220911 2 Kings 5: Simple Faith

Pride vs Faith | Am I God? | Faith like a Child | Simple Saving Faith

Pride vs Faith

Me first | Him first

I want it now | I will wait on God

I must do | He has done

Expectations Entitlement | Advocates for Others

Angry Explosive | Subdued and Restrained

Ugly | Winsome

Arrogant | Confident,

Main Point:

Jn 6:29 Fine but the tie in for Mark 10 is better, more straightforward

Simple saving faith is

Mark 10:13-16 “And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “Truly (ἀμὴν) I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms (Welcomed, comforted, embraced) and began blessing them, laying His hands on them (Touched, not distant, approachable).

Luke 18:9–17 fine but adds too much detail - goal is simplicity

Context

Elisha double portion of Elijah’s spirit - 2 K 2:9 “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.””

Elijah transitioning to Elisha - whirlwind to heaven - 2 K 2:11 “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.”

Elisha doing the things of Elijah

Widow’s oil - 2 K 4:6-7 “When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.””

Raising the dead to life - 2 K 4:34 “And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm.”

Simple Faith | Word of the Cure | Naaman’s Leprosy | A little girl’s faith

1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him Yahweh had given salvation to Aram. The man was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

Leprosy or צָּרַעְתּֽ

Quickly, progressing skin disease that has the following symptoms

swelling

crusty rashes

brightly inflamed areas

2 Now the Arameans had gone out in marauding bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 And she said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were before the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 Then Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went and took in his hand ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes.

1 Cor 1:27 “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,”

Acts 8:20 “But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”

Inability Recognized | The king’s fear

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “So now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 Now it happened that when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to put to death and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But know now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.”

John 11:23-27 “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.””

Simple Instructions | Naaman’s Pride | Naaman’s fury

8 Now it happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ 12 Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in wrath.

Flesh

13 Then his servants approached and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet spoken with you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy and he was clean.

Fruit Acrostic -

How to develop simple faith | Fruit follows simple faith

Familiarity | Fear | Follow - Kudos (Know/Understand/Daily Deny/Obey/Serve

Receptive | Revere

Uncomplicated

Intentionally imitate

Trust and obey

Luke 11:9–13 | 9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Romans 10:9–11 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.””

James 2:26 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”