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,
When & Where our problems should be removed (healed),
...but we must remember -
* - If We Want God’s Result, We Must Do Things God’s Way
** - Also, sometimes we need a voice of reason to lovingly
remind us that God’s Way is the Only Way if we really want
to be made whole
E. And when God’s Way does come
(His healing, His restoration)
...it is far greater than our minds could ever have imagined
- God’s Way is Complete
- God’s Way is Perfect
