole family
till the end of the famine. When we give sacrificially to the Lord even in the time of need, He will bless us abundantly to overflowing.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 KINGS 17:7-16
Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with
food."
So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in
a jar so I may have a drink?"
As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don’t have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering
a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and
then make something for yourself and your son.
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ’The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends
rain on the land.’"
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
7. THE LITTLE SLAVE GIRL TOLD HOW NAAMAN COULD BE HEALED OF LEPROSY. SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD AND NAAMAN WAS HEALED OF LEPROSY.
The little slave girl who worked in Naaman’s home did what she could. She could not heal Naaman of leprosy. She did not have bitterness towards Naaman for
taking her captive nor did she rejoice that he was a leper. Instead she told how Naaman could be healed of his leprosy by going to the prophet Elisha. She
did not preach a great sermon or offer a powerful prayer. But she did what she could and this resulted in Naaman being healed of his leprosy. We should also
share with others where they can experience deliverance through the power of God.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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2 KINGS 5:1-14
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.
Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.
"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.
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."
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!"
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."
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house.
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."
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.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off
in a rage.
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’!"
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.
