How to See a Cleansing

Introduction

Tonight we continue our series on Elijah and Elisha. We began this series:

How God Sustains His People (1Ki. 17:1-6)

We saw the manner in which God mightily supplied the needs of Elijah in the midst of a drought in the land.

How God Uses His People (1Ki. 17:8-24)

We examined how God used the widow woman to supply Elijah’s need, as well as how Elijah supplied her need. Reminding us of Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

How the Fire Falls (1Ki. 18)

During a Feeble time w/ Depraved leadership & Divided people

God provided a Faithful man, who challenged his people; chastised false worship; Corrected the Basis of Worship; who had Confidence in God & Called upon the same

A Falling Fire

Came Powerfully; Sufficiently; Convincingly & Effectively.

How to Get Back in the Saddle

I. The Immorality of the Enemy (v1-4)

Unmistakable; Unconverted; Unsettling

II. The Indulgence of the LORD (v5-8)

Elijah Retreated; God allowed him Rest (v5-6b); God provided Refreshment for the Moment (v5b-6a); God gave Resources for the Journey (v7)

III. The Insight of the LORD (v9-12)

A Prophet Disheartened; God’s Power was Demonstrated; God’s Presence was Discovered

IV. The Instruction of the LORD (v13-18)

Get Back Where you Belong (v15a); Bless the Next Generation (v15b-16)

Be Encouraged

I Have a Plan (v17)

You are Not Alone (v18)

How to Have Peace Under Fire

I. The Reason for the Fire

For Following the Spirit’s Lead (v3); For Declaring the Word of the LORD (v4); For Having a Familiar a Description (v7-8)

II. The Right Way to Handle It

Be Situated Properly (v9b); Stand Fast in your Heritage (v10a); Stay Firm in Your Position (v9-12); Be Perceptive to the Spirit (v13-15)

III. The Rest of the Story

God Protected (v15); God’s Word was Proclaimed (v16); God’s Will was Performed (v17)

How to be Faithful in Times of Trouble

I. A Troubled Time

The Burden of Loss

The Opportunities it Presented;

Reviving of the Brethren; Remembering of the Past; The Resolve to Continue the Work

II. A Testimony of Faithfulness

Through the Pressures of the Known; Through the Pressures of the Unknown; Through the Voices of Discouragement

III. A Transformative Result

Because He was Faithful…

His Prayer was Answered; He Performed Miracles; He Proved His Calling

How to Set the Tone

I. The Waters were Cured

A Pitiful Land (v19); A Pristine Vessel and a Powerful Agent (v20); A Pronouncement Made (v21); A Purification Provided (v22)

II. The Mockers were Cursed

A Fallen City (v23a); A Faithless Generation (v23b); A Fury Unleashed (v24a); A Future Altered (v24b)

How to Solve a Problem

I. The Problem (v1a)

A Lack of Plan / Preparation; A Passing; A Pledge Unfulfilled

II. The Petition (v1b)

He had the Right Standing; She had the Right Source

III. The Plan (v2-6)

Was Faith Based; Faith in Procuring; Faith in Pouring

IV. The Providence (v7)

A Debt Settled; A Future Supplied

How to Bear Children

I. Our Conduct Unto Men

Her Description (v8a); Her Disposition (v8b); Her Duration (v8c)

II. Our Countenance Toward God

Her Discernment (v9); Her Devotion (v10); Her Deference (v13)

III. Children will be Born

Her Child was Born (v13)

How to Make the Dead Live

I. A Mediating Force

Her Care for him (v20); Her Commitment of him to God (v21); It was Crucial to Her (v22); Her Confidence (v23); Her Clarity (v24); Her Conviction (v27); Her Continuance (v30)

II. A Miracle-Working God

An Intervention (v30b); An Intimate Encounter (v32-34); An Indwelling & Expelling (v35)

How to Recover From a Mistake

I. There was a Responsibility Given

A Naked Land; A Noble Mission; A Needy People

II. There was Rot in the Pot

Was Placed by Accident; Was Polluting the People; It Brought more Peril than Plenitude

III. There was a Remedy Administered

It was by Intervention of Man; It was by Intercession of God; It Caused a Transformation & Continuation

Today, the narration in our story shifts to a man by the name of Naaman.

The title of this message is "How to See a Cleansing."

We see the Start

I. The Start

(v1)

Acknowledgement of the Good

One thing we can say, and that the Bible makes clear, is that Naaman was a good man. Just look at the adjectives it lays upon him.

Recognition of the Disease

It's not until you get to the last five words, starting with "but," that we see that there was a problem.

This is not necessarily an anomaly.

I don't care who you consider. I think that there are some good attributes that you could point out, no matter who it may be.

(Ill.) Even Adolf Hitler. Most people would consider him one of the most vile and evil humans that have ever lived. Yet, you could still find some good attributes in him.

He wasn't a lazy man; he certainly was driven.

He had a quality about him that would inspire people.

I say these things not to praise Hitler but to make a point. That point is that you could look to anybody and recognize some good qualities. Some more than others, but everybody some.

And most people are hoping that those good qualities that they have are enough to get them to Heaven.

The thing is, at the end of the sentence regarding us, there's always a "but” there as well.

(Ill.) Use some examples - He's a kind person. He's a sharp dresser. He looks good with no hair. She makes a mean apple pie, etc… BUT HE / SHE’S A LEPER

It doesn't matter how good we are, we're all sinners. There's always a “but” when speaking of our natural selves.

The Start

II. The Spark

(v2)

A Humble Voice

Next, we see a humble little girl enter the picture. This girl was a nobody. She was a slave.

She had no history, no education. She was quite literally a nobody in society.

It was a humble voice, but a helpful testimony.

A Helpful Testimony

While by society's standards she may have been a nobody, her testimony sure mattered!

Picture yourself being in that little girl's position for a moment. You were a slave. You've been drawn away from your people and you're in captivity. It'd be very easy to think that your voice meant nothing. Very easy to think that what you say will not matter.

I'm sure glad she didn't feel that way!

This church was the spark that set the process in motion for healing for this good man named Naaman. Had it not been for this little girl's voice, Naaman would never have been healed.

There's people out there that we may witness to, and we don't see an immediate change, but we may have just lit the spark that will set them on the road to salvation.

Don't ever think that your words don't matter. Isaiah 55:10–11 “For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

It was a humble voice, but a helpful testimony.

The Start; The Spark

III. The Surety

Here's where we see the necessary agent, the engine of life for the Christian, and that is faith.

A Chain of Faith (v3-5)

We see at least three people in this length, but in all probability, there were many more. To go from Naaman's house to the throne - And then on to the king of Israel and those around him.

In other words, it wasn't one person that was responsible for Naaman's healing; it was many.

Not only did the little girl believe, but someone believed her. And then the king of Syria believed. Until word got back to Elisha.

(Ill.) I'm thankful that there have been times where God has used me to lead some to him to finish the course, He would say. My prayer is that God has used me in the salvation of much more than that. That God has allowed me to plant seeds and those seeds will come to fruition one day, whether I know it or not.

1 Corinthians 3:6–8 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

There was a Chain by Faith

An Investment by Faith (v5-6)

We see that the king of Syria was very invested in Naaman's healing. He sent that by faith, believing that Elisha could heal him. He didn't know if it would cost, but he sent it because he believed he could do it.

(Ill.) This church invests in missions. Every month, we send a couple thousand dollars. We have no idea what type of return on investment we're getting. But we send it, why? Because we believe by faith that it makes a difference. Otherwise, we would not send it.

Church, we need to make sure that we are investing by faith in the work of the Lord, whether that is our time, talents, or treasures. It matters not, but by faith we should invest in the things of God.

An Investment by Faith

The Start; The Spark; The Surety

IV. The Simplicity

(v10-11)

Next, we are going to see a picture of the simplicity of the gospel. Elisha's instructions were just about as easy as you could get.

But before we get there, we need to look at the false impression of Naaman.

A False Impression

Naaman thought that this was going to be a big to-do and that there was going to be this big show in order for him to be healed. And that couldn't be further from the truth.

The reason why there are so many denominations and so much works-based salvation permeating through society is because people just can't wrap their minds around the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They say, "You got to be baptized."

You have to keep the law.

You have to do good works.

You have to "endure to the end."

People put so many stipulations on salvation. But the truth is, salvation is simple.

Salvation is but an act of faith.

An Act of Faith

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of the Philippian jailer. Act. 16:22-31.

We honor God not only when we do what He says, but when we believe what He says. When we take Him at His word.

The simplicity of the gospel is that it is an act of faith and nothing more. It is accepting that Jesus loved you in your sin, died for your sin, to save you from your sin.

The Start; The Spark; The Surety; The Simplicity

V. The Supplication

So now we see the faith of many effect in the life of Naaman. From the spark to the many to him has brought him to Elisha's door, but at this point, he's still unclean.

There's still more work needed. Not by Naaman, but by a servant.

An Invested Servant

I think it's fitting that a servant is the one who finishes the course.

He was invested in that. He cared for Naaman. We see he called him, "my father." He wasn't willing to let Naaman walk away from such a good thing as was before him.

Church, if you want to see folks cleansed, you must be willing to be a servant.

We see an invested servant and a timely intercession.

A Timely Intercession

Had the servant not intervened when he did, Naaman quite possibly would have walked away, never to return.

Church, let me ask you this: When is the last time you will have opportunity to tell someone about Jesus who needs it?

Yeah, I don't know either.

What we must be willing to do is assume that the last time, is now. Operate on that assumption so that there is a sense of urgency in the message.

2 Corinthians 6:1–2 “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

We see the Supplication

The Start; The Spark; The Surety; The Simplicity; The Supplication

VI. The Salvation

(v14)

Submission to God’s Plan

Naaman now finally does what the man of God had commanded him to do. He dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, no more, no less.

Salvation comes, if and only, when a man will submit to God's plan. It is quite literally his way or the highway.

Over the years, there's been many ideas, as we have already discussed, of what salvation looks like. But you will either go by the way of the cross or you will not go at all.

Salvation is submission to God's plan, not your own.

Salvation Provided

This was quite possibly somewhat of an aged man, and as a somewhat aged man myself, my skin is not quite like it used to be among everything else. But I love the way it words it, that his flesh came again, not like unto an aged man, but like unto a little child, and he was clean.

Let me just say this: Salvation will make you new!

All of the faith, all the expense, all the hard work, all the travel, everything that consisted in the labor of men and women from verse number 1 to verse number 13 came to fruition in verse number 14. Naaman was cleansed.

God survived the cleansing - the salvation that Naaman so desperately needed.

Church, this is the way it's done.

Conclusion

You may be here tonight in the situation of Naaman. What I mean by that is you need cleansed.

I want to say once again that salvation is simple. If you will come to this altar, I can make sure that you understand from the Word of God and be born again today.

On the other hand, you might be faithful in sharing the gospel, in passing out tracts, in trying to do your part. Though you feel like the little girl, you have no voice. You're still trying to use it.

Let me just encourage you. You may not see the results of your labor, but rest assured your labor is not in vain. We will see a harvest if we faint not!