Matt Hagee - Grace Comes Through Obedience

Welcome to this week’s Sunday conversation. We’re now in the book of Second Kings. Now remember, First Kings and Second Kings are part of the history of the nation of Israel. Obviously, these two books follow those who sat on the throne. In a few weeks, we’ll begin discussing Chronicles 1 and 2 Chronicles, which will include some of the same names and discuss the kings of Israel. But 1 and 2 Chronicles is another history that looks at the entirety of Israel from the time of Abraham all the way to the time of captivity.

The reason that I bring up the time of captivity is that in 2 Kings chapter 25, we read about the ultimate destruction of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar comes and destroys the city, taking captives, thousands including Daniel, Meschach, Shadrach, and Abednego, and a multitude of others as Israel begins its time in exile. In First Kings, we followed much of the life of Solomon down to the division of the two kingdoms between his sons, Jeroboam and Rehoboam, and how that civil war put both Israel, one kingdom, and Judah, another kingdom, on a crash course for captivity. Why? Because of rebellion.

Now into the books of First Kings and Second Kings come two dynamic characters, Elisha and Elijah. First is Elijah. He comes to confront one of 19 wicked kings. Think about that. In these books, First and Second Kings, we follow 19 consecutive wicked rulers who do unrighteous things. You would think that sooner or later someone would put together that when we behave like this, God does this. Yet, 19 kings in a row sit on the throne and continue to lead Israel further and further away. So in the midst of this, God raises up Elijah, the Tishbite. He’s actually an individual who lives outside of either kingdom, Israel or Judah, and he comes into the throne room of Ahab, a king in Jerusalem, in Judah, and he says to him, «It is not going to rain unless I say so.»

Now we’re familiar with the story; three years of drought, and Elijah experiences God’s blessings while the nation of Israel experiences drought. It culminates in the showdown at Carmel, where Elijah prays, and God answers by fire. But then shortly after that, God appoints Elijah’s successor, Elisha. Elisha and Elijah walk together until Elijah is caught up into heaven on a chariot of fire, and Elisha continues to be the prophet of God in Israel throughout the balance of his life.

This story today, 2 Kings chapter 5, takes us to a moment in Elisha’s life in which we see a metaphorical picture of a very serious condition that plagues us all. That condition is a matter of life and death. You know, in life, there are all kinds of problems, but none of them compare to life-and-death problems.

I once heard a doctor say there are two types of health concerns: a breathing problem and everything else. What he’s saying is if you can’t breathe, you’ve got a major concern. You and I have battled a problem of life and death from the day we were born in a fallen world, and it’s plagued mankind from generation to generation. And it’s nothing to ignore because we see the impact of it in the world all around us. It’s a matter that we cannot simply apologize for. It’s a sickness that you cannot eradicate or produce a vaccine to quit. It’s a bondage that you cannot get out of unless you have received the salvation that comes from knowing Jesus Christ.

What is this situation? It’s sin. The Bible tells us in the book of Romans, «All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.» Last week, we were talking about the standards and the lack of standards that Rehoboam was willing to live under. One of the things that we don’t like to consider when we read that verse in Romans, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, is that the standard we are held to is God’s glory. Nobody matches up. We’ve all fallen short of that standard, and the only way for us to get there is by receiving the free gift of salvation, which is the righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ. This is where the story begins in 2 Kings chapter 5, verse 1.

«Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, he was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master because by him, the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.» I think it’s important for you to consider the last five words of this verse: «but he was a leper.» First, you have a commander of an army; he’s great and he’s honorable in the eyes of the king. There’s a lot to be unpacked when you read «because by him, the Lord had used this man to bring his country victory.» If you don’t think that God is a God of the whole world, if you don’t think that His will is being done all over the globe, then you don’t know what the sovereignty of God is or what it means.

And he’s a mighty man of valor. Nothing but compliments and accolades for Naaman. He’s a five-star general. He’s a winner. He’s the guy that when he shows up, all of our problems are solved. And for all of the good things that we could say about him, none of it matters because at the end of the day, he has a condition, and it’s a matter of life and death. You see, leprosy was an incurable disease. Leprosy required that, in order for it not to spread and kill many people, the individual who had it had to separate himself from his family. In many cases, the only place where he could exist was in a leper’s colony. Leprosy was considered a curse. You were untouchable. You could not function. So for all that he was, for all of the things that he could do, for all of the awards that he had won, the second he finds out he’s got this condition, it doesn’t matter anymore. He’s now got a matter of life and death.

And we understand, if you’ve read the story of Naaman, how this transpires. The Syrians, who were not friends with Israel, they were enemies, send word to the king that they are going to send Naaman, their diseased general, to Jerusalem. And the reason that they’re sending him is that they have heard that there is a prophet in Samaria who can heal him. Now, how did they get this message? Well, verse 2 says, «The Syrians had gone out on raids and brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel.» She waited on Naaman’s wife, and she said to her mistress, «If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, for he would heal him of his leprosy.»

Think about this: A captive, she’s been taken as a slave. One night, the Syrian army, under the leadership of Naaman, goes on a raid into Israel and takes this girl hostage. Whichever soldier took this young child comes and gives her to Naaman as a token, as a reward, as a trophy, to say to his general, «Look what I did.» Naaman then gives this girl to his wife and says, «She’s your slave. You do what you want.» This young girl, we don’t get her name. We don’t know how old she is. As a matter of fact, the only entrance that she makes into the history of Israel, and the only thing that we have of her being even in existence, is in these two verses. But here, this young Israeli girl, in a circumstance that she doesn’t want to be in, in a situation that’s far less than what she had expected to be the outcome of her life, she sees the woman who is her master distressed.

And she’s distressed because she realizes Naaman has leprosy, and she realizes that this means everything is about to change. She knows that he can no longer be a general. She knows that she’s going to lose status. She knows that all of these things that she’s grown accustomed to and her quality of living is going to disappear. And this young Israeli girl, seeing her distress, wants to bring her relief. Think about how much mercy and grace this young lady had to show. Instead of saying, «Yes, Naaman is going to die. The guy who took me away from my family and put me in slavery is sick; he’s got leprosy. He’s going to get what he deserves, and I’m going to receive whatever I’m going to receive in the form of freedom or out of here.» But at least there will be vengeance on those who have stolen me from my life. None of that comes out of her mouth. She simply goes to Naaman’s wife and says, «If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria.»

She still had faith that there was a God who could heal in spite of her circumstances. Think about it: She’s a child taken captive and she’s preaching to her captors that there’s a God who can heal the sickness. Do you have that kind of grace? Do you have that kind of mercy? The Bible tells us to «bless those who persecute you and pray for those who come against you.» This young lady is telling her antagonist, her enemy, how to be made well. And so, Naaman’s wife goes and tells Naaman. Naaman then goes and tells the king of Syria, and the king of Syria sends a letter to the king of Israel. What he says to the king of Israel is, «I am sending Naaman, my servant, to you.» This is verse 6, «That you may heal him of his leprosy.» I’m sending him to you with an incurable thing so that you can cure what is incurable.

Then verse 7 says, «When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 'Am I God to kill and to make alive that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore, please consider and see how he seeks to quarrel with me.'» He recognizes that this is a stunt. The king of Syria is no friend of the king of Israel. He sends one of his most powerful leaders into Israel with a disease that’s going to kill him so that if he dies in Israel, he can blame Israel for the death. If he comes back, well, hey, we get Naaman back.

Now, the king obviously has a massive reaction to this because he’s trying to figure out what political chess move this guy is playing. Then verse 8 tells us, «And Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes and that he sent to the king, saying, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.'» Then Naaman went with his horses and his chariot and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

Now, this is a very interesting scene. In verse 9, it says he stood at the door of the house of Elisha. One, it’s a meager house. It’s not a palace. Elisha is not living in the finest neighborhood in Samaria. And the fact that this very important person is standing at the door means that Elisha didn’t even get up to greet him. Elisha didn’t have a big welcoming party with a red carpet extending out to the street and a sign that says «Reserved parking for General Naaman.» The fact that he stood at the door means that in this house, nobody thought he was special; he’s just another person.

And isn’t it the same way in God’s presence? The Bible says that the Lord is no respecter of persons. He’s willing to do for one what He will do for others. I think that’s an important thing for some of you to hear. Sometimes we disqualify ourselves, believing that we’re not important enough for God to care about. Now, we may not say it that way, but that’s how we feel. «Oh, that person got blessed because of who they are. That person received an answer to prayer because of God’s blessings on their grandparents, parents, or whatever excuse you come up with.» We try to convince ourselves that God plays favorites, but He doesn’t.

Naaman stands at the door, and it says in verse 10, «And Elisha sent a messenger to him.» He stands at the door, and Elisha doesn’t even go to the door. Elisha sends somebody to the door. To me, this is just an irony of all ironies because Elisha is saying, «Look, I’m busy doing what I’m doing. It’s no big deal for God to cure leprosy. Just go tell this guy what he needs to do, and he’ll be made well.» Elisha sends a messenger to the door, and the messenger says, «Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you, and you shall be clean.»

Now, the interesting part to me is Naaman’s immediate response. It says, «And Naaman became furious.» Why? What’s his problem? His problem is leprosy. What did Elisha send the messenger to say? «Here’s how you get rid of leprosy.» But why is he furious? He’s furious because his ego and his arrogance have caused him to believe that he’s somebody. But the truth is, he’s just a leper. How often do we do the same thing when it comes to the simplicity of salvation? «Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you’ll be saved.» How is that possible? «Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.» That’s got to be just the beginning!

«There must be more. It is by grace that you have been saved through faith; it is the gift of God that no man can boast.» I just don’t understand how all that works. If you have a matter of life and death, and a doctor prescribes a medication, do you have to fully understand how the medication functions before you take it? Or are you willing to take it in the belief that what the expert said is going to work? God is a God who has full understanding of what is required to be saved, and He sent it in the form of His only begotten Son.

And when we hear that this is all we have to do to receive this gift of salvation, we want to pretend like it’s not possible. Naaman is furious, and yet he’s just heard what is going to be required in order for him to be healed. The Bible says that Naaman just throws a temper tantrum. «Indeed, I said to myself, he will surely come out to me.» I’m mad because he hasn’t come out, he hasn’t respected me, and he’ll stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and he’ll wave his hands over the place, and he’ll heal me of my leprosy.

I expect him to do what I expect him to do. I expect him to anoint me with oil and pray the prayer of faith, as it says in the book of James, and the Lord will raise him up. But because Elisha is not doing what Naaman expected, Naaman is refusing to receive. And you say, «This is ridiculous.» It’s not ridiculous; it’s repeated over and over and over again. How many times do people come to church, and because what is not being expected gives them a reason not to receive? «Well, I thought we were going to do this. I thought we were going to sing this. I thought these things were going to happen.» And when that doesn’t happen, I refuse to receive anything instead of coming with an open mind and an open heart and saying, «Lord, whatever you want to do today, I’m willing to receive.»

So, Naaman, throwing his fit, says, «If I was to go bathe in water, I wouldn’t go down to the muddy Jordan.» And trust me, if you’ve ever seen the River Jordan, it is a muddy creek. It’s not much of a river. It’s not a place that you would choose to swim. You would swim if you had to, but if you got to pick, you wouldn’t go there. He said, «I’d go to one of the mighty rivers back home. I’d go into the Tigris; I’d go into these beautiful waters that are clear and crisp and clean, not into this muddy creek.»

And the only thing that gets him to stop is one of his servants comes to him and says, «My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then when he says to you, 'Wash and be clean? '» His servant changed his mind.

Now, another point in this story-if you don’t think that the things that are affecting your life have an impact on others, ask those who serve you. Ask those who help you. Ask your parents. Ask your spouse. Ask your children. Ask those who live with you on a daily basis, and you’ll find out how they feel about the conditions in your situation. Because this servant, if Naaman has leprosy, has got to change the bandages. This servant, if Naaman has to go live in a colony, might be sent to go with him. This servant, who was in the esteemed position of serving a general, is now dealing with a sick and dying man. And he hears that there’s a way for this disease to go. He says, «Look, if he’d asked you to give something great, if he would have asked you for half of your wealth, you would have given it all. But because he’s asked you for something simple, you don’t want to do it.»

And so we read that Naaman went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. It’s a miraculous story. It’s a marvelous account about the healing power of God’s grace to give to those who don’t deserve it salvation. Even in an era where the kingdom is drifting and walking away from Him, He’s still a merciful and gracious God. Even in a world that refuses to follow His word, He’s still a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It’s a rich story filled with pictures and words that give us hope and yet challenge us to understand that it is obedience that brings the blessing.

Had Naaman dipped three times and quit, he wouldn’t have been clean. Had he dipped six times and said, «I’m done,» he would have walked away a leper. But the Bible very clearly says that when he had dipped seven times, his skin was made like that of a child. Could you imagine how excited he was when he came out of the water that seventh time? All of those sores and all of those reminders that he was going to die were gone. What a mighty God we serve! I want to thank you for joining us for this Sunday conversation. I look forward to seeing you again very soon.