(Read Luke 4:22-27)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Today’s message continues to flow in the same vein as the last three. This morning we will look at the example of Naaman.
Jesus said, “There were many people with leprosy living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of them were healed; the only one was Naaman. And he was from the country of Syria, not Israel.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. None of us are flawless. Naaman was a successful and highly decorated military commander. His king and his people loved him. But the commander had a secret. Under the armor, under the outward façade, behind his public image, Naaman had a major issue he was battling. Naaman was a leper. Most people did not know it, but his body was dying on the inside, behind his public veil. Naaman’s issue did not make him a bad person, it just made him human.
2. Naaman was willing to seek help. Even though he was a person of public prominence and stature, when he heard there was a prophet in Israel who could help him, he asked his king for a letter, he loaded up his wagons, and he took off to visit the man of God. No matter who you are to the public, you must be willing to humble yourself and seek help for the things you cannot handle.
3. Naaman understood honor. Naaman was a man of honor, so he would not ‘show up’ at the prophet’s house empty handed. He was a foreigner asking for help, so the customary thing to do was to bring gifts. Namman brought 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing for the prophet. Naaman came ready to sow into the man of God. To be clear, you cannot purchase a blessing and God’s servants are not for hire, but at least Naaman had enough honor to come to the man of God with gifts. There is nothing wrong with sowing into the life of someone who is being a blessing to you. Especially when God has blessed you with overflow.
4. Don’t get offended when God doesn’t work the way You wanted Him to. Naaman almost missed his blessing because he got offended when Elisha did not even go outside to meet him. The prophet did not want his gifts and he simply sent a word with his servant. The Word of the Lord was, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” Naaman became angry and stomped away saying, “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me! I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!”
a) Once you are in offence, you are no longer operating in HONOR.
b) God is not your servant and He will not always move the way you want, but if you want to receive from Him you will have to maintain your honor and submit to God’s process.
5. You must protect your heart from slipping over into dishonorable behavior.
a) Dishonorable people get offended when the man/woman of God does not do what they want.
b) Dishonorable people leave the church when the Pastors did not perform up to their expectations.
c) It’s okay to have expectations, but HONOR submits, even when God is moving in a way that you did not expect.
d) HONOR is ready to submit to whatever God wants to do, and however He wants to do it.
g) Dishonorable people come up with “better ideas” than the man/woman of God. Naaman said, “Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?”
6. Honorable people submit to God.
a) After Naaman’s servants talked to him about the simple nature of the request, he swallowed his pride and headed down to the Jordan river.
b) Naaman dipped himself seven times in the muddy river, just as the man of God instructed him to, and his his skin became like that of a baby.
c) Naaman received his breakthrough because he was able to honor God through humility and submission.
d) Are you honorable enough to do what God says, even when it is not what you wanted? If you are truly a person of honor, you will submit!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. Jesus was the most powerful human to ever walk the planet, but his power was in His submission. Jesus’ strength came in His surrender. He only said what You told Him to say. He only did what You led Him to do. He was never offended with any of Your orders. Even when He was struggling with the magnitude of the cross — to the point where He was sweating blood — He submitting to You because He honored You in every way. Naaman almost missed his blessing because of dishonorable behavior. But he reestablished his honor, he submitted to what You said through the man of God, and he received his breakthrough. I declare that I am a person of honor. I honor You and I will do whatever You tell me to do. I won’t get offended with You or Your representatives in the earth. I will do what You tell me to do, either directly or through them, and I will do it with a heart of honor and submission. This way I position myself to experience Your best every day of my life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
