SEVEN MUDDY DUCKS
2ND KINGS 5;1-19
Imagine if you attended a very well known university or college!
And You graduated with Honors – Now You Are very intelligent and you have a really Good Job with a large company.
You worked out really well and you
Worked Hard – Got several promotions
And eventually became the CEO
Of the company.
And you continue to grow the business
And expand it further into other countries
NOW YOU’VE MADE IT!!!
You’ve made a name for yourself.
You’re very smart and very well known
In your field!
And not to mention you’re very RICH!!
But then you begin to feel pain
In your body – and the doctors tell you
That your sickness is terminal
SO HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD FEEL??
WELL YOU WOULD BE DEVASTATED!!
IT’S JUST THAT SIMPLE!!!
And now all the hard work and all the
Education and all you’re riches and
Not to mention the large company and
All the employees your in charge of,
Suddenly, now mean absolutely nothing!!
Here tonight in the book of 2nd Kings is
A man, In this very same situation!!
His name is Naaman.
He is the son of Benjamin, He was the captain of the Syrian Army
He was a great man of Valor
Naaman was a great leader
He was very smart and daring
He’d won very many battles
Naaman had His whole world right in the palm of his hand.
He had everything that worldly flesh could possibly have.
He was at the very top of his world.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY there’s a very
Bad twist to this Man’s life!
LETS ALL STAND FOR THE READING OF GOD’S WORD!
Unfortunately as we have found out Naaman has got Leprosy.
Back in this day Leprosy was a terminal sickness, much like Cancer, or Aids today
His life as he knows it is gonna be over!
Naaman is gonna die, sometime soon!!
Now He must be quarantined
Because he’s contagious – He’s un-clean
There’s no cure!
Now Naaman – This Captain this powerful man, Is now powerless – He’s SICK!!!
His position in the army now means absolutely nothing at all.
His intelligence now means nothing
All the battles he’s won
All the achievements that he has made
So far in his life – are now totally insignificant!!!
There was a little girl that had been taken captive – She was a servant to Naaman’s
Wife – She told them of a Prophet in Samaria that could cure Him of this disease!!!
Samaria was the capital of this Northern Kingdom of Israel, and after Naaman found out there was a prophet that could heal him
Well that was great news!!
Now He’s in search of this Prophet, and what He really needs is to find God!!!
Maybe there’s someone here tonight that
Really needs to find God?
Isn’t it funny how some people don’t ever think of God unless they need Him??
I think today Folks We need God Always
We need Him in our lives worse than ever before
People don’t wait till your in need to call on God
The bible says to pray without ceasing
We should continuously have a prayer
In our Hearts.
Talk to God, OFTEN, I DO!!!
So when everything is all good and everything is going great, and we don’t take any time for God, and we don’t acknowledge Him in any way, and we live our lives However we want.
THEN YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!!
CAUSE GOD’S FIXEN TO ROCK YOUR WORLD.
He’s gonna place you from the darkness right into the LIGHT!!!!
You will get a rude awakening and It’s probably not gonna be very pleasant!!!
So Naaman asked permission from the King – to go and see this Prophet, But
The King sent him to the wrong person
And this person was the weaker King
AND IT SCARED HIM SILLY !!!
As it said in our reading tonight
He ripped his clothing and said
HOW CAN I CURE SOMEONE
vs. 7 SAYS:
AM I GOD TO KILL AND MAKE ALIVE???
Deut, 32:39 says:
I KILL AND I MAKE ALIVE
I WOUND AND I HEAL
NEITHER IS THERE ANY THAT CAN DELIVER OUT OF MY HAND!!
When Elisha the Prophet heard about all this commotion, He sent word to the King of Israel to send Naaman to Him!!!
Here is when Naaman really finds out what its all about!!!!
He finds out that God is His only way
God is Our only Way!!!
We have to seek Him – Always!!!
So finally Naaman with all his horses and chariots find Elisha’s house, Naaman thinks Elisha will lay hands on him
And speak the mighty prayer to God,
But instead He sends his servant and His servant says
Go duck yourself in the River of Jordan 7 Times!!!
AND GOD WILL HEAL YOU!!!!!
Well Naaman is pretty ticked off at this point at this So Called Prophet Elisha!!
Naaman said the Filthy Jordan?
What’s wrong with the two mighty Rivers
THE ABANA OR THE PHARPAR??
Then his company with him and his servants tried to caution him they said what if the prophet asked you to do something really difficult?
Then what would you have done?
They said what have you got to lose??
Listen Folks God will use a CRISIS in our life to wake us up and help us to see what really matters, In our lives!!!
Naaman would’ve continued on through his life depending and trusting in himself, but He had to be shown that there is one major thing still missing in his life!!!
HE NEEDS GOD!!!
So Naaman went down to the Jordan River – And He walked out into the muddy water,
Can’t you just imagine walking to the Mud??
And he probably said OOOOOOOO ITS COLD AND MUDDY!!!!
He ducked himself the 1st time
He thought nothing happened, But He didn’t realize that that 1st dip cleansed him from his disobedience to God!!!
God is what He needs!!!
Remember He already has everything that a man could want for!!!
But that’s just not enough
People we don’t need more wealth!!
We don’t need more accomplishments!!!
We don’t need the worldly things!!
WHAT WE NEED IS MORE OF GOD!!
People we may have everything in this life going for us – But just like Naaman, one day we’ll realize – Things of the world will one day not matter!
JESUS SAID IN MATT. 16:26
For what is a man profited
If He shall gain the whole world
And lose his soul?
Naaman is just about to find out just how bad He needs to know God!!
And He is gonna get to know him quite well!!
BUT WHAT A CRISIS ITS TAKEN TO WAKE HIM UP!!!
So He ducked himself the 2nd time
Again He felt nothing happened but that time He washed away all the stubbornness in his life!!
How many of you tonight have stubbornness that needs washed away??
What is it that we’re seeking tonight?
When we’re in tune with God He helps us with the stubbornness!!
He provides us with the Ultimate Escape!!
Naaman didn’t have a plan of escape this time!!!
All the times He was Victorious but
This time He is helpless!!!
I think this is one of God’s ways to humble us and bring us back to the beginning!!!
You see Folks God’s way is different from ours!!
We have to submit to Him!!!
Then Naaman took the 3rd muddy duck
And still thinking that this ain’t doin no good!!!!
But this time He washed away this
Thing called Pride!!!
I wonder how many souls are in the depths of Hell because of this little thing called Pride???
I wonder what Naaman thought when Elisha sent out his servant and told Him to go duck himself in the muddy Jordan!!
I bet that pride thing came into play, what do you think??
He probably thought
DOES THIS LOWLY SERVANT KNOW
WHO HE’S TALKING TOO??
Here Naaman an army General – He was probably used to folks kissin his hands
And feedin him grapes and fannin him with one of those great big leaves!!!!
And I guarantee He’s probably not to happy about the way he’s being treated by this so called prophet of God!!
He didn’t even come out to see him!!!!
I’m sure this was a major test of his faith - BIG TIME!!!
And He ducks the 4th time
And here again, he felt that nothing happened!!!!
But this time He washed away SELF PITY
We can all run around feeling sorry for ourselves – God knows I do it enough!!!
And too often we’ll say,
GOD WHY IS EVERYTHING SO DIFFICULT???
But if you think about it – its not difficult
See God isn’t just concerned about our physical healing!!
God wants us to be healed Spiritually as well!!!
God wants us to show our faith!!
He wants to see our Obedience to Him shine through!!
God wants to see our Humility!!!
God wants us to receive Him into our hearts and our lives!!
He doesn’t just want us to have the Gifts and Healings that He can give us!!
A Crisis like Naaman has here might just be God’s tool to bring out the Submission in us Toward Him!!!
And not to mention, Teaching us to obey and follow His Will and Not Our Will!!!
Naaman didn’t just think this was gonna be about obeying God!!!
He thought He would bring some Gold and some Silver – and Buy himself a healing from the Prophet.
But that wasn’t God’s Plan!!!!
People you can’t buy - God’s love and His Gifts and His Healings!!!
Then Naaman ducked himself the 5th time
And of course He thought again that nothing happened!!
But this time He washed away all His Anger
But He was still coming up a Leper.
I’m sure that Naaman is starting to wonder if He’s really gonna be healed or Not!
But you and I both know that He’s got enough sense – Not To Quit NOW!!!
He can’t stop before he gets his healing
Wouldn’t it be terrible if we missed God’s blessings because – IN ANGER We
WANTED IT RIGHT NOW, OR WE
WANTED EVERYTHING OUR WAY?
SORRY IT DON’T HAPPEN THAT WAY!
Then He ducked Himself the 6th time
And again He thought nothing happened!!
But this time He was cleansed of His
Self Righteousness!!!
Can you imagine how this had to feel?
A Great man of Valor A commander in this Army!
In front of all his people having to duck himself in the muddy waters of The Jordan?
It truly must have quite humiliating!!
Here his servants are agging him on.
Can you Imagine – they’re probably Saying Don’t you want you’re life back?
Don’t you want you’re Healing in your life
Or would you rather keep your reputation
AND YOUR LEPROSY??
So He ducked Himself the 7th time
And again He’s wondering if anything was gonna happen!
And this time He cleansed the Wrath from His Body!!!
And He was Healed From His Leprosy!!
LUKE 4:27 SAYS:
And many Lepers were in Israel
And none were cleansed Saving Naaman!!!
VS. 14 of our reading said:
His flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child and He was Clean!!!
1st SAMUEL 2:6 SAYS:
the Lord Killeth and Maketh Alive
he bringeth down to the Grave and Bringeth UP!!!
Folks here in 2nd Kings tonight, God is showing us that We need to Follow and obey Him!!!
We need to assemble ourselves together!!!
We need our Brothers and sisters in Christ!!
We need the fellowship – and Unity!!!
We need this close friendship so when we have the problems that puts us in the valleys,
They are there to lift us up!
They are there to strengthen us!!
In every valley there’s two mountains!!!
We should always make time for fellowship!
Jesus said in Matt to his Disciples,
Heal the Sick – Cleanse the Lepers
Raise the Dead – Cast out Devils
Freely Ye have received – Freely Give!!
Naaman didn’t just get healed!!
HE GOT SAVED AS WELL!!
VS. 15 said He returned to the Man of God wanting to give him money
But Elisha wouldn’t accept his money
It took a lot of faith on Naamans part!
Its easy to believe what you can see!!
But He was terminal – and He had never
Seen anyone who got healed from Leprosy
But his Faith in God Saved His Soul
And His Life!!!
Are you facing a Crisis in your life Tonight?
Maybe something physical or a Crisis in your marriage – or maybe just a problem with a friendship!!
Trust God tonight!!
Because : Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world
Naaman was forced to look away from his achievements – and His wisdom
That’s what we have to do tonight!!
Stop looking at what’s in YOUR POWER
And hand it over to God’s Power!
He’s the one We can Trust tonight!
Naamans life was changed forever
YOURS CAN BE TOO!
God used a maid to save a dying General
Just think what He might use you for tonight
Once your saved, you’re not gonna be perfect
And your life wont be changed overnight!!!
It takes God a lifetime to get us the way He wants us!
Is there someone that needs to meet God tonight?
Come tonight and lay your sins at this Altar
Come and be cleansed
Come and be made whole
Are any sick among you??
