Sermon on 2 Kings 5: 15-19



NAAMAN’S FAITH

2 Kings 5: 15 – 19

Sermon by

Rev. G.R. Procee

PUBLISHED BY THE

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

OF THE

FREE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NORTH AMERICA.

(November 2005)

No. 5 of a series of 6

LITURGY:

Votum

Psalter 267

Law of God

Psalter 119: 1, 3

Scripture Reading: Luke 17: 11 – 19

2 Kings 5: 15 – 19

Text: 2 Kings 5: 15 – 19

Congregational Prayer

Offerings

Psalter 255

Sermon

Psalter 100: 1, 2

Thanksgiving Prayer

Psalter 310: 1

Doxology: Psalter 315

Congregation,

Naaman had been furious. He had expected that the great of Israel would have come out of his house, and given him a royal reception. Instead, the prophet sent his servant to the door with this message,” Wash seven times in the Jordan!” Upon hearing this message, Naaman turned around, followed by his chariots, his servants, and guards and were on their way back to Damascus.

And then, his servants intervened and urged him to do what the prophet Elisha had told him to do. Naaman complied with their request, and turned his chariot and entourage to head for the Jordan River. Then, the miracle happened. He washed himself as instructed and his flesh returned to a healthy color free from the disease of leprosy. His flesh had become like the flesh of a little child, soft, and healthy. All the sores were gone. He looked much younger, and you can imagine that Naaman upon seeing all this was exhilarated.

When God heals, He does a perfect work! Now, Naaman sees and knows that God is a God of His word. He is a firm believer in the God of Israel, for He alone can heal like this. None of his idols back in Syria have ever done such a miracle. The God of Israel is the only God in heaven and earth. The prophet of Israel is the prophet of the only God.

Naaman, having experienced a chance outwardly, now turns his chariot and commands his men to go back to the house of the prophet Elisha. There Naaman wants to express his gratitude unto Elisha. He knows that the God of Israel is God and He alone. What the prophet had told him before proved to be the truth. What the little Hebrew maid of Naaman’s wife had told him was also true. He knows that Israel has a God, the living God. Naaman wants to express faith in that God.

Let us therefore consider: NAAMAN”S FAITH

1. The confession

2. The manifestation

3. The necessity of that faith

We read from the gospel of Luke, chapter 17, that the Lord Jesus met ten lepers who cried out unto Him for help. They all stood afar off and lifted up their voices, crying with their sick coarse voices; “Jesus, Master have mercy upon us.” Can the Lord Jesus stay away from such a pitiful sight? Can the compassionate Savior be deaf to such miserable cries? His compassionate heart moved Him to tell them: “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” These men went and as they went their bodies became healthy again. In the way of obedience, and by the faith that what the lord Jesus said was true, they had to go to the priests while they still had their sick bodies, but as they went, they were changed. He healed the ten, BUT, only one came back. The nine were glad to be healed, and went off to tell and show their loved ones. But one returned, to give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him for this great gift of healing. This man was a Samaritan.

A Samaritan! He realized that he was not worthy of receiving the grace of God. He realized that he didn’t belong to the covenant people of Israel and therefore he had no right to receive healing and blessing. He was actually an outcast and now he understood how good God had been to him to give him such a healing. He returned to give thanks to the God of Israel, falling at the feet of Jesus. And what does he hear? These words:”Thy faith hath made thee whole.” This Samaritan was healed through his faith and it was by faith that he returned to the Lord Jesus to give Him thanks for this unspeakable gift.

We find the same here with Naaman the Syrian general. He knows that he is a heathen in the eyes of the Hebrews. I live in a heathen city, Damascus. I do not belong to the people of Israel. I am a Syrian, who does not share in the blessings of the people of the God of Israel. And yet, I have received such a rich blessing. I have been healed of the terrible disease, leprosy. And so, he returns with his whole company of men, chariots and wagons. He again is found in front of Elisha’s house.

The text says that Naaman stood before him, meaning that he stood before the prophet Elisha. That is noteworthy. In the Hebrew it literally says: “Naaman stood before Elisha’s face”. This is an expression that is used to describe the relationship between a servant and his lord. For servants always stand before their master’s face. They stand is submission and dependence before their masters. They watch for a token of appreciation or for a command.

Naaman too is standing before the prophet, but this time differently than before. His outward appearance has become like a young man, completely healthy. More importantly, Naaman stands here as a servant, brought into submission before his master. Contrast this with his first appearance. Then, Naaman remained on his chariot and expected Elisha to come out to bow deeply before him because he was a distinguished guest after all. Naaman was a proud man. Now, however, the situation is very different. The second time Naaman came down from the chariot as soon as the company came to a stop before the house of Elisha. He stood before the prophet Elisha as a humbled man. He stands before the prophet of the high God of Israel. He is humbled on account of all the goodness granted unto him. The Syrian commander-in-chief stands before God’s servant as a humble man.

Naaman then confesses his faith in the Lord God of Israel. In verse 15, he says,” Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel:” This shows his conversion. Naaman has made a public confession of faith. He has come to the awareness that he too must worship and serve this one and only God. He desires from now on only to serve this God. The God, who has done such a great miracle in his life, is worthy to be honored and glorified. This is quite a confession for a heathen man to make. In reality he is saying that all heathens who worship other gods are mistake. In fact, Naaman confesses that before he worshipped the wrong god, and that his king and all his people are presently terribly mistaken and worship only idols of wood and stone. They think that they worship living god, but Naaman could confess that they are all vanity and empty and made by man’s own sinful imagination. The people live in total ignorance unless they learn to know the God of Israel.

This noble confession by a heathen shows the spiritual poverty and misery of the gentile world. For the nations that had many gods really had no gods and were without the true and living God in the world. Without hope, comfort and true peace in the soul!

Naaman plainly confesses the Lord of heaven and earth. He does this in front of Elisha, all his servants, all his soldiers and possibly others standing by. And us? We also know about the one, true God of heaven and earth. Where do you work? Do your colleagues ever hear you speak about the God of heaven and earth? Do you not have opportunities to speak well of God? With whom do you associate after work? Is there not a time to speak about the things of God’s kingdom? The Lord can give openings so that you may confess Him. He can give words, and guidance as to what to say. He can take away all shyness before men and give the boldness to speak about the one thing needful. We are called to be a light in this sinful world. Naaman did confession, but we know so much more. Naaman was healed from the terrible sickness of leprosy and did confession of the God of Israel who gave such a miraculous healing, but we may know about an open grave, the one who conquered death and hell and sin and the grave. We know His mighty deeds and works. Surely, we know much more that Naaman. We have been raised and instructed in the things necessary to know to live and die happily. Have we confessed His Name? Are we alert to any opportunity to speak well of Him? And do we then do so? Isn’t He worthy of being confessed?

Naaman did confession. Are there young people who desire to do confession of faith but for some reason keep stalling? What is the reason that you keep postponing? Do you try to confess His Name in your daily life, but not here in church? When you do public confession of faith in church, you show to all that you have a desire to serve this God. Let Naaman be an example to you.

In the second place, let us look at the MANIFESTATION OF THAT FAITH.

The faith of Naaman is manifested by thankfulness and the fact that he from now on wishes to worship the living God. He is so grateful that he exclaims to Elisha:”Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.” vs. 15. Naaman wants to richly reward Elisha with gifts. He offers him gold, silver and precious robes. And what does Elisha do? He refuses the gifts. Elisha refuses even with an oath. Look with me to verse 16,”As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” Naaman urges Elisha, to reconsider, but Elisha remains adamant. “And he urged him to take it; but he refused.”

Why did Elisha not take a gift from Naaman? Why did he not even consider taking some token of his appreciation? He could take just a small amount of gold or silver or robes. Naaman must not get the impression that Elisha is just like the heathen prophets who prophecy and offer their services for money. Elisha is not after a reward. That may not be the case of anyone who works in the kingdom of God. Elisha bans all selfishness. Heathen prophets work and live off the gifts that were offered. Elisha even wants to avoid all appearance of selfishness by which the false prophets were actuated. The aim of the prophet of God is the salvation of people’s souls and the glory of the most High God. Sinners need to be saved. The Lord sends out his confessors, taking care for them when they are in danger or enticed to sin. This is the case with Elisha.

Another very important fact is also shown here. This heathen man must know that the servants of the Lord were taught to look upon the riches of this world with a holy contempt. Godly people do not cleave to the riches of this world as if that is the only thing of value. We may have riches but is our heart set upon them? Do our gold and silver really make us happy? I hope not. Does it fill the emptiness of our life and heart? Surely not! What really makes your life happy? I hope you seek the kingdom of God first, because then you are truly blessed. The Lord will dwell with His Holy Spirit in your heart. He will care for you. He knows all your needs even before you realize them. These needs are both the spiritual and the material needs. God will watch over His own and sees that they do not suffer want. He is a rich God who blesses abundantly. Outward blessing are great and not to be despised, but the spiritual blessings are far greater. They give life, joy, peace and a future that no man can describe. A close walk with the Lord goes hand in hand with a holy walk here in this life. It can not be otherwise. God’s people can not cleave to earthly riches nor strive for fame and a good name. Naaman is taught what a holy life is. It is a life of separation and dedication. He must be weaned away from the reliance on gold and silver.

And then also, Naaman must realize that God’s grace cannot be bought. Grace is free. The God of Israel is not like the other gods who has to receive gifts and rewards for services rendered. The God of Israel gives free grace. The Lord is a rich God who gives for free, without money and without price. He gives salvation for free. He does not want any reward. He calls sinners. He converts sinners. He renews sinners. He forgives sins.

He softens sinners’ hearts, and He brings forgiven sinners into a personal relationship with Him. His grace is not received with the offerings of rewards and our gifts of money. It is free sovereign love bestowed upon an unworthy sinner. It is His glory and His honor to give freely. In this way Naaman had to be more under the impression to understand who this God of Israel is. He would be more in awe and have more respect for such a God who is so rich but who gives freely.

Naaman is not allowed to give a reward, but what he does desire is from now on to serve only the God of Israel. He is now convinced that he may only serve the living God. Naaman had been cured from his leprosy but he was also cured from a far more terrible disease that being his idolatry. The God who had healed him, that God would now be the only object of worship. Is it not so also in spiritual life? When the Lord has spoken to your soul, or given a marvelous deliverance out of a very difficult situation, does not your soul desire to love, worship and serve the Lord more. Do you not desire to have a very close walk with the Lord, watching closely to avoid sinning against Him? The Lord has a people who worship Him in spirit and in truth, and abide with Him.

But in seeking to worship the Lord we notice two weaknesses in Naaman. Naaman was still influenced by heathen worship and very ignorant of the true worship. He had no Christian education and therefore no Christian principles. He only had this one profound experience which united him to the God of Israel. He exaggerates and he minimizes.

In the first instance, he asks if he may take two mule loads of earth, soil from Israel along with him to Syria. Why does he ask that? Naaman here links the soil to the heathen idea that a god is to be worshipped only on his own soil. Every land would have their own gods and these gods wanted to be worshipped in their own land and soil. So, the God of Israel could only be worshipped on the soil in the land of Israel. This is certainly a heathen idea. Naaman knows that there is one God, the God of Israel but he doesn’t know and understand that this God can be worshipped in Damascus. So in order to worship the God of Israel, Naaman thinks he must take some Israelite soil along to his home in Damascus and upon that soil he could worship God and offer sacrifices unto Him. Naaman’s knowledge of God was still adulterated with superstition. He didn’t yet understand the implications of the fact that God is the God of the whole universe.

In his request, we do see Naaman’s humility coming forth. The old Naaman who was proud and distinguished is gone. The new Naaman, healed from his leprosy is a meek man humbly asking for some dirt. Naaman could easily have stopped anytime along the dirt road and asked his servants to shovel some dirt into his cart to take along to Syria. That he doesn’t do. He wanted to be orderly and sincere and therefore he asked permission from the prophet of the Lord.

On the other hand, Naaman is minimizing things. For he does not yet understand that he must without any reservation and freely confess the name of the Lord. He is still an immature believer because he reserves for himself the liberty to bow down before Rimmon, the god of fertility. This god was the idol of the Syrians. Because of Naaman’s official function at the royal court, he would have to enter with his master, the king of Syria, the idol temple. As the king would lean on him and approaching the idol god he would bow, Naaman would be forced to bow as well before that image. Naaman really doesn’t want to do this but protocol dictates he does. He is after all the commander-in-chief. He wishes to serve the living God. Now, how does he get out of this predicament?

This is a strange request indeed. Something one could expect only from a heathen. Was Naaman right in doing so? I believe not. WE have more examples in the Old Testament of prominent persons who did not bow down for the idols and did not join in with the idol worship. Think of Daniel who prayed to the living God three times a day, and then the three friends of Daniel who did not bow down before the image as recorded in Daniel 3. These men were educated in Israel and now living in a heathen land, but Naaman was from a heathen country going back to a heathen country. The Lord knows the circumstances of everyone.

The crucial point I want to make is this. Are we allowed to compromise in this world? Are we allowed to pretend when we go along with the sins that other people do? Certainly not! We are to be a separated people. Naaman should have done this as well. There are examples in the New Testament, namely in Acts 19:19 where we find the magicians that were converted “bringing their books together and burned them before all men: And they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver”. This amount was phenomenal. There is a radical breaking with sin and with the old life. In a true conversion a person does not desire to continue on in his former sins. There may be no attachment to the house of Rimmon. If he does, there is something drastically wrong. If we ask for liberty to go on in any certain sin we are mocking God and are deceiving ourselves. We are to break with sin completely, to fear sin, to flee from sin and grieve over sin. In true conversion this will take place.

Naaman, however, wants to serve the Lord, BUT only in private. Are we allowed to be a worshipper of the lord ONLY in private? Are we allowed to hide the testimony of God’s truth from the world? And from those around us, at the workplace, in the neighborhood and in our own families? God’s Word clearly tells us the answer in Matthew 5:13-16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candelestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

That is the calling of one who confesses God’s Name and who worships the Lord in truth. You are to be a light in the world. The light must also shine before men, who by nature walk in darkness. Naaman’s plan to worship the Lord and bow before the idol god, Rimmon was inconsistent with true religion. And so his request is actually an incorrect request. But Naaman is a heathen man with a heathen understanding of religion. He has come a great way already but he still has a long way to go in fully understanding the principles of true religion. The Lord will instruct all His children and teach them personally by His Word and Spirit. But do not forget that this was a very special circumstance, for Naaman did not even have the Scriptures. He had only a very faint knowledge of God and that accounts also for the lack of insight from his side.

We are in the same danger that Naaman was in. We can, for instance, be too strict and focus on outward things and make that our religion. Then we delight in mere outward forms of religion while our heart remains far from God. Or, we can be too sloppy and careless in our religion. Then we do not see the holiness of God and form an image of Him as a loving God only. We form our own ideas of worshipping Him and see no need to be careful in following all of His commandments. We are careless about the honor of His Name and take some of the credit to ourselves. Both of these ideas are wrong.

And now, let us listen to the interesting response of Elisha. He does not say:” It is well” but rather we hear him say,” Go in peace.” Actually Elisha does not approve and he also does not disapprove. Elisha wishes him God’s peace. Elisha is commending him unto the Lord who by His grace will further lead this man. Matthew Henry comments that young converts must be dealt with tenderly. Only the Holy Spirit will teach him clearer and more mature understanding of spiritual matters. God’s children do not learn all matters in one day.

Let us now look at the NECESSITY OF THAT FAITH.

Naaman as we have seen is fully convinced that the Lord is the great and only God of heaven and earth. From now on he wants to serve and worship only this God. Basically Naaman’s response is one of faith. This is very significant for this whole event of the healing of Naaman the Syrian leper.

Naaman came to faith in the God of Israel. It was not a clear faith, nor a deep faith, and a faith with many shortcomings, little insight, and much confusion, but it is a faith whereby Naaman went seven times in the Jordan River, a faith whereby he went back to see Elisha and a faith whereby he asked for a mule load of dirt to bring back to Syria so he could serve God only. Naaman acted by faith. Remember this fact for it is very important to understand the whole account.

What really is the whole narrative of Naaman about? Is it just an interesting story about a general who was healed by a prophet? Even our children know that from listening to the Bible story. No, this has a significant meaning and therefore we need to turn to the book of Luke chapter 4 and verse 27 where the Lord Jesus says,” And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian”. Many lepers in Israel and none were cleansed! Except Naaman the Syrian, why?

Was God unfair when he passed by the lepers in Israel? Was He unjust to pass by the lepers in Israel who were His covenant people, and then, to choose an uncircumcised heathen and healing him? Was the Lord unjust in doing this; curing this heathen Naaman who belonged to the enemy nation of Israel? Naaman, a general who had no interest in helping Israel but rather would fight against them if the occasion arose. Was the Lord really unjust? NO! The Lord is not unjust, certainly not. We know that, but why was Naaman healed then? Do you remember the important matter that we have seen already? It is faith. By faith, Naaman had come all the way from Syria to Samaria, by faith he went to an unknown house to seek healing from an unknown prophet, Elisha. By faith, he went under seven times in the Jordan River. And now, by faith, he is back to see the prophet Elisha and before him to acknowledge the God of Israel as the only true God. It is all done by faith.

In the midst of various events in the life of the prophet Elisha, in which he shows the people of Israel that the Lord is God, what is the reaction of the multitude? They turned away from God. Just think of the raising of the Shunamite son, the changing of the poisoned food of the prophets and the miraculous feeding of the people. What was the response of the people? The people could clearly see that the Lord is God. So many miracles and the people ignored or forgot them so soon. The people did not repent from their evil ways and turn to the Lord. They did not with their heart acknowledge that the Lord is God. They turned away from Him. They still wanted their idols and half gods. Naaman knew of only one God.

The people of Israel even became accustomed to the miracles of the prophets. Although the people witnessed many miracles that the prophet Elisha did in various parts of the country, they hardened their hearts and went on with their life. The many miracles which were intended to show the people that the Lord alone is God and that He alone can give salvation, did not stir the children of Israel to turn to God, flee from their idol worship and believe the Word of the living God.

No leper in Israel came to Elisha for healing. No one had need of healing from the God of Israel. No one saw the urgency of seeking deliverance from the only, true God. No one believed the Word of God. Not one came! Only one came, a Syrian leper. He came and he was healed. He only!

Was this not also the case in the days of the Lord Jesus? The Savior rebukes the people of Nazareth and tells them that because of their unbelief they do not enter in. The Lord Jesus gives them the example of Naaman who was a Syrian and he was cured. Was God unjust? Not at all! God is perfectly holy and righteous. Naaman was healed in the way of faith. The people of Nazareth did not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ although they knew of the many miracles He did. The miracles He did were a manifestation that His Word was a divine Word and that He came from God. He spoke with power and authority. The people however did not listen and they did not repent.

The same thing took place with the people of Israel in the days of Elisha. They did not believe him. What Israel failed to see the heathen Naaman saw. He saw that God is God alone. Naaman here did confession of faith.

Naaman shamed all the people of Israel. They did not believe Elisha but Naaman did. The circumcised people did not confess that the Lord is God alone, for they still had their idols. It was because of their unbelief that the lepers in Israel were not healed and Naaman was healed. Here we see faith versus unbelief. The Lord Jesus also experienced this, for “He came to His own but His own received Him not”. They cried out, “away with Him, away with Him!”

In Romans 9-11 we read how God will cut off the dead branches from the olive tree and will place wild olive branches in their place. That is happening here with Naaman, the Syrian.

People, who have been under the administration of God’s Word, have heard it so often that they are used to hearing it, have not believed what they heard and the Word has not come to fruition. They become dry, dead branches, which will be cut off and cast into the fire, the everlasting fire. And then, God will take wild olive branches and ingraft them into the fruitful olive tree and cause them to become one with that tree. God will have a people that will honor and serve Him, even when His covenant people will not bow, love Him only, honor Him, and repent from their idol worship.

This happened in the days of the apostles. The Lord Jesus had warned that the vineyard would be taken away from Israel and given to other husbandmen. The Gospel was rejected by Israel and so the apostles went on to preach to the Gentiles.

What has repeated itself in the days of Elisha and in the days of the Lord Jesus can very well happen again to the Christian Church. Areas, which had prosperous churches years ago, now show no signs of religious life at all. How sad! When God’s Word is preached Lord’s Day upon Lord’s Day and we only sit to hear it we reject it and can then only expect God’s judgments to fall upon us. God is grieved and will withdraw from our church, congregation or gathering. We may not sit under the preaching of life just to be entertained or to criticize it later. It is the Word of the living God. Oh, how we need the Holy Spirit to work in us, to bless the Word, to apply the Word to our hearts and give the fruit of true repentance. To that end the Word is preached.

Therefore, we are called to consider some very serious matters. What is our response to the Word of God? How do we respond to the preaching of God’s Word? What do we do personally with the Word of God? Does this Word lead us to read and to study His Word in private and also in the families? Do we prayerfully meditate upon the Word that we have heard? Do we seek for a personal blessing? Do we realize that we cannot remain under God’s Word indifferently? It does do something, either it hardens or it softens the heart. The great danger of having heard the Word preached for many years is its familiarity. We know it so well. We know all the right words, the right expressions and the right terminology. But do we know the life of true repentance, a turning to the Lord, a crucifying of the old man and warfare with sin, Satan and the world? Has the Word become life to our soul? If not, we are in a dangerous condition. The Lord calls us to repentance, conversion and faith. Do we tremble for His Holy Word? Amos speaks of this, “The lion has roared in Jordan, who shall not be afraid? God had spoken and who shall not fear?

The Lord calls each one of us. He calls us every Sunday when the Word is preached. The Lord comes to us to see if there is fruit upon the labors of His servants. He calls us to forsake our old sinful life. Do you see the impossibility? We cannot do what is required. Therefore, the prayer should come out of the depths of your heart, “Lord, show me Thyself and show me myself.” True repentance is necessary. Have you seen this in your life? Ask Him to give you this true repentance and to work savingly in your heart. Is there is yearning and a thirsting after the Lord Jesus? How did this come about? Have your sins bothered you and weighed your soul down? Has the emptiness of your life become a burden to you? You, dear soul, have come to realize that you need One to fill the emptiness of your soul, One to take away the great burden that is too heavy for you to carry, and One to make His abode in your sinful heart. CRY to God by day and by night. Give Him no rest. Your soul is thirsting for the living God. He alone can give you relief. Does the service of the Lord delight our heart and soul? Is there a love to Him and a desire to walk in dedication unto Him? That is the question that must be answered. The men of Israel did not have this, but Naaman the Syrian did. If we take God’s Word for granted, then God can remove the candlestick of His Word and leave us with a formal religion, without the essence of life. God’s judgment rests upon us as a congregation, and also personally. We will soon be engulfed with formal, dead religion. How dreadful for us who has known better times.

The Lord had to complain of His covenant people in Jeremiah 35:17, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.” Again, I say, God has spoken to us. Have you heard? Have you bowed your head in shame saying, “Lord, I am that sinner that is so full of unbelief.” I am like those lepers and people in Israel, having heard the Word and having read about the miracles done, but up to now it hasn’t touched me. I can read about them without any feeling or emotion. The Lord calls unto you, my sinner friend, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that you turn unto Me and live.” There is a Savior who can deliver you from your unbelief. There is a God who can save you from your sins. For He says,” Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

This passage teaches us the necessity of faith. We need to be taught from above. We need instruction from God Himself. We need to hear Him speak to us personally, for He speaks to those who fear Him. Do we have true grounds to say,” Christ is mine, and I am His?” He has spoken it to me Himself. I have the witness of the Spirit of God. Christ allows me, unworthy as I am, to make use of Him and of His fullness for the supply of all my needs. I find I do make us of Him and thereby I know from daily experience that I am in Him, because I live in Him. The more you are sure of this matter, the stronger you will be rooted in Christ Jesus. There is fountain of blessings and comfort to be had. Seek to make your calling and election sure, children of God. But, and that is a big BUT, if this is not known, seek it with Him. If this being in Christ is not clear to you, then you will obtain only some comfort and strength. Ask for more grace and more clarity. Be a beggar at the portals of heaven for sooner that later you will receive an audience with the God of heaven. God is more willing to give than we are to receive. Not because of anything that we have done or can bring, but only through the merits of Christ Jesus.

Will you honestly tell everything to the Lord? Things that you could never relate to any human being you can tell to the Lord of Heaven and earth. Are you perhaps one of the weak ones in faith? Do you envy Naaman who could so boldly confess faith in the God of Israel? Pray then to the God of heaven. He is willing to send the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened and that you see the sufficiency in Christ, that you see His fullness and His heavenly storehouse, for there is an abundance that you can not deplete. Are there hindrances in your life? Ask the Lord to remove them all. Is there sin in your life that you find hard to forsake, flee and crucify? Ask the Lord to break those chains, which tie you to those sins. Are you in slavery to Satan? Christ has the power to deliver you from the liar from the beginning. Do you mourn for your weakness? You know that your weak faith must be strengthened and can be strengthened. Where do you go for an increase in faith? Entreat God to give you that grace so that you may close with Christ. Ask God for a clear view of the Lord Jesus, His work, His suffering, His death, His resurrection, His ascension. When He is pleased to grant this grace, you will live happy and are forever safe.

All God’s people are called to live by faith. In every possible circumstance you may be in, you are commanded to look unto Him to receive out of His fullness grace for grace. Depend upon Him to deliver you from every evil and to grant you every good thing you need. Expect from Him the fulfillment of the promises. Cast your burdens upon Him, when you are tempted, when old corruptions rise up again, when you are under a sense of dullness and weakness in duty, and when you are in darkness and in tribulation. Cast all your burdens upon Him. That is a life of faith. Realize that your fullness lies in Christ.

That is something that Naaman did not know yet, but the principle of faith was in his heart by God’s grace. Let us too forsake sin and expect all things from the God of heaven and earth. For we can only be saved by Him, and no other. AMEN.

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