1.     Second Kings chapter 5 tells the wonderful story of Naaman, the captain of the Syrian army.  He was a valiant soldier, an honorable man, and a trusted associate of the king of Syria.

2.     But II Kings 5:1 adds these words, “…but he was a leper.”

3.     Through the influence of a little Jewish maid who waited on Naaman’s wife, Naaman was able to meet Elisha the prophet, who healed him of his leprosy. 

4.     It is a wonderful story indeed.  However, the story does not end with the healing of Naaman.  In great gratitude, Naaman offered to give Elisha “a blessing” (i.e., a gift) (II Kings 5:15).

5.     Elisha graciously declined Naaman’s generous offer (5:16).

6.     However, Elisha had a servant named Gehazi, who was a covetous man.  We need to beware of covetousness.  The Bible gives us many warnings about covetousness.

7.     The tenth commandment is, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s” (Ex. 20:17).

8.     Our Lord said in Luke 12:15, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

9.     Covetousness and materialism have always been a temptation and a snare (cf. I Tim. 6:6-10).  We must guard against this just as we guard against all the other lusts of the flesh.

10. In Bible-preaching churches we warn about fleshly lusts (and we should) but many preachers are strangely silent when it comes to lusting after material possessions.  They don’t want to “rock the boat.”

11. Gehazi lusted after a talent of silver and two new suits of clothes.  This seems like a small thing when we consider the rampant materialism so prevalent these days (e.g., “Black Friday”).  But God judged Gehazi severely for his sin (5:27).

12. Gehazi thought no one would find out.  But you cannot hide anything from God.  And this is the title of my message this morning, “You Cannot Get Away With Sin.”

I.    HIS SPECIAL PRIVILEGE (5:20).

1.     Gehazi was “the servant of Elisha the man of God” (5:20; 4:12).  Gehazi’s sin is all the more deplorable because he had seen firsthand the mighty power of God demonstrated in raising the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead (II Kings 4).

2.     Gehazi saw Naaman healed of his leprosy.  Undoubtedly Gehazi had seen many other miracles as he worked closely with the great prophet Elisha.

3.     In fact, later on, in II Kings 8, we find Gehazi telling King Joram all about Elisha’s mighty miracles (8:4).

4.     The sad story of Gehazi reminds us that certain individuals can live in a spiritual atmosphere but still be worldly and covetous.  Many children grow up in Christian homes, but like the prodigal son they cannot wait to go out and live for the pleasures of this world.

5.     Many people hear strong Bible preaching on a regular basis but their hearts are still covetous.  Let me stress that although covetous is a very common sin; God still hates it (cf. Col. 3:5, 6).

6.     There are certain individuals who know how to “look like a Christian” and “talk like a Christian,” etc. but they are not right with God. 

7.     Gehazi must have heard the great prophet Elisha say, “As the LORD liveth” many times (cf. 5:16).  But when Gehazi said those words (5:20) he was taking the LORD’s name in vain.  And the third commandment is, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).

II.    HIS DECEITFUL WORK.

1.     Gehazi knew where Elisha stood on this matter.  Before we go further, let us consider why Elisha refused Naaman’s gift (5:15, 16).

2.     First of all, there is nothing wrong with prophets or preachers receiving gifts (cf. 4:42).  However, these were special circumstances.

3.     Elisha knew that while Naaman was now a believer in the true God of Israel, he still had many pagan and superstitious ideas (5:17).  It takes time for some of these old habits and notions to die out.

4.     You may recall that back in 5:5, Naaman was prepared to give generously to be healed of his leprosy.  “Ten talents of silver” would weigh about 750 pounds.

5.     The Scofield Bible says “one talent = $1940.”  That means ten talents would be about $19,400.00.   The Scofield Bible was published nearly 100 years ago so it would be worth even more today.

6.     Plus Naaman brought with him “six thousand pieces (about 150 pounds) of gold, and ten changes of raiment” (5:5).

7.     Since Naaman was “the captain of the host of the king of Syria” (5:1), we can be certain that these “changes of raiment” were not shabby but costly.

8.     Therefore, we see that Naaman was prepared to spend a small fortune for his healing (5:15b).  Elisha knew all this and wisely recognized that much was at stake here.

9.     There is an important doctrine that must be protected.  It is the doctrine of salvation by grace, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9).

10.If Elisha accepted Naaman’s generous gift, Naaman would be confused about his salvation.  He would return to Syria thinking that he paid for his healing and his salvation with silver and gold and a few new suits of clothes.

11.Naaman would be confirmed in his opinion that the LORD God of Israel was a God that could be bought with silver and gold just like the idols of Syria. 

12.By the way, many TV preachers preach this error and we must vigorously refute it.

13.Throughout history, men have erroneously thought that miracles and favors from God could be bought and sold. 

14.When we were in Rome we saw the very same church stairs that Martin Luther saw 500 years ago.  And we saw the same sorry spectacle – idolatrous Roman Catholics climbing up the steep stairs on their knees while crying and praying the rosary.

15. This deeply disturbed Luther, but what moved him to write his “95 Theses” was the selling of indulgences.

16. Johan Tetzel (born in Germany) was a Dominican monk appointed to sell indulgences for the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  Tetzel is famous for his little poem, “as the coin in the coffer rings, another soul from purgatory springs.”

17.In Acts 8 we read about a man named Simon Magus, that thought he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money. Peter rebuked Simon Magus.  Elisha did not rebuke Naaman because Elisha knew Naaman was sincere (though confused).

18.However Elisha would not receive his gifts.  Gehazi knew this.  Gehazi’s sin was inexcusable and his judgment well-deserved.

19.One old commentator wrote, “There was a great complication of wickedness in his conduct.  He first arrogated to himself a superior discernment to that of the Lord’s prophet; then he falsely employed the name of that prophet for the purpose which the prophet himself had expressly and most emphatically repudiated; further, as an excuse for aiming at such a purpose, he invented a plea of charity, and, finally, on being interrogated by Elisha after his return, he endeavored to disguise his procedure by a lie.  Such accumulated guilt obviously deserved some palpable token of the divine displeasure” (M’C.  and S., Cyc., cited in Unger’s Bible Dictionary).

20.Gehazi lusted after the silver, gold and beautiful clothes.  He then lied to Naaman (5:20, 21).

21.Naaman generously gave Gehazi two talents of silver instead of the one Gehazi asked for (5:23).  And then Naaman had two of his servants carry the silver and the two new suits back to Gehazi’s house (5:24).

22.Didn’t Gehazi know that God was watching all of this?  Oh the folly of sin!   Sin blinds peoples’ minds.  Gehazi should have known better.  He was the prophet Elisha’s servant.

23.When I think of the folly of sin I often think of the pastor who set up an adulterous rendezvous with a woman he met on the Internet.  As they walked into the motel together who should see them but a lady from his church!

24.Or how about the thieves who stole a TV and some jewelry and some other valuables from a home somewhere up in New England?  As they were leaving the house they robbed, they backed up their getaway car (loaded with the things they stole). 

25.When the police arrived they looked at a snow bank in front of the house and they could read the imprint of the license plate imbedded in the snow.

26.Remember what the Bible says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).  You cannot get away with sin.

III.    HIS TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT (5:25-27).

1.     Elisha confronted Gehazi (5:25).  Gehazi should have been honest with Elisha and confessed his sin.  But instead of repenting, Gehazi continued to lie (5:25).

2.     “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Pro. 28:13).

3.     One lie invariably leads to another lie as the liar tries to avoid getting caught.  But Gehazi could not lie himself out of this.

4.    There is another principle here (5:26).  God will reward us if we are faithful.  Our Lord said in Matthew 25:21, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” 

5.    But impatient men do not like to wait for their reward.  They want it right now.  Like the prodigal son they demand, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me” (Luke 15:12).

6.     People want instant gratification.  In the old days people would save their money in order to get what they need.  But today they just use their credit cards and they dig themselves deeply into debt.

7.     I have seen marriages deteriorate over debt and covetousness.

8.     Many young people will not consider Christian service because they know it does not pay very well.  But our reward is in heaven!  This life will soon be over.

9.     “Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.”

10.And then there are certain men who enter the ministry and expect a huge salary right away.  They are not willing to sacrifice at all.  May God deliver us from such men!  Many of them are nothing but hirelings.

11.Gehazi’s punishment was severe but he deserved it.  He would remain a leper the rest of his life.  Furthermore, all of his descendants would be lepers (5:27). 

12.Gehazi brought shame and reproach upon the ministry of Elisha.   He compounded his sin by lying to Elisha. 

13.Gehazi’s sin brought him nothing but humiliation and shame (cf. I Tim. 6:9, 10).

CONCLUSION:

1.     Being a leper was only part of Gehazi’s punishment.  Knowing his descendants would be lepers “for ever” (5:27) was only part of the punishment.

2.     Perhaps the worst part was knowing that he would not be working with the great prophet Elisha any more. Gehazi “went out from his presence” (5:27).

3.     The Bible says that the man of God must not be “greedy of filthy lucre” (I Tim. 3:3).  Gehazi had demonstrated that he was not qualified to work with Elisha.