Don’t Come Out

Across the nation, government officials are wrestling with the safest way for us to re-enter society.  Some are in rush to get things “back to normal.”  Here in Arkansas, the cases continue to climb daily.  Hopefully, we will see a decrease soon.  Sunday’s sermon challenged us to stay where we are and not come out.  Not in reference to quarantine but in regard to our spiritual lives.  What am talking about?  We’ll get into the sermon recap.

Sunday’s sermon had us returning to II Kings and the prophet Elisha.  In II Kings 5:7-14, we read the story of Naaman.  Naaman is a captain of the guard.  And he has a serious problem.  Leprosy covers his body.  He wants relief from his affliction.  The king of Israel sends Naaman to see Elisha.  We have previously seen God work through Elisha.  What will be the outcome this time?

Naaman is a man of importance. Naaman takes his impressive horses and chariots and rides to Elisha’s home.  Once he arrives at Elisha’s home, Naaman gets out of the chariot and stands at Elisha’s door.  And….Elisha doesn’t come out.  Instead, Elisha sends a messenger to tell Naaman how he can receive healing and relief from the condition that pains him.  The messenger tells Naaman to go wash in the Jordan seven times and his flesh will be restored.

Naaman did not take well to Elisha staying inside.  He was actually furious.  See Naaman, like many of us, had preconceived notions of what his healing would entail.  He had come all of this way to see Elisha, and Elisha hadn’t even taken the time out to come see Naaman face to face.  Naaman anticipated that Elisha would have come out, called on the name of the Lord, waved his hands and healed him.  He could not comprehend the audacity that Elisha displayed in sending a messenger instead of performing an elaborate ritual. 

Naaman had confused audacious performances with authentic power.  He almost allowed his attraction to charismatic personalities to keep him from the person of Jesus Christ.  And it’s easy to fall into that trap.  We love the sound of a particular person’s voice.  Nobody else can sing that song.  No one else hits the notes on the organ like Brother Johnson.  We get caught up in personalities and forget the true center of our worship, Jesus Christ.  Elisha didn’t come out.  His act would insure that all glory, honor, and praise would go to the One who deserved it.

I mentioned earlier that Naaman was furious.  He was so furious that he decided to leave.  You know how some Christians don’t come to church if an associate minister is preaching.  Yes, Naaman needed healing, but it wasn’t supposed to happen this way.  Thankfully, one of his servants stopped him and talked some sense into him.  The servant pointed out that Elisha hadn’t requested that Naaman do something outrageous.  It would have been a shame to come this close to healing and walk away.

Naaman listens.  He puts his pride to the side and dips his body in the Jordan.  He dipped once, but he couldn’t come out.  The process wasn’t complete.  So, he stayed.  He dipped six more times in the river.  There was no magic trick.  Naaman had to stick with it.  He didn’t come out until his flesh was restored, and he was clean.

And that’s a lesson for us.  We don’t need to come out until God has finished His work in us.  Is that frustrating at times?  Absolutely.  God’s ways don’t always line up with our preconceived notions of how life should pan out.  Our breakthrough and deliverance is not always going to be instantaneous.  Often, He takes us through a long process that requires patience and persistence.  We only reap the benefits if we don’t come out.  #wepreach

Let’s evaluate your current state:

• Name an area of your life that is in need of healing.
• Are you ready to address the issue?
• What steps have you taken to begin the healing process? Have you prayed about it? Have you discussed it with Christian friends?
• How long are you willing to live with disease, whether it’s physical, emotional, financial, or spiritual?