TOPIC:
THE POWER OF TESTIMONY
BIBLE TEXT:
2 KINGS 5:1-19
KEY VERSE:
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of ELISHA the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian (Luke 4:27).
INTRODUCTION
We are going to talk about the power of testimony, witnessing which Jesus Christ demanded from His Disciples as a last demand, "you shall be my witnesses ... unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). We will use the little girl in the house of General Naaman of Syria. It is good you read the story very well from your Bible as indicated earlier (2 Kings 5:1-9). Another time we are going to explore on the rest of the story.
NAAMAN WAS A GREAT MAN.
He was respected by his master, blessed by the Lord God Almighty, counted as a mighty man of valour, who has not lost a battle before... But!
There was one striking 'But' against him. 'But' He was a leper. Leprosy is a deadly disease, it is also contagious and a type of sin. People then isolated anyone pronounced leprous. Loathsomeness, uncleanness, confining, separates people from God and God's children cause them to be out of fellowship, mostly in Israel. In most countries today, such sick person is quarantined.
THERE ARE MANY GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD NOW
There are many good people who are sinners today. They are faithful to pay tithes, good citizens, good neighbors,
good this and good that, but that is not enough. They are full of self-righteousness, but void of God's righteousness.
LITTLE MAID'S TESTIMONY
A little maid did personal work.
She could have said., "I can't do anything: I'm a captive". She could have said, "wish I could work for God". She could have wondered why she did not receive a call be to be a pastor, evangelist, or church leader. She did not think herself a failure because of circumstances, rather she testified to her own enemy; the one who took her captive, the very person who wanted to win other races or denominations.
BRIGHTEN THE CORNER WHERE YOU ARE.
You can testify to a Russian if he takes you captive. Try to convert your enemy and get him healed, carry the gospel into all the world, to every creature, that is the injunction.
OBEY THE GREAT COMMISSION
Jesus' last command is
be the Lord's witness in the territory in which He placed you. She refused to stand back because of church, creed, or race. Witness on your job place, in the office, and your schools. See the signs and wonders following, and God confirming His Word.
The little maid kept up her work faithfully. She caused a story to be written in the Bible.
She refused to become discouraged, faced it as her duty although no one was watching.
I realized that her ministry would reach the king of Syria.
Personal work reaches out fast. She saw that testimonies never die, that the Word won't return void.
Naaman was the only leper healed in that country. But
it was not God's fault that people were not told, God was willing that everyone followed the maid's example, others didn't allow their light shine, other witnesses, let their circumstances overcame them, many more lepers could have been healed, had others witnessed, others had been taught that healing had past away, other lepers had been told that that sickness was a blessing, others had been run through a line, or had their faith ruined.
CARNAL METHODS USED TO OBTAIN HEALING
The King of Syria sent an official letter to the king of Israel. Wanted to bind the Lord down by tradition. Sent money to buy Naaman's healing. Sent ten thousand talents of silver, six pieces of gold, and ten suits were sent to the wrong man for healing. He didn't understand that labour works through human beings, while healing works through the spirit. He didn't know that the power of God cannot be legislated. He didn't have his heart right with God Almighty (Acts 8). He wanted to buy God's power. He was in the height of bitterness and iniquities.
The king of Israel thought the days of miracles had past. He
knew that God worked miracles in Moses' days, but
did not realize that God was still in the healing business. He
did not recognize what was yet being done through God's servant. Like many important people today, he did not know God was still at work.
Like many church officials, did not realize God uses plow boys, thought that the king of Syria was seeking to debate on theology. Like many educated people today, who think on debating about healing.
Elisha threw out the challenge, because the news had been published, that kind of breaking news made large headlines than Naaman's healing, He was grieved that the nation of Israel have so far backslided. He wanted people to know that God was still in the business of healing till now. There is God who answers prayer.
God had not given Israel up, though people in modern religions lost their faith.
Naaman wanted to rush the healing line. He naturalized the things of God.
THE BREAKING NEWS REACHED ELISHA
The king of Israel told Elisha what has befell him, he was blushed about Naaman's visit with the letter written by the Assyrian king to him. Elisha ordered the visitor to be directed to him. The king of Israel directed Naaman to Elisha.
On arrival, Elisha ordered the Naaman to turn back from and go to River Jordan and deep himself there seven times.
Naaman as a captain supposed that the prophet would have come out to welcome him before telling him what to do and be healed.
Naaman was blushed, he considered himself been humiliated. He decided to go home without achieving his purpose. He decided to go back to their own rivers and deep himself in them.
ANOTHER WITNESS
Naaman, like our so called educated and elites who will argue with their last drop of blood that miracles are over. Some will say, such thing you call miracles are magic. Some will not obey the simple instructions of going to Jordan deep oneself in water seven times for healing.
Naaman's servant was of a great help to his master at this point in time. The young said, "if he had demanded a harder thing, won't you do it for your healing?" Master obey the simple instructions. Go and deep yourself seven times, if it doesn't work, we will go back to him show him that if fools others, he will not do that to everyone.
Master, let's go and prove him wrong or right. That encouragement was so powerful and persuasive.
They went to Jordan river. Naaman threw himself down the river up to six times perhaps wanted to withdraw for he saw no signs and wonders. His servant came back with another persuasive encouragement. Master push forward, deep yourself the last time. Let's have a strong evidence either positive or negative. If positive result, your diseases will be gone for good. If it produced negative results, we will finish the prophet and wait for his king's response.
Master! deep yourself the last time.
RESULTS OF OBEDIENCE
When Naaman finally threw himself down the river the seventh time, the Bible records the positive results:
- His diseases were gone for good.
- His skin were as a new born baby.
- Joy was his portion from that time
- His 'But' was deleted from his story.
CALL FOR REPENTANCE
The instruction is very simple and clear:
- Realize your sinful condition
- Realize the result if not treated
- Realize that the only remedy is "accepting Jesus Christ.
Accept Him now.
PRAYER
Into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus Christ. Come in to save me. Come in to stay in me Oh! Jesus Christ - Amen.
