Healed By Faith Naaman

Bottomline: Faith requires a response.

Celebrate the news of Cole

Intro- share about being humbled…ear hair…reggie miller

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. f

Now, Naaman would be viewed as an enemy by the Isrealites....he likely could have fought against them.

Also we learn that although God had a convent with the Isrealite people, this reflects that God loved, interacted, and people outside of the Jewish people. It reflects back this truth that God is for all people.

At this point in history leprosy could be used to describe a number of dieases but all of which would be painful, obvious, and effect the skin.

You also have to realize that ancient culture tended to be ones that would be Honor-Shame culture. So for Naaman it could affect his status in the world.

Success does not make us immune to suffering.

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

point out her lack of status…and this picture of enemy love.

The love of God compels us to love our enemies.

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman comes with a ton of money

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

The King of Isreal probably feels like this is a trap

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

Elisha sends a messager to this powerful man

The Jordan river is a significant place. Where God does significant things.

-isrealites enter into the promised land through the jordan

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The New International Version (Chapter 5)

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

-Naaman feels like he is being put off and

-Naaman

God doesn’t care about your status.

The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012–2013 (How We Become Believers)

The blessing of God is not for the powerful; it’s for the humble.

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”

Healing sometimes can be simple.

14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

The jordan was the path way into the promise land for the Isrealites, now its the path to healing for someone else

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18 But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.”19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said.

God’s grace will find us even when we are not looking for it.

God’s grace surprises people.

Nobody finds surrender without experiencing suffering.

You cannot buy or earn your healing.

Naaman doesn’t just become a believer in miracles, he becomes a believer in the miracle working only God.

God will only heal the humble.

Tell the story of how things in with Gehazi and how he stole from Naaman

Luke

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Bold faith can lead to radical transformation.

Miracles require faith.

Healing requires faith.

Grace requires faith.

Humility leads to healing