I am trying something new with my blogging. Sermon style:
I will be reading the Old Testament verses from both the Tanak and the King James Version of the Bible. The New Testament verses from the King James Version of the Bible. Turn with me to the 5th chapter of II Kings starting at verses 1 through 3, and then continuing on with verses 9 – 19.
1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and held in esteem, because by him HaShem had given victory unto Aram; he was also a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.
2 And the Arameans had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
3 And she said unto her mistress: ‘Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy.’
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying: ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come back to thee, and thou shalt be clean.’
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said: ‘Behold, I thought: He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of HaShem his G-d, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Amanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?’ So he turned, and went away in a rage.
13 And his servants came near, and spoke unto him, and said: ‘My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee: Wash, and be clean?’
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of G-d; and his flesh came back like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15 And he returned to the man of G-d, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said: ‘Behold now, I know that there is no G-d in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a present of thy servant.’
16 But he said: ‘As HaShem liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.’ And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
17 And Naaman said: ‘If not, yet I pray thee let there be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth; for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto HaShem.
18 In this thing HaShem pardon thy servant: when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I prostrate myself in the house of Rimmon, when I prostrate myself in the house of Rimmon, HaShem pardon thy servant in this thing.’
Now Naaman (“pleasantness”) being a man of notoriety, fame, valor and great honour was a leper. But he was remembered by the maid assigned to the Queen of Syria. She, a captive from Israel, knew that YHVH could heal Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman was then instructed by Elisha (“God is salvation”) to come to Elisha’s house. Elisha then told Naaman to go down to the river Jordan (“descender”) and wash himself seven times.
Naaman, felt Elisha’s simple request, lacked the pomp, splendor and ceremony due not only of his station but of Elisha’s God. In anger Naaman went away. His servants stopped him and asked him, if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing would you not have done it? Naaman realized that the request of Elisha was simple. Wash and be clean.
I want to speak to you today on our willingness to:
- Trust
- be Obedient
- be Patient
- be Healed
Naaman was a great man. Not only in the eyes of Syrian King, but also in the eyes of his servants and by the nations that he defeated in war. However, in the eyes of YHVH he was a leper. Therefore he was unclean. In our world today we look at people success by the things that they have accomplished, own or acquired. We don’t look deeper at the individual to see the things that YHVH sees. What is the spiritual condition of the man? See YHVH knows that the spiritual condition of the man is what MAKES the man. Naaman, with all of his success, honor and valour was still incomplete due to his unclean status. He couldn’t be a complete man without being fully cleansed, physically and spiritually. Here is a basic principal that YHVH repeats through out the Torah, Old Testament and New Testament. The spiritual condition of a man (or nation) is represented physically. What’s on his heart, he speak through his mouth, and walks out in his flesh and also in his spirit.
Matthew 19:26 With Men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Proverbs: 3:5 -12 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths. Be not wise in the thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to they navel, and marrow to they bones. Honour the LORD with they substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall they barns be filled with plenty, and they presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Psalms 37:3-5 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verify thou shalt be fed. Delight theyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit they way unto the LROD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Naaman had to let go of his anger, in order to trust YHVH. It was YHVH words spoken through Elisha. Psalms: 37:8-9; Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not theyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the LORD they shall inherit the earth.
Let’s read verse 12 again: “Are not Amanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?’ So he turned, and went away in a rage. The Amanah also know as the Abana river means Stony see strong’s concordance (71), The Pharpar river means Rushing, rapid (6554). Whenver names are used, the meaning behind those names is significant. Naaman was angry about how he was to be healed. He didn’t want to be obedient he was a spectacle. Because he refused to repent, his heart was like the Abana river, stoney and he wanted to rush, or speed through his healing. YHVH doesn’t ask much of us, and when He does ask something, we start to comlplain, murmur andbecome angry.
See Gen 4:3-7; Cain’s answer was to turn his anger toward Abel and not repent. Naaman relented and went into the river. We won’t be patient and allow YHVH to work HIS will on the situation. You asked He gave, You sought, and He found it and presented it to you. now be patient after you knock, cause the door of understanding will open but you need to be preapred for it, ready for it. Then when He’s ready He’ll bring you through the door. And you’ll be healed, saved, convicted, armed, bold, or whatever it is He’s working that’s where He’ll bring you to; But be patient, don’t be like the two Damascas rivers, stony (unrelenting), rapid and rushing. Going too fast to allow Him to work in His season and His timing.
YHVH is the key and answer to all your prayers. He provides to us a relationship between Himself and His word. His word is our foundation but it’s also our sword. It protects us and guides us. If we won’t be obedient to His word, then how can we expect the answer to our prayers. How can we expect to be healed, to be saved to be on fire for Him. All He asks is to study to show ourselves approved. To place before him like Abel the correct offering. To show that we were diligent in following His word, walking in His path, following His righteousness and teaching them to our children. Deut 6:7 says ‘you shall teach them thoroughly to your children and you shall speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way and whne you rtire and when you arise’. Verse 8 says, ‘bind them as a sign upon your arm and let them be a ornaments between your eyes’, verse 9 concludes, ‘and write them on the doorposts of your house and ypon your gates‘. giving us three ways to surround ourselves and shield ourselves with the words of YHVH. we teach them to our children. THOROUGHLY, protecting them when they are grown and no longer need our protection. we bind them as a sign on upon our arms. Arms represents the will of YHVH, how we do things from day to day. That’s why the scripture says continually, with an upraised arm, or with a strong arm, do YHVH bring us from Egypt. It’s supposed to be an ornament between our eyes. When people see us, automatically what’s between our eyes would be visible. the best place to ornament something is writing it on our foreheads. If His will is continally written upon our foreheads, that shows to all, by who’s authority we walk, act and conducts or basic and daily lives. And then finally we post His word on our doorposts, protecting our homes and our gates. Our home is our refuge and our gates, are the fence or place of authority where business is conducted. Showing that He is in full control of all aspects of our lives. In this way we give full witness to others, that when your obedient, you are not misguided, your not mislead, and even though He will test our faith in Him, He will never lead us astray or alone.
Are you willing to leave, your burdens at His altar? Are you willing to leave your hurts and fear, at His feet? Are you willing to let Him have full control of your life, and let him protect you, guide you and fulfill and sustain you? Are you willing to repent, and turn away from the harm that others caused you? The objects that have been thrown into your path?
Now is the time for repentance, no day is better than today. Do not wait for tomorrow as tomorrow isn’t promised. The day of the Lord is at hand, are you ready to accept Him as He always wanted to be accepted? Are you willing to walk with Him? Are you willing to accept His teaching, guidance and wisdom, and teach these things thoroughly to your children and be a witness for other’s understanding? The falls feasts are upon us, Yom Teruah the day of shouting has just occured. We are approaching quickly the day of atonement, now is the time to let Him fully atone for you and to leave any and all burdens behind. You are at the door, let Him take you in.
Turn away from what you know, and be like Naaman, obedient, cleansing yourself in the Jordan River seven [completely] times and be forever rid of your unclean leprosy to begin a new, with an ever greater understanding of Him.