Humility: The Path to Healing and Grace
Summary
Today’s focus is on the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, exploring how the Gospel is revealed in the Old Testament and what it means for us today. Naaman, a powerful and successful commander, is struck by leprosy—a problem he cannot solve with his own strength, resources, or reputation. This crisis exposes the limits of human achievement and the universal problem of pride, which is rooted in our desire to be independent from God, as seen from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. Pride is not just arrogance; it is the deep-seated belief that we can manage life on our own terms, without submitting to God’s authority.
God’s opposition to pride is not petty or insecure, but a necessary assertion of truth: only He is God, and only He deserves worship and ultimate trust. Throughout Scripture, God consistently humbles the proud and exalts the humble. Naaman’s journey is a vivid illustration of this principle. Despite his status, he is forced to listen to the advice of a captive servant girl, seek help from a foreign prophet, and ultimately obey a humiliating command to wash in the Jordan River. Each step strips away his pride, challenging his assumptions about how God should work and whom God uses.
Naaman’s initial resistance to Elisha’s instructions reveals how pride can blind us to God’s simple solutions. He expects a grand gesture, a ritual worthy of his status, but God’s way is humble and ordinary. It is only when Naaman submits—when he is willing to look foolish, to obey without understanding, and to receive help on God’s terms—that he is healed, not just physically but spiritually. His story is a mirror for us: we all carry the disease of pride, and the only cure is to humble ourselves, confess our need, and trust in God’s provision through Jesus Christ.
The call is clear: we cannot earn or pay for God’s grace. Salvation is not achieved by our deeds, status, or sacrifices, but by surrendering our pride and receiving what Christ has done for us. Like Naaman, we must come to the end of ourselves, acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy, and accept the gift of healing and forgiveness that only God can give.
Key Takeaways
- Pride is the root of our separation from God, manifesting as a desire to be independent and self-sufficient. This attitude, present since Eden, leads us to focus on ourselves, avoid responsibility, and hide from God. True healing begins when we recognize and confront this deep-seated pride. [03:58]
- God’s opposition to pride is an act of love and truth, not insecurity. He alone is worthy of worship, and any attempt to elevate ourselves or others to His place distorts reality and damages our souls. Humility is not self-hatred but a right understanding of who God is and who we are before Him. [08:57]
- Success and self-reliance can subtly foster “occupational pride,” making us forget our dependence on God. Even our greatest achievements cannot shield us from life’s unsolvable problems or the need for grace. God often uses moments of weakness or crisis to reveal our need for Him and to invite us back to humility. [12:11]
- God’s solutions often offend our pride because they require submission and trust rather than performance or payment. Naaman’s healing came not through grand gestures or heroic deeds, but through simple obedience to God’s word, even when it seemed foolish or beneath him. The path to spiritual wholeness always passes through humility and surrender. [24:32]
- The only way to receive God’s grace is to empty ourselves of pride and accept His gift on His terms. We cannot add to Christ’s work or earn our way into God’s favor. True faith confesses, “I don’t deserve it,” and trusts wholly in what Jesus has done, not in what we can do. This is the posture that opens us to God’s healing and restoration. [35:53]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:58] - Reading Naaman’s Story
[02:06] - Naaman’s Pride and Expectations
[03:58] - The Origin and Nature of Pride
[08:57] - Good Pride vs. Destructive Pride
[12:11] - Naaman’s Problem and Occupational Pride
[14:24] - Humbling Circumstances and Advice
[19:27] - Naaman’s Journey and God’s Grace
[24:32] - Pride as a Barrier to Healing
[25:47] - The Symbolism of the Jordan River
[30:43] - Submission and the Role of Servants
[32:05] - The Process of Humbling and Healing
[34:28] - The Necessity of Humility
[35:53] - The Universal Disease and Christ’s Solution
[37:07] - Baptism and the Posture of Humility
[38:27] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The True Healing of Naaman
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### Bible Reading
2 Kings 5:1-14
(Naaman’s story: his leprosy, his journey to Israel, Elisha’s instructions, and his healing in the Jordan River.)
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### Observation Questions
1. What was Naaman’s position in society, and how did his leprosy affect his life and status?
[[12:11]]
2. Who were the key people God used to guide Naaman toward healing, and why is it significant that they were not powerful or important in the world’s eyes?
[[14:24]]
3. What specific instructions did Elisha give Naaman, and how did Naaman initially respond to them?
[[19:27]]
4. What was the outcome when Naaman finally obeyed Elisha’s instructions, and how did his healing happen?
[[32:05]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to humble Naaman through the advice of servants and a simple act, rather than through a grand miracle or ritual?
[[14:24]]
2. The sermon says pride is not just arrogance, but a deep belief that we can manage life on our own terms. How does Naaman’s story illustrate this kind of pride?
[[03:58]]
3. What does Naaman’s journey teach us about the way God views human achievement and self-reliance?
[[12:11]]
4. According to the sermon, why is it necessary for pride to be “emptied” before someone can receive God’s grace?
[[34:28]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon describes “occupational pride”—the subtle belief that our success means we don’t need God. In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own achievements or abilities instead of God? How can you recognize when this is happening?
[[12:11]]
2. Naaman almost missed out on healing because God’s solution seemed too simple and beneath him. Have you ever resisted God’s direction because it didn’t match your expectations or seemed too ordinary? What happened?
[[24:32]]
3. The people who helped Naaman were servants and a captive girl—people he might have overlooked. Who in your life might God be using to speak truth to you, even if they seem unlikely? How can you be more open to hearing from them?
[[14:24]]
4. The sermon says true humility is not self-hatred, but a right understanding of who God is and who we are before Him. What does humility look like in your daily life? Are there specific situations where you struggle to be humble?
[[08:57]]
5. Naaman had to “come to the end of himself” before he could receive healing. Is there an area in your life where you need to admit your need and surrender control to God? What would it look like to do that this week?
[[35:53]]
6. The only way to receive God’s grace is to accept it on His terms, not ours. Are there ways you try to “earn” God’s favor or add to what Jesus has done for you? How can you practice receiving grace as a gift?
[[35:53]]
7. The sermon ends with the example of someone saying, “I don’t deserve it,” as the right posture before God. How easy or hard is it for you to admit you don’t deserve God’s grace? What helps you remember your need for Jesus?
[[37:07]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for humility, openness to God’s ways, and a deeper trust in Jesus’ finished work.
Devotional
Day 1: The Danger and Universality of Pride
Pride is a deep-rooted condition that separates us from God, manifesting as an inner attitude of independence and self-importance that resists God's authority. This pride, present since the fall in Eden, leads us to focus on ourselves, avoid responsibility, and even hide from God, ultimately creating a barrier that only humility can break down. Recognizing this universal tendency is the first step toward true healing and restoration with God. [03:58]
Isaiah 14:12-14 (ESV)
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”
Reflection: In what subtle ways do you find yourself wanting to be in control or “like God” in your daily life, and how can you surrender these areas to Him today?
Day 2: God Opposes the Proud but Lifts the Humble
God consistently warns that pride leads to downfall, while humility opens the way to His favor and preservation; He detests arrogance and promises to humble those who exalt themselves. This truth is echoed throughout Scripture, reminding us that no matter our achievements or status, it is only by humbling ourselves before God that we can truly draw near to Him and receive His grace. [08:57]
Proverbs 16:5 (ESV)
“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you sense pride creeping in—perhaps in your work, relationships, or spiritual walk? What would it look like to intentionally humble yourself in that area today?
Day 3: The Humbling Path to Healing
Naaman’s story shows that God often uses humbling circumstances and unexpected people to bring us to a place of submission, where we must let go of our pride and accept His way—even when it doesn’t match our expectations. True healing and transformation come not through our own efforts, status, or rituals, but through simple obedience and a willingness to receive from God on His terms, not ours. [19:27]
2 Kings 5:10-14 (ESV)
“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.’ But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, ‘My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, “Wash, and be clean”?’ So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
Reflection: When have you resisted God’s instructions because they seemed too simple, humbling, or different from your expectations? How can you choose to obey Him fully today, even if it means letting go of your pride?
Day 4: The Necessity of Total Submission to God
True spiritual breakthrough requires total submission to God’s instructions, emptying ourselves of pride and self-reliance so that we can receive His grace and healing. Like Naaman, we may struggle with embarrassment, reluctance, or the desire to earn our way, but it is only when we come to the end of ourselves and obey God completely that we experience the fullness of His restoration. [32:05]
James 4:6 (ESV)
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
Reflection: What is one specific step of obedience or surrender God is asking of you right now that you have been hesitant to take? What would it look like to trust Him and take that step today?
Day 5: Salvation Is a Gift, Not an Achievement
The gospel teaches that salvation and forgiveness are not rewards for our efforts, achievements, or good deeds, but gifts received by humbly acknowledging our need and trusting in Jesus Christ alone. Any attempt to add to or earn God’s grace only revives our pride; instead, we are called to confess our sin, repent, and rest in what Christ has done for us, knowing that “I don’t deserve it” is the posture that opens the door to God’s favor. [37:07]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Reflection: Are you tempted to “add” to God’s grace by trying to earn His approval or prove your worth? How can you rest today in the truth that salvation is a gift, received by faith and humility alone?
Quotes
When all's said and done, our purpose on this earth, our purpose in being created, is that we might know God and enjoy him forever. That's what he wants for us. And then when we have a life that is lived completely oblivious of God, we're not fulfilling the purpose for which we were made. [00:03:40] (18 seconds)
Just in closing, we have a disease, every one of us. We're sinners. That pride is in every one of us. And it's so essential that we come to an awareness of it. Because that disease will separate us from God. We won't be with God. We will be separated from Him, not just in this life, but throughout eternity. And the solution is found in Jesus Christ alone. [00:35:53] (23 seconds)
When He died on the cross, He fixed that problem. He fixed that sin problem. He made it such that by believing in Him, our sins would be forgiven. Our pride would be empty. And you have to lose your pride when you humble yourself. And when you confess and repent and put your faith in what Jesus did and not what you did. [00:36:16] (19 seconds)
James and Peter both say the same thing in their epistles in the New Testament. And it's this, that God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble. Where do we show our humility? When we acknowledge our sins and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of them. [00:38:27] (16 seconds)
God opposes the proud. He exalts the humble. Good then not to be proud. Do you notice how Jesus didn't go to the Pharisees and the royalty, but instead he went to the humble, everyday, lowly people? They were the people who already had emptied themselves of that pride in order that they might receive the things of Jesus. [00:08:52] (22 seconds)
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