1. NAAMAN THE LEPER AND PEOPLE TODAY II KINGS 5:1-15

2. Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The Old Testament has a message for us in the Christian age. There are some comparisons between Naaman and the people of today. Let’s notice some of these comparisons.

3. II Kings 5:1 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 a mighty man of valor, but a leper. Naaman had just about everything a man in his day could want. He was great and honorable. He was a mighty man of valor.

4. He was rich. II Kings 5:5 So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. He had: Respect Admiration Money He had leprosy. This meant inevitable death.

5. Man today could have everything. He could have: FameFortuneAdmiration and respect But if he has sin in his life, he has spiritual leprosy. This means inevitable spiritual death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death.

6. There was a place where Naaman could be cleansed. II Kings 5:2-4 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. 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.” And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.” God’s Kingdom.

7. There is a place where a person could go to be cleansed from their sin. God’s Kingdom. Acts 2:38, 47 Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

8. There was only one who could heal Naaman: Elisha, the man of God There is one, and only one, today who can heal us : Jesus Only God’s man could heal Naaman. Only God’s Son can save people today.

9. Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

10. Naaman went to the king of the country for healing, but the king could not heal him. II Kings 5:5-7 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 clothes. 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. 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.”

11. Many today think that government can solve man’s dilemmas. But with the greatest dilemma of all, sin, there is only one man who can help us. Some try to do many other things, but only Christ can rid us of our sins. John 6:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

12. Naaman also brought great treasures to buy his cleansing. How many today think they buy their way into heaven, either with money or good works? Salvation is a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.” Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

13. God’s man invited Naaman to come to him for cleansing. II Kings 5:8 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.” Jesus today, invites everyone to come to Him for cleansing.

14. In Luke 14:16-24 Jesus tells a parable of man giving a great supper and he invited many guests. Many of the guest refused to come. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Yes, Jesus gives the invitation, but yet many refuse to come.

15. Naaman sought out God’s man. II Kings5:9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. We must seek Christ. We should be like the Greeks that we read about in John 12:20-21, who said to Philip, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” They came seeking Jesus.

16. Acts 17:27 So that they should seek the Lord, in hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us. We find Christ only in His word. That’s why it is so important that we make sure the word is never perverted. Galatians 1:6-8 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

17. Jesus talked about those who a perverted gospel. Mark 6:6-8 “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandments of God, and hold fast the traditions of men. We also must seek the kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

18. Elisha did not speak to Naaman personally, but sent a message and instructions. Today, Christ does not speak to us personally, but has sent us a message by His servants. II Corinthians 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Today we have the word of God to guide us. II Peter 1:3 As His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

19. Naaman was told to wash in the Jordon River, a command which bore no reasonable relation to curing leprosy. II Kings 5:10 Go wash in the Jordon seven times, and you shall be clean. We are commanded to be baptized in water which bears no reasonable relation to forgiveness of sins. Mark 16:15-16 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

20. I Peter 3:20-21 Who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Acts 10:47-48 Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. There is no holy water. The command is just water.

21. II Kings 5:11-12 But Naaman was 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.’ 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. Naaman came with a pre-conceived idea of what God’s man’s should of done to cleanse him of his leprosy. He was angry and went away when it did not turn out according to his notions.

22. So do many today. They want Christ to save them in a special way. Salvation can come only one way. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Faith + Obedience = Salvation

23. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greeks. Hebrews 5:8-9 Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

24. Naaman rejected the message and retained his leprosy. Many reject Christ’s plan and retain their sin. Naaman thought he could substitute another river, other than the one God had specified. Many today want to substitute their preference for the gospel commands. Faith Only Sprinkeling or Pouring Other churchesOther names

25. II Kings 5:13-14 And his servant 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 than, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordon, 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. Naaman finally complied and was healed. Only when we comply with God’s will—will we be saved. Sincerity and good intentions are not enough

26. Naaman was not half healed when he had half complied—but was fully healed when he had fully complied. We must complete our obedience. We must hear the word of God. Romans 10:17 So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God We must believe that Jesus is the Christ. John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

27. We must repent. Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. We must confess Jesus as the Son of God. Acts 8:36-37 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And the eunuch said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

28. We must be baptized. Acts 8:38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. We must live faithfully for Christ Revelation 2:10 Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. When we comply to these commands we will be saved.

29. I Kings 5:15 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. Naaman brought gifts to the house of the man of God to show his appreciation. We also should be willing to give God anything because he saved us from our sins.

30. There is one gift we need to give first. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

31. HAVE YOU FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE LORD’S COMMANDS?

32. HAVE YOU TRANSFORMED YOUR LIFE AND COMPLETELY GIVEN YOURSELF TO GOD?

33. Given by David Hamlin on February 11, 2007 am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.org Given by David Hamlin on February 11, 2007 am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.orgwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org