"God's Plan for a Fresh Start" (2)

Introduction

In today’s passage we have Naaman who is the Commander in Chief for the King of Syria. He was a great man, honorable, and was a mighty man of valor. The scripture says that because of Naaman the LORD had given victories or in the KJV says deliverance unto Syria. He was an important component to the success of Syria and this is significant because Naaman is a non - Israelite, and the LORD is showing him favor. The author gives us all of these adjectives to describe Naaman whose name means “to be pleasant.” and we are reading his story until we get to the last clause of verse 2. But he was a leper. The scripture does not say how long Naaman had this leprosy, but according to the law Naaman was forbidden to be in public around other people. And because of the success of Syria brought about because of the affiliation with Naaman, how can the King get Naaman cured from this leprosy. Point: Sometimes success is not based upon what you know but based upon who you know. Syria understands that their success was not due to some great military strategy but based upon aligned with a person God has favored. And I submit to you today my brothers and sisters that your success starting today will not be based upon what you know but who you know.

The Syrians had captured a little maid from Israel and she worked for Naaman’s wife. She informed them that a prophet was in Israel who could recover this leprosy from Naaman immediately. The King writes a letter to the King of Israel asking for permission for Naaman to visit the prophet. The King of Israel misinterprets the letter and rent his clothes. He says that I don’t have the power like God to kill and then to make alive. This is when the prophet Elisha hears about the King, and God steps in because Naaman is in need of a fresh start.

Transition: When we trust God’s plan, then He will make things fresh.

Follow Directions (v. 8-10)

Elisha sent directions to Naaman on what he should do.

Go and Wash in the Jordan seven times. Results of following directions - Your flesh shall come again and you will be clean

The Jordan was a river that flowed from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea, and other bodies of water flowed into it too. This caused the Jordan River to be a river with a lot of impurities causing it to be an environmental hazard.

Point: When we don’t follow directions it leads to unrealistic expectations.

Transition: When we trust God’s plan, then He will make things fresh.

Reset Your Expectations (v.11,12)

Naaman, was the captain of the Syrian Army, was a great man, had a great reputation, because of Him the LORD gave the Syrians victories, and he was a mighty man in valor (meaning that when he faced danger, he faced it with courage)

Q. from Naaman - Does Elisha know who I am?

Why would he send a messenger to me instead of coming himself?

Why would he not just stand where he is and call on the LORD to heal me?

Why would he not just heal me with rivers of water in Damascus (my home)

In addition to being disrespectful, why would he ask me to wash in the nasty Jordan River?

Jordan is mentioned 213 times in the bible.

Abana and Pharpar are only mentioned in verse 12

Point: Resetting your expectations means that you may have to go through some nasty waters in order to clean you up.

Point: Naaman thinks highly of himself, and he becomes enrage when others don’t see him the same way. Galatians 6:3 “3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Tony Evans Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Trust in God) There is a story of a kite that was flying and the kite began to talk to itself. The kite said, “If only I could get rid of this string. If the string wasn’t holding me back, then I could fly. I could fly above the clouds. I could fly as high as I wanted to. If I could get rid of this string, there would be nothing holding me back. I’m limited by this string.” One day the kite got its wish. The string broke and the kite came crashing down. What the kite did not realize was that the same string that kept it down kept it up. Cutting the string did not make it freer. We will always head toward disaster when we cut the string of dependence on God in search of more pleasure. The same string that seems to hold you down also keeps you flying high. God wants us to trust him and let Him hold the string. Staying connected to Him keeps us from falling. Jude 24-25

Jude 24–25 KJV 1900

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Application: Our dependence on God is a reflection of our expectations of God. When you depend on God, then your expectations are aligned with His will.

Transition: When we trust God’s plan, then He will make things fresh.

Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable (v.13)

We need people in our life that will be truthful and honest with us. When people are truthful and honest with us then we never have to wonder where they stand with us.

Do you know that reduces stress in our lives?

Life is complicated enough and then some of us have people around us that we don’t trust. (Adding stress)

Look at the text, Naaman’s servants challenges the great Naaman to slow down and think about what’s going on.

They say get out of your emotions, get out of your feelings, and hear the Word of God.

They are saying Naaman you are complaining about something simple as washing in the Jordan but if the instructions were to do something more challenging then you would have done it.

They are trying to buy a cure or buy salvation. (In verse 5, Naaman’s king gives him a letter, ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten change of clothes). Elisha isn’t asking for pay. He is only asking you to wash in the Jordan seven times.

Here the mighty man of valour (courage in the face of danger) is being distracted by some muddy water.

Point: “Don’t allow your distractions to delay your deliverance”

Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Notice the status between Mighty Naaman and his servants. Despite their status of submission to Naaman, it didn’t deter them from telling him the truth.

Since it is apparent that Naaman is not listening to the prophet, he listens to his servants. This is indicative of people in the church today. They won’t listen to the preacher but they will listen to you. Sometimes you are the only bible a person will see and read.

The servants respect Naaman’s position and call him father, and by showing him respect it makes their gentle rebuke more acceptable by Naaman.

Application: R. Kent Hughes says “Increased responsibility means increased accountability.”

When you allow someone to be your friend then you are giving them a responsibility to hold you accountable. If you don’t want to be held accountable then walk alone.

To walk with God you must walk in the direction He leads you. And God works through other people. Romans 15:1–2

Romans 15:1–2 KJV 1900

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

Transition: When we trust God’s plan, then He will make things fresh.

The Results: Healing comes after Humility (v.14)

Naaman finally humbled himself and obeyed the man of God.

Additional Point: Look at verse 11 “I Thought”. Proverbs 16:25

Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV) 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Point: Naaman finally decides to follow God’s plan and not thinking about his plans from verse 11.

Money could not help Naaman

Pride could not help Naaman

His Status could not help Naaman

His intellect could not help Naaman

Naaman had to come down off of his high horse before the healing could take place.

Awe Moment -

Look at verse 9. Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at Elisha’s house. Verse 14 says, He went down and dipped seven times. This means that Naaman had to come down off of his high horse before the healing, his restoration, his newness took place.

There is a significance in the number seven.

Two - represents having a witness

Three - relates to God and our worship. Isaiah 6:3 “3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!””

Four - relates to the four corners of the earth and the four winds. That wasn’t the instructions

Five - the number of fingers on our hand

Six - is just like 99.5. It just won’t do. It’s still short. It counts as incomplete

Seven - the number of completion and perfection. I can see Naaman coming up shouting. Looking at his hands, they look new. Looking at his feet, they did too.

Point: The Jordan was a nasty river but God used this water to wash Naaman clean.

Luke 17:11-19 Jesus Heals Ten Lepers

One day I was just like Naaman, I was dirty but Jesus washed me clean

In the Old body it was diseased but the New Body was like a baby bottom

In the old body he had limited understanding, but in the new body he is living by faith

In the old body, he had a prideful heart, but in the new body he now has a humbled spirit

2 Chronicles 7:14 “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The woman with the issue of blood. When she got down on her knees and touched the hem of his garment, that’s when the healing came.

God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

New Year Sermon Title Ideas

Text: 2 Kings 5:8–14

Clear & Hope-Filled

“When God’s Way Makes You New”

“A New Beginning Starts with Obedience”

“Healing the Old, Entering the New”

“One Step Away from Renewal”

“God’s Plan for Your Fresh Start”

Short & Memorable

“Go. Wash. Be Clean.”

“Don’t Miss the Miracle”

“Still One Obedient Step Away”

“The Reset That Heals”

“Seven Dips to a New Year”

Reflective & Invitational

“What If God’s Way Is Better?”

“Before the Healing Happens”

“From Resistance to Renewal”

“When Expectations Meet Obedience”

“The River Between Old and New”

Bold & Declarative

“This Is the Year Obedience Wins”

“Healing Begins When Pride Ends”

“The Miracle Is in the Instructions”

“Humble Yourself into the New”

“God Still Heals in Simple Ways”

Strong Recommendation for First Sunday

For a clean, forward-looking tone that sets spiritual posture for the year, these stand out especially well:

“When God’s Way Makes You New”

“Healing the Old, Entering the New”

“Go. Wash. Be Clean.”