(2 Kings 5:27 GW) Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants permanently!” When he left Elisha, Gehazi had a disease that made his skin as flaky as snow.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” with one final message about Naaman. Yesterday we learned that Naaman finally accepted what the man of God said, he dipped in the muddy Jordan river seven times and he was healed; his skin was like a baby’s. Afterwards Naaman and all his men returned to the man of God. He stood in front of Elisha and said, “Now I know that there’s no god in the whole world, except the God of Israel. So please accept a present from me.” Remember, the key character in every Biblical story is God. While I call this the story of Naaman, it is actually the story of how God healed a gentile through a prophetic Word and through his obedience to it. This is a story about God’s supernatural power to heal the seemingly incurable. In the last story we saw God redeem a young man (Mephibosheth) from utter despair. Mephibosheth was mentally distraught, disillusioned, and discontent with life when God moved through David. Naaman was none of those things. Naaman was confident, strong, courageous, and a battle-tested military leader. However, Naaman had a secret issue – one he never told anyone about – and the Lord manifested His glory in Naaman’s life through Elisha. We serve a God who can show up supernaturally for anyone. Whether you are in covenant with God already, but you are depressed about a rough patch in your life, or you are not in covenant with Him and you simply have a secret issue you would like Him to address, we serve a God who can meet anyone, anytime, anywhere, and address any issue. He loves us and He wants to manifest His best in our lives.
Before we leave this story I want to share one more thing that happened. Naaman tried to give Elisha the gifts (over $3.5M worth), but Elisha refused. You cannot pay for a miracle. Elisha appreciated the gesture, but he would not take the money and sent Naaman away. Elisha’s servant Gehazi could not believe his boss refused the money. So he foolishly went after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he got down from his chariot to speak to him. “Is something wrong?” he asked. Gehazi answered, “No. My master has sent me. He says, ‘Just now two young men from the disciples of the prophets in the hills of Ephraim have arrived. Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.’” Naaman replied, “Please let me give you 150 pounds of silver.” Naaman urged Gehazi to take the silver and he did. Naaman gave the gifts to a couple of his own servants to carry in front of Gehazi. This was a dumb move. I don’t know what Gehazi was thinking. Elisha was a prophet. Did he really thing he could fool Elisha; or God for that matter? But sure enough, he took the gifts, went home, hid them, and then went back to Elisha. Elisha asked him, “Where were you, Gehazi?” “I didn’t go anywhere,” he answered. Then Elisha said to him, “I went with you in spirit when the man turned around in his chariot to speak to you. How could you accept silver, clothes, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, cattle, or slaves? Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants permanently!” Then the leprosy that was on Naaman came upon Gehazi.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things:
1. We serve a God who can meet anyone, in any situation, and turn their hopeless around.
2. There is nothing too hard for God. What He did for Naaman, Mephibosheth, Jacob and the many others in scripture, He can do for you!
3. Never disrespect God or His representatives in the earth. The same supernatural power that can help you can also be used to hurt you if you dishonor and disrespect God. You don’t ever want to be on the wrong side of God.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for making it clear to me that the Supernatural is available to me. I see what You did for Jacob, Mephibosheth, Naaman and so many others. As I read their stories I see how You are the star of every one. You are a good God who wants to show up in my life in a good way. But I also know that Your Supernatural power can be used against me if I choose to dishonor, disrespect, and devalue You. I declare that I never will. I honor You and your representatives in the earth. I will never attempt to deceive You or those You have placed in authority. I walk upright before You every day of my life and I believe that You will bless all that I do as I seek to bring glory and honor to Your name. Naaman was not an Israelite and he came to know You through Elisha. Use me Father to show non-believers and unbelievers that You alone are God. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
