The Best Way to Change Your Life

2 Kings 5:1–14 (ESV)

1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Introduction:

DT: When we trust the hand of God is working in our lives we are empowered to change and live for His Glory.

Allow God to Use You (vv. 1-3)

“1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

God used the girl to get Naaman what he needed.

The victory of Syria was given by the Lord (v.1)

This girls faith is remarkable: Though she was captive and enslaved her focus was not on her situation. She focused on the need of Naaman

Application: God can use you where you are. God can do great work through you where you are. You feel like you are in a bad place now but just maybe God has orchestrated this moment and this situation in your life to help someone else. Trust God in your situation.

Take Your Problems to the Right Source (vv.4-7)

“4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

Naaman left with his king’s (Ben-Hadad) permission.

He has a letter to present to the king of Israel

He has 10 talents of silver (talent = 75lbs x 10 = 750lbs of silver)

He has 6000 shekels of gold (shekel = 2/5 oz or .4 which would mean he had 150lbs of gold)

Application: Often times we get so excited we tell everyone but the one who matters. God matters!

Obey God’s Directions (vv.8-14)

2 Kings 5:8–14 (ESV)

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

What Naaman expected and what God directed were different things.

He expected to see Elisha

He expected to be healed instantaneously

He wanted it his way

He wanted what he thought was the better way.

Naaman wanted to change but he had reservations

What God required is his obedience:

Go to the Jordan river and dip

Sure there were better rivers than the Jordan but he was directed to the Jordan.

Application: Many of us miss our breakthrough and our change in life because we are unwilling to obey God. We struggle with what God wants because we feel like we know a better way. I struggle with God’s way sometimes. Love those who hurt you! that’s a struggle. Forgive those who repudiate and use use. That’s a struggle! But we are blessed when we obey. When we do things on God’s terms!

Naaman’s servants explained to him that he should do what the prophet had said. His anger and frustration did not change the process. He needed to obey. Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable. Surround yourself with people

Some of us struggle with tithing and giving. You will not she any significant movement and change until you do it God’s way!

You can be mad like Naaman. You can propose your better ideas but that will be for naught.