The Way of Naaman's Salvation, Part 2

The point: Be brought to a felt consciousness of the desperateness of your plight as sinners, for salvation is never conferred as a luxury.

The lifting of the serpent in the wilderness (John 3) and the feeding of the five thousand are given as biblical examples of physical healings illustrating spiritual truths.

There is biblical warrant to believe that many of the physical healings of the Old and the New Testament, are set forth as object lessons, as illustrations of the nature and principles of spiritual healing. Of course, one of the classic incidents in the Old Testament is the one to which our Lord Himself refers in John chapter 3, when He says, As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him may have everlasting life. And then in the New Testament, we find our Lord in the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, laun...

1:24 - 2:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Be brought to a felt consciousness of the desperateness of your plight as sinners, for salvation is never conferred as a luxury.

Paul's testimony in Philippians 3 is used to illustrate how God shatters creature confidence, bringing even the most self-righteous to count all things as loss for Christ.

Verses 5 to 7 are a detailed account of how God shattered this creature confidence. Any notions that Jehovah could be manipulated or bribed, these hopes were shattered by the response of the king. And Naaman was brought to see that his hope could not be found, was not to be found in men, even the greatest of men. And in Philippians chapter 3, we have a detailed account of God's dealings with Saul of Tarsus to bring him to that same spiritual posture.

5:43 - 6:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the third aspect of God's preparation: guiding Elisha's actions and words to humble Naaman. He highlights Elisha's seemingly rude behavior as divinely…

The story of Elisha's indebtedness and gratitude to the Shunammite woman is recounted to demonstrate his social sensitivity, contrasting with his seemingly rude treatment of Naaman.

Now we may not always be able to unravel the wisdom and the love that lies behind the doings of God, but often, with a little meditation and reflection, we are able to discover the precise purpose of the Almighty in his dealings with his creatures. What we know of God precludes any thought that God acts capriciously or arbitrarily, and what we know of the revealed character of Elisha underscores that he was not a social boor. He was obviously a very sensitive man. You'll remember that when kindness was shown to him by the Shunammite woman, it was unthinkable that he would simply reason, well, ...

9:50 - 10:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details how Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman personally, the directive to wash in the 'dirty' Jordan, and the absence of religious fanfare were all calculated to counter…

The analogy of people being so emotionally triggered by an opening phrase that they miss the rest of a sentence is used to explain why Naaman likely didn't hear the promise of healing due to his rage.

But those are precisely the words that God gives appended with a marvelous promise go wash in the Jordan seven times thy flesh shall come again to thee and thou shalt be clean. But it would appear from the subsequent record that it's doubtful that Naaman ever heard the word of the promise. The words go wash wash Jordan seven times so shattered his expectation as to how this healing was to take place that I personally doubt that he ever even heard the promise. You and I know what it's like in our dealings with people. We start to say something and the opening phrase so triggers them emotionally...

17:49 - 19:05 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details how Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman personally, the directive to wash in the 'dirty' Jordan, and the absence of religious fanfare were all calculated to counter…

The metaphor of 'passions of carnal heat' cauterizing the auditory nerve is used to describe how strong emotions prevent one from hearing truth.

And it's amazing how little we hear when the passions of the heart are pumping into our judgment all of that heat. You know that laugh with which you've just laughed is a nervous laugh of confession that you all know all too well what I'm talking about and not simply because you've seen it in others. You've known it in the naughtiness of your own heart. Well what was the purpose of this?

19:05 - 19:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details how Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman personally, the directive to wash in the 'dirty' Jordan, and the absence of religious fanfare were all calculated to counter…

The comparison of the 'dirty mud hole' Jordan River to the 'beautiful clear crystal rivers' of Syria is used to highlight Naaman's aesthetic and prideful objections to God's chosen means of healing.

Why this directive? Go wash seven times in Jordan. If waters are to be the instrument of healing he immediately makes this comparison with the waters back in Syria clear waters. And reading some of the commentators who are knowledgeable concerning Bible lands in detail they say that these rivers that are mentioned by Naaman are indeed beautiful clear crystal rivers and by comparison Jordan was a dirty mud hole.

19:31 - 20:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details how Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman personally, the directive to wash in the 'dirty' Jordan, and the absence of religious fanfare were all calculated to counter…

Spurgeon's sermon on the phrase 'Behold, I thought' is referenced to underscore the common human tendency to have preconceived notions about how salvation should occur.

But I also made Jordan and my word to you Naaman is go wash in Jordan seven times. So just as surely as Elisha's activity in ignoring him and sending a servant was a wound to his pride now there is this additional wound to his pride a directive that cuts at the very heart of that which he Naaman thinks is fitting. And then thirdly the absence of religious fanfare in any pompous ceremony by the prophet is calculated absolutely to counter his carnal wisdom. You see he says in verse 11 behold I thought and it's interesting Spurgeon has a whole sermon on that little phrase behold I thought and obv...

20:49 - 22:16 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details how Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman personally, the directive to wash in the 'dirty' Jordan, and the absence of religious fanfare were all calculated to counter…

The incident on Mount Carmel with Elijah calling upon Jehovah is referenced as an example of the dramatic religious exercise Naaman might have expected from Elisha.

You've got it all figured out Naaman but I've purposed the way in which I'll bring the healing and I will not be subject to your thoughts. Furthermore he goes on to say behold I thought surely the prophet will come out unto me and stand and call upon the name of Jehovah his God. He had it all figured out that there would be a very dramatic religious exercise similar to that upon Mount Carmel and perhaps he had even heard of that incident when the man of God Elijah stood in the presence of the prophets of Baal and called upon Jehovah. And he had it all figured out this is the way it's going to ...

23:27 - 24:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Take seriously the ultimate questions of life, sin, God, and eternity, and recognize that only God's revelation in the gospel, Christ crucified, provides the answers.

Christ crucified is presented as God's 'Jordan,' the means of cleansing for sin, emphasizing that it requires the crushing of human pride and carnal wisdom to embrace.

that's the heart of the message of the gospel once you begin to take seriously those ultimate questions I don't mean questions that aren't worth a hill of beans the ultimate questions who am I how can I deal with my sin how can I know God how can I be sure of sins forgiven how can I be certain of my identity in life my destiny in eternity my friend no human arm is able to come forth with an answer it is the revelation of God in the gospel that answers those ultimate questions it is the wisdom of God in Christ crucified and in that sense Christ crucified is God's Jordan and before we ever dip a...

32:46 - 34:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that believing means running to Christ, feeding upon Him, receiving Him, looking to Him, and taking His yoke, not a philosophical definition but a rich, panoramic description of faith.

The analogy of the soul running to Christ as the city of refuge while the avenger of blood is at its heels is used to describe the desperate yet confident nature of saving faith.

some of you are in the danger of perishing because of an unmortified head as well as some of you in danger of perishing because of an unmortified member of your body the gospel must be received as a word from God it must be obeyed explicitly you must repent turn from the disposition of thinking your own thoughts about God and sin and life and forgiveness turn from your love of the world and sin renounce your allegiance to the devil but you must believe and what is it to believe it is in the language of the scriptures to feed upon Christ to receive Christ to look to Christ all of these analogie...

44:29 - 45:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that believing means running to Christ, feeding upon Him, receiving Him, looking to Him, and taking His yoke, not a philosophical definition but a rich, panoramic description of faith.

The analogy of the sick and smitten sinner looking to Christ like an Israelite bitten by fiery serpents looking to God's provision is used to illustrate the fixation and allegiance of faith.

some of you are in the danger of perishing because of an unmortified head as well as some of you in danger of perishing because of an unmortified member of your body the gospel must be received as a word from God it must be obeyed explicitly you must repent turn from the disposition of thinking your own thoughts about God and sin and life and forgiveness turn from your love of the world and sin renounce your allegiance to the devil but you must believe and what is it to believe it is in the language of the scriptures to feed upon Christ to receive Christ to look to Christ all of these analogie...

44:29 - 45:58 Read in full sermon