2 Kings Ch 5 v. 1 - 19 Naaman's Cure
1. Namaan's Description v.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."
I-NOTICE THE MANY CONDITONS OF NAAMAN:
A-He Was A Military Man: 1A "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"
B-He Was A Mighty Man: 1B "he was also a mighty man in valour"
He had power, position, prosperity, and popularity.
His name means, pleasant to look upon.
C-He Was A Miserable Man: 1C“but he was a leper.”
—“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
D-He Was A Missioned Man: 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 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
See Her :-
A. Concern - She didn't hate this man who had captured her, she only saw his need
B. Confidence - She knew what God could do!
C. Conviction - She was unafraid and she had a bold, simple testimony!
ILLUSTRATION: A man left his house for church one Sunday just as his neighbor was loading his golf clubs into his car. "Henry," the neighbor called, "come play golf with me today." Henry answered firmly, "I always go to church on the Lord’s Day." After a pause the golfer said, "You know, Henry, I’ve often wondered about your church and I really admire your faithfulness. But I’ve invited you to play golf with me seven or eight times, and you’ve never once invited me to go to church with you."
2. Naaman's Disease v.1 "but he was a leper"
I. Some things about leprosy
A. A loathsome disease.
1. The removal of other sicknesses was referred to as healing. Leprosy was called a cleansing.
2. Sometimes portions of the skin would fall off, even an arm.
3. The stench was almost unbearable.
B. A contagious disease.
1. Had to be careful.
2. Lepers were exiled.
C. A deceptive disease.
1. Took several days to determine whether you had it.
2. Might be a simple boil.
D. A progressive disease that had a tendency to increase.
1. Progressed until death was welcome.
E. Incurable.
1. All the medicines in the world were ineffective.
II. An anology between leprosy and sin.
A. Sin is loathsome.
1. Sin is worse than leprosy.
2. Leprosy physical – sin is spiritual (Ezekiel 18:20) "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."
3. We look to lightly upon sin
4. Cannot cure man of sin unless we convict him of sin.
5. Cannot afford to be nice to sin Rom 6v23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
B. Sin is contagious James 1v.15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
C. Sin is deceptive Hebrews 3:12 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
D. Sin will increase Rom 5 v.12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
E. Sin is incurable except by the power of God Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
1. Man cannot reform himself out of sin. Morality alone will not save Eph 2 v 8 "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."
3.Naaman's Determination v.5 " And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment."
He Came :-(a) With Grace (b) With Gifts (c) & With Gratitude
4. Naaman's Difficulty v.6 "And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy." Note :- v. 4-7, 11-13 The Leper's Mistake
1. He Went To The Wrong Person - Only One can save - Acts 4:12."Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
2. He Carried The Wrong Price - v. 5 "And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment."
Salvation is free! Isa. 55:1 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
Rev. 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
3. He Had The Wrong Plan - v. 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."
(Ill. "I thought"; "I thought's" have sent millions to Hell - Pro. 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
4. He Had The Wrong Perception - v. 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."
He thought to change God's plan! Naaman thought his way was superior to God's!
- 1 Cor. 1:18"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
5. Naaman's Displeasure v11 "But Naaman was wroth, and went away"
He Rejected :-
(a) The Messenger v. 10 "And Elisha sent a messenger unto him"
(b) The Message v.10 "saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee."
(c) The Miracle "and thou shalt be clean"
Pride, Prejudice,& Presumption can cost v.12 " So he turned and went away in a rage."
6. Naaman's Deliverance v13."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?"
I. Our great physician is available
a. Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
b. Acts 17:27 "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
II. He is aware
a. John 2:25 "And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."
b. Hebrews 4:12, " For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."
c. Matthew 6:6 " But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
III. He is accurate in His diagnosis.John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
IV. He is able to help. Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"
V. He is affordable. Matt. 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light".– All can come.
VI. His association.Luke ch 7 v 34 "The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!35 But wisdom is justified of all her children."
Naaman's Cleansing was :-
(a) Concise ie.Instant v 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" ,
(b) Complete "like unto the flesh of a little child"
(c) Conclusive "and he was clean."
7. Naaman's Dedication v15 "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." See :-
(a) His Praise "he returned to the man of God" Luke ch 17 v 17"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?"
(b) His Pronouncement v15 "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel:
(c) His Presentation "now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant."
(d) His Promise 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."
