Answer the Call

Introduction

-text: 2 Kings 5:1-27.

-Theme: Salvation

-When I was a kid my dad made it a priority to teach us important life lessons. One time, as I got a tad older, he set up a scenario: “if I was ever kidnapped and someone gave me an ultimatum. Say they put a gun to my head and said ‘Deny Christ or get shot.’ I would have to choose Jesus.” But my dad didn’t stop there. He said, “If someone put a gun to your head and gave me the same choice: ‘Deny Jesus or shot’ I would have to choose Jesus.” I struggled to wrap my mind around that a little. I never doubted my dad loved me but I couldn’t understand such an extreme reaction.

He went on to explain. “Jesus said that if we deny Him then He would deny us before the Father. When I became a Christian I made Jesus my #1, He’s my Lord. I confessed Him as the Master of my life and if I deny Him then I am worse than an unbeliever.” By that time I had already become a Christian and my dad said, “You would go straight to be with Jesus and I want to go there with you. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify Jesus. As hard as that choice would be, the greatest act of love I can show is my unwavering loyalty to Christ.”

Why were you created? What’s your purpose for existing? (for God/His glory, find verse.) If we want to live up to our full potential, make this life meaningful, then we must count the cost and answer the gospel call. Sending the call to voicemail or hanging up on God means we miss out on Him and hope. God beckons us to answer His call and stay on the line. This life with its struggles, pain, and chaos only makes sense and is worth enduring because God calls us to new life, eternal life beyond this sin-cursed world.

Notice the call of the gospel makes the difference for better if we answer and the worse if we hang up (2 Kings 5).

I. Answering the Call (v. 1-19)

A. The gospel call (v. 1-4)

1. Aram (or Syria) was a thorn in the side of Israel for a generation

a. Ahab (whom Elijah preached to) warred against Syria (1 Kings 20) and Israel was subject to raids, hence why an Israelite girl had been taken captive

b. God used this pagan nation/military to teach Israel a lesson for their wickedness. They had victory over Israel because God was disciplining His people. He can use anyone and anything to bring us back to the place we are supposed to be

2. Naaman (name means pleasant) was highly respected and a valiant warrior. Everything was going right for him: he had the king’s favor, he was a great leader, a major reason the military had such great success. But, everything fell apart when his health left him: he had leprosy

a. Apparently Naaman was a good man because the captive in his house loved him (v. 2-3). She wanted him to be well and knew about Elisha/his power to heal in Israel

b. We find something amazing! Naaman took that news to the king in search of an answer (v. 4)

B. It’s amazing to see the things that bring us to God

1. Naaman was willing to try anything to take away leprosy (infectious skin disease that caused scabs, sores, and white shiny spots. Probably a very severe form of psoriasis). It would have been painful and life-altering, for there was no cure

a. Naaman wasn’t a believer in the God of Israel immediately. He was simply trying it out to see if anything could help him

b. Everyone believer starts at a different place

2. Sometimes we need to remove our prejudice/preconceived ideas about God, other times we get hit by life that causes us to question what’s right, still other times we are searching for something to fill the void in our lives. The gospel call and what it has to offer (peace/hope) is appealing. “Is it real? Could it be the thing I’m looking for?” You’ll never know unless you try and Naaman was willing to try

C. Naaman searched for help and answers (v. 5-10)

1. The king loved his servant so much he sent the equivalent of $175,000 and a letter to the king of Israel. Israel, the same group they had waged war against, pillaged, and took captives. The king of Aram now reaches out for help.

a. The king of Israel was willing to help, right? Wrong! He was at a loss and figured Syria was looking for an opportunity to attack again. He kept his guard up and even became outraged (tearing his clothes)

b. Elisha, hearing that the king of Israel displayed such a response to a seeking man, urged for Naaman to come and see God through His prophet

c. Elisha gave these simple instructions: go and wash in the Jordan 7 times. You’ll be restored and cleansed

2. How much do you love someone? Enough to point them to Jesus?

a. Are we like the King of Aram? Not having the answers but sending a loved one to a person who can answer them. Or, are we the King of Israel? Skeptical and dismissive? Or are we like Elisha? Wanting to show God by any means

b. Are you willing to look like a fool and be wronged to get someone to the One who can make a difference in their lives? It’s not about us, it’s about the saving power of Jesus. How vulnerable are we willing to be so that Christ can shine and others will be connected to Him through us?

D. Naaman was seeking the truth and was given a simple answer, yet, it wasn’t easy (v. 11-13)

1. You’d think Naaman would be excited! He’d come all this way to hear what the prophet had to say and got a simple answer: travel 30 miles and dip in the Jordan 7 times, done. But it wasn’t what Naaman was expecting

a. He wanted some large spectacle, or he thought his plan would work better (his rivers), perhaps it was just doubt about Elisha’s words

b. The other servants asked a simple question, “You’d do something grand if he told you to do it, right? What do you have to lose?” Might as well, and guess what? It worked! He answered God’s call and was cleansed

2. Have you ever come across someone who asks something like, “Does a Christian have to…” (go to church every Sunday, give up that vice, forgive, pay a tithe, etc.). We base our salvation on the good things we do but we lose sight of why we do them

a. There are a lot of things that the NT says saves: confession, repentance, baptism, calling on the Name of the Lord. Sounds like a lot of stuff to do. What happens if you don’t forgive every single person or every single thing? Are you lost? What if you don’t repent (turn away) from every sin? What if you miss an opportunity to confess Jesus to someone? What about your salvation?

1. That’s the wrong approach. If salvation worked like that “I did the right thing, so, I’m good” then it’s works-based salvation. Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

2. Here’s how you know you have faith: Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” We acknowledge God, we trust His Word, and seek Him. If you really have faith, trusting He’ll keep His end of the bargain, then you’ll meet Him where He’s called you. Proof of your faith is that you confess Jesus as Lord, repent (turn away from dead works), call upon His Name, be immersed into Christ. None of these things have power in themselves, it’s how we answer God’s call. The fruit of our faith leads us to do what God has called us to do

b. Naaman doubted, he didn’t fully understand. But the fruits of his faith resulted in him being cleansed. Answering the call of the gospel is by faith in God, therefore, you seek Him and He rewards you. Your actions are the evidence of your faith

3. Look at the change in Naaman (v. 14-19)

a. No more doubt, God has transformed him, cleansed him, an obvious change. Naaman wanted to give back to God more and more: sacrifices and he sought forgiveness when he failed. Faith in God gives us the desire to seek more of Him because He makes the difference. The cost of surrender and humility is replaced with glory and healing. Naaman went away in peace.

b. Sometimes what God has called us to do makes zero sense or is so painstakingly simple that we doubt it can possibly make that big of an impact. God’s promises are always fulfilled. When He says He will do something then He will, will we trust Him? With God’s cleansing comes a total change in us: the fruit of our faith is a desire for God, a change in behaviour, a life transformed, and peace forevermore.

c. Answer the gospel call and enjoy the peace of Christ

II. Hanging Up on God (v. 20-27)

A. Don’t hang up on God (v. 20-27)

1. Here’s Gehazi, the servant of Elisha who was a vessel of blessings/God’s work, an Israelite who knew, worshiped, and witnessed to God. But seeing this pagan walk away unscathed and even at peace was too much for him

a. If Elisha wasn’t going to punish him then he would at least line his own pockets. Naaman did offer, after all

b. This wasn’t valiant, this was vengeance. This wasn’t the will of God, it was the will of the flesh. We learned some about Gehazi’s character: hatred of outsiders, greed, liar, and selfishness

2. Elisha made it clear that this was not right. We don’t serve just to get stuff, we serve the Lord who cleansed us, the God who loved us, the God of peace to get more of Him. Gehazi abandoned God and His ways and received the leprosy that Naaman was cleansed of

B. Answer the call of God and don’t hang up

1. Continue in faith, pursue God and His righteousness. There are challenges and things might seem unfair. But who are we to judge other believers? We are all in the same boat: sinners in need of God’s saving grace. Jesus paid the price and we all stand on Him by faith

2. Thus, continue in the faith and be grateful for what God has done for you and for others. Don’t abandon faith for trust in God transforms us into who we were meant to be: image-bearers, Christlike

Conclusion

Now we begin to see our purpose. Not to serve self but to serve Christ. Not personal comfort but peaceful surrender to our Lord. Not perfection but consistency. God saves us and causes us to be born anew into who we were meant to be. As Christians we are the righteousness of God in Christ. Our purpose is to serve and glorify Him. Answer the call of the gospel, live by faith, don’t hang up, go on in peace knowing that eternal life is yours now and forevermore.