Practical Living

Dale O'Shields: Thank you for joining us for today's Practical Living broadcast. I pray that through this message you will learn how to apply God's word and truths to any situation in your life. Stay with us as we discover God's truths that will transform us.

Sometimes in life, there are these moments that happen to us that are what we would call pregnant moments, moments that are pregnant with wonderful opportunities. They come our way and we have to choose what we will do with them. These opportunities of life can be missed at times. I look back on my life and I see times that there have been wonderful opportunities that I sadly missed. Other times we take real advantage of them and benefit from the moment that God is sending our way.

Today's story is about a man who had an incredible opportunity in his life and he almost missed it. Fortunately, by the grace and mercy of God, he was able to redeem that opportunity and something wonderful happened to him. The story is found in 2 Kings chapter 5, beginning in verse number 1.

Now Naaman was a commander of the army of the king of Aram. Every time you see the word Aram, think Syria because that is really what Aram is. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Let's notice what was going on with this man.

Bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel."

So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he's trying to pick a quarrel with me!"

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

In this story about not missing a moment, I'm going to share with you three things that are essential. We see them from Naaman's story and they are vital for us in our lives to not miss the moments that God will send our way. First, recognize this very important principle: at all times in life, God wants your attention. God is desiring your attention. Opportunities or moments come our way so that God can get our attention.

In this story, we're introduced to Naaman. He is a commander in the Syrian army. The Bible describes him as a great man and a valiant soldier. He was a man who had literally risen to the top of his profession. He was deeply respected by the king and those who served around him. He was at the pinnacle of his life. However, all of this was at risk because of one thing. The Bible says, "but he had leprosy."

Leprosy back in Bible days was considered to be one of the most feared diseases anyone could contract. It is mentioned various times in the Old and New Testaments. This leprous condition would start very small on the body, usually with just a small spot. Most people would not recognize it initially, but over time it would begin to grow and spread very rapidly. The ultimate end of leprosy primarily was death. There was no cure. A leper had to be separated from everyone around them and put into a colony. They were ostracized from society and could not even worship in the temple.

Naaman is a Syrian who does not know God and has no relationship with Him, but he is in essence a walking dead man. He is alive but he has a death sentence upon him. Without a miracle in his life, Naaman's life is going to end prematurely. However, unbeknownst to Naaman, this problem is going to lead him to an encounter and a life-changing experience with the true, loving, living God of Israel.

He doesn't recognize it, but this is a moment that God has set up in his life. God is using this problem in Naaman's life to get his attention. Has God ever used a problem in your life to get your attention? Often we only give God our attention when life gets hard, when we have problems, pain, or difficulty. When the pain gets so intense, we begin to cry out to Him. I believe God has designed us that way, that even in the most painful moments of life, most people will at some point utter a prayer to God.

Even someone who claims to be an atheist will reach out and cry out in some measure to God during difficult circumstances. This is a design and a way that God often gets our attention because God uses these broken, hurting moments in life to come near to us and to call us near unto Himself. Don't miss your moment. If you're in pain tonight or going through a problem, instead of just looking at the difficulty, recognize that this might be your moment.

If you're going through a difficult time in your life right now, instead of cursing your difficulty, begin to declare that this might be your moment for an encounter with God. This might be the very moment that God is going to show up in an incredible way in your life. Psalm 34 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." If you are in a problem tonight or dealing with pain, the Lord is close to you. He's not far away. Look for God because He's there. Your biggest problem can lead you to your greatest encounter with God.

The second lesson from Naaman is that God sends answers to attentive people. This problem awakened Naaman to something. He's awakened for perhaps the first time in his life to his own vulnerability. He's a commander, a big guy, a man's man, and a soldier's soldier. He probably never thought about his own vulnerability or mortality. But in this moment, God has his attention. In his desperation, God sends him an answer.

This moment in Naaman's life involves an answer from God. Going back to 2 Kings chapter 5, bands of raiders from Syria had taken captive a young girl from Israel, the land of the living God. She served Naaman's wife. She learned that Naaman had leprosy and said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

Here is a man in desperate need who doesn't know where the answer is. God placed someone in his life to show him the right direction. This little girl became a guide from God to Naaman. Naaman was in a place where he could learn to listen and respond. This young Israelite girl shared some good news: there's a prophet in Israel who knows God. If Naaman connects with the prophet of God, God's healing, grace, and power will come to him.

This brings us to a decision point. What is Naaman going to do? How is he going to respond to this information? He could have blown it off and said he would never go down to Israel. Or he can become a person who listens and is guidable and responsive to this moment. This is a key moment in Naaman's life. He realizes God has his attention, and now God has put someone in his world who is giving him hope for his life. What will he do with that hope?

Fortunately, Naaman listened and responded to God's message of hope provided by this little girl. Problems in your life will be used by God at times to get your attention, but once He gets your attention, you better start listening. It's not just enough for God to initially get your attention. I've watched it over the years with many people; they'll come to a place in life where they're hurting, and temporarily, God will get their attention. They'll realize they're vulnerable, their mortality is at risk, and the problem is way too big for them. It shakes their world and gets their attention, but it stops there.

If God's getting your attention, what you need to do is listen. What is God saying to me? What is God trying to speak into my life at this moment? There's great blessing in listening to God. Proverbs chapter 8, verse 34 says, "Blessed are those who listen to me." Cursed are those who don't listen. If we're blessed if we listen, we'll be cursed if we don't. The verse continues, "watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord." God gets Naaman's attention and puts someone in his life with a message for him. Naaman listens to the message of hope, and it's going to change everything for him.

The third lesson is that God's solutions always require humility and obedience. Naaman eventually finds his way to the prophet Elisha. He went to his king and asked for permission to go to Israel. He went down with silver, gold, and clothing to the king of Israel, thinking the answer was there. The king of Israel was distraught, but Elisha heard of this and Naaman was sent to the prophet's home.

Notice what happens when Naaman, who is in serious trouble, arrives there. Elisha does not initially come out himself; he sends his messenger and gives him clear instructions that are very simple. He tells him where to go and what to do: go to the Jordan River and dip yourself seven times. These instructions could not have been clearer. What does Naaman do?

This is the heart of the story. Naaman was blinded by his expectations. He said, "I thought." Have your thoughts ever gotten you into trouble? Naaman had figured out in his own mind how this thing was going to work. Have you ever figured out how you knew God was going to work in your life, and then He didn't work the way you thought He would?

Naaman said, "I thought that he was going to come out and wave his hand over my leprous spot and speak the name of the Lord over me." He's now been blinded by his expectations, and it's going to perhaps keep him from receiving his miracle. That's why we need to recognize that our thoughts are not the same as God's thoughts. Our ways are not the same as God's ways. It's extremely important as you're going through difficulties in life that you listen to Him and give up your expectations.

Not only is he blinded by his expectations, but he's also controlled by his pride. The real disease that Naaman had wasn't leprosy; the real disease Naaman had was pride. He got angry about the situation, and pride is what produces anger in our lives. Pride produces contention and anger. Naaman began to rationalize his disobedience by saying he wouldn't go to the Jordan River because the rivers in Damascus were much better.

He's about to miss his moment because he has the wrong set of expectations and pride is at work. He's rationalizing his disobedience. But he finally does the right thing at the insistence of his servants. He finally humbles himself, obeys, and dips himself seven times in the Jordan River. He receives his healing, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Naaman was struggling to do what we often struggle with: surrendering to God and living life God's way. Your greatest enemy that can cause you to miss your moment is not somebody else; it's you. Only one person can get you out of God's will for your life, and that one person is you. Naaman was about to step out of God's will because he wasn't willing to submit himself to the plan and ways of God.

Stubbornness, pride, and an unwillingness to surrender yourself to God will cause you to miss these critical moments. The solution for you and for me is found by humbling ourselves before God and simply doing what He says to do. Never argue with God or try to justify your ways or bargain with Him. Just do life His way. That's why it's so important to know what the Scriptures say. Most of what God says in His word in terms of instructions is very simple. It's not complex.

When it comes to our finances, God says to just put Him first. When it comes to your marriage or growing in your faith, just put Him first. These are not monumental steps we have to take. Like Naaman, it's simply walking into the Jordan and dipping ourselves seven times. What is the leprosy in your life right now? What is the problem that has you stuck? What is the issue that is keeping you from your destiny? Allow God to get your attention about that thing.

God will place something or somebody in your life to give you the direction that you need. Whatever God tells you to do, do it. His instructions will be simple and very easy to follow. In the humility and obedience is the victory and the healing.

Father, we thank You tonight for Your word. We are so grateful for the opportunity to focus on the story of Naaman. I pray for each one of us that You would help us with whatever our leprosy is. Help us to respond to You and give You our full attention. Help us to listen for the still, small voice of Your Holy Spirit through Your word, guiding us into the next steps of life. Whatever You ask us to do, help us to do it. We pray that on the other side of that will be an amazing testimony of how You've worked in us, bringing healing and restoration. Seal this word in our hearts by Your Spirit, in Jesus' name, amen.

I would like to close today by giving you an opportunity to ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me right now? Just bow your head and call upon God from the sincerity of your heart. Whisper the name "Jesus." Let there come from your heart the declaration of His name.

Say: "Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I have fallen short with You. I'm sorry for all of my sins. Jesus, I believe in You. I believe that You are God's Son and the Savior of the world. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose from the grave and are alive today. Lord Jesus, come into my heart and into my life. Forgive me of my sins and give me a new start in You. I commit my life to You in Jesus' name, amen."

If you prayed that prayer, I want to encourage you with a promise from God's word that when we call upon the Son of God, there is salvation that comes to our lives. He changes us from the inside out and you become a new creation. Your next step is to make sure you get into a good Bible-believing church. Begin to study God's word and get a copy of the Bible if you don't have one. Spend some time every day in prayer. I encourage you to check out the resources on our website at church-redeemer.org. Get started in your new life with Jesus Christ. May God bless you, and we look forward to seeing you next time.