SF517 - IT ALWAYS PAYS TO OBEY (2 Kings 5 1-14)
SF517
IT ALWAYS PAYS TO OBEY
2 Kings 5:1-14
INTRODUCTION
God always rewards obedience and commitment.
Failure to obey will always bring pain and suffering.
Neither of these are always immediate.
Rewards are not the proper motive for obedience and commitment.. Three reasons...
Because of who He is
Because He is wise and has our best interest at heart
Because we love Him!
Biblical Background (1-14)
Naaman as a service man (1)
Naaman as a sick man(1b)
Naaman as a seeking man (2-9)
~$1 million
Naaman as a skeptical man (10-12)
Naaman as a saved man (13-15)
Five Principles We Can Learn From Naaman...
GOD IS AT WORK IN YOUR GREATEST NEED
God will normally use our greatest need as an entry point into our lives.
What was Naaman’s greatest need?
What to do...
Retreat - Go immediately to God
Rely - Trust God to reveal to you what He wants you to know.
Resist - Do not become fearful, impatient, or bitter.
Rest - God is in control!
God wants to stretch your faith
He is developing your character!
GOD EXPECTS ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE
Often what God tells you to do will be impractical or unreasonable.
Remember....
You are unique - so are God’s directions
Do not base your obedience on what others are doing.
Obedience produces blessings which produce obedience...
God will only show you as much as He can trust you with...
God is more interested in your obedience than your production!
(1 Samuel 15:22) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
FAILURE TO OBEY MAY COST YOU THE THING YOU DESIRE THE MOST!
What was the greatest desire of Naaman’s heart?
Naaman had three problems...
Pride (10-11)
Naaman thought Elisha should have met with him.
We often watered down obedience because of what someone else might think.
Anger (11-12)
Unbelief
He had trouble believing God’s Man
He had trouble believing God’s Word
Naaman almost missed God’s healing.
What have you missed?
GOD WILL OFTEN SEND YOU GODLY COUNSELORS
How can you tell?
Will always encourage full obedience to God.
Will not place limits on how committed you should be or how obedient you should be.
Will encourage you to seek God’s direction in prayer and from His Word.
Will walk with you as you obey.
GOD WILL USE YOUR OBEDIENCE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH AND THE FAITH OF OTHERS
Naaman’s obedience impacted an entire nation!
Obedience is doing what God says...
When He tells you
Beware of delayed obedience
The way He tells you
Beware of partial obedience
You do not have to understand to obey.
You have to obey!
Obedience is the pathway to blessing!
(Malachi 3:10) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
God wants to use you as an example of what He can do in the life of an average person!
APPLICATION
Are you doing what God wants you to do with your...?
Commitment
Marriage
Vocation
Family
Education
Relationships
Finances
Your entire life.
Does Christ have all of you?