Our message today takes us to one of the historical Books of the Bible, 2 Kings 5: 1-14.
Our main character is NAAMAN. Apart from the very interesting narrative that it is, this account reveals a very profound truth. Many who are acclaimed great, honourable, noble, stars (if you will) larger than life figures and characters, have grave and horrific problems and deficiencies, and are plagued with conditions that they carefully endeavour to mask, putting on their best show possible.

(a) Captain of the host of Syria, (Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff),

(b) A great man with his Master -- most likely having a terrific resume and a man of great trust.

( c) An honourable man. (No scandals plagued his life)

(d) Mighty man of Val our. (He was the Creme de la cream)

It is good to have good Bosses, those who are kind, considerate and caring, not exploitive, harsh, disrespective, unreasonable and abusive. As we read the passage, we glean that the Israeli little maid genuinely cared for her Master and his wife, and wished that Naaman be healed from his leprosy. No doubt a man of his position and noble status would have undergone every medical treatment and regimen that his Health Care Package afforded in that day, to cure his leprosy, but all to no avail. Listen to her Testimony; "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover from his leprosy. " She spoke with a boldness, authority and assurance of faith. Her words were so convincing that they could not have been ignored. Verse 4, "Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel" This word reached the King, and garnered his most urgent attention. With all of his diplomatic might and the Regal authority at his disposal, he equipped Naaman with a letter bearing his royal seal and impressive gifts of gold and silver and expensive designer clothing, as reward for Naaman's healing.

The question is how bold and daring is your testimony, or do you have any testimony at all. Do we make people stop and take notice of what we have to say for and on behalf of our Lord, or are we so ineffective that no one takes notice of us or what we have to say ever. Or is it a situation such that the life you lead and who you portray speak so loudly, that your words can't or won't be heard. There was a bit of misunderstanding, and miss- communication as the letter was addressed to the king of Israel, although the little maid had made an abundantly clear reference to the man of God, the prophet of Israel (Elisha). This was a typical case of Humpty Dumpty------- as all the king's horses and all the king's men could not put Humpty Dumpty (Naaman) together again. Men of every stripe, and women also find themselves in the same predicament, searching and searching for the answer to their life's most perplexing problems, but searching in the wrong places.
People, as humble as this gathering may be, don't forget we are serving a Great and Mighty God. Challenge folk to come and trust God for their healing and their deliverance, and to find answer to their every need. The Politicians cannot, many times the Doctors confess they could do no more, the New Age Movement with its afftrmations and practises cannot, Thank God there is one who most certainly can, His name is Jesus, He alone is the Great Physician, He alone is the answer. He alone can authoritatively declare "All power is given unto me in Heaven and on earth"
Now in all of us there dwells a duality. Paul spoke most eloquently of that struggle of the two natures in our psyche that strive for supremacy. This is found in Romans 7: 15-25. Earlier we spoke ofNaaman's positive traits, but there were also some negative ones. I wonder how many of us will indentify with these negative ones.
He was:
(a) Self conscious and Proud.
(b) Arrogant and self-reliant
© Hasty and intemperate
(d) Obstinate and Self opinionated
(e) Self-willed, stubborn
(f) Not easily persuaded
(g) Skeptical and doubtful

His pride and stubbornness stood in the way of his healing. He was given such simple instructions, just go and dip in the river Jordan seven times. A man of his stature and importance, he considered it demeaning that the prophet did not give him a formal greeting, or give him the opportunity to speak about himself and his grand achievements. He was so disappointed that he wanted to turn back with his retinue. It is a very amazing that the simplicity of the Gospel, is the very thing that makes so many reject it. People seem to gravitate to that which is complex and complicated, the ceremonial, the ritualistic, and the perfunctory, something that is challenging and difficult. Something that gives great satisfaction to know that you dared to endured the difficult and the challenging, that which you can boast about, be admired for and be congratulated. The Gospel and all that it offers, has nothing to do with what we have done or can do, but only about what Jesus has already accomplished, do you remember, Christ's last words on the cross, "IT IS FINISHED." We simply have to believe and thankfully accept by faith. The big difference in the Christian Faith as compared to other religions, is, whereas other teachings say Do! Do! Do, Do this, or Do that, In Jesus, it's Done! Done! Done! Jesus has done it all, we only have to come and receive. That which He desires to freely impart.
Naaman was so wrapped up and tied up in himself, that he became the greatest obstacle and danger to himself. God's Word is unequivocal, and requires complete obedience. He complained about the river, his treatment, the instruction given him. It took a lot or persuasion by his comrades for him to comply. One, two, or three submersions were not enough, the prophet, Elisha had told him seven times. I would seem that with every dip, one of his negative traits was washed away, until at the last, all the ills having been washed away, the accumulative effect of the prior ills that manifested itself in leprosy, was gone. The bible says he had the skin of a baby, clean soft and beautiful. What a beauty treatment!
May I propose to you, that obedience to God's will, and following His instructions implicitly, may be all that is needed to obtain His healing, His deliverance, and to experience the fullness of Christ, and the joy of being a child of His. In the case of Naaman, he was instructed to go dip in the river Jordan. We don't have to go to the river Jordan, for 'There is a fountain filled with Blood drawn from Immanuel's vein, And sinners plunge beneath its flood, Lose all their guilty stain.' 'There is power, power, wonder working power, In the precious blood of the Lamb.' (Zech.13:1) 'There shall be a fountain opened, to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. (Psalm 46:4-5) "There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High, God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her and that right early. "
This morning we have come to celebrate by way of communion, the power that is in the Blood of Jesus. The Bible says, without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Like Naaman, we can be made clean, from the leprosy of sin. (Iso. 1:18) Come now let us reason together saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be made like wool.
Come to Jesus your Lord and Saviour, for the cleansing you need, which He is more than willing to bestow.
AMEN