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2
KINGS 5:1-14
MIRACLE,
An event which unmistakably involve an immediate and powerful action of God
designed to reveal His character or purposes.
In
the Old Testament the two Hebrew words most frequently used for
"miracle" are translated "sign" ('oth) and
"wonder" (mopheth). They are synonyms and often occur together
in the same text
"Sign"
may be an object or daily activity as well as an unexpected divine action
(Gen. 1:14; Ex. 12:13, RSV; Josh. 4:6 Ezek. 24:24.
The
basic nature of a sign is that it points people to God.
"Wonders"
describe God’s supernatural activity, a special manifestation of His
power
In
the New Testament The phrase "signs and wonders" is used in the
same sense as it is found in the Old Testament
"Sign"
( semeion) in the New Testament is used of miracles taken as evidence of
divine authority. Sometimes it is translated as "miracle"
John
was particularly fond of using "sign" to denote miraculous activity
"Wonders"
( teras) translates a Greek word from which the word terror comes.
It denotes something unusual that causes the beholder to marvel.
Although
it usually follows "signs," it sometimes precedes it (Acts 2:22, 43;
6:8) or occurs alone (as in Acts 2:19).
Whereas
a sign appeals to the understanding, a wonder appeals to the
imagination.
"Wonders"
are usually presented as God’s activity
NAAMAN
Personal
name meaning, "pleasantness." A Syrian general cured of leprosy under
the direction of the prophet Elisha
Naaman’s
leprosy apparently was not contagious, nor was it seen as the result of some
moral sin. Following his cleansing, he professed faith in Israel’s God.
LEPROSY
(Leprosy) A generic term applied to a variety of skin disorders from psoriasis
to true leprosy.
Its
symptoms ranged from white patches on the skin to running sores to the loss of
digits on the fingers and toes.
For
the Hebrews it was a dreaded malady which rendered its victims ceremonially
unclean—that is, unfit to worship God (Lev. 13:3).
Anyone
who came in contact with a leper was also considered unclean. Therefore, lepers
were isolated from the rest of the community so that the members of the
community could maintain their status as worshipers.
Other
physical disorders or the flow of certain bodily fluids also rendered one
unclean (see Lev. 12:1-14:32; 15:1-33). Even houses and garments could have
"leprosy" and, thus, be unclean (Lev. 14:33-57).
Jesus
did not consider this distinction between clean and unclean valid. A person’s
outward condition did not make one unclean;
rather
that which proceeds from the heart determines one’s standing before God (Mark
7:1-23; compare Acts 10:9-16).
Therefore,
Jesus did not hesitate about touching lepers (Mark 1:40-45) and even commanded
His disciples to cleanse lepers (Matt. 10:8). Jesus even made a leper the hero
of one of His parables (Luke 16:19-31).
In
the Bible, leprosy is a universal picture of sin. It was looked upon as
"the stroke of God," and on some occasions it certainly was, as both
Miriam and Gehazi attest.
Naaman's
recovery from his leprosy illustrates how God cleanses from sin.
First,
he had to come to an end of his own preconceived notions,
Secondly,
he had to come to an end of his prejudices, and an end of his pride.
Thirdly,
Then he had to take God at His word and accept cleansing on God's terms.
Today
I need to talk about 3 things that will mess up your Miracle
1.
Your miserable Condition (2 Kings 5:1)
Naaman
was a great Man -
But
he was a leper
Naaman
was a honorable Man-
but
he was a leper
Naaman
was a mighty man of valor-
but
he was a leper
His
miserable condition was a threat and hindrance to his life.
Many
believers today are great, honorable, and mighty, but because of their miserable
condition, they risk messing up their miracle.
2.
With Mistaken Conceptions
a.
The wrong person (2 Kings 5:3 5:6)
b.
The wrong price (2 Kings 5:5)
c.
The wrong procedure (2 Kings 5:11)
d.
The wrong place (2 Kings 5:12)
3.
By Acting Like a Baby (1Cor. 3:1)
Babies
are beautiful and charming in their place. But babes when they should be adults?
What a heartache that must be.
The
Believers life demands constant growth towards maturity. Here are some of the
basic characteristics of a baby.
A
baby--
1.
Always Wants Its Own Way
2.
Cannot Learn Difficult Lessons
3.
Is Apt to Quarrel
4.
Is Taken up With Personalities
5.
Is Possessive
6.
Always Needs to Be Taught
7.
Plays While Big Things Are Happening
8.
Has No Proper Sense of Values
9.
Frequently Says the Wrong Things
10.
Is Easily Upset
A
baby is a delightful thing. But a baby thirty years old is a tragedy.
A
story is told of a man and his friend walking through the park. A lady
approached pushing a buggy in which was the figure of a four or five year old
child.
He
glanced at the little one as they passed and was horrified to see that it had
the face of an old woman. The friend said, "That person in the buggy is
twenty-five years old."
The
child had grown old but had never grown up.
Don’t
Mess Up Your Miracle By Acting Like A Baby
In
Closing I Need To make 3 Points about. How to meet you miracle in the middle of
the road
1.
Understand Who You Are
"You
are a new person in an old body."
We
have been benefactors of the redeeming redemptive acts of Salvation
We
have experience
1.
Repentance:
a
Chance of Mind ( Matt 3:8 )
2.
Regeneration:
a
Change of Heart ( John 3:3 )
3.
Conversion:
a
Change of Life ( Matt 18:3 )
4. Adoption:
a
Change of Family ( Rom 8:14-17 )
5.
Sanctification:
a
Change of Behavior ( Heb 10:14-16 )
6. Justification:
a
Change of State ( Rom 5:1 )
7.
Glorification:
a
Change of Place ( John 17:24 )
2.
Understand What You Have
1.
The Spirit of Truth ( John 14:17
I
Should Never Be Deceived.
2.
The Spirit of Faith ( 2 Cor 4:13
I
Should Never Be Discouraged.
3.
The Spirit of Grace ( Heb 10:29
I
Should Never Be Disgruntled.
4.
The Spirit of Holiness ( Rom 1:4
I
Should Never Be Defiled.
5.
The Spirit of Wisdom (Eph 1:17
I
Should Never Be Daunted.
6.
The Spirit of Power ( 2 Tim 1:7
I
Should Never Be Defeated.
7.
The Spirit of Love ( 2 Tim 1:7 )
I
Should Never Be Discordant.
8.
The Spirit of a Sound Mind 2 Tim 1:7)
I
Should Never Be Disturbed.
9.
The Spirit of Life ( Rom 8:2 )
I
Should Never Be Dead.
10.
The Spirit of Glory ( 1 Pet 4:14
I
Should Never Be Dull.
3.
Understand What You Can Do
Josephus
thinks that Naaman was the man who, in a recent war between Syria and Egypt, had
loosed off his bow at a venture and thus killed Ahab, bringing deliverance to
Syria and victory to his countrymen.
What
a priceless treasure Naaman brought home from that war in the person of the
little captive maid who not only knew God's power but had a full measure of His
grace stored up in her little heart.
What
a wonderful little gospel preacher she was! Suppose she had harbored natural
resentments against Naaman! Suppose she had cherished secret satisfaction in her
heart that the man who had stolen her away as a captive should be a leper!
Suppose
she had said, "It serves him right." Then the world would have been
robbed of this wonderful story of salvation. She is one of God's precious
nobodies who have a great reward awaiting them in heaven.
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