Calvary Chapel Kampala

2 Kings Chapter 5 “Naaman the Leper”

1. I. Naaman’s Problem (Verses 1-7)
   1. 1. Even great people get great problems (1)
      1. Everyone, no matter how they appear in public, have a deep disease called sin.

• See here that “success” in the eyes of God and “success” in the eyes of man are two different things. Naman appeared to be prosperous and successful, but he had an incurable disease.
• The gospel is a message for all people—even the “big men” in our community need to hear of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus.
  • Romans 3:10-19 “As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."   13 "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips";   14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."   15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known."   18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."   19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
  • Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

1. 2. God puts us in places to offer help (2-4)
   1. No matter how small and insignificant we may feel we can always lead people to the one who will definitely meet their deepest needs.

• Esther 4:14 “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

1. 3. Be sure you believe before you open your mouth (5-7)
   1. The king of Israel didn’t believe in God’s ability to heal Naaman

• He had a misunderstanding—it wasn’t him that could heal, it was God.
• He didn’t believe that God could do it because he wasn’t living for God.
• Many of us think that we can live for ourselves and in sin until the time comes when there is a serious problem that needs our attention. However, if we are living for God now—trusting in God now—we won’t be able to believe and trust in Him then.
  • Mark 9:28-29 “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

1. Because when people come to Christ they are making a serious commitment. They need to see that you believe it.

• We need conviction that what we are saying is true, and that God is big enough for people’s deepest problems.

1. David Hume, 18th century British philosopher who rejected historic Christianity, once met a friend hurrying along a London street and asked where he was going. The friend said he was off to hear George Whitfield preach. “But surely you don’t believe what Whitfield preaches do you?” “No, I don’t, but he does.”
2. There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: “I wish you would explain to me something.” “Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher.” “What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all.” Macready’s answer was this: “This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.” - G. Campbell Morgan, Preaching,
3. II. Naaman’s Prescription (Verses 8-14)
   1. 1. Elisha was confident in His God (8-9)
   2. 2. Elisha prescribed dipping in the Jordan river (10-14)
      1. This was an act of humility

• Elisha himself didn’t come out to Naaman but sent a messenger.
• The Jordan River was despised by this Syrian. If it was a river couldn’t it at least be one in his home land.
• God will not accept us unless we are willing to humble ourselves
  • James 4:8-10 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

1. There was no other way

• Naaman was offended that God didn’t work in the way that he expected Him to.
• When God says to do something don’t ask questions—just do it!
• There is only one way to be saved, and to many it is foolishness.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."  20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

1. When he humbled himself and obeyed in faith he was healed

• It was simple—just dip in the river. People think that we have to do something great or difficult to be accepted by God but we don’t. All we have to do is trust in Jesus. Simple.

1. III. Naaman’s Praise (Verses 15-27)
   1. 1. Elisha’s work was done so that God would be glorified (15-19)
      1. He wasn’t doing it for money

• This was the equivalent of $1.2 million.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:18 “What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.”

1. 2. Gehazi’s greed (20-27)
   1. He thought that God’s will always includes getting rich. (20)

• Greed has come into the church and made us stupid

1. The March 1988 "Rotarian" tells about a bounty of $5,000 offered for each wolf captured alive.  It turned Sam and Jed into fortune hunters.  Day and night they scoured the mountains and forests looking for their valuable prey. Exhausted one night, they fell asleep dreaming of their potential fortune. Suddenly, Sam awoke to see that they were surrounded by about fifty wolves with flaming eyes and bared teeth.  He nudged his friend and said, "Jed, wake up!  We're rich!"
2. He wanted to “take something from him” (20)

• Our job is to give to people, not take from people!

1. Greed leads to lying and deception (21-25)
2. Is it time to receive material possessions?

• It’s all going to burn soon! Let’s use this time to give spiritual riches, and if God blesses us with the material lets use it to give to others.

1. “God blesses us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving”
2. See the end result of living a life of greed for money

• Proverbs 1:19 “So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.”
• 1 Timothy 6:6-11 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”