I want it my way

2 Kings 5:1 The king of Aram had high 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 Now groups of 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 told him. "I will send a letter of introduction for you to carry to the king of Israel." So Naaman started out, taking as gifts 340 Kilograms of silver, 70 Kilograms 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 it, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, "This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can kill and give life? He is only trying to find an excuse to invade us again." 8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard about the king's reaction, 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 leprosy." 11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. "I thought he would surely 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 Abana River and Pharpar River of Damascus better than all the rivers of Israel put together? 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 some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply to 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 flesh became as healthy as a young child's, and he was healed!

The first thing that hinders us from receiving the help we need from God!

Great and small we all need God.

Though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy

Naaman, was well known, a great man, God even used him to give the King great victories. Isn’t it strange that we can think that when we get big, known, rich, successful, that we won’t suffer? (Michael Jackson last night!)
Though he was a ________ he suffered__________
The first step to change something that is killing us or destroying our life is to recognize that we need help. That we will not be able to do this by ourselves.

The rebellion of many people is not that they don’t believe that there is a God, they just deny him the right to be their God!

The helplessness of Man and the distance of Faith and Government. V:6-7

Didn’t the King know about Elisha? Maybe there was no connection between Government and faith.
Jesus was being confronted by a faithless generation in his own home town and he quoted the story of Naaman as an example of how far a generation can get away from their faith. Luke 4:27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-- only Naaman the Syrian."

The second thing that hinders us is our expectations and demands on God!

I thought:/ I expected: v:9-12 …waited at the door of Elisha's house

WHO? He would come out to meet me.

I’ve never seen God if he wants to meet with me he can come to me!

HOW? wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me

It is amazing to me how people who know nothing about God can know so much about what he is like and what his will is.
I think that God is love and I am good enough for Heaven.
I think that God will understand if I live my life first and seek him at the end when I have lived my way.

WHERE? And why this river there are better rivers, Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?

I think that we don’t have to go to church to meet with God.

So Naaman turned and went away in a rage

If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply to go and wash and be cured!"

This reminds me of another situation in the New Testament.

John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.

2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?

What he didn’t understand was the way to Heaven. The way of humility. The way of surrender of your life to God. Nicodemus came at night so as not to be seen. He knew he was from God, but when Jesus told him the way Nicodemus could understand it. He was too high up like Naaman to understand the simplicity of God. Believe in your Heart! Come to God! Give your life to him!

Born again? When you were born into your family that you have now, you had no choice. (Joke: Angered son to his mother, “I never asked to be born into this family”, Mother answering back, “yeah if you would have asked I would have said NO!”)

So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him

In the natural foolishness, but obedience brought healing.

What about you? The Bibles says YOU must be born again to see the Kingdom of Heaven” Have you created your own way to God and think it is the right way? Is the way that God has made too simple for you?

Get saved today! Get healed today! Come to the Altar for prayer and experience your new Beginning!