Sermon # 27 - Who Is Your Master? Series

We read in 2 Kings 5:14, “So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child.” (GNB)

Naaman the commander of the Syrian army came to the home of the Prophet Elisha, seeking to be healed of his leprosy, which troubled him a great deal. The prophet sent his servant out to meet Elisha with the instruction that he go to the river Jordan, and wash himself seven times. When Naaman obeyed the words of the prophet of God, he was healed of his leprosy, and his flesh restored to become healthy like that of a child. Naaman must have tried many things earlier to be rid of his leprosy, but it was only when he decided to obey the word of the prophet of God, did he receive his miraculous healing.

There are many who though they are doing well in many areas of their lives are still struggling in one area. Think about Naaman who had position, wealth and a good family, but his leprosy was a hindrance to him leading a joyful life. If there are those who have this one area in your life that you are constantly struggling with, wondering how you can overcome it, let me remind you that the miracle and deliverance will be yours, only when you choose to obey the word of God. The questions we need to ask is, ‘What are the areas we need to obey God?’ and ‘What are the things that we need to set right with God?’

The bible is filled with incidents of those who received their miracles when they chose to obey God. In the marriage at Cana in Galilee, when there was a lack of wine, Jesus asked the servants to fill the stone pots that were used to wash feet with water, and they received the astounding miracle of water turning to wine. Peter was a seasoned fisherman from his younger days, and on that particular day after toiling the whole night he caught no fish. However, when Peter obeyed Jesus, and cast his net into the deep, not only was his boat filled, his partner’s too has the joy of seeing their boat filled too. We read about Lazarus who was a friend of Jesus who had died and was laid in the tomb for four days. When Jesus asked the men to remove the stone, and they did so, Lazarus rose from the dead, and came out alive and well.

Instead of being bogged down with the problems that are constantly challenging us, we should stop and ask God to show us those areas of our lives where we need to walk in obedience to Him. We can be sure that when we set things in order, the hindrances will be removed and God’s blessings will flow unhindered in our lives.

• Naaman’s grateful offer

Once Naaman received the healing he headed straight back to the Prophet’s house, and these were his words as recorded in 2 Kings 5:15, He returned to Elisha with all his men and said, "Now I know that there is no god but the God of Israel; so please, sir, accept a gift from me." (GNB)

The healing that Naaman received brought to him a divine revelation that there was no god in all the earth, but the God of Israel. The first step to this understanding commenced when Naaman stood in front of the house of the Prophet Elisha, and expected him to come out to grant him a miraculous healing. Instead, Gehazi the servant of Elisha came out, and gave the instruction to Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. Nonetheless, Naaman decided to obey, and therefore received the healing that he desired.

If Elisha had come out, and performed a miracle of healing Naaman, I am certain that Naaman would have given credit to Elisha, and would have declared that there was no prophet in all the earth like the prophet Elisha, instead of giving glory to God. Naaman had probably tried all sorts of medical treatment in his own country, and may have gone to many of his gods hoping that they could cure him of his disease. However, when he received the healing by obeying the prophet Elisha, Naaman fully comprehended that the God of Israel was the one true God.

Often times we give far greater importance the servants of God, rather than to God Himself. People go to a servant of God for prayer, and when they receive an answer, they tend to make a big deal of the minster of God, forgetting that it was God who wrought the miracle. Every minister of God must be reminded that we are just channels, and should never take the credit for anything that God accomplishes through us. It is a sad plight that many ministers of God have made themselves so prominent that people look only to them instead of looking unto God. Many of these men and women of God have fan clubs that are ardently following after them similar to that of sport stars and film stars.