Last week we saw that our God was with a little Hebrew girl slave as she shared her testimony, Elisha as he prayed for healing for Naaman, Naaman the captain of the Syrian troops who was a leper and was cleansed of his leprosy. We saw the little bit of faith the young Hebrew slave had was on full display, we also of faith of Elisha, and even the little bit of faith of the enemy king Ben-Hadad an idolator was present. I learned that faith the size of a mustard seed can have a huge impact on our lives and increase our peace and faith. I am ashamed of the Israelites who are unable to participate in salvation through faith because they are tied to formalities and customs rather than the Word of God. Yes. It is said that if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we have the power to move mountains. “Do not be afraid, I will direct your path.” Jesus said, “The mountain is the one that solves all of life’s problems that we cannot move.” Jesus teaches us that obedience is better than sacrifice.
Naaman had to be nudged to do what was he was instructed to do because of his pride. The king of Israel had no faith he was not saved. Naaman slaves cared for him and wanted to see him healed. Their faith was on display. Shame on Israel for not having just a little faith. And yes, shame on us if we do not have just a little faith!
We also learned Naaman tried to pay for his healing. We discover you cannot do that! Just like we cannot pay for salvation, and we cannot get to heaven without Jesus either. Amen! People in this world, that is, non-believers, think that everything can be solved with material goods.
If we can solve everything with money, all we have to do is make money. We must realize and obey that we can do nothing if God does not give it to us! It is unthinkable and inconceivable to think we could pay for our salvation. Only those who have been washed with the precious blood of Jesus can go to heaven. Amen!

Our lives were given by God. The one who breathed into each the breathe of life. The one who takes his last breath away from us also God. You must be thankful to God and obey His Word. You must follow.
The instructions that are given, must be followed. Think of it, if Moses, Noah, or any one of the apostles or disciples never followed the directions of God. Where would we be? We all would be without hope! There would be no need for Church. No salvation of the lost. No way back to God. Increasing evil and death. This shows the importance of following God’s will is. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Jesus said in,
Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel In the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Some may ask, Why God only heal the enemy Captain of the military and no other people with leprosy?
Because God wanted to set an example before of Israel, and the Israelites of all people should always be sharing their God with the World. They would not. They were keeping him to themselves. It was not the case in the New Testament hey were given a mandate to “Go Ye!” The little slave girl shared her testimony and had a desire for her master to be healed. In our churches today there are some that have never shared their faith with anyone nor their testimony. Shame on them.
“The LORD had given victory” to us Jesus on the Cross. We must come to him. It is not our plan, but Gods plan. Yahweh was the only God and that He controlled the fate of Israel and his people.
All God’s commands make and test the human spirit, especially those which direct a sinner how to apply for the blessings of salvation. We must follow God’s way, and he will lead us through the trials of life. Everyone is a sinner.
Consider the way by which a sinner is received and is made holy, through the blood, of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit of Christ, we are comforted through faith alone in Jesus’ name.
See, in the text, the master must also listen to the opinions of his servants and know whether his decision is right. Observe, the master’s should be willing to hear reason. Likewise, those who help you must respect and obey the person in charge, and must be someone who conveys the right news and honestly. So, we are to have our ears opened to good advice given by God brought by those obedient servants below to us. We should be deaf to the counsel of the ungodly.
Would you not do anything to make yourself whole again? Would you not do anything to heal yourself?
2Kings 5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
After the miraculous cure, Naaman returned to Elisha, to whom he acknowledged his full belief in the sole sovereignty and supremacy of the God of Israel and offered him a generous reward.
2Kings 5:16 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
Elisha, though respectfully but firmly declined them on this.
2Kings 5:17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
Naaman wants to take some holy ground (the dirt) to take with him so that he can have offer burnt offerings to Yahweh GOD and worship him while outside Israel. The request may reflect a belief that Israel’s territory belonged to God and that God was with Israel. Remember the Syrians were Idolators. It is not strange to find such notions in such a newly converted heathen. Because idolaters do not know that everything in this world belongs to God the Creator, and we can see the foolishness of wanting to take the soil of Israel to Syria. Elisha’s prophetic commission was to the conversion of Israel from idolatry not the Syrians. Elisha showed Naaman grace by helping him to be cleansed and extending it to his king Joram by solving the problem by healing Naaman for the king.
2Kings 5:18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
Rimmon—a Syrian god or deity; probably the sun, or the planetary system, of which a pomegranate (Hebrew, Rimmon) was the symbol.
May the Lord forgive your servant for this; for when my master went into worship in the house of Rimmon and leaned on my hand, I also bowed down in the house of Rimmon. “May you, Lord, forgive your servant for this while I bow down at the house of Rimmon.” in Syria, then Naaman would offer burnt offerings to GOD and worship him on the holy ground (the dirt) he was returning to Syria with. Naaman thought he could serve to masters.
2Kings 5:19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
Elisha’s departing benediction (Go in peace) probably was a blessing on the journey ahead of Naaman.
2Kings 5:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
Gehazi became greedy of what Naaman had offered to give Elisha. Evidently, he justified his greed by reasoning that since Naaman was a Syrian, and the natural enemy of Israel, he should at least be taken advantage of.
2Kings 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
So Gehazi pursued Naaman to get something from him. Naaman got down from his chariot and asked if everything was all, right?
2Kings 5:22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
Gehazi said everything was all right but then lied to the commander. He said his master had received unexpected guests (two … prophets) and wanted to give them some silver and a change of clothing each. Gehazi put this lie in Elisha’s mouth and made the request sound very unselfish. His greed leads him to lie about his master and he went against his master’s word. A very selfish act on his part.
2Kings 5:23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
Naaman knew that what he was about to give to Gehazi would be too heavy for him to carry so he sent two of his servants with him to carry the load for him. Remember Judas was offered silver to betray Jesus. Judas could have escaped and not followed through, same here with Gehazi. Gehazi could have stopped at any time.
2Kings 5:24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
Gehazi took the Gifts and placed them in his house and hid them.
2Kings 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
Now, Gehazi started with a lie to gain the reward, and now he will lie to his master and tell him he had not gone anywhere. A very subtle lie to started it all, Satan is the same way a very subtle lie about the word of God and now look where we are… Satan’s purpose is to be very clever and start from the heart, deceive people with lies, and lead them into destruction.

2Kings 5:26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
Elisha knew he was lying and called him out on his lie. He told him all the details… our God is the same way he will turn to you and me one day and expose all our unconfessed sin. Lord, please have mercy on us. I pray therefore that we confess all sin daily. Do not be a foolish believer who keeps accumulating sins, but repent, pray to the merciful God every day, and learn obedience.
2Kings 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Through Naaman’s obedience, his leprosy was completely cured and recovered, and he received the blessing of participation in salvation. God does not care who or how you come but just come to him for he loves those who obey. Naaman’s leprosy was transferred to Gehazi because of his greed and sin of disobedience.
This heavy infliction was not too severe for the crime of Gehazi. For it was not the covetousness alone that was punished; but, at the same time, it was the ill use made of the prophet’s name to gain an object prompted by a mean covetousness, and the attempt to conceal it by lying about it.
Gehazi greed and sin of disobedience with his love for money caused leprosy. He lost his good health for a few dollars and caused more destruction in his life.
When diseased sinners are content to do anything, to submit to anything, to part with anything, for a cure, then, and not till then, is there any hope for them.
God’s plan for the healing of the leprosy of sin are so plain, that we are without excuse if we do not observe them. It is nothing but, believe, and be saved; Repent, and be pardoned; Wash, and be cleansed.
When a believer applies for salvation, not neglecting, altering, or adding to the Savior’s directions; he/she is then made clean from guilt, while others, who neglect them, live and die in the leprosy of sin.
While living in this world, we must prepare for the most blessed heaven. And you become a child of heaven. You can’t take anything, with you, and you can’t meet parents who don’t believe, brothers who don’t believe, or children who don’t believe. Only those who believe in Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, can experience the joy of that eternal meeting in heaven. I sincerely hope that you will convey the best gift, “Jesus.”

In summary
Bible text is well known story of Captain Naaman being cured of his leprosy and this story is here in the word of God for us to learn valuable lessons:
There is only one true God. Followers of God should share our faith or testimony. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Servant girl- was a faithful servant. Naaman- was a sinner needing a savior, who becomes a new convert. Elisha – was a faithful pastor, preacher, priest doing the work of God. Gehazi- disobedient non-repenting backsliding Christian who becomes lost in his greed. God Grace and love is extended to all, and He wants to save all who will follow his instructions and focus on Him alone and do His will not theirs. If we miss any of these valuable lessons all our preaching and teaching is in vain.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Amen.