The Lord Our Restorer [2 Kings 5:1-19]

 

SCRIPTURE

Naaman’s Leprosy Healed

1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.

2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy. 7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “ Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me.” 8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall clean"11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ 12 “ Are not the Abanah and the 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 a rage.13 And his g servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, 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 seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.” 16 But he said, l “ As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 So Naaman said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD . 18 “Yet in this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon-when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon , may the LORD please pardon your servant in this thing.” 19 Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance. (II Kings 5:1-19).

                                                    

Sunday September 18, 2016

 

                                              "THE LORD OUR RESTORER"

                                                    Pastor Enoch Hanokh

What did the little slave girl do when she saw the General’s leprosy condition?

She reasoned according to the standard of her identity (the Kingdom of God).

What should we do when we see people?

We should go by the standard of identity of the Kingdom of God?

 

Introduction:

How many times have we not been tempted to weigh people according to the standard of this world and therefore become envious of people without Christ instead of recognizing the leprosy in their lives and humbly lead them to the way, the truth and the life, Christ Jesus, the restorer of life and hope? Well, we are not alone, but like David we should quickly see our own folly, repent and focus on God so we can show others the way to restoration. (Ps. 73:2-9). May we humbly see the true state of people in this world who are not yet part of our Kingdom and help them make their way into the it. There is hope for every who shall live.

 

1) Our eyes must see differently.

▪ Accomplished in the eyes of men, yet being eating up by leprosy.

▪ Puffed up with pride and fits of anger

▪ Approaching in our terms.

 

2) Can we boast in the LORD and say, “If only my master were with the prophet in Samaria?

▪ We should believe in the power of to save lives.

▪ Our God is the restorer of lives.

▪ These truths should be part of identity.

 

3) “And he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

▪ Where the prophets of God? (Joel 2:28, Num. 11:29, 1 Cor. 14:3-33).

▪ Do we live for the glory of God or we live for ourselves? 

 

Conclusion:

Can we boast of the LORD Jesus Christ in our lives in the face of our ungodly generation and proclaim the truth of the Kingdom of our God today? Would we please stop envying this world so we can have focus to make boast of our LORD Jesus Christ? It should all be about Jesus! We have just a limited time. This is not our home. Jesus is coming sooner than we can ever imagine. Can you today to talk to at least one person about Jesus this week? God bless you and your family.

And may His grace abound toward you in all things.

Shalom!! 

                                          SMALL GROUP STUDIES

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1.     1.     What are some of the spiritual principle that we have learned from today's message?

 

2.   2.  How can you apply these principles in your spiritual journey with God?