Commitment Rewarded (2)

2 Kings 5:1–14 (NLT)

1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.

3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

4 So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said.

5 “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

6 The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”

8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.”

9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.

10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!

12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’ ”

14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

Introduction:

A- There are two facts to remember concerning our commitment to Christ:

1- God always rewards commitment and obedience.

2- Failure to obey leads to pain and suffering.

B- You and I need to be obedient to God for three basic reasons:

1- Because he is God.

2- Because he is a wise God and requires only what is best for us.

3- Because of our love and devotion to him.

C- There are three possible answers to the question, “Are you doing what God wants you to do?”

1- Yes, I am doing all God wants me to do.

2- No, I am not doing what God wants me to do.

3- yes, but i am not doing all god wants me to do.

a. There is no such thing as “sort of” obeying God.

b. Partial obedience is disobedience.

D- Background of passage:

T.S.: Notice five principles from our text:

I- OUR NEEDS ARE OFTENTIMES GOD'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR LESSONS IN OBEDIENCE. (2 Kings 5:1-3)

2 Kings 5:1–3 (NLT)

1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.

3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

A. Successes do not erase needs.

1. Naaman was successful and honoured, but had a tremendous need.

a. Naaman needed healing. He had a disease for which there was no cure. It was also destructive and fatal.

2. Success is great, honor is good, but needs cannot be met by either.

a. Neither success nor honor can address the need for salvation.

b. The need for real joy comes only through commitment.

B. Sufferings may only be alleviated by the Lord.

1. Notice all that naaman had at his disposal:

a. Money

b. Friends

c. Family

d. Slaves

e. Position

f. Honor

2. Notice that in spite of all these possessions, naman still suffered a great need: he was still a leper.

C. Salvation from God is needed. (2 Kings 5: 2-3)

2 Kings 5:2–3 (NLT)

2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.

3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

1. The only source of salvation is the Lord. (Acts 4: 12)

Acts 4:12 (NLT)

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

II- OBEDIENCE MAY OFTEN REQUIRE WHAT SEEMS TO BE IMPRACTICAL AND UNREASONABLE. (2 Kings 5: 10)

2 Kings 5:10 (NLT)

10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

A. Sometimes God's solution is something we don't want to hear.

1. Our problems are sometimes a result of broken relationships.

a. With God

(Isaiah 59:2)

Isaiah 59:2 (NLT)

2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

b. With others

(Matthew 6: 12, 14-15)

Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT)

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

(1 John 4:20)

1 John 4:20 (NLT)

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

2. Sometimes the solution seems too simple.

a. The solution seemed too simple and impractical to Naaman.

1). He thought that he needed something more spectacular.

B. Sometimes the answer seems too difficult.

1. It is difficult to make amends with someone with whom you have differences. It takes a willingness to put pride aside.

2. It seems unreasonable to ask you to be the first to seek amends.

III- FAILURE TO OBEY GOD MAY COST US THE VERY THING WE DESIRE. (2 Kings 5: 11- 13)

2 Kings 5:11–13 (NLT)

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!

12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’ ”

A. Problems that cause us to disobey:

1. Pride (Proverbs 16:18)

Proverbs 16:18 (NLT)

18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

2. Anger (James 1:20)

James 1:20 (NLT)

20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

3. Unbelief (Hebrews 3:12)

Hebrews 3:12 (NLT)

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.

B. Partial obedience is disobedience.

1. If Naaman had not gone down into the water seven times, he would not have been healed!

2. Obedience is doing what God says, when God says it, how God says to do it!

IV- RIGHT COUNSEL ALWAYS ENCOURAGES OBEDIENCE TO GOD. (2 Kings 5: 13)

A. Be careful from whom you seek counsel.

(Psalm 37:30)

Psalm 37:30 (NLT)

30 The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.

1. Naaman received the right counsel from his assistants.

2. Rehoboam accepted bad counsel from his friends.

(2 Chronicles 10)

V- THE REWARDS OF OBEDIENCE WILL STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FAITH AND THE FAITH OF OTHERS. ( 2 Kings 5: 14-17)

2 Kings 5:14–17 (NLT)

14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

16 But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.

17 Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord.

A. Remember the chain of influence:

1. The chain of influence seen in our text:

a. The servant girl, Naaman’s wife, Naaman, Naaman’s household, Naaman’s servants, the king, the army, the entire nation of Aram.

2. There is a chain of influence in your own life.

a. The chain of influence begins with you.

b. The chain of influence extends to everyone your life touches.

Conclusion:

The real question is, “how are you going to respond to God?” Are you going to choose to live your life in complete commitment and obedience to the Lord? Why not surrender to him fully today?