Introduction:

A. Text II Kings 5:1-19:

1. Naaman was an honorable captain in the Syrian army but, he was a leper (verse 1).
2. A maid told Naaman’s wife of Elisha, the prophet, who could heal him through the power of God (verses 2-3).
3. This fact is reported to the king, and he sends a letter and gifts to the king of Israel requesting Naaman to be healed (verses 4-6).
4. The king of Israel knows he cannot fill this request, but Elisha sent word to the king of Israel that he would handle the issue (verses 7-8).
5. Naaman comes and is told to wash 7 times in the Jordan River (verse 10). 
6. Naaman did not like what he was told to do, because he expected something more spectacular (verses 11-13).
7. Naaman finally obeyed the command and was cleansed of his leprosy (verse 14).
8. Naaman states: “…Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel…” (Verse 15)
9. Naaman offers Elisha a payment, but Elisha refuses (verses 15-16). 
10. Naaman requests a pardon for the sin he will commit of bowing down to the God’s of wind, rain, and storm, worshipped by the Syrians. (verse 17-19).

B. There are three lessons we will learn from this text:

1. We can be like the little maid and take advantage of opportunities to tell others of the power of God.
2. We can use the lesson of obedience in this account to understand water baptism and why so many people expect more than being immersed in water to be needed to save them.
3. We will look at Naaman’s request of pardon and Elisha’s handling of that question.  From this point we can also learn that many will see the truth, confess the truth, but fail in application of what they learn.

A. The power of God today relates to the soul saving power of the Gospel which we are to preach:

1. Mark 16:15-16
2. Romans 1:16-17 
3. Ephesians 1:13 
4. James 1:21 
5. I Peter 1:23-25 

B. We need to bring people to the “Great Physician” for the taking away of their sins: 

1. Jesus is the only “Great Physician” (Mark 2:17). 

a. John 14:6
b. Acts 4:10-12 

2. He came to save (Matthew 18:11). 
3. He brought life through the Gospel (II Timothy 1:8-10). 

A. Naaman was told to wash 7 times in the Jordan (II Kings 5:10), but Naaman expected more than that (II Kings 5:11).

1. God tells us to wash in water have our sins remitted:

a. John 3:1-5
b. Acts 2:38
c. Acts 8:36-38
d. Acts 22:16

2. But, man expects more than having to hear, believe, repent, confess, and be immersed: 

a. They want a supernatural event involving the Holy Spirit.
b. They want to be smacked in the forehead by a supposed gospel preacher.
c. They want God to talk to and through them.
d. We are to walk by faith, not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).

* In the case of Naaman we see that even a miracle did not cause him to be obedient in the end.  Faith is what provokes obedience, and faith is not settled by seeing a miraculous work. 
* Miracles in the N.T. time were to confirm the word (Mark 16:20), but that time has ended (I Corinthians 13:8-10).

B. God’s plan is simple.  God said it and that settles it (Revelation 22:18-19)!

1. Naaman obeyed and was cleansed (II Kings 5:14).
2. When we obey God’s plan we will be clean also:

a. Romans 6:1-6 
b. Colossians 2:12-13 

A. Naaman realized God’s power, and with his mouth confessed that there is only one God (II Kings 5:15).

1. We must be willing to confess with our mouths (Matthew 10:32-33). 
2. There is only one God (I Corinthians 8:5-6). 

B. Naaman, after praising the Lord, then asks for pardon so that he can bow his knee in submission to idolatry (II Kings 5:17-18).

1. Idolatry is clearly condemned by God (Deuteronomy 5:6-9).

a. Leviticus 19:4 
b. I Corinthians 10:14 

2. Naaman surely did not have the obedient faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to disobey civil ordinance in respect of divine authority (Daniel 3:14-28 / cf. Acts 5:29).
3. Naaman quickly displays that he saw, felt, heard, but did not understand the power of God:

a. Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
b. In the case of Naaman we see Isaiah’s inspired statement is correct even as Paul referenced Isaiah in the N.T. (Acts 28:24-27).

C. Elisha’s response to Naaman’s request: (II Kings 5:19) “And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.”

1. “Go in peace” defined: “Go in safety, welfare”.

a. Elisha did not answer the request of pardon; he simply bid him a safe journey.
b. This was a proper response to one who had God revealed to them, but still would not submit (Matthew 7:6 and Matthew 10:14 - cf. Acts 13:42-52).  

2. There is no point in trying to continue to teach someone who does not want taught.

A. Many do not want to accept God’s way of doing things, however without obeying they will be lost (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).
B. Many of our brethren say they know the truth, but in application they forget the power of God!

1. We must be right when we carry out the Lord’s work (Matthew 7:21-23).
2. We can never do something because it is the “church of Christ” way of doing it (Matthew 15:7-9) – there is Bible doctrine (Colossians 3:17); not church doctrine!

C. Will we take this lesson and simply do the Master’s will?

2002 by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.