I Said To Myself

I Said To Myself

Introduction: There are times people think too much. They out reason themselves and make bad mistakes. You have heard of the man that was in the flood and drowned because he did not take advantage of the opportunities he had to escape the flood. When he faced God he expressed his disappointment in God not saving him. God’s reply was that He had given that man all of those opportunities and its was this man’s fault he had drowned. I think the Bible teaches grace, faith, and obedience goes together. We see this in the case of Naaman in 2 Kings 5.

I) Naaman’s Situation, v. 1

A) Good qualities

1. He commander of the army, great and honorable, well esteemed by his master, victorious, and a mighty man of valor (valor –bravery, courageous)

B) But he was a leper, v. 1

1. He was going to die, leprous was painful and contagious, eventually fatal

2. Law of Moses required lepers to be isolated

C) We are similar to Naaman

1. Most people have many good qualities

2. We are going to die, Hebrews 10.31

3. We are similar in regards to sin, Romans 3.23; 6.23

II) Naaman Receives Hope From An Unexpected Source, vv. 2-5

A) A slave girl

1. Often people conquered were made slaves, this girl may have been taken away from her home and family

2. Now she was serving the man responsible for much grief among her people

3. She took advantage of the opportunity to mentioned her God

4. She expressed great faith, she said Naaman would be healed if he would go to the prophet of God.

B) Naaman was not to proud to try (death overcomes a lot of pride)

1. Death makes cowards of the strongest people

2. Closer it gets the more religious people tend to be

3. Pay all the doctors they want if they can just keep us alive a little while longer

III) The Reaction of Two Kings, v. 6-7

A) Syria’s king—go and be healed

B) Israel’s King

1. He was upset, accused the King of Syria of doing this so he could justify attacking Israel

2. He did not have the same faith in the prophet of God as the slave girl or the king of Syria

3. We sometimes have less faith then the people of the world, Matthew 19.26

IV) Elisha’s Response, v. 8

A) Rebukes the king

1. Which person are you most like? Always calm or worrying

B) He gives simple and easy instructions to Naaman

V) Naaman’s Reaction, vv. 11-12

A) "I said to myself"

1. He was giving God what for; self righteous, furious, did not like the plan

2. No visible connection between the action and the promised results

3. Some lessons:

a. What we like or don’t like doesn’t really matter, Isaiah 55.8-9

b. God’s wisdom is greater than man’s, 1 Corinithians 1.22ff

c. We need to do what the Bible says, John 8.24

B) An appeal by his servants, vv. 13-14

1. Naaman’s problem was it was too simple and easy

2. Foolish to reject God’s word for those reasons.

3. Forget about yourself and do what the prophet says.

VI) Naaman Was Healed and Had Faith, vv. 14-15

A) God does not want us to do great things just have an obedient faith.

Conclusion: Naaman was grateful to God. He did what he could and left the rest to God. What about you?

D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 07.15 07

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