<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Untitled Document Blessings Come After Obedience
• God has promised many blessings to us.
• God has appointed requirements for us to receive those blessings.

• Introduction
• If you listen to the preachers of this world and from the denominations, you might get the idea that God showers His blessings upon everyone freely.
• That is not the case.
• While the grace of God is free, it does have certain conditions which are required of man to enjoy the gift of God’s grace.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• V1. Naaman a valiant warrior was also a leper.
• V.2 A servant girl from Israel had been captured and put into service to Naaman’s wife.
• V.3 Girl told mistress about prophet who could heal Naaman.
• Even as a captive, this girl had compassion upon another human being.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• V.4 The news was exciting, and Naaman told his master who was also excited.
• V.5,6 The king sent a letter of request for Naaman to be healed.
• The problem is that the request went to the wrong person.
• V.7 The king of Israel assigns a motive to the king of Aram.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• V.8 Elisha sent word to king to allow Naaman to come see him.
• V.9 Naaman came to the doorway.
• V.10 A messenger was sent out to Naaman with instructions.
• The instructions were clear and precise.
• V.11 Naaman was furious for several reasons.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• “Behold I thought”
• Naaman had the same problem that many in the world have today.
• His pride got the better of him because he was a mighty warrior and he demanded respect.
• It was an insult to send a servant to instruct him.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• Naaman was looking for a show or some great thing to happen.
• Such a simple command was really unreasonable for him.
• V.12 The reasoning continued and Naaman got madder as he thought about it.
• The rivers back in Damascus are much better than what the Jordan river was.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• Naaman went away in a rage.
• Why the Jordan? It was a filthy river and it did not make any sense.
• V.13 A servant makes sense and encourages Naaman to go ahead since they were already there by the Jordan river.
• What could it hurt to try?

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• V.14 Naaman went ahead and did so, and the result was as the prophet said.
• Not sure that Naaman believed he would be healed, but he did what he was instructed.
• Many people today insist that belief is necessary for the blessing to come.
• Not really the case here. This was a demonstration of the power of God.

• Lessons Learned From
2 Kings 5:1-15
• V.15 Behold, now I know
• Naaman offered gifts for his cleansing.
• Elisha refused, but Naaman insisted, so Elisha agreed to accept a load of dirt.
• The dirt had no value to anyone. Elisha had done what God told him, and he did not feel that such obedience should be compensated with riches.

• Obedience First
• We see that Naaman was healed only after he had done what he had been commanded.
• The blessing of clean skin was the result.
• So it is for us today.
• When we do what God commands, we will receive the blessings He has promised.
• That makes many passages of scripture vital.

• Obedience First
• Matthew 7:21—he that does the will of My Father in heaven
• John 3:36—he who does not obey the Son does not have life.
• Hebrews 5:9—author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him.
• John 14:15—if you love Me you will keep My commandments.

• Summary
• We need to obey God’s commands.
• Hearing the word
• Believing the word
• Repenting of our actions
• Confessing His name
• Being baptized for remission of sins.
• Revelation 2:10—be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.

• Conclusion
• Hopefully, you can see the necessity of obedience in your salvation.
• God has done His part by providing the soure of salvation.
• You must do your part by obedience to His commands to receive your salvation.
• Are you ready?

By Carey Scott

Return to the Sermon Outlines page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /