Humbling Experience

Rey Aguas 12 June
We humble ourselves to Him and by his grace he will allow us to experience the splendor of His glory that will lead us to know that He is God and that He is sovereign. Beyond healing the Lord sees our real need and that is to be cleansed of our sins. Like Naaman we have been restored and became clean as a young boy when we are washed by His blood that was shred on the cross to those who will put his trust in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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Text: 2 Kings 5:1-27

Introduction:

Naaman was a commander of the Army of King Aram. He was also a leper but after searching for a cure in his country which was to no avail, he was told to go to Elisha who was the main prophet of God in Israel during that time. The prophet Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan river to be cleansed. Although reluctant at first, Naaman followed the prophet's instruction and was healed of his leprosy.

We could learn from the story that:

1.) God's favour is solely by His grace.

Let's examine Naaman's character again. He was a high profiled individual in a country that is against God's own people. He only knew God from his servants. He worship other gods and even doubted Elisha's instructions would actually heal him.

If you would look closely at his profile, he never did anything to deserve the healing he received. Naaman never deserved the healing but He was healed solely by God's grace.

When God gives us favour we don't deserve, that's when His glory is greatly revealed. Indeed in the end, Naaman saw that the God of Israel is the only true God.

2.) This experience with God is humbling.

The way Naaman received healing humbles him. He was given a chance to recieve healing in a word that was given to him. At first he is doubtful but God uses his servant to never doubt the words of the prophet. If he allowed himself to let his doubts to unbelief he could have missed out the healing and the chance to know the God of Israel. Even with doubts and a high position, God healed him. To the stand point of him the receiver, it lead him to humility to the God of Israel.

3.) This experience lead us to the glory of God.

All of his life his gods in Aram, has nothing offered to him regarding his sickness. He fought valiantly for this country and he never received anything from this gods but the God of Israel showed him mercy. God healed him even he is an enemy of His people. God did saved us from earning merit from made up gods of this world. He showed to us his glory in the coming of Jesus so that we may experience mercy and grace not by earning it but because he is good.

4.) This experience is personal

We have to contrast the servant of Elisha and Naaman. Naaman's experience is personal and it lead him to believe in God and honor Him in the midst of the other gods and kings of Aram. In the case of the servant of Elisha, his experience with God is on the behalf of his master. He thinks that they earned the healing of Naaman. He failed to give the credit and glory to God and it lead him to series of sins against God.

Conclusion:

We humble ourselves to Him and by his grace he will allow us to experience the splendor of His glory that will lead us to know that He is God and that He is sovereign. Beyond healing the Lord sees our real need and that is to be cleansed of our sins. Like Naaman we have been restored and became clean as a young boy when we are washed by His blood that was shred on the cross to those who will put his trust in the name of the Lord Jesus.










Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta