2 KI 5:1-14

GENERALHOSPITAL

GENERALHOSPITAL

Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) is not nearly as contagious as once thought.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) is not nearly as contagious as once thought. 95% of the world’s population is immune

from the bacteria.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) is not nearly as contagious as once thought. 95% of the world’s population is immune

from the bacteria. There was likely little benefit from the leper

colonies in Hawaii & elsewhere.

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But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses.

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But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. God gave the priests specific instructions on

diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13).

GENERALHOSPITAL

But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. God gave the priests specific instructions on

diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated.

GENERALHOSPITAL

But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. God gave the priests specific instructions on

diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated.

What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC.

GENERALHOSPITAL

But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. God gave the priests specific instructions on

diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated.

What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC. Archeological evidence suggests it wasn’t in

Palestine until about AD 500.

GENERALHOSPITAL

But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. God gave the priests specific instructions on

diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated.

What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC. Archeological evidence suggests it wasn’t in

Palestine until about AD 500. The Hebrew actually means “infectious skin

disease” (cf. NIV).

GENERALHOSPITAL

But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. God gave the priests specific instructions on

diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated.

What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC. Archeological evidence suggests it wasn’t in

Palestine until about AD 500. The Hebrew actually means “infectious skin

disease” (cf. NIV). There are a variety of skin diseases—besides

what we call leprosy—that are contagious, disfiguring, & deadly.

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Tonight’s text is about a man who suffered from such a disease—Naaman the leper.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Tonight’s text is about a man who suffered from such a disease—Naaman the leper.

Naaman’s health is so poor that he needs a GENERAL HOSPITAL—i.e., a hospital that specializes in military generals.

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2 KINGS 5:1-14

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Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria.

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Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods. But, here victory is ascribed to God.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods. But, here victory is ascribed to God. Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s

servant girl was from Israel.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods. But, here victory is ascribed to God. Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s

servant girl was from Israel. Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to

GENERAL HOSPITAL.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods. But, here victory is ascribed to God. Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s

servant girl was from Israel. Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to

GENERAL HOSPITAL. It’s difficult to preach this text without

alluding to baptism.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods. But, here victory is ascribed to God. Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s

servant girl was from Israel. Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to

GENERAL HOSPITAL. It’s difficult to preach this text without

alluding to baptism. However, I’ve purposefully stayed away from

such allusions tonight.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian

king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. Pagans often ascribed military victory to their

gods. But, here victory is ascribed to God. Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s

servant girl was from Israel. Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to

GENERAL HOSPITAL. It’s difficult to preach this text without

alluding to baptism. However, I’ve purposefully stayed away from

such allusions tonight. Tonight, we know the truth about baptism.

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We want to examine the process Naaman took to get to GENERAL HOSPITAL.

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We want to examine the process Naaman took to get to GENERAL HOSPITAL. That process?

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HELPHOSTILITYHEALING

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HELPVV 2-5

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“Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, ‘Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ So Naaman went in and told his lord, ‘Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.’ And the king of Syria said, ‘Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel’” (vv 2-5, ESV).

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If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed.

GENERALHOSPITAL

If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed.

How many people in the world do not know that Jesus can heal their souls?

GENERALHOSPITAL

If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed.

How many people in the world do not know that Jesus can heal their souls? 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola,

72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola, & 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola.

GENERALHOSPITAL

If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed.

How many people in the world do not know that Jesus can heal their souls? 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola,

72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola, & 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola.

But, how many of the world know of Jesus Christ?

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We so desperately need to be like that little girl!

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We so desperately need to be like that little girl! “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV).

GENERALHOSPITAL

We so desperately need to be like that little girl! “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV).

If Coca-Cola can make disciples throughout the world, why can’t we?

GENERALHOSPITAL

We so desperately need to be like that little girl! “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV).

If Coca-Cola can make disciples throughout the world, why can’t we?

The early church did so: “Those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4, ESV).

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I am utterly amazed by this servant girl!

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I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! She’s been captured on a raid in Israel &

taken back to Syria.

GENERALHOSPITAL

I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! She’s been captured on a raid in Israel &

taken back to Syria. If we were captives, how willing would we

be to help our captors?

GENERALHOSPITAL

I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! She’s been captured on a raid in Israel &

taken back to Syria. If we were captives, how willing would we

be to help our captors?

This little girl holds no grudges & tells her master where he can be healed.

GENERALHOSPITAL

I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! She’s been captured on a raid in Israel &

taken back to Syria. If we were captives, how willing would we

be to help our captors?

This little girl holds no grudges & tells her master where he can be healed. Centuries before Jesus, she puts some of the

Lord’s most difficult teaching into practice.

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Mt 5:38-40, ESV).

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Mt 5:38-40.“You have heard that it was said, ‘You

shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:43-48, ESV).

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HOSTILITYVV 9-12

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“So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 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” (vv 9-12, ESV).

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Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house.

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Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip

in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip

in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored.

Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip

in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored.

Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said. He wanted Elisha to perform some great feat.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip

in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored.

Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said. He wanted Elisha to perform some great feat. He also doesn’t understand why he can’t wash

in the rivers of Syria.

GENERALHOSPITAL

Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip

in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored.

Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said. He wanted Elisha to perform some great feat. He also doesn’t understand why he can’t wash

in the rivers of Syria. Naaman then “turned and went away in a

rage.”

GENERAL HOSPITAL

How many people become angry when they hear the Word of God?

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Asa became quite angry (2 Chr 16:7-10).

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Asa became quite angry (2 Chr 16:7-10).

The mob in Ephesus was quite angry with Paul’s preaching (Acts 19:28).

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Why do people become angry with the preaching of God’s Word?

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It may be that they, like Naaman, wanted to hear something else.

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It may be that they, like Naaman, wanted to hear something else. “The time is coming when people will not

endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Tm 4:3-4, ESV).

GENERALHOSPITAL

It may be that they, like Naaman, wanted to hear something else. “The time is coming when people will not

endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Tm 4:3-4, ESV).

How many people want to hear pleasant, smooth words rather than the Words of God?

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It may be that they, like Naaman, wanted to hear something else.

It may be that the word they hear confronts them.

GENERALHOSPITAL

It may be that they, like Naaman, wanted to hear something else.

It may be that the word they hear confronts them. Herodias became so upset at John’s

preaching that she had John killed (Mt 14:1-12).

GENERALHOSPITAL

It may be that they, like Naaman, wanted to hear something else.

It may be that the word they hear confronts them. Herodias became so upset at John’s

preaching that she had John killed (Mt 14:1-12).

“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:12-13, ESV).

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How shall we react when we hear the Word of God?

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Are we, like Naaman, going to become angry.

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Are we, like Naaman, going to become angry.

Or, shall we react like the Jews at Pentecost?

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Are we, like Naaman, going to become angry.

Or, shall we react like the Jews at Pentecost? Peter spoke some harsh words to them (Acts

2:36-37).

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Are we, like Naaman, going to become angry.

Or, shall we react like the Jews at Pentecost? Peter spoke some harsh words to them (Acts

2:36-37). Yet, “those who received his word were

baptized” (Acts 2:41, ESV).

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HealingV 14

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“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” (v 14, ESV).

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After Naaman dipped in the Jordan 7 times, his flesh was restored “like the flesh of a little child.”

GENERALHOSPITAL

After Naaman dipped in the Jordan 7 times, his flesh was restored “like the flesh of a little child.” There seems to be a play on words between

the “little girl” & Naaman’s flesh after his dips in the Jordan.

GENERALHOSPITAL

After Naaman dipped in the Jordan 7 times, his flesh was restored “like the flesh of a little child.” There seems to be a play on words between

the “little girl” & Naaman’s flesh after his dips in the Jordan.

The point is that a great man humbled himself like a little child.

GENERALHOSPITAL

After Naaman dipped in the Jordan 7 times, his flesh was restored “like the flesh of a little child.” There seems to be a play on words between

the “little girl” & Naaman’s flesh after his dips in the Jordan.

The point is that a great man humbled himself like a little child. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and

become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3-4, ESV).

GENERALHOSPITAL

After Naaman dipped in the Jordan 7 times, his flesh was restored “like the flesh of a little child.” There seems to be a play on words between

the “little girl” & Naaman’s flesh after his dips in the Jordan.

The point is that a great man humbled himself like a little child. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and

become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3-4, ESV).

“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor” (Prov 29:23, ESV).

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Only after Naaman obeys God is his flesh made clean.

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God offers blessings to the obedient.

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God offers blessings to the obedient. “But the one who looks into the perfect law,

the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (Js 1:25, ESV).

GENERALHOSPITAL

God offers blessings to the obedient. “But the one who looks into the perfect law,

the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (Js 1:25, ESV).

“whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 Jn 3:22, ESV).

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Is God blessing you because of your obedience?