Title: Small Things
Text: 2 Kings 5
Opening Scripture
2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.
Introduction
Illustration: The Boy and the kite
In 1848 Niagara Falls was a tourist hot spot. People from all over would come and see the great site. Not only was it a place of tourism but it would soon become a bridge between Canada and the US. The two countries got together and found the closest gorge of 800 feet span and made plans to bridge the two countries.
But how. The waters were tumultuous. The rocks and cliffs were seemingly impassable. How could you connect the two? Theodore Hulett came up with this idea. He wanted someone to fly a kite across the river to the other side. So, a contest was created, a prize of $5 was offered and a 16-year-old boy accomplished the task. You say, how did that help? Attached to kite string was a rope, to the rope was a larger rope and this kept on until a steel cable was pulled across the gorge. Now today there is a bridge that connects the two. It all started with a small piece of kite string.
Zecheriah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, or even small things. What seems to be insignificant to us can be significant to God.
In Exodus chapter 2 we read about Miriam watching over baby Moses in the waters of the Nile. You may remember that it was Pharoah’s command that all male babies would be instantly put to death
Luke 9 – 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread
Small Testimony
2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.
Naaman was a commander of the pagan army of Syria.
I. Notice her love, grace and compassion – authentic
(2) And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. (3) Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy."
This young girl was a spoil of the an invasion.
She saw a need beyond her need, she saw a hope beyond her hope
Application: What do you see in your circumstances? Where is your focus as you see where you are?
II. Notice her focus, not on her but on God
What she could have said was, “remember me” “take me with you”.
III. Hope was aroused in Naaman – from the testimony of the girl
(4) And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel." (5) Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. (6) Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
So Naaman gets permission from his king, Benhadad and goes into Israel to get healed. He shows up on the kings doorstep with, a letter and all his entourage. This had to be intimidating to the king of Isarael. He deduced that this was just a ploy to start a fight. Instead of seeing an opportunity to show God’s power.
IV. This girl have more faith in God than the King of Israel Jehoram
(7) And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me."
This girl knew what God could do. She knew the power of God. This is exceptional faith.
V. Elisha shows up
(8) So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."
The king had no faith in what God cold do. Yet Elisha knew that God could do this. This was not about God’s power but about trust in God.
Small Task
VI. Pride – Naaman had to lose his pride to find his healing
(9) Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. (10) And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." (11) But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' (12) Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
From Vernon J. McGee on Pride
Why does God hate pride? The definition of pride is “excessive self-esteem.”
Man’s pride runs counter to God’s plan; and, whenever they meet, there is friction. There is no compromise. It is always a head-on collision. You see, God’s plan of salvation is the supreme answer to man’s pride. God lays man low. God takes nothing from man. Paul could say of himself when he met Jesus Christ, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil.3:7). Paul gave up religion. Paul gave up everything he had been; he rated it as dung—he said, “I just flushed it down.” Christ and pride do not go together. You cannot be proud and at the same time trust Christ as your Savior. If you trust Him, my friend, you will lay all of your pride in the dust.
VII. Following God’s ways always brings us to healing
(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'?" (14) So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Seven times he dips. Seven times. When did God heal? On the seventh time.
Persistence
Obedience
Miracles
Small Request
VIII. Small Things Pure Heart
2 Kings 5:17-18 So Naaman said, "Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. (18) Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon--when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing."
2 Kings 5:19 Then he said to him, "Go in peace." So he departed from him a short distance.
I thought this was an interesting request. Especially as we live today.
Application: Lord I know I have to live in the world, around the world. Help me not to compromise my faith while living in their world.
Conclusion
As we prepare ourselves for Holy Communion let’s take these simple symbols and with hearts and minds of obedience receive God’s grace, His forgiveness, His love and His mercy. And then let us be the Church – the Redeemed People who reach out with His love to all that we encounter – being Christ to all those around us.
1 Corinthians 11:23-30 For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, (24) and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given [57] for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (25) In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." (26) For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again. (27) So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. (28) That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. (29) For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, [58] you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. (30) That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
