To Simple to Accept
2 Kings 5:1-15
Our Condition
v1) Naaman - good man; accomplished a lot; honorable position; the perfect man, except, he was a leper; he had a problem; he was imperfect.
Many people are good folks; good mother, father, provider; upstanding in the community; appear to be the ideal person; but they have a problem; they are lost and imperfect in God’s eyes.
God’s call
V2-4) little maid - good news comes in unexpected ways;
Rom. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Our salvation begins in many ways- sometimes through the suffering of others; through a friendly deed; through a sermon or someone sharing their testimony.
God’s Provision
v5) King of Syria - he was willing to provide the means for Naaman’s healing.
God was willing to provide the means for our salvation; He sent His Son; He paid the highest price
Our Inadequacy to Save Others
v6-7) King of Israel - realized that he could do nothing for Naaman in and of himself and said as much.
We can do nothing of ourselves to save anyone. (That’s not our job) Only God can do that. (Holy Spirit draws, we testify, God saves)
We can be the messengers that God uses to lead a person to salvation.
("let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.")
Our Inadequacy to Save Ourselves
1. Naaman came :
a. with his idea of how to be cleansed (we want to make a plan of our own)
b. with money to bargain with (we want to pay or work to be saved)
c. to see something happen ( we want an emotional or physical experience)
2. Naaman left:
a. wroth - he was angry (his/our pride hinders God’s working in our lives)
b. dissatisfied - he didn’t accept the message, the method, or the messenger.
1. Message- It took blood to pay our sin debt.
2. Method- We must come humbly and ask to be forgiven.
3. Messenger- We won’t accept the "Unseen"
c. unhealed - "so he turned and went away in a rage."
Our Only Hope Is His Way
v13) The Truth about Naaman:
a. He knew that he had a problem.
b. He knew that he needed to be cleansed.
c. He was proud and he wanted it his way.
d. He wanted to "buy" his cleansing.
("if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing")
v14) Naaman the Changed Man
a. "he went down" (he humbled himself and repented)
b. "dipped himself seven times in Jordan" (he obeyed)
c. "and he was clean" (he was cleansed immediately)
So Simple a Salvation
a. all have sinned (you - me - everyone)
b. Jesus died to pay the debt of those sins
c. He arose the third day to give us the hope of eternity
d. we confess our sin to Him and ask forgiveness
e. we ask Him into our heart as Lord and Savior
f. we live our new lives under His lordship and direction.
