March 11, 2007
Morning Worship
Text: 2 Kings 5:1-15
Subject: The Fullness of a Life in Christ
Title: Calling You to Something Better
I don’t know if you’ve noticed it or not, but I have been preaching really hard about going to the next level in your relationship with the Lord. Now some of you are probably wondering why I continue to preach that way. After all, you are doing pretty good right? I mean, you are genuinely experiencing something from the Lord when we come together! Or are you?
Since I have been able to quit secular work I have more time to spend in prayer about my sermons and the direction God would have me take in my preaching. Often I find myself asking, “Why, God? I just preached like that and didn’t get much response.” It is difficult to preach in areas where it seems that the word is going out and just kind of bouncing off and coming back to me. Sometimes I wonder if the church 1) either isn’t hearing what I am saying, 2) doesn’t believe what I am saying, or 3) just doesn’t care what I’m saying. But all I know to do is preach in the direction God leads me and that’s enough. Occasionally someone will come to me and let me know how a particular sermon touched their life. I appreciate that by I don’t live for that. What I do live for is just trying do see God’s will for my life and living it out to the fullness of what He has called me to – and this much I know – He is calling me to something better.
I know that you know that the “something better” is heaven. And we are excited about that prospect. But today I will show you that there is something better for you here on earth and I hope to help you get there. You have to want it! If you don’t want it you have my permission to go ahead and make yourself comfortable, curl up and take a nap. We’ll let you know when church is over.
Just Kidding!
Pay attention and let the Word of God do in your life what it is intended to do today. God is calling you to something better!
I. THE FRAILTY OF LIFE (1) 1Now 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. The beginning of our passage today shows us just how fleeting the good things of this world are. Naaman was in charge of the whole army of Israel’s enemy, Aram. I don’t have any doubt that he was fierce in battle. He probably went to the best schools, showed the most promise, and worked harder than any of his contemporaries to get where he was. What better thing could you ask than to have your boss think you are great? Don’t we all kind of live for that pat on the back? Isn’t it nice to know you are appreciated? And there’s nothing wrong with hard work! Proverbs 10:4, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” The problem comes when you place all of your confidence in the things of this life without consideration for what is next. Solomon figured it all out at the end of his life. Ecclesiastes 1:2-4, “2“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. 3What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.” Solomon realized how temporal this life is. Now, let’s go back to Naaman. What good were all his accomplishments? All his greatness could not protect him from leprosy. As great as he was you can rest assured that not even the lowliest slave would have traded places with him.
II. THE FAITH OF A SERVANT. (2-3) “2Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” I want you to look at a comparison of two lives here. First there was the mighty commander of the army, Naaman. He led raids into Israel often and would take captives and bring them back to be slaves in Aram. He had it all, except peace. Now let’s look at a little servant girl. Her name isn’t even mentioned. It is like possible that, in the worst-case scenario, her parents had been killed in a raid. At best she had just been kidnapped. She had every reason to be angry and wish the worst for Naaman. But what a sweet spirit is exemplified here. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, “12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” How are people able to respond to adversity in that way? “13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This little girl was a perfect example of Christian love. I remember my heroes from my childhood. They seemed larger than life. I’m sure that I saw way more in them than what was really there. This girl had a childhood hero. His name was Elisha. I doubt that she had seen firsthand any of his miracles. I’m sure that by the time the reports of those miracles had made it into her childhood circles they had been embellished. So it’s easy to understand that she was sure that Elisha could heal her master. But what made her think that he would? Galatians 5:22-25, “22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” If Elisha were really the man of God that she thought he was his godly nature would shine before men. So in essence her faith was not in Elisha, but in the God he served.
III. THE FUTILITY OF THE WORLD (4-9) 4Naaman 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. 6The 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.” Do you see a problem with what is taking place here? The servant girl had told them of the prophet in Israel who served the God of Israel but they sent a letter to the king of Israel. They were looking for a supernatural answer from a natural source. It’s not going to happen. Especially since the king was barely on speaking terms with the prophet and didn’t know God. 2 Kings 3:1-3, “1Joram£ son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. 2He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. 3Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.” Joram wasn’t as bad as Ahab and Jezebel… Isn’t that the way the word sees its own righteousness? I’m not as bad as so in so… So here’s the problem. Naaman is seeking help from God, but doesn’t know how to get there. His king doesn’t know so he sends him with over a million dollars in gold and silver to another king who should but does not know Him. Everybody is looking for God but no one knows how to find him. There’s no such thing as righteousness by association unless the association you have is with Jesus. Verse 7, “7As 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!” Once again, we’re looking at a spiritual problem with physical eyes.
8When 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.” 9So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Who do you go to when you struggle in your life? Who do you seek advice from? Who is going to help you in your time of need? Unfortunately many Christians do the same thing that Naaman has done. They seek answers from worldly advisors. Listen, if the world had the answers don’t you think we would be getting better instead of going down the tube? But God wants people to know that there is a “prophet in Israel”. God wants people in Palmyra to know that there is a place where they can go to receive prayer and be healed. He wants them to know there is a safe place for their children. He wants them to know that there is still a place where the word of God is proclaimed without compromise. He wants them to know that there is still a place where God is glorified.
IV. THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE MESSAGE. (10-13) You know that there are some things in the Bible that just don’t make sense? For instance, how is it that the only true freedom you can have is when you become a servant of God. How is it that the only way to victory is to surrender? How can it be that to gain eternal life you have to die to self? Naaman now faces the same dilemma. First of all, Elisha didn’t even speak to him face to face. He sent a messenger to tell him to go wash in the Jordan River seven times. Secondly, Elisha didn’t live up to Naaman’s expectations. “11But 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.”
Thirdly, being made clean in a muddy river didn’t make sense. If being washed in a river would heal then there are better rivers in Syria. Oh yeah, did I tell you that the only way to be exalted is to be humble? Naaman refused to act humbly. The words of his servants show him the error of his ways. 13Naaman’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’!” 14So 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.” Why do you think that Elisha asked Naaman to do what seemed to be foolish? If he had asked him to do something great then it would appear that he had provided for his own healing, but by doing this it became obvious that God is the healer. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, “18For 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. 19For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
The intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.ӣ
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
V. THE FULLNESS OF THE PROMISE. (14-15) God will get whatever it takes to get your attention and keep it. “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” How did he come to that conclusion? He saw a miracle in his life. Listen to me church, the word of God will be fulfilled. Whether it is the written word or spoken word or a word of prophecy, if it is from God it will come to pass.
There is a spiritual leprosy that plagues the earth today.
1. Those in the world have the stain of sin upon them and they are unclean. They may be like Naaman and have all the good things in life. Or they may be working towards that goal. And they are good people. But they need healing. They need to be made clean. And while it may not make sense to them the only way to receive cleansing is to be washed in the blood of the sinless Lamb. The question is, do they have anyone to urge them to respond to the word of God the way Naaman’s servants did? Are you taking people to the river for cleansing? If you are the one who needs the cleansing are you willing to do whatever it takes to receive it?
2. There are those who want to receive more from God. Are you willing to humble yourself enough to receive something more?
Do you realize that:
1) This life is frail but God has something better for you while your hear. Possessions while you are here don’t mean much, but God desires that you have much more than you can even imagine. How badly do you want it?
2) The promises that God wants you to receive can only be received by faith. Do you have the faith to receive it?
3) Trying to understand spiritual things with natural knowledge is futile. Are you willing to humble yourself to accept the word of God brought for by the Word through preaching or do you think you can receive from God on your terms?
4) The message may seem foolish. Those contrasting words that go together to explain the kingdom – victory& surrender; freedom & servanthood; life & death – they make no sense to the world but to those in Christ they become a way of life. Are you willing to accept them?
5) The promise is waiting to be fulfilled. Regardless of the promise that has been given to believers, you can expect it to come to pass. Do you need healing? Let us pray for you! Do you need forgiveness? Confess your sins and ask God! Do you need Holy Spirit power in your life? That’s the baptism in the Holy Spirit. You need to open your mouth and submit your tongue to God and then just receive the promise of the Father.
It all boils down to this question. “What are you willing to do?” If you are hungry for God but are not willing to step out in faith to receive then you’re not hungry enough. If you are hungry then step out in faith and tell God what you want. Then believe that you have received it and you shall have it. You want a refreshing in the Spirit? Come and get it! You want to be saved? Salvation waits for you! Do you want a blessing? God wants you to be blessed and not cursed!
Humble yourself and receive from God!
He’s calling you to something better!
