(((Here’s a story concerning Elisha)))
2 Kings 5: 1, 3-5, 8-10, 14-16, 20-27
1. Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
3. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
((Naaman desires to be healed of his leprosy))
4. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
5. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
Naaman took off, taking with him ten talents of silver, and 6,000 pieces of gold, and 10 changes of raiment, seeking to be healed by a prophet. Why is he taking money and materials? Let’s continue.
8. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
9. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
((After Naaman made up his mind to just to adhere and believe he’d recover from his leprosy by washing seven times in the Jordan, he went forth to do it.))
14. Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
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 earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
(((Oh…so now I see why he brought the ten talents of silver, and 6,000 pieces of gold, and 10 changes of raiments. He wanted to pay for or offer a gift for the healing. Let’s see how Elisha responded to that.)))
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.
(((Ahh…man, you mean to tell me that Elisha, a man of God, a prophet, one of the go to men for guidance in truth and instruction of righteous, what we now refer to as in these days: preachers, ministers, pastors, bishops, etc. didn’t accept money, and materialistic things in return for healing someone. Let’s continue and see what’s capable of happening if someone takes a gift for healing.)))
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, Elisha’s servant sought to take some of the gift from Naaman, which Elisha refused. Let’s continue))
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?
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.
((First of all Gehazi didn’t heal Naaman. Second, he coveted(lusted) after a gift that didn’t belong to him, even if it was okay to receive a gift from someone for healing. Third, he lied and said his Master Elisha sent him to take of some of the gift that Elisha first refused. Let’s continue.
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.
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.
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.
Note: He lied again.
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?
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.
(((Look at what he brought upon himself over material things: some cloths and a little cash that he gotten wrongfully, by lust and deceit. He brought upon himself a curse of leprosy that even extended down throughout all his children, generation after generation for ever. That’s sad, because of one parent’s error and no self-control, all generations under that parent will be affected by it. Let’s continue and look at Jesus speak on this matter unto his disciples.)))
Matthew 10: 1, 7-8
1. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
((Jesus says, freely we have been giving access to heal by him, and freely we should exercise it.))
Peace and Love