Our scripture
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that I have chosen
to be read at this time
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is found in the
Book of Ecclesiastes.
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That's right after Proverbs,
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written by the wisest
foolish man that ever lived.
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And it's Ecclesiastes
12, that's the last chapter,
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and it's the
conclusion of the whole matter,
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the last couple of verses.
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I'll give you a
moment there to find
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that particular
text in your Bible.
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Ecclesiastes 12:
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13, 14.
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"Now let us hear
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the conclusion
of the whole matter:
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Fear God and
keep His commandments,
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For this is man's all."
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I think King James has
it, the whole duty of man,
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something like that.
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"For God will bring
every work into judgment,
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including every secret thing,
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whether good or evil."
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At the conclusion of
our study this morning,
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we are gonna come right
back to this text again.
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So you want to just
kind of keep that in mind
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and see how
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our study
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ends up at its starting point.
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Excuse me, just a second.
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I spoke here last
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on the first Sabbath of March.
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It's five months ago.
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It's the first
Sabbath of September today.
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Okay.
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And I know all of you remember
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distinctly
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what I spoke upon in
all the detail points
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of my sermon, right?
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No?
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Well, you know, I would expect
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you would forget some
other people's preaching
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but I just can't
hardly fathom and imagine
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that you would forget mine.
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But in case your
memory is like mine,
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really good but really short,
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I brought my first
sermon here with you,
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this is going to
be part two today.
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So I'll have to
preach the first one an hour
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and then we'll
go into the sec...
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No, I won't do that.
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But I do want to
quickly review with you.
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I entitled it
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a story to ponder
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or a story worth pondering.
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And the story is found
in the Book of 2 Kings.
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If you want to turn there,
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2 Kings chapter 5,
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and chapter 5 records the story
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of the healing
of captain Naaman,
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captain
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of the Syrian army.
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And, of course, the story
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wouldn't be completed
without also the little maid,
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the unnamed servant girl
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to the wife of captain Naaman.
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She is prominent in the story.
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Let's bow our heads for prayer.
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Father in heaven,
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it's such a privilege to
be able to open Your Word,
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and spend some time in it.
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It's the living Word.
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It's the Word that you spoke
and worlds came into existence,
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and you spoke in it steadfast,
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and so now we ask you
that you'll speak again
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today here in our presence,
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in Jesus' name we
make this request, amen.
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So we learned last
time that captain Naaman
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was a pretty prominent man.
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In fact, he was a national hero
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in Syria,
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capital of Syria, of
course, being Damascus.
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He was popular with the people,
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a national hero.
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He was revered by the
soldiers who served under him.
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He was trusted by the king.
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And the text says
he was blessed by God,
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not some foreign God,
but blessed by the God.
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Prominent man,
famous man, capable man,
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well recognized man.
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The trouble is
all of that famousness
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and ability and greatness
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counted for nothing
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because the Bible records
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he was a leper.
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That's what we discovered
in part one of the story.
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And we had to
bring that truth home.
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You see we can think
we are a pretty big stuff,
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good looking,
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famous,
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dynamic,
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intellectual,
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talented,
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all of the things
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that you might want
to describe, athletic,
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but all that counts for
nothing in heaven's eyes,
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because guess what?
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We are lepers too.
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Our leprosy is called sin.
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And sin is a contagious disease
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like leprosy.
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It's one that heaven
doesn't want in its midst.
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That's why we are quarantined,
we are in a penitentiary.
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We are doing time
because we are sinners,
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we are quarantined.
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And so we need healing
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like Captain
Naaman needed healing.
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And we can't do it ourselves.
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We took a little time to
compare how sin and leprosy,
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the similarities
between the two diseases,
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sin and leprosy,
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both were
defiling, both disfiguring,
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both deadening,
both disassociating,
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you just lost all
contact with society,
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we've lost all ability
to directly communicate
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and be with the
rest of God's universe
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because of sin,
because of leprosy,
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and leprosy was
deadly, comparisons.
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Then we focused on
the story of little maid
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and we grappled with
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the concept of God's
providential leading.
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That's a difficult thing
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to try to understand at times,
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maybe most of the time.
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He does things,
orchestrates things,
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allows things, and
it seems baffling to us.
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How could this
little Hebrew girl
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torn from her family,
like it must have been,
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be in God's providence
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or how could he allow
her or why did he allow her
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or did he allow her
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and we grappled a
little bit with that.
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And I guess I
don't know how well I did
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with that whole scenario
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but what I've concluded
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is that the
providence of God is a mystery
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that we cannot always explain,
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and many times we
can't, it makes no sense to us.
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But yet I firmly believe
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that when the
veil is drawn back,
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and we can see as God sees,
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we would say I
want it no other way.
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As hard as it might be, as
bitter as the pill might be,
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it's difficult
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or just can't
understand the situation.
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When we see it
through God's eyes,
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we'll say it is well, I
won't want it any other way.
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We also considered a bit
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the lack of faith
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of the king of Israel.
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I mean you would
think God's people,
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who have His
Word and His prophets,
00:10:01.20\00:10:04.93
in all the
histories of his leading,
00:10:04.97\00:10:07.77
they would be the ones
that had the most faith.
00:10:07.80\00:10:11.71
But as soon as Captain Naaman
shows up at the king's door
00:10:11.74\00:10:16.24
with a letter from the
king of Syria, what does he do?
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He wrenched his clothes.
00:10:19.78\00:10:22.22
Who can heal a leprosy?
00:10:22.25\00:10:23.92
He expects,
00:10:23.95\00:10:25.29
no, he is not really
wanting to be healed from,
00:10:25.32\00:10:27.02
he just wants to pick a fight.
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And so we spent a little time
00:10:29.86\00:10:31.96
considering that dynamic.
00:10:31.99\00:10:36.67
Then we looked at
the actual meeting
00:10:36.70\00:10:39.77
of Elisha and Naaman.
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Naaman was a bit
offended by that meeting
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because you see Elisha
didn't even come to the door.
00:10:49.41\00:10:53.31
Instead, he sent
one of his servants
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to meet Captain Naaman.
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And said, "Go, wash
in the River Jordan,
00:11:00.32\00:11:04.49
seven times, you'll be healed."
00:11:04.53\00:11:08.13
The proud Captain Naaman
00:11:08.16\00:11:10.60
needed his pride humbled a bit.
00:11:10.63\00:11:15.00
And so what did he do?
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He turned on his heels
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with his big
motorcade of soldiers
00:11:18.94\00:11:21.91
and servants and
steeds and chariots
00:11:21.94\00:11:25.65
and away they started to leave.
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Once again, a
servant comes to the rescue.
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And one of his soldiers,
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one of his
servants addressed him,
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"My father, my
father," and reasons with him.
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And humbles his pride
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and he went to the River Jordan
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and he dipped seven
times, as the prophet said,
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and he was healed.
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That's where we left the story
the last time that I spoke.
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And so we want to
carry it on from there.
00:12:03.18\00:12:08.22
If you want to turn
to 2 Kings chapter 5...
00:12:08.26\00:12:11.96
and we'll read it in
verse 14, we'll pick up there.
00:12:15.53\00:12:19.40
I am gonna read
the whole presentation,
00:12:19.43\00:12:22.27
thank you,
00:12:22.30\00:12:24.41
read the whole,
rest of the story
00:12:24.44\00:12:26.37
and then we'll work back
00:12:26.41\00:12:28.14
from that point of
dipping in the River Jordan.
00:12:28.18\00:12:32.18
All right.
00:12:40.76\00:12:42.09
Verse 14,
00:12:42.12\00:12:44.06
"So he went down
and dipped seven times
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in the Jordan,
according to the saying
00:12:46.39\00:12:48.43
of the man of God,
00:12:48.46\00:12:51.60
and his flesh was restored
like the flesh of a child,
00:12:51.63\00:12:55.67
and he was clean.
00:12:55.70\00:12:57.04
And he returned
to the man of God,
00:12:59.87\00:13:02.21
he and all his aides,
00:13:02.24\00:13:04.91
and came and stood
before him, and said,
00:13:04.95\00:13:08.28
'Indeed, now I know
that there is no God
00:13:08.32\00:13:12.79
in all of the
earth, except in Israel,
00:13:12.82\00:13:17.93
now therefore, please
take a gift from your servant.'
00:13:17.96\00:13:22.26
And he," that is Elisha,
"said, 'As the Lord lives,
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before whom I stand,
I will receive nothing.'
00:13:27.80\00:13:32.44
And he urged him to
take it, but he refused.
00:13:32.47\00:13:37.08
So Naaman said,
00:13:37.11\00:13:38.58
'Then, if not,
please let your servant
00:13:38.61\00:13:42.25
be given two
mule-loads of earth,
00:13:42.28\00:13:47.12
for your servant
will no longer offer
00:13:47.16\00:13:49.52
either burnt offering or
sacrifices to other gods,
00:13:49.56\00:13:54.13
but to the Lord."
00:13:54.16\00:13:56.36
Verse 18,
00:13:56.40\00:13:57.73
"Yet in this thing may
the Lord pardon your servant,
00:13:57.77\00:14:02.30
when my master goes
into the temple of Rimmon,"
00:14:02.34\00:14:06.94
that's the temple
00:14:06.98\00:14:08.78
where the idol Ba'al Hadad
00:14:08.81\00:14:13.05
would have been located,
the chief god of the Syrians,
00:14:13.08\00:14:18.65
"when he goes
there to worship there,
00:14:18.69\00:14:21.22
and he leans on my hand,
00:14:21.26\00:14:23.93
and I bow down in
the temple of Rimmon,
00:14:23.96\00:14:27.43
when I bow down in
the temple of Rimmon,
00:14:27.46\00:14:29.93
may the Lord
please pardon your servant
00:14:29.96\00:14:32.93
in this thing."
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.80
Then he," that is
Elisha," said to him,
00:14:35.84\00:14:39.51
'Go in peace.'
00:14:39.54\00:14:41.08
And so he departed
from him a short distance.
00:14:41.11\00:14:45.35
But Gehazi, the servant
of Elisha the man of God,
00:14:45.38\00:14:49.42
said,
00:14:49.45\00:14:50.89
'Look, my master has spared
00:14:50.92\00:14:54.16
Naaman this Syrian,
00:14:54.19\00:14:57.69
while not receiving from
his hands what he brought,
00:14:57.73\00:15:01.66
but as the Lord
liveth,'" over my dead body,
00:15:01.70\00:15:06.80
"'I will run after him
and take something from him.'
00:15:06.84\00:15:11.67
So Gehazi pursued Naaman.
00:15:11.71\00:15:14.58
And when Naaman saw
him running after him,
00:15:14.61\00:15:17.71
he got down from the
chariot to meet him, and said,
00:15:17.75\00:15:21.52
'Is all well?'
00:15:21.55\00:15:23.59
And he said, 'All is well.
00:15:23.62\00:15:25.75
My master has sent me, saying,
00:15:25.79\00:15:28.19
'Indeed, just now
00:15:28.22\00:15:29.82
two young men of
the sons of the prophets
00:15:29.86\00:15:33.19
have come to me from
the mountains of Ephraim.
00:15:33.23\00:15:37.20
Please give them
a talent of silver
00:15:37.23\00:15:39.53
and two changes of garments.'
00:15:39.57\00:15:43.47
''Talent of silver,
00:15:43.51\00:15:45.47
75 pounds,
00:15:45.51\00:15:48.51
what's that in ounces?
00:15:48.54\00:15:51.08
1400 ounces, 1200
ounces, something like that.
00:15:51.11\00:15:56.28
Number of, anyway, lot of money,
00:15:56.32\00:15:58.45
17,000 bucks worth.
00:15:58.49\00:16:01.72
How would a college student
today like a gift of $17, 000
00:16:01.76\00:16:07.10
for visiting the prophet?
00:16:07.13\00:16:09.76
Pretty good, huh?
00:16:09.80\00:16:13.37
Now Naaman said,
00:16:13.40\00:16:15.07
'Please, take two talents,'"
00:16:15.10\00:16:17.17
$35,000,
00:16:17.21\00:16:19.01
"and he urged him,
00:16:19.04\00:16:20.38
and bound two talents
of silver in two bags,
00:16:20.41\00:16:24.28
with two changes of
garments, and handed them
00:16:24.31\00:16:28.32
to two of his servants,
00:16:28.35\00:16:29.92
and they carried
them ahead of him, "
00:16:29.95\00:16:32.25
that is ahead of Gehazi,
00:16:32.29\00:16:35.29
"and when he
came to the citadel,
00:16:35.32\00:16:38.99
he took them from their hand,
00:16:39.03\00:16:41.23
and stored them
away in the house
00:16:41.26\00:16:43.77
and then he let the
men go, and they departed.
00:16:43.80\00:16:47.04
And now he went in and
stood before his master Elisha
00:16:47.07\00:16:51.21
and to him
00:16:51.24\00:16:53.51
Elisha asked,
'Where did you go, Gehazi?'
00:16:53.54\00:16:57.15
And he said, 'Your
servant didn't go anywhere.'
00:16:57.18\00:17:00.22
And then he said to him,
'Did not my heart go with you
00:17:00.25\00:17:04.89
when the man turned back
from his chariot to meet you?
00:17:04.92\00:17:10.49
Is it time to receive
money and to receive clothing,
00:17:10.53\00:17:15.73
olive groves and
vineyards, sheep and oxen,
00:17:15.76\00:17:18.83
male and female servants?
00:17:18.87\00:17:21.40
Therefore the leprosy of
Naaman shall cling to you
00:17:21.44\00:17:25.17
and your descendants forever.'
00:17:25.21\00:17:27.84
And he went from
his presence leprous,
00:17:27.88\00:17:31.91
as white as snow."
00:17:31.95\00:17:36.32
Wow.
00:17:36.35\00:17:37.69
So Captain Naaman
dipped in the River Jordan
00:17:41.02\00:17:46.19
seven times and was healed,
00:17:46.23\00:17:50.77
physically
healed from the leprosy.
00:17:50.80\00:17:54.34
But Captain Naaman came
out of that water a new man,
00:17:54.37\00:17:59.27
a different man.
00:17:59.31\00:18:01.98
Bible calls it, "Born again."
00:18:02.01\00:18:05.08
In fact, it was Jesus
00:18:05.11\00:18:06.92
speaking to another
famous prominent person
00:18:06.95\00:18:12.55
who said the words in John 3,
00:18:12.59\00:18:15.76
Moses, surely I say to you,
00:18:15.79\00:18:18.46
"unless one is born again,
00:18:18.49\00:18:22.06
he cannot see the
kingdom of heaven."
00:18:22.10\00:18:25.93
And so Captain
Naaman has a new birth.
00:18:25.97\00:18:30.27
And the text that we
just read illustrates that
00:18:30.31\00:18:33.68
in maybe about
four different ways
00:18:33.71\00:18:36.34
we can see the
evidences of the new birth.
00:18:36.38\00:18:40.78
First of all, he
goes back to the prophet.
00:18:40.82\00:18:45.35
He returns back to the prophet.
00:18:45.39\00:18:48.12
Now that sounds easy.
00:18:48.16\00:18:50.96
But for Naaman to have
got to the River Jordan
00:18:50.99\00:18:54.80
to do his dipping,
00:18:54.83\00:18:56.63
that was a 25 mile trip,
00:18:56.67\00:19:00.94
and you're travelling
about 3 miles an hour.
00:19:00.97\00:19:05.24
That tells you about
how long it's going to take
00:19:05.27\00:19:08.71
to get back from
the River Jordan.
00:19:08.74\00:19:11.11
So you have Samaria,
00:19:11.15\00:19:14.08
you have the spot
on the River Jordan,
00:19:14.12\00:19:16.99
and then you have
Damascus, where he's headed.
00:19:17.02\00:19:20.89
He's going to have to go
the opposite direction of home
00:19:20.92\00:19:26.49
to go back to the prophet
00:19:26.53\00:19:29.66
to say thank you, okay?
00:19:29.70\00:19:32.77
So he had to go out of
his way, 50 miles basically,
00:19:32.80\00:19:35.54
out of his way to say
thank you to the prophet.
00:19:35.57\00:19:39.14
But that's a
reflection of a changed heart.
00:19:39.17\00:19:44.25
The proud man that went
and stood at Elisha's door
00:19:44.28\00:19:47.95
and didn't even
get out of the chariot,
00:19:47.98\00:19:51.19
you know, stood there
00:19:51.22\00:19:52.55
expecting Elisha to come to him,
00:19:52.59\00:19:55.46
that proud man now tracks back
00:19:55.49\00:19:58.53
25 miles to say thank you,
00:19:58.56\00:20:02.40
that's the sign
of a changed man.
00:20:02.43\00:20:07.44
Secondly, when he comes back,
00:20:07.47\00:20:10.97
he makes two confessions
00:20:11.01\00:20:15.34
and one very
interesting request.
00:20:15.38\00:20:19.45
His first confession
00:20:19.48\00:20:21.72
is "Indeed, now I know,"
00:20:21.75\00:20:27.69
very emphatic,
00:20:27.72\00:20:29.06
"Indeed, now I know
that there is no God
00:20:29.09\00:20:33.16
in all the earth
except in Israel."
00:20:33.19\00:20:37.03
That's verse
15, the second part.
00:20:37.07\00:20:39.53
That's his first confession.
00:20:39.57\00:20:41.44
He says, "Indeed, I know."
00:20:41.47\00:20:43.20
I mean, for a fact, I
know that there is no God
00:20:43.24\00:20:46.57
in all of the
earth except in Israel.
00:20:46.61\00:20:52.51
I can think of Paul
00:20:52.55\00:20:54.02
who makes some
emphatic statements like,
00:20:54.05\00:20:57.62
"I know in whom I
believe," you know?
00:20:57.65\00:21:01.52
John,
00:21:01.56\00:21:02.89
"These things I have
written unto you that believe
00:21:02.92\00:21:05.79
on the name of the Son
of God that you may know
00:21:05.83\00:21:09.66
that you have eternal life."
00:21:09.70\00:21:11.97
Job makes the same
kind of emphatic statement.
00:21:12.00\00:21:15.90
"I know that my redeemer
lives, and he shall stand
00:21:15.94\00:21:19.81
at last on the earth, and
after my skin is destroyed,
00:21:19.84\00:21:23.31
this I know,
00:21:23.35\00:21:24.95
that in my flesh I'll see God."
00:21:24.98\00:21:29.55
The second emphatic statement
00:21:29.58\00:21:32.65
along with the most
unusual request is in verse 17.
00:21:32.69\00:21:38.46
Now Naaman said,
00:21:38.49\00:21:41.06
"Then, if not," in other words,
00:21:41.10\00:21:42.43
if you're not going
to take the gift from me,
00:21:42.46\00:21:45.80
"please let your servant be
given two mule-loads of earth."
00:21:45.83\00:21:51.87
Now this is the same guy
who was having a real problem
00:21:51.91\00:21:56.81
dipping seven times in
the muddy Jordan River,
00:21:56.85\00:22:01.22
okay?
00:22:01.25\00:22:02.58
He could think of
more beautiful cleaner
00:22:02.62\00:22:04.55
rivers back at Damascus.
00:22:04.59\00:22:06.69
In fact, he named two of them.
00:22:06.72\00:22:08.89
I'd rather go there and dip
00:22:08.92\00:22:10.46
than this stinking
river here in Israel.
00:22:10.49\00:22:14.36
The same man who
made that statement
00:22:14.40\00:22:16.20
is now asking for two
mule-loads of dirt, please,
00:22:16.23\00:22:20.20
"Can I take some
dirt back with me?"
00:22:20.24\00:22:23.47
So why has he
asked that request?
00:22:23.51\00:22:26.27
Well, the people in
his day, in his culture
00:22:26.31\00:22:31.75
believed that each
God that a nation served
00:22:31.78\00:22:36.69
was somehow connected
with and to their land,
00:22:36.72\00:22:40.46
to their territory.
00:22:40.49\00:22:42.06
So if he is going back to Syria,
00:22:42.09\00:22:45.29
and he wants to
worship the God of Israel,
00:22:45.33\00:22:49.33
he can't do it on Syrian land,
00:22:49.36\00:22:52.80
he has to do it on
the land of Israel.
00:22:52.83\00:22:55.27
So if he takes
some dirt back with him,
00:22:55.30\00:22:58.14
and lays the dirt out,
and kneels on that dirt,
00:22:58.17\00:23:03.21
then he is worshipping the God,
00:23:03.24\00:23:06.35
the true God of Israel, you see?
00:23:06.38\00:23:09.28
So it was very practical.
00:23:09.32\00:23:10.65
"Please, I need a
couple loads of dirt please.
00:23:10.69\00:23:13.86
Get the skid steer out,
00:23:13.89\00:23:15.22
let's get a
couple loads of dirt,
00:23:15.26\00:23:17.56
and I'll take it back with me,
00:23:17.59\00:23:19.33
so that I can
worship the God of Israel."
00:23:19.36\00:23:23.97
And then he goes on to say,
00:23:24.00\00:23:25.83
"For your servant
will no longer offer
00:23:25.87\00:23:28.67
either burnt
offerings or sacrifices
00:23:28.70\00:23:32.64
to other gods, but to the Lord."
00:23:32.67\00:23:34.94
The third evidence that I see
00:23:39.11\00:23:40.98
of Naaman's change,
00:23:41.02\00:23:45.62
his new heart,
is his generosity.
00:23:45.65\00:23:49.76
He comes back
and he wants to offer
00:23:49.79\00:23:53.93
Elisha a gift, an offering,
00:23:53.96\00:23:57.17
and he brought
quite a bit with him,
00:23:57.20\00:23:59.93
brought a lot of money
with him, both gold and silver,
00:23:59.97\00:24:02.84
and designer clothes,
you know, tailor-made suits.
00:24:02.87\00:24:07.64
Surely, the prophet would
need some of this money for,
00:24:07.68\00:24:13.38
you know, the
schools of the prophets.
00:24:13.42\00:24:15.45
I've been a treasurer
in a conference before
00:24:15.48\00:24:18.52
and our academies
are like black holes.
00:24:18.55\00:24:23.96
The money, you know?
00:24:23.99\00:24:25.63
And it disappears as
quick as you can pour it in,
00:24:25.66\00:24:28.36
it's kind of...
00:24:28.40\00:24:29.80
Sometimes, I think maybe
3ABN is a little like that.
00:24:29.83\00:24:33.40
But anyway...
00:24:33.44\00:24:36.50
So surely, Elisha
could use that money
00:24:36.54\00:24:40.28
for a lot of good things.
00:24:40.31\00:24:43.04
But he says no.
00:24:43.08\00:24:45.45
And the reason he said no
00:24:45.48\00:24:48.08
is because he did
not want Naaman to think
00:24:48.12\00:24:53.46
that the work of the
prophet is all about profit,
00:24:53.49\00:24:57.26
okay?
00:24:57.29\00:24:58.63
I'm not here to
do this for money.
00:24:58.66\00:25:01.50
Money means nothing.
00:25:01.53\00:25:03.30
In fact, I am richly
paid because you're a new man.
00:25:03.33\00:25:07.77
You're both healed
physically of leprosy,
00:25:07.80\00:25:11.14
and whenever in
history has that ever happened,
00:25:11.17\00:25:15.51
but even more,
you're healed internally.
00:25:15.54\00:25:19.71
The rebellious man,
00:25:19.75\00:25:21.92
who was rebelling
against the God of heaven,
00:25:21.95\00:25:24.55
warring against
Israel and the God of heaven,
00:25:24.59\00:25:27.26
is now a believer.
00:25:27.29\00:25:29.02
That's my reward.
00:25:29.06\00:25:31.66
And he also wanted the captain
to understand that God's grace
00:25:31.69\00:25:36.93
is not something you buy.
00:25:36.97\00:25:39.80
It's a free
gift. It's a free gift.
00:25:39.83\00:25:43.84
God paid the price
00:25:43.87\00:25:45.97
so that we wouldn't
have to pay the price.
00:25:46.01\00:25:48.38
The fourth evidence
of Naaman's conversion
00:25:51.68\00:25:55.98
is the sensitivity
00:25:56.02\00:25:59.09
and tenderness
of his conscience.
00:25:59.12\00:26:03.43
This creates a
little dilemma for us today
00:26:03.46\00:26:07.20
trying to figure
out how to handle this.
00:26:07.23\00:26:09.60
"Yet in this thing
00:26:09.63\00:26:11.80
may the Lord
pardon your servant,
00:26:11.83\00:26:15.20
when my master goes
into the temple of Rimmon
00:26:15.24\00:26:17.71
to worship there,
and he leans on my hand,
00:26:17.74\00:26:21.41
and I bow down in the temple,
00:26:21.44\00:26:23.55
when I bow down in
the temple of Rimmon,
00:26:23.58\00:26:25.58
may the Lord please pardon
your servant in this thing."
00:26:25.61\00:26:30.32
Wow.
00:26:30.35\00:26:31.89
How would you answer that?
00:26:31.92\00:26:35.39
You know, would you
say, "Sure, no problem.
00:26:35.42\00:26:40.23
God will overlook at that."
00:26:40.26\00:26:42.53
And then you got thinking, hmm,
I wonder if that would make him
00:26:42.56\00:26:47.54
begin thinking
that you can compromise.
00:26:47.57\00:26:51.51
What's in it in
the Bible that it says,
00:26:51.54\00:26:54.14
"You shall not make for
yourself a carved image,
00:26:54.18\00:26:58.81
or any likeness of anything
that's in the heaven above,
00:26:58.85\00:27:02.08
or that is in the earth beneath,
00:27:02.12\00:27:03.69
or that's in the
water under the earth,
00:27:03.72\00:27:05.95
and you shall not bow
down to them or serve them.
00:27:05.99\00:27:09.32
For I, the Lord your
God, am a jealous God."
00:27:09.36\00:27:13.46
So you want to encourage
00:27:13.50\00:27:15.93
the captain to disregard that?
00:27:15.96\00:27:20.44
Kind of difficult.
00:27:20.47\00:27:22.80
On the other
hand, you might think,
00:27:22.84\00:27:24.74
"Well, Naaman is new
born babe in the faith.
00:27:24.77\00:27:29.61
He probably doesn't have
sufficient maturity and trust
00:27:29.64\00:27:32.51
in God to
withstand the consequences
00:27:32.55\00:27:35.08
of refusing to go
in with the King."
00:27:35.12\00:27:38.49
I mean the times that
Naaman's thinking about,
00:27:38.52\00:27:43.32
this whole deal,
it will be probably
00:27:43.36\00:27:44.93
some national festival,
00:27:44.96\00:27:46.83
when all the big brass are out
00:27:46.86\00:27:48.73
and the King is part
of the whole activity
00:27:48.76\00:27:51.97
of this grand occasion.
00:27:52.00\00:27:53.67
He goes in to the
temple and bows down
00:27:53.70\00:27:56.77
to the national god or idol,
00:27:56.81\00:27:59.77
and of course, it's expected
00:27:59.81\00:28:02.54
that the general
of the armies of Syria
00:28:02.58\00:28:04.61
would go with him,
he'd lean on his hands,
00:28:04.65\00:28:09.35
you know?
00:28:09.38\00:28:11.29
So how would you answer that?
00:28:11.32\00:28:15.72
I find it interesting
in Elisha's response.
00:28:15.76\00:28:21.26
Elisha says to him,
verse 19, "Go in peace.
00:28:21.30\00:28:26.00
So he departed from
him a short distance.
00:28:26.03\00:28:29.57
Go in peace.
00:28:29.60\00:28:31.67
Elisha's answer
isn't affirming him
00:28:31.71\00:28:36.68
or denying him.
00:28:36.71\00:28:39.08
It isn't saying yes
and it isn't saying no.
00:28:39.11\00:28:43.49
It just says, "Go in peace."
00:28:43.52\00:28:45.92
Okay?
00:28:45.95\00:28:47.29
I guess maybe
Elisha probably knew
00:28:52.79\00:28:56.80
that Naaman
wasn't mature enough yet
00:28:56.83\00:29:00.60
and to send him
away at this point,
00:29:00.64\00:29:04.04
at this high point,
00:29:04.07\00:29:05.87
I mean he's just
been healed of leprosy.
00:29:05.91\00:29:08.84
What a joy?
00:29:08.88\00:29:10.78
He's just
discovered the one true God,
00:29:10.81\00:29:14.18
the only God in all the
earth that can heal someone,
00:29:14.22\00:29:17.19
who's got
honest-to-goodness leprosy.
00:29:17.22\00:29:19.35
It's like having terminal cancer
00:29:19.39\00:29:23.39
with only days to live
and absolutely hopeless,
00:29:23.43\00:29:27.83
and you're healed.
00:29:27.86\00:29:29.96
I mean, who can do that?
00:29:30.00\00:29:32.77
And so you can just
think of the anticipation.
00:29:32.80\00:29:36.50
His soldiers and
the whole retinue
00:29:36.54\00:29:40.14
that's come with him
are excited and ecstatic
00:29:40.18\00:29:43.08
about this thing.
00:29:43.11\00:29:44.68
When they go back home,
the whole nation of Syria
00:29:44.71\00:29:47.08
is going to hear the story.
00:29:47.12\00:29:48.92
I mean little maid
is going to be excited.
00:29:48.95\00:29:51.29
Mrs. Naaman is
going to be excited.
00:29:51.32\00:29:53.15
I mean he is going back with joy
00:29:53.19\00:29:56.22
and to temper that
whole event with the dilemma
00:29:56.26\00:30:00.60
of what do you do
00:30:00.63\00:30:01.96
about handling
going into this service.
00:30:02.00\00:30:06.03
Elisha just puts it off for God
to deal with at a future time.
00:30:06.07\00:30:10.17
As I have experienced life,
00:30:16.88\00:30:22.15
and had evidence of my own sin
00:30:22.18\00:30:27.39
more clearly as the years go by,
00:30:27.42\00:30:32.49
I don't know
about you, but for me,
00:30:32.53\00:30:35.60
I have concluded
to deal very gently
00:30:35.63\00:30:41.44
and softly with other people
00:30:41.47\00:30:45.71
in their sin but
deal more sternly
00:30:45.74\00:30:51.21
and directly
00:30:51.25\00:30:52.95
with me and my sin.
00:30:52.98\00:30:57.42
And I think that's maybe
what Elisha is teaching us.
00:30:57.45\00:31:02.79
We learned that from the story
that God's grace is healing,
00:31:02.82\00:31:08.20
and that the growth
in grace is progressive,
00:31:08.23\00:31:12.33
not instantaneous.
00:31:12.37\00:31:16.27
Don't know if that's
helpful to you or not.
00:31:16.30\00:31:20.08
I know that there may
be some saints among us
00:31:20.11\00:31:23.11
who have never
sinned a day in their life,
00:31:23.14\00:31:25.85
maybe won't understand that.
00:31:25.88\00:31:28.82
But for me in my
house, it makes sense to me.
00:31:28.85\00:31:33.32
The story turns
00:31:33.36\00:31:37.13
now in quite a marked way.
00:31:37.16\00:31:40.73
You know,
Naaman has been healed,
00:31:40.76\00:31:43.53
he's come back to say thank you,
00:31:43.57\00:31:45.40
he's offered his gift,
00:31:45.43\00:31:47.07
he's taken back his
two mule-loads of dirt,
00:31:47.10\00:31:50.54
and he's headed home,
and now the story turns.
00:31:50.57\00:31:54.84
And it's the sad and
dark side of the story.
00:31:54.88\00:31:58.78
And the person
that comes into view
00:31:58.81\00:32:01.45
is the servant
of Elisha, Gehazi.
00:32:01.48\00:32:07.06
And one word describes this man
00:32:07.09\00:32:10.26
and the word is covetous.
00:32:10.29\00:32:14.33
This man
suffers from the leprosy
00:32:14.36\00:32:18.50
that you don't
see on the outside
00:32:18.53\00:32:21.40
but was present on the inside
00:32:21.44\00:32:24.11
and that was covetousness.
00:32:24.14\00:32:28.54
And I just have a few lessons
00:32:28.58\00:32:30.25
that I'd like
for us to catch today
00:32:30.28\00:32:32.78
about covetousness.
00:32:32.81\00:32:35.05
First, covetousness blinds
00:32:35.08\00:32:37.35
one's spiritual perception
00:32:37.39\00:32:41.32
and undermines one's character,
00:32:41.36\00:32:44.79
his likeness to God.
00:32:44.83\00:32:47.66
And Gehazi, the servant
of Elisha, the man of God,
00:32:47.70\00:32:52.90
said,
00:32:52.93\00:32:54.27
"Look, my master has spared
00:32:54.30\00:32:57.51
Naaman this Syrian."
00:32:57.54\00:33:02.54
He doesn't view Naaman
as a someone to win to God.
00:33:02.58\00:33:08.48
Instead, he views Naaman
as an enemy to be destroyed.
00:33:08.52\00:33:14.39
And somehow, his
master, Elisha has spared him,
00:33:14.42\00:33:20.06
didn't destroy him,
00:33:20.10\00:33:23.43
and he calls him,
this Syrian, okay?
00:33:23.47\00:33:27.70
So he has disdain,
his spiritual perceptions
00:33:27.74\00:33:33.61
are dimmed or blanked out
00:33:33.64\00:33:36.75
as a result of covetousness.
00:33:36.78\00:33:40.02
And so he says,
00:33:40.05\00:33:41.95
"I will run after him
and take something from him."
00:33:41.98\00:33:47.19
It isn't that I'll
receive something from him.
00:33:47.22\00:33:51.06
He says, "I'll take
something from him."
00:33:51.09\00:33:56.16
Gehazi had lots of advantages.
00:33:56.20\00:33:59.63
He was the servant of
Elisha, the man of God.
00:33:59.67\00:34:03.24
He was constantly
in the companionship
00:34:03.27\00:34:05.87
of a godly person.
00:34:05.91\00:34:08.51
He saw many wonderful
miracles performed by Elisha.
00:34:08.54\00:34:12.75
He sat at his feet, at the feet
00:34:12.78\00:34:14.88
of one of the Old Testament's
greatest teaching prophets.
00:34:14.92\00:34:19.25
What an opportunity
for light and truth?
00:34:19.29\00:34:22.42
Gehazi continually
witnessed the life of a man
00:34:22.46\00:34:26.76
greatly dedicated to
God, a man of unselfishness.
00:34:26.80\00:34:32.20
So all of these
privileges Gehazi had,
00:34:32.23\00:34:35.64
yet Gehazi disregarded it all.
00:34:35.67\00:34:38.17
He paid no attention.
00:34:38.21\00:34:39.87
He was blind to
light, deaf to sound,
00:34:39.91\00:34:43.21
unfeeling to touch
in spiritual matters.
00:34:43.24\00:34:46.18
His covetous nature caused
him to completely disregard
00:34:46.21\00:34:50.59
his spiritual opportunities.
00:34:50.62\00:34:53.66
Yet when you contrast him
00:34:53.69\00:34:56.69
with Naaman's servants,
00:34:56.73\00:34:59.89
Naaman's servants had
no spiritual advantage.
00:34:59.93\00:35:04.27
Yet they sympathized with Elisha
00:35:04.30\00:35:08.70
and had the good of
Naaman at their heart.
00:35:08.74\00:35:13.01
Elisha's servant,
00:35:13.04\00:35:14.58
Gehazi had great
spiritual advantages.
00:35:14.61\00:35:17.88
Yet he complained
about Elisha's actions
00:35:17.91\00:35:21.42
and was disinterested
in the welfare of Naaman.
00:35:21.45\00:35:24.79
It makes no sense.
00:35:24.82\00:35:27.99
We would have predicted
or I would have predicted
00:35:28.02\00:35:31.19
just the opposite.
00:35:31.23\00:35:32.56
Surely, Elisha would be the one
00:35:32.59\00:35:35.33
who had the
servant of character,
00:35:35.36\00:35:37.40
while he then,
Naaman would be plagued
00:35:37.43\00:35:40.77
with covetous evil servants.
00:35:40.80\00:35:43.41
However, such was not the case.
00:35:43.44\00:35:45.54
The servant with
all the advantages
00:35:45.57\00:35:48.64
for good turned out bad.
00:35:48.68\00:35:51.41
And the servants who had
00:35:51.45\00:35:53.18
few spiritual
advantages turned out good.
00:35:53.21\00:35:56.99
All this tells us that
the greatness of privilege
00:35:57.02\00:35:59.99
does not necessarily predict
the greatness of character.
00:36:00.02\00:36:05.56
The heart must be
receptive and responsive
00:36:05.59\00:36:09.03
to the promptings
of the Holy Spirit
00:36:09.06\00:36:11.50
or the spiritual
advantages does one no good.
00:36:11.53\00:36:17.04
A covetous heart blinds
00:36:17.07\00:36:19.47
one's spiritual perceptions.
00:36:19.51\00:36:24.91
Today, we have a government run
00:36:24.95\00:36:29.35
welfare system.
00:36:29.38\00:36:32.82
And I can be misunderstood
in what I'm about to say.
00:36:32.85\00:36:35.99
So please listen carefully
and understand the intent
00:36:36.02\00:36:39.56
of what I'm saying.
00:36:39.59\00:36:41.13
But in the
government welfare system,
00:36:41.16\00:36:45.03
the philosophy is if you
could change the environment,
00:36:45.07\00:36:49.64
in other words, if you
could clean up the slum
00:36:49.67\00:36:53.14
or remove people from the slum,
00:36:53.17\00:36:55.84
it would solve the problem.
00:36:55.88\00:36:59.05
But that's not the case.
00:36:59.08\00:37:02.22
You won't solve the slum problem
00:37:02.25\00:37:04.62
without first taking
the slum out of the people,
00:37:04.65\00:37:09.12
that's the problem.
00:37:09.16\00:37:12.06
You know, you can take
00:37:12.09\00:37:13.96
and put a person you might say,
00:37:14.00\00:37:18.87
from the slum and
put them in a palace,
00:37:18.90\00:37:22.24
and sadly they could
turn the palace into a slum.
00:37:22.27\00:37:27.24
What we need is a heart change.
00:37:27.28\00:37:29.81
Now I'm not saying
this about everyone
00:37:29.84\00:37:32.05
who lives in an urban area,
in the ghettos of an urban.
00:37:32.08\00:37:37.49
But I'm saying
00:37:37.52\00:37:39.09
that we've been
long enough as a nation,
00:37:39.12\00:37:43.53
throwing money without
saying, "Wait a minute,
00:37:43.56\00:37:47.66
there needs to
be a heart change."
00:37:47.70\00:37:51.03
You can't make a person
who maybe doesn't want to work,
00:37:51.07\00:37:54.50
you can't give him a job
and make them work, okay?
00:37:54.54\00:37:57.94
So there're two issues there.
00:37:57.97\00:38:00.14
The poverty is one issue
00:38:00.18\00:38:02.14
but the heart
issues is the other
00:38:02.18\00:38:04.28
and probably the greater issue
00:38:04.31\00:38:06.01
is what I'm saying.
00:38:06.05\00:38:07.58
I hope I haven't
offended somebody.
00:38:07.62\00:38:10.15
But it's
something to think about.
00:38:10.19\00:38:13.82
So here it is, Gehazi
had the best of environment,
00:38:13.86\00:38:19.59
but had a covetous
heart and was blind to it all.
00:38:19.63\00:38:23.43
And the servants of Naaman
00:38:23.47\00:38:25.27
who didn't have
any of those advantages
00:38:25.30\00:38:28.70
had the right heart.
00:38:28.74\00:38:30.87
And so it makes a difference.
00:38:30.91\00:38:32.27
Let me...
00:38:36.81\00:38:38.15
Time is running away here.
00:38:38.18\00:38:40.75
Another example of
or lesson we can learn
00:38:40.78\00:38:45.22
from Gehazi's covetousness
00:38:45.25\00:38:50.73
is it has an
insatiable appetite.
00:38:50.76\00:38:56.00
Covetousness makes
one have an insatiable,
00:38:56.03\00:39:00.80
that's you cannot
satisfy the appetite.
00:39:00.84\00:39:05.11
Now Gehazi pursued Naaman,
00:39:05.14\00:39:07.91
when Naaman saw
him running after him,
00:39:07.94\00:39:09.74
he got down from the
chariot to meet him and said,
00:39:09.78\00:39:11.91
"Is all well?"
00:39:11.95\00:39:13.28
And he said, "All's Well.
00:39:13.31\00:39:16.05
My master has sent
me a saying, indeed,
00:39:16.08\00:39:18.05
just now two young men...
00:39:18.09\00:39:22.72
No, I just. Now. Yeah.
00:39:22.76\00:39:27.73
"Two young men...
00:39:27.76\00:39:29.10
sons of the
prophets have come to me
00:39:31.83\00:39:34.30
from the mountains of Ephraim,"
00:39:34.34\00:39:36.60
could be true,
don't know for sure.
00:39:36.64\00:39:40.51
Could have had two
sons of prophet's come.
00:39:40.54\00:39:43.14
I was using the
story though as suspect.
00:39:43.18\00:39:46.05
Please give them one
talent, a talent of silver
00:39:46.08\00:39:50.25
and two changes of garments.
00:39:50.29\00:39:52.65
So Naaman said, "Yeah,
please take two talents,"
00:39:52.69\00:39:56.26
and he urged him,
and bound them, you know,
00:39:56.29\00:39:58.36
in the sacks and gave them
the two changes of garments,
00:39:58.39\00:40:02.16
handed him to his servants,
00:40:02.20\00:40:03.87
so that they could carry them
back to Samaria, the capital.
00:40:03.90\00:40:09.74
It's interesting here
00:40:09.77\00:40:13.64
the insatiable appetite
00:40:13.68\00:40:17.15
of covetousness led...
00:40:17.18\00:40:20.25
Gehazi to deception.
00:40:23.39\00:40:27.66
And so he has to first deceive
00:40:27.69\00:40:31.29
Naaman by saying this story,
00:40:31.33\00:40:35.36
you know, making up a story.
00:40:35.40\00:40:38.63
And now he's got
the booty, you know,
00:40:38.67\00:40:41.80
the two big bags of silver,
and the change of clothes,
00:40:41.84\00:40:46.51
and now
00:40:46.54\00:40:48.44
Naaman has just
created a problem for Gehazi.
00:40:48.48\00:40:53.42
They're headed back
home with all this stuff
00:40:53.45\00:40:57.29
and Gehazi
can't be seen with it.
00:40:57.32\00:41:01.82
So what's he going to do?
00:41:01.86\00:41:04.03
And the story says
they came to the citadel.
00:41:04.06\00:41:07.80
The citadel is the
Hebrew word for ar-mone'
00:41:07.83\00:41:12.27
which is kind of like a hill.
00:41:12.30\00:41:14.14
So they came to a hill,
00:41:14.17\00:41:16.10
probably on the
hill was a guard tower,
00:41:16.14\00:41:18.84
or maybe even a fortress,
could have been guarded,
00:41:18.87\00:41:22.01
could have been
abandoned, we don't know which,
00:41:22.04\00:41:24.55
they came to that
before they got to the city,
00:41:24.58\00:41:27.65
and Gehazi has to think
of something really quick,
00:41:27.68\00:41:29.95
and he says, "Ah, we'll
just unload it here guys.
00:41:29.98\00:41:32.92
We'll just put it right here,
00:41:32.95\00:41:34.92
and I'll handle
it from this point."
00:41:34.96\00:41:37.29
And so they
unload it, and stash it,
00:41:37.33\00:41:40.36
and then he sends
the servants away,
00:41:40.40\00:41:43.10
and then he goes in
and stamps once more,
00:41:43.13\00:41:46.77
as if nothing has
happened in front of Elisha.
00:41:46.80\00:41:53.34
However, now Elisha
asks him a question.
00:41:53.38\00:41:57.61
"Where have you been, Gehazi?"
00:41:57.65\00:42:00.38
Now they're deceptions,
00:42:00.42\00:42:01.75
insatiable
appetite of covetousness,
00:42:01.78\00:42:06.99
both can't be satisfied
00:42:07.02\00:42:09.22
and usually causes you or
it leads you into deception.
00:42:09.26\00:42:13.23
Now another lie.
00:42:13.26\00:42:15.00
"Sir, I haven't been anywhere.
00:42:15.03\00:42:16.67
I haven't been anywhere."
00:42:16.70\00:42:18.30
And then,
00:42:18.33\00:42:21.17
sadly,
00:42:21.20\00:42:22.54
Elisha responds, "Really?
00:42:26.34\00:42:30.98
You know, my heart went out."
00:42:31.01\00:42:34.22
It's almost like
saying my heart dropped,
00:42:34.25\00:42:37.29
my heart dropped
when I saw Naaman
00:42:37.32\00:42:42.16
get off of his chariot
00:42:42.19\00:42:44.16
and come and meet
you, my heart dropped.
00:42:44.19\00:42:49.30
The text we started with today,
00:42:49.33\00:42:51.33
let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter.
00:42:51.37\00:42:54.90
"Fear God and
keep His commandments
00:42:54.94\00:42:58.94
for this is man's all,
00:42:58.97\00:43:01.38
for God will bring
every work into judgment
00:43:01.41\00:43:04.31
including every secret
thing whether good or evil."
00:43:04.35\00:43:09.35
Covetousness
00:43:09.38\00:43:11.72
not only causes
us to be deceitful,
00:43:11.75\00:43:15.62
but we also lose
00:43:15.66\00:43:19.93
or we are blind
00:43:19.96\00:43:21.50
to the
recognition that God sees all.
00:43:21.53\00:43:25.63
We somehow forget
that, that God sees all.
00:43:25.67\00:43:29.67
And Gehazi forgot
it, was blind to it.
00:43:29.70\00:43:35.01
He can't hide it from God.
00:43:35.04\00:43:38.01
And so the
answer came from Gehazi,
00:43:38.05\00:43:43.08
"It's not the time for
money or to receive clothing"
00:43:43.12\00:43:47.52
and he even reveals to Gehazi
00:43:47.56\00:43:52.19
what he intended
to do with the money,
00:43:52.23\00:43:57.37
olive groves, vineyards,
00:43:57.40\00:44:00.74
sheep, oxen,
00:44:00.77\00:44:03.44
male and female servants.
00:44:03.47\00:44:07.58
It wasn't for any college
kids going back to school.
00:44:07.61\00:44:13.05
It was for oxen
and sheep, olive groves
00:44:13.08\00:44:17.32
and the like.
00:44:17.35\00:44:20.62
As I close here,
there are some comparisons
00:44:20.66\00:44:22.79
that I'd like to
make, some contrasts.
00:44:22.82\00:44:27.56
This is a story,
at least the last,
00:44:27.60\00:44:30.70
the story of two miracles
00:44:30.73\00:44:34.17
and each miracle
has to do with leprosy,
00:44:34.20\00:44:37.54
okay?
00:44:37.57\00:44:39.54
While both
miracles deal with leprosy,
00:44:39.57\00:44:41.98
they do so in a contrasting way.
00:44:42.01\00:44:45.48
The first miracle brought them
00:44:45.51\00:44:47.35
removal of leprosy.
00:44:47.38\00:44:49.88
The second brought
them affliction of leprosy.
00:44:49.92\00:44:54.29
Naman left white, leprous.
00:44:54.32\00:44:58.96
The first
miracle was one of grace,
00:44:58.99\00:45:02.46
and the second
was one of judgment.
00:45:02.50\00:45:05.60
The first miracle
was one on a gentile,
00:45:05.63\00:45:09.67
the second on a Hebrew.
00:45:09.70\00:45:12.67
And you would have thought
00:45:12.71\00:45:14.04
the gentile would have been lost
00:45:14.08\00:45:15.51
and the Hebrew
would have been saved,
00:45:15.54\00:45:18.18
but it's just the opposite.
00:45:18.21\00:45:20.62
The first miracle
involved a man of eminence,
00:45:20.65\00:45:24.45
Naaman, the
captain of the Syrian army.
00:45:24.49\00:45:26.76
The second
involved a servant, Gehazi.
00:45:26.79\00:45:30.56
The first miracle was announced
by Elisha through a servant
00:45:30.59\00:45:34.56
to the recipient.
00:45:34.60\00:45:36.73
The second was
announced by Elisha personally
00:45:36.77\00:45:40.07
to the recipient.
00:45:40.10\00:45:42.30
The first miracle
occurred in public
00:45:42.34\00:45:44.77
before a number of people,
particularly Naaman's retinue.
00:45:44.81\00:45:49.61
But the second occurred
in private before only Gehazi
00:45:52.91\00:45:58.55
and Elisha.
00:45:58.59\00:46:00.36
Though a contrast to each other,
00:46:00.39\00:46:01.99
these two miracles
are inseparably connected.
00:46:02.02\00:46:07.26
The first miracle is a sequel,
00:46:07.30\00:46:10.40
or the second miracle
is a sequel to the first.
00:46:10.43\00:46:13.30
That's the first thing.
00:46:13.34\00:46:16.40
The second thing that,
did I got from this study
00:46:16.44\00:46:21.91
was like so many of
the Old Testament stories
00:46:21.94\00:46:26.25
and characters,
00:46:26.28\00:46:29.62
they were prophetic in nature.
00:46:29.65\00:46:33.76
They're what Doug
Batchelor calls historical,
00:46:33.79\00:46:38.53
they're an oracle
which is like a prophecy,
00:46:38.56\00:46:42.46
something that
only God can reveal,
00:46:42.50\00:46:44.43
that has to do with the future,
00:46:44.47\00:46:46.67
that we wouldn't
know about otherwise,
00:46:46.70\00:46:49.54
something about the story
00:46:49.57\00:46:52.37
has an omen something
to do with the future.
00:46:52.41\00:46:57.15
And so I can think of a story
00:46:57.18\00:47:01.82
similar to this one
00:47:01.85\00:47:03.49
of Naaman, and Elisha,
00:47:03.52\00:47:08.92
and Gehazi in the New Testament.
00:47:08.96\00:47:14.26
Jesus' role is both prophet,
00:47:14.30\00:47:19.63
priest, and king, right?
00:47:19.67\00:47:23.04
He is both, a
prophet, He is a priest,
00:47:23.07\00:47:25.87
and He is a king.
00:47:25.91\00:47:27.24
In His prophetic
role, you can see
00:47:27.28\00:47:30.31
Old Testament
examples of that in like Moses,
00:47:30.35\00:47:34.02
Moses a prophet was a law giver.
00:47:34.05\00:47:37.49
Jesus as a
prophet was a law giver.
00:47:37.52\00:47:43.59
Joseph like Jesus
00:47:43.63\00:47:47.76
was turned
against by his family,
00:47:47.80\00:47:50.63
by his brethren,
00:47:50.67\00:47:53.44
and sold often to
slaves, he swivels to be killed,
00:47:53.47\00:47:57.24
just like Jesus was sold,
00:47:57.27\00:48:00.28
you know, by His own people.
00:48:00.31\00:48:03.81
Elisha is the prophet
00:48:03.85\00:48:07.12
calling people to decision.
00:48:07.15\00:48:11.12
Jesus was a prophet
calling people to decision.
00:48:11.15\00:48:15.76
One of the roles of a
prophet is that of a teacher
00:48:15.79\00:48:20.20
and miracle worker.
00:48:20.23\00:48:21.83
Prophets brought
healing and teaching
00:48:21.86\00:48:25.83
into Israel, to
the people of God,
00:48:25.87\00:48:29.24
and Jesus' role as
a teacher and healer
00:48:29.27\00:48:33.78
is His prophetic role.
00:48:33.81\00:48:36.41
Jesus was the prophet.
00:48:36.44\00:48:40.75
Judas Iscariot was the servant.
00:48:40.78\00:48:44.82
And Mary the one
that bought the spikenard
00:48:44.85\00:48:49.52
and parted on him was the leper
00:48:49.56\00:48:54.60
who had been healed by Jesus.
00:48:54.63\00:48:57.50
And Mary, the leper,
so thankful, so grateful,
00:48:57.53\00:49:01.47
like Naaman, poured
her gift upon Jesus.
00:49:01.50\00:49:07.31
But the covetous Judas
00:49:07.34\00:49:10.55
looked at it and he says.
00:49:10.58\00:49:15.75
Then Judas
Iscariot, the disciple
00:49:15.78\00:49:18.39
who would soon betray him said,
00:49:18.42\00:49:20.69
"'That perfume was
worth a year's wage.
00:49:20.72\00:49:24.53
It should have been sold
00:49:24.56\00:49:26.16
and the money
given to the poor.'
00:49:26.19\00:49:28.43
Not that he cared for
the poor, he was a thief,
00:49:28.46\00:49:32.07
and since he was in
charge of the disciples' money,
00:49:32.10\00:49:34.80
he often stole
some for himself."
00:49:34.84\00:49:38.87
So the story
00:49:38.91\00:49:41.51
of Naaman,
00:49:41.54\00:49:43.24
and Gehazi,
00:49:43.28\00:49:45.91
and Elisha
00:49:45.95\00:49:47.55
is the story of Jesus
before it ever happened
00:49:47.58\00:49:52.92
and it's a lesson for us.
00:49:52.95\00:49:55.66
"And therefore
the leprosy of Naaman
00:49:55.69\00:49:59.36
shall cling to you and
your descendants forever.'
00:49:59.39\00:50:02.70
And he went out from
his presence leprous,
00:50:02.73\00:50:05.43
as white as snow.' "
00:50:05.47\00:50:06.80
The account of Gehazi's life
00:50:06.84\00:50:09.47
is a tragic story.
00:50:09.50\00:50:12.44
Only the Lord knows
what the history of Gehazi
00:50:12.47\00:50:16.24
might have been
00:50:16.28\00:50:17.81
if he had not
allowed covetousness
00:50:17.85\00:50:20.52
to rule his soul.
00:50:20.55\00:50:22.88
May God help us to
profit by his failure.
00:50:22.92\00:50:28.72
May we through this
well illustrated warning,
00:50:28.76\00:50:32.46
see the great
curse of covetousness
00:50:32.49\00:50:35.76
and avoid it like the plague,
00:50:35.80\00:50:40.00
okay.
00:50:40.04\00:50:42.34
Father in Heaven,
00:50:42.37\00:50:44.91
to be like Jesus is our wish.
00:50:44.94\00:50:49.04
We have sung the sentiments
of our hearts just now.
00:50:49.08\00:50:53.92
Thank you that
we can look to you
00:50:53.95\00:50:56.22
for the healing of
our leprosy, our sin.
00:50:56.25\00:51:01.09
Search our hearts and
see if there is any secret
00:51:01.12\00:51:04.09
or covetous thing in
us and cleanse it from us,
00:51:04.13\00:51:09.06
we pray.
00:51:09.10\00:51:10.57
Now we leave
Your house of worship
00:51:10.60\00:51:13.23
but not Your presence.
00:51:13.27\00:51:15.17
We ask Your
Spirit to be with us,
00:51:15.20\00:51:17.31
and live in our hearts,
00:51:17.34\00:51:18.67
and in our lives,
00:51:18.71\00:51:20.24
and reflect You to those
00:51:20.28\00:51:21.78
we come and
meet, this coming week,
00:51:21.81\00:51:24.18
in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:51:24.21\00:51:26.51
Amen.
00:51:26.55\00:51:27.98