Rev Ricky Ho
11.4.2010
2 Kings 5:1-14: Naaman, the cmmander of the Syrian army, wa highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria, because through Naaman the Lod had given victory to the Syrian forces. He was a great soldier, but he suffered from a dreaded skin-disease. In one of their raids against Israel, the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl, who became a servant of Naaman's wife. One day she said to her mistress, "I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure himof his disease. When Naaman heard of this, he went to the king and told him what the girl had said. The King said, "Go to the King of Israel and take this letter to him."
So Naaman set out, taking thirty thousand pieces of silver, six thousand piees of gold, and ten changes of fine clothes. The letter that he took read: "This letter will introduce my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of his disease."
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay nd exclaimed, "How can the King of Syria expect me to cure this man? Does he think that I am God, with the power of life and death? It's plain that he is trying to start a quarrel with me!"
When the prophet Elisha heard what had happened, he sent word to the king : "Why are you so upset? Send the man to me, and I'll show him that there is a prophe in Israel!"
So Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house. Elisha sent a servant out to tell him to go and wash himself seven times in the River Jordan, and he would be completely cured of his disease. But Naaman left in a rage, saying, "I thought that he would at least come out to me, pray to the Lord his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me! Besides, aren't the rivers Abana and Pharpar, back in Damascus, better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured!"
His servants went up to him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can't you just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?" 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.
*80% commitment is no commitment at all
*Oversmart
- we try and check God out
- often we miss out what God want to do with us
* 7 illustrates completeness
*Henry Blackaby said experiencing God is seeing where God is at work and joining him in that work
*God is at work in your life, to grow each more of the day
*too often we miss experiencing God
*When you come to church you,
1. You are prepared to worship God
2. God is working in your life
It is a process- santification
*God is also at work in your family life
*Naaman was powerful but had leprosy- his slave girl wanted the best for her master
2 Principles
1. God's ways are not man's ways
*God does not use perfect man - weaknessess are exposed when you are imperfect
*He uses a FAT man too
Faithful
Available
Teachable
*Common problem is a problem of pride- Naaman called Elisha but Elisha sent a messenger -Naaman was furious because of his pride
*We fall short for the glory of God
*While man expect fanfare and enter, God simply shows himself and works in his own way and in his own time
*Sometimes the ways of God seems foolish to men
*Men do not understand heavenly things
*We will have our own plans but God knows best
*Come to God with great expectation because he wants the best for you, Just realise that God is working in your life
2. God's ways require complete obedience
*Naaman would have missed God if he had not walked in full obedience
*Many times we're willing to obey God as far as it makes sense to us. As long as its convenient, as long as its comfortable
*Naaman was a finisher.
*God's ways can sometimes affect your emotions, pride
*If he sent the slave girl to death and did not wash himself at the rive Jordan 7 times, he would have missed the blessing
*Naaman took off his gown, armour that represent as the Great Syrian commander
*He took out his undergarment in the middle of his subjects and soldiers. He was exposed
*Naaman understood commitment -He washed himself 7 times
*There are men and women committed to their work
*We cannot expect to experience God if we are not willing to obey God
*We cannot experience God when we have bitterness and unforgiveness, talking and fighting
*Faith requires obedience
Conclusion
*It was foolishness to the world but goodness to God - the crucifixion
*What is it that we are missing out because we refuse to walk in obedience?
*God will not make a heart whole that is not wholly his
*Do what he wants to do, there is no shortcut to the power of God
* 7 is 7, 6 is not enough.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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