Simple Restoration

1. Lesson Intro

a. Restoration is difficult work

i. easier to build a home than to restore one

b. Washington monument

i. 1886 - $250,000

ii.Renovation 1986 – 86 million.

c. Restoring one’s life is just as difficult.

2. The Work of Art

a. (2 Ki 5:1) " 1Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier . . ."

3. The Flaw

a. . . . “but he had leprosy.”

i. The Bible uses the word leprosy for a variety of sin ailments

ii. The most serious of which was a much feared and contagious disease that would rob a person of feelings in his feet and hands and put him at risk of injury or death.

iii. That’s why anyone with leprosy was ostracized from society, quarantined as long as he suffered from the disease.

iv. For many, that was a lifetime.

v. Naaman may not have had such an extreme case of leprosy, but it is clear that his single flaw marred the beautiful picture he painted with all his accomplishments.

vi. No matter how many battles he won, or accolades he received, he woke up every morning a leper.

vii. We all have flaws.

1. Sometimes we’re able to hide them from people, other times, they are so obvious that they define us.

2. And no matter how much we accomplish, we know our imperfections.

4. The Cost

a. What would you pay to be rid of such a traumatizing illness?

b. People today fly all over the globe, pay out their entire life savings to be cured of serious illnesses.

c. (2 Ki 5:5) "5“By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing."

d. Naaman was prepared to pay whatever was asked of him, he was so desperate to be rid of leprosy. But Elisha’s demands were totally unexpected.

e. (2 Ki 5:10) "10Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”"

5. Naaman’s Expectations

a. You’d think that Naaman would rejoice at Elisha’s demands, but Naaman had expected something entirely different.

b. A Great Person (2 Ki 5:11) "11But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me. . ."

c. A Great Process (2 Ki 5:11) "11But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy."

d. A Great Place (2 Ki 5:12) "12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?”

e. “So he turned and went off in a rage." - Naaman left in anger without getting what he came for.

6. God’s Lesson

a. (2 Ki 5:13) "13Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”"

b. Some believe restoring their innocence demands a great act.

c. That’s true, but it is not a great act on their part . . .

d. Restoration is available only from a great God.

i. It was tremendously difficult for God

ii. 1 Pe 1:18-19) "18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

e. It is tremendously easy for us.

i. (Ac 16:30-31) "30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”"

7. The Conclusion

a. (2 Ki 5:14) "14So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy."

b. (2 Ki 5:15) "15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”"

c. What stands in your way today?