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The Great Man, the Girl Servant, and the Godly Prophet · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, these are the intimations, then we're going to begin worship now singing in Psalm 105,
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Psalm 105 on page 374, singing to June Peterson, and we'll sing verses 1 to 7.
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Give thanks to God, call on his name, to men his deeds make known.
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Sing ye to him, sing psalms, proclaim his wondrous works, each one.
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See that ye in his holy name to glory do accord, and let the heart of everyone rejoice that seeks the Lord.
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We'll stand to sing these verses 1 to 7. Give thanks to God.
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Sing psalms, proclaim his wondrous works, each one.
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See that ye in his holy name to glory do accord, and let the heart of everyone rejoice that seeks the Lord.
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The Lord almighty and his strength, with steadfast hearts sing ye.
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His blessed and his gracious face, sing ye continually.
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Think on the works that ye hath done, which admiration breed.
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His wonders and the judgments all, which from his mouth proceed.
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O ye that dad of Abram's race, his servant will appear, and ye that Jacob's children are,
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whom he chose for his own.
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Because he and he only is the mighty Lord our God,
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And his most righteous judgments are, in all the earth abroad.
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We're now going to call upon the Lord in prayer.
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Let's unite our hearts in prayer.
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Almighty and gracious God,
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we give thanks that we are gathered here today once again in your name.
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We give thanks for these words that you have given us to sing in your praise,
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words that remind us, Lord, that it is our great privilege to worship you,
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a privilege to know you as our God, and to sing your praises,
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to call upon your name in prayer, and to contemplate the great works that you have done.
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Lord our God, we come before you not in our own merit,
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or any worth that we have in ourselves or in our works.
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We come in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son.
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We come, O Lord, confident that he is the ground on which we are able to approach you,
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and find approval and acceptance with you.
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And as we have been singing, help us, we pray,
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to rejoice in your presence, in his name and for his sake.
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We thank you again, Lord, today for your many acts of kindness toward us.
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For you continue to show us your favor,
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despite the fact that we need to confess frequently our shortcomings,
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our own failures, our sins against you,
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and our lapses, and the many ways in which, O Lord, we fail
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to match up to the standard that you set before us.
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O Lord, we are conscious that were we to depend on ourselves and our own ability,
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we could never find a place of acceptance in your sight.
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We thank you today that we depend upon the finished, perfect work of the Savior,
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that we come in his name, the Lord Jesus Christ,
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and on the promise that you will receive us and accept us in him.
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We thank you for the way in which that favor and acceptance lasts
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and will last throughout eternity for your people.
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For all who have come to trust in him,
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you promise that the righteousness that you impute to them will be sufficient
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and will never be changed and cannot in any way be taken from them.
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We thank you today for that righteousness.
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Righteousness, as the Apostle Paul said, that is not of ourselves,
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but that righteousness that is through faith in Christ.
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The righteousness of Jesus himself.
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And we thank you, Lord, today that we have once again the opportunity to come to contemplate
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and to give thanks for all that you have done in regard to this.
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Bless us, Lord, we pray today as a congregation.
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And this week we have entered, Lord, we anticipate by your will,
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taking part in many other activities and services throughout the week.
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We set these before you and ask, Lord, that you would bless us and bless them to us.
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We pray that your word might continue to flourish amongst us,
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that the gospel will take effect, O Lord, increasingly in our lives,
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that we may come more and more to show that fruit in our lives,
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that spiritual fruit that is the product of your Spirit,
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and that we may therefore be as lights in the world and as the salt of the earth.
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holding forth the word of life as your disciples.
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Forgive us, Lord, we pray for the many opportunities we let pass by us
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in the way of your serving.
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We thank you, Lord, that we have access to the way of serving you in this world in different ways.
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And we pray that you would enable us by your Holy Spirit to be effective in this world.
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Lord, we pray for our community around us,
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for all the communities in which we find your people today,
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throughout our land and indeed all the way through the world.
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O Lord, our God, we recognize that there is so much against the gospel,
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so much thinking, so much in the way of actions of people like ourselves,
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and yet who are themselves ranged against you,
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and who do not care and indeed are in opposition to the values and the principles of the gospel itself.
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Remember all those today, Lord, who stand in enmity against the gospel and against your people.
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Whatever structure of society they belong to,
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whatever groups they may have formed for themselves,
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Lord, you have given us a desire and a heart to pray for those who don't know you,
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for those who oppose you,
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for those who openly stand and defiantly against your will,
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against your word, against your church.
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We pray for your church as well, O Lord, in our nation,
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and we pray that you would grant your blessing to the gospel,
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even though we know that we hear, Lord, and see defections from your truth,
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and that we see some, O Lord, have set up for themselves what is effectively an alternative gospel.
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Gracious Lord, we ask that you would restore where that has been the case,
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granted you would keep before us, Lord, how futile it is to import the culture of the age into the ways of Christ.
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And Lord, we ask that you would make us conscious that we need to adhere closely and lovingly
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to your commands, to your standard, to your promises and precepts
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that are always going to be sufficient in every way for human beings throughout the age.
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We ask your blessing today for our young folk, our children,
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and as they receive instruction, Lord, in your word,
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bless them today, we pray, and make us thankful for those who teach them,
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who give of their time to study the lessons and to impart them to the children.
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We ask that you'd bless them, Lord, from the youngest through to the oldest age group amongst them.
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And we ask that the efforts that are made, Lord, in terms of meetings for discipleship,
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meetings for parents and children in regards to the work in the congregation in these days and weeks to come.
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We ask, Lord, that you would bless us and bless parents as they would take part in these discussions.
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Help them, Lord, we pray, to contribute meaningfully to it.
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And help us to listen to the ways in which our parents of young children seek to bring their concerns
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and the other issues that they face in their lives to be discussed and to be part of our thinking as we look ahead.
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Lord, bless, we pray, those today of our number who are ill.
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We pray that you'd grant blessing especially to those who are seriously ill.
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Bless those who have COVID.
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Lord, we pray that it may not progress in a way that would become really ill,
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that they would become really ill.
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We pray that you would grant your hand upon them, Lord, to prevent this.
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We pray that you'd bless all others, Lord, who have different illnesses.
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We pray for those who are anticipating surgery and waiting for word,
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those recovering and those receiving other treatments.
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We pray for those who have issues of mental health, illness.
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Lord, we ask that you would be pleased to speak to them today
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and give to them a sense of your presence and of your provision for them too.
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And help us, we pray, to bear in mind all those who suffer in different ways
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and give us to realize, Lord, more and more how you have made provision for us in the gospel
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and how especially in our own community we have so much also that is valuable in terms of meeting our needs.
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Bless us then now, we pray.
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Continue to go before us as we worship you here.
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And throughout this day, help us to maintain it as a day of rest,
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as a day that is holy to the Lord.
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Lord, we ask it all in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Let's sing again to God's praise.
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We're singing now from Psalm 130, 130.
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This time in Sing Psalms version.
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That's on page 173.
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If you're using the Blue Psalm book, Psalm 130,
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page 173, the tune is Martyrdom.
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Lord, from the depths I call to you, Lord, hear me from on high
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and give attention to my voice when I for mercy cry.
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Lord, in your presence, who can stand if you our sins record?
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But yet forgiveness is with you that we may fear you, Lord.
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The whole of the psalm, Lord, from the depths I call to you.
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Lord, from the depths I call to you.
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Lord, hear me from on high
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and give attention to my voice
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when I for mercy cry.
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Lord, in your presence, who can stand if you our sins record?
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But yet forgiveness is with you that we may fear you, Lord.
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I wait, my soul, wait for the Lord.
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My hope is in His word.
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More than the watchman waits for God,
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my soul waits for the Lord.
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O Israel, dear God,
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O Israel, dear God,
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O mercy is with Him,
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and full redemption from their sins.
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His people He'll redeem.
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Let's now turn to read from God's word in the scriptures of the Old Testament,
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and it's in 2 Kings chapter 5.
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The second book of Kings, chapter 5, we're going to read verses 1 to 14.
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It's page 372 in the pulpit Bible.
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It should be around that same point for yourselves.
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2 Kings chapter 5 and reading 1 to 14.
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Naaman,
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Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and in high favor,
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because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria.
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He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
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Now the Syrians, on one of the raids, had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel,
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and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife.
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She said to her mistress,
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Would that my Lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria.
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He would cure him of his leprosy.
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So Naaman went in and told his Lord.
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Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.
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And the king of Syria said,
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Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.
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So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver,
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six thousand shekels of gold,
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and ten changes of clothes.
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And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read,
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When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant,
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that you may cure him of his leprosy.
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And when the king of Israel read the letter,
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he tore his clothes and said,
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Am I God to kill and to make alive,
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that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?
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Only consider and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.
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But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes,
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he sent to the king, saying,
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Why have you torn your clothes?
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Let him come now to me,
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that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.
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So Naaman came with his horses and chariots,
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and stood at the door of Elisha's house.
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And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying,
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Go and wash in the Jordan seven times,
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and your flesh shall be restored,
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and you shall be clean.
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But Naaman was angry,
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and went away, saying,
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Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me,
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and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God,
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and wave his hand over the place,
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and cure the leper.
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Are not Abana and Farpar,
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rivers of Damascus,
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better than all the waters of Israel,
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could I not wash in them and be clean?
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So he turned and went away in a rage.
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But a servant came near and said to him,
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My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you.
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Will you not do it?
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Has he actually said to you,
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Wash and be clean?
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So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan,
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according to the word of the man of God.
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And his flesh was restored,
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like the flesh of a little child,
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and he was clean.
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Amen.
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May the Lord again bless to us,
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reading his word to his own praise.
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Before we turn to look at this passage,
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we'll sing once again to his praise,
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this time Psalm 25.
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Psalm number 25.
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Again, it's in the Sing Psalms version,
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page 29.
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We're going to sing verses 4 to 9.
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The tune this time is rocking him.
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O Lord, reveal to me your ways,
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and all your paths help me to know.
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Direct and guide me in your truth.
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Instruct me in the way to go.
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You are my Savior and my God.
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All day I hope in you alone.
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Remember, Lord, your love and grace,
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which from past ages you have shown.
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Do not recall my sins of youth
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or my rebellious, evil ways.
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Remember me in your great love,
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for you, O Lord, are good always.
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Because the Lord is just and good,
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he shows his paths to all who stray.
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He guides the meek in what is right
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and teaches them his holy way.
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We'll sing these verses.
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O Lord, reveal to me your ways.
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O Lord, reveal to me your ways,
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and all your paths help me to know.
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O Lord, reveal to me your ways,
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and all your paths help me to know.
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Direct and guide me in your truth,
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instruct me in the way to go.
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You are my Savior and my God.
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All day I hope in you alone.
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Remember, Lord, your love and grace,
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which from past ages you have shown.
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Do not recall my sins of youth
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or my rebellious evil ways.
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Remember me in your great love,
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for you, O Lord, are good always.
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Because the Lord is just and good,
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He shows his path to all who stray.
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He guides the meek and watershright
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and teaches them his holy way.
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Now let's turn to 2 Kings 5,
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the passage we read a minute ago,
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verses 1 to 14.
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And we'll consider some of the teaching
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in this passage this morning.
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You might say this is an account of the field marshal,
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the slave girl, and the prophet.
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This is a story of Naaman,
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the account of his being healed of his leprosy.
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He was the head of the army of the Syrians.
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And there's also this slave girl
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that had been taken captive by the Syrians
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on one of their raids.
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And of course there is the prophet Elisha,
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the man of God.
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People's lives sometimes are often bound
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by the circumstances,
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the experiences that they share in life.
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Many lasting relationships began
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with people being unexpectedly thrown together
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into certain situations and circumstances
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that perhaps they hadn't anticipated.
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And yet from that developed
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some lifelong relationships or friendships.
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And you have,
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whether that was the case here or not,
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but you have the lives of certain people
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thrown together in this incident here
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in chapter 5.
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In fact, there are six individuals,
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six people altogether in the passage.
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If you take in the rest of the chapter as well,
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there are two kings,
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the king of Syria and the king of Israel.
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There's the prophet Elisha.
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There's this little slave girl.
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There's Naaman.
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And then later in the passage,
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there's Elisha's servant Gehazi.
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And they're all together in this incident
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that took place,
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especially circled,
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centered on Naaman
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and his healing of leprosy.
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So we're going to look at these in turn
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and look at how in the account that we have here,
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as we follow it through,
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these three individuals,
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we're going to focus on these three,
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the Naaman himself,
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the servant girl,
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and also Elisha, the godly prophet.
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You have the great man,
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the girl servant,
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and the godly prophet.
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And from that,
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some of the teaching in the passage
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comes across to us
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as we focus on the three individuals themselves
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and how they interrelate
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throughout the way the passage develops.
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So look at,
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first of all,
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the passage begins with
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the field marshal,
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the great man,
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Naaman,
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commander of the army
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of the king of Syria,
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was a great man
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with his master
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and in high favor
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because by him
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the Lord had given victory
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to Syria.
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He was a mighty man of valor.
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Now that's a very deliberate description.
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And you might ask,
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well,
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why does it go into
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all of that detail?
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One of the reasons is
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that the following detail
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is such a contrast,
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you might think,
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to what's being said there already.
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So this man,
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Naaman,
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he was in charge
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of the whole army
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of the king of Syria.
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If you go by the ranks
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in the British army,
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that would make him
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field marshal,
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the very top
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of the strata
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of the strata
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of command
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in the Syrian army.
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So he was commander
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of the army,
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of the whole army.
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Not only that,
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but he was very close
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to the king.
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The king obviously
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valued his leadership.
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He depended on him
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so much
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as the leader
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in charge of the army.
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He was also a brave man.
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It's spoken there
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in very clear terms.
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He was a mighty man
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of valor.
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The Lord by him
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had given victory
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to Syria.
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All of these details
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are followed by this,
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but he was a leper.
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For all his greatness,
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for all his stature,
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for all his bravery,
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for all his ability,
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for all his courage,
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he was a leper.
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Now,
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in the Old Testament,
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sometimes the word
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for leper
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can be indicative
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of other similar diseases,
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but it seems here
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that it was indeed leprosy,
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Hansen's disease,
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as it's called nowadays,
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that this was in fact
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what this man suffered from.
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He had this serious condition.
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Leprosy was and is,
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although it's rarer now
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than it was then.
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It's a disease
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that affects the skin,
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but it's actually a disease,
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first and foremost,
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of the nervous system.
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It attacks the nervous system,
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and then it can develop
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in such a way
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that leads to muscle wastage
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and deformity,
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as you know.
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And as it attacks
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the nervous system
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and the nerve endings,
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especially,
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you'll find that
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those who have had leprosy
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and have leprosy,
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and as it has developed,
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will lose the sense
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of feeling
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in their fingers,
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for example.
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That's why somebody
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with leprosy
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can pick up something
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as red hot
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and not feel pain.
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And, you know,
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that's just by the way,
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but we often complain
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about having pains,
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and pain is certainly
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very, very difficult
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to live with,
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but actually,
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in one sense,
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pain is beneficial
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because it tells you
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there's something wrong,
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and it tells you
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it's something
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you maybe need to deal with,
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maybe even urgently.
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Sometimes we should
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just stop and think
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that pain is something
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we should actually
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thank God for,
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though it is very difficult
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to live with constant pain,
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and we need medication
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for it,
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and there's nothing
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wrong with that.
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I want to imagine
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living without any sense
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of feeling,
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without the nerve endings
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that tell you
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that something's red hot.
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Well, here was a man
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who was a leper.
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He suffered from leprosy
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and probably had some
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of those issues
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with regard to his own body.
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And in the Bible,
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as you know,
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leprosy is mentioned
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frequently,
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but leprosy is also
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mentioned in the Bible
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symbolically.
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It's not that God
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actually inflicted people
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with leprosy
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just so that he could
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use it as a symbol
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of something,
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but leprosy,
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as it did exist,
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as a disease,
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having its own
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characteristics,
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the Bible uses it
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or it was used
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under God's direction
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as a symbol
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of the effects
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of sin as well.
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Because one of the things
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you find with leprosy
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and with leper
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is that leper
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was actually set away
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from the main body
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of the people
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in order to actually
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be in a place
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by themselves,
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a leper colony
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as it used to be called.
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Sometimes you might think,
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well, that's pretty cruel.
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You're sending people away
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because they're suffering
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from leprosy.
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They're with others
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who suffer from leprosy.
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They're actually outside
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of the social circles
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of their own people.
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And of course,
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that is the case,
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but it's a protective measure.
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It was really a form
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of quarantine
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so as to protect
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those who didn't
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have leprosy
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in case they themselves
28:28
contracted it
28:29
and began to suffer from it.
28:31
So in many ways,
28:32
it was an act
28:33
of quarantine
28:35
and of protection,
28:37
a protective measure
28:38
for the community.
28:40
In any case,
28:41
that meant
28:41
that the person
28:42
with leprosy
28:43
was kept at a distance
28:44
from the main body
28:46
of the people.
28:47
And as you find
28:48
in the Bible,
28:49
leprosy to be symbolical
28:51
of separation
28:53
from social interaction
28:55
and certainly separation
28:57
from God
28:59
in the sense
28:59
that leprosy
29:01
was a symbol of sin
29:03
and the effects of sin
29:04
and the wastage of sin.
29:06
All of these things
29:07
were built into it
29:08
as a symbol,
29:09
as something
29:09
which represented that.
29:11
And you'll find,
29:13
therefore,
29:13
that when you come
29:14
to the New Testament,
29:15
you've got a wonderful emphasis
29:16
in the likes of
29:17
Mark chapter 4,
29:19
chapter 1 and verse 40,
29:21
rather,
29:22
of Jesus doing something
29:23
which wasn't actually
29:24
allowed ceremonially.
29:26
The leper was unclean,
29:28
but Jesus touched
29:29
this leper
29:30
and cleansed him.
29:33
If you will,
29:34
said the man,
29:34
you can make me clean.
29:36
And Jesus touched him
29:37
and said,
29:37
I will.
29:38
Be clean.
29:40
Be healed.
29:42
And that, of course,
29:43
reminds us
29:43
that Jesus
29:45
is the great healer.
29:47
Here he is
29:47
dealing with
29:48
what represented
29:48
sin
29:49
and represented
29:50
being ostracized
29:52
and separated
29:53
from the community
29:54
and needing
29:55
to be rehabilitated.
29:56
And that's what
29:57
a Christian is.
29:58
It's somebody
29:59
who has been
30:00
dealt with by God
30:02
so that the sin
30:04
that is ours
30:05
naturally is dealt with
30:06
and dealt with successfully
30:08
and we're rehabilitated
30:10
into the company
30:12
and in the fellowship
30:12
of the people
30:13
of God
30:14
spiritually
30:15
and morally.
30:16
That's what God does.
30:17
That's what God
30:18
in saving his people
30:20
does.
30:21
That's what conversion,
30:22
that's what being
30:23
or becoming a Christian
30:24
in many ways
30:25
is about.
30:27
Well, here is a man
30:28
who,
30:29
for all his achievements,
30:31
for all his stature,
30:33
he suffered from leprosy.
30:35
And it just reminds us
30:37
as well,
30:37
doesn't it,
30:38
that for all the achievements
30:40
we may have
30:40
in this life,
30:42
for all the stature
30:43
that we may gain,
30:44
for all the social prominence
30:46
we may have,
30:48
we still need a healer.
30:51
We still need Christ.
30:54
We still need Jesus
30:56
to be our Savior.
30:57
none of these elements
31:01
in our ability,
31:03
in our social status
31:05
or anything else,
31:06
none of that is really
31:07
of any use
31:07
as far as giving us
31:09
a place in the favor
31:10
of God is concerned.
31:12
Only God can do that.
31:15
And God does that
31:17
when he brings us
31:18
to know himself
31:19
and brings us
31:20
into living fellowship
31:21
with Jesus Christ.
31:22
And it also reminds us,
31:24
doesn't it,
31:24
although obviously
31:26
leprosy was very obvious,
31:29
but nevertheless,
31:31
let's also not lose sight
31:33
of the fact that
31:33
many people
31:35
who may appear outwardly
31:37
to a very little
31:38
troubling their lives,
31:40
underneath that
31:41
may be a very serious concern
31:43
or issue for them.
31:45
We just never know
31:46
what's happening
31:47
in someone's life secretly.
31:49
There are many people
31:50
in our community.
31:52
There may be some people
31:52
in here today
31:53
who are carrying a burden,
31:56
carrying a weight,
31:57
carrying something
31:58
of a concern
31:59
that they're not able
32:00
to share with other people,
32:02
but they can bring it to God.
32:04
We have to be careful
32:05
in our relation with people.
32:08
Maybe they're people
32:09
who we regard as very grumpy
32:10
or very distant or whatever.
32:13
You just don't know
32:14
what's in that person's life
32:15
unless they tell you.
32:17
Well, here is Naaman,
32:19
commander of the king's army
32:21
in Syria.
32:23
But he was a leper.
32:27
And then he came across
32:28
this girl
32:30
who was a servant,
32:31
a slave.
32:32
You can see how she became
32:34
a slave to Naaman's wife.
32:37
The Syrians on one of the raids,
32:38
verse 2,
32:39
had carried off a little girl
32:40
from the land of Israel.
32:42
And she worked in the service
32:43
of Naaman's wife.
32:45
And she said to her mistress,
32:46
Would that my lord
32:47
were with the prophet
32:48
who is in Samaria.
32:49
He would cure him
32:51
of his leprosy.
32:53
So Naaman then went
32:53
and told the king
32:54
about this.
32:55
Now this is very interesting
32:56
that this unknown,
32:58
unnamed girl
32:59
actually fits into
33:01
such a central part
33:03
in the whole process
33:04
leading to Naaman's
33:05
cure of his leprosy.
33:09
And it reminds us,
33:11
doesn't it,
33:12
that whatever way
33:14
we come about
33:15
to be in a certain place
33:17
at any time,
33:18
there are no accidents
33:19
as far as God's placement
33:20
is concerned.
33:21
Here was a girl
33:22
who was actually brought
33:24
on one of the raids
33:25
of the Syrians,
33:26
carried off,
33:26
so that she could be
33:27
a slave in this
33:29
important man's house
33:30
for his wife.
33:32
But that's where
33:33
God had placed her.
33:35
God didn't approve
33:36
at all of the way
33:37
that she had actually
33:38
ended up there.
33:39
He didn't approve
33:40
of the raiding party.
33:42
He didn't give that
33:43
as his mark of approval.
33:45
But nevertheless,
33:46
this girl is placed
33:47
deliberately by God
33:49
and his providence
33:49
in this home
33:51
without which
33:52
they would not have heard
33:53
of the Elisha
33:54
who was the prophet
33:56
in Samaria.
33:59
And so it reminds us
34:00
that God's placement
34:01
of us is always precise,
34:04
always deliberate,
34:06
always purposeful.
34:08
Where are you today
34:09
in your place of work?
34:12
Who do you sit alongside?
34:13
Who do you work alongside?
34:15
Where are you
34:16
in terms of your neighborhood
34:17
or the street
34:18
in which you live?
34:20
Where are you
34:21
in terms of people
34:22
you interact with
34:23
on a daily basis perhaps
34:24
or on a regular basis?
34:26
Well, God in his providence
34:28
has placed you there
34:29
deliberately.
34:30
And he's placed you there
34:31
deliberately
34:32
for his own sake.
34:34
And especially today
34:35
if you are a Christian
34:36
witness to Jesus
34:37
and to some extent
34:39
we all are.
34:40
Otherwise,
34:41
why are we here?
34:42
Well, that's something
34:44
that God is saying.
34:45
That's why I've placed you
34:46
where I've placed you.
34:47
So that you can be
34:48
a testimony to me.
34:50
That you can tell about me.
34:51
that you can actually
34:52
do this
34:53
on an ongoing basis.
34:55
And it's important
34:56
of course too
34:57
for our young people.
34:58
They're in the Sunday school
34:59
and Bible class today.
35:02
Although some people
35:03
some of them
35:03
may be watching
35:04
of course online as well.
35:05
But there are relatively
35:06
young people here as well.
35:08
And as our young people
35:09
very often leave home
35:11
and go to work
35:12
on the mainland
35:12
or study on the mainland.
35:14
This is the kind of advice
35:15
we always try to give them.
35:17
Be true to Jesus.
35:19
Be true to the values
35:20
of God.
35:21
Be true wherever
35:22
you're placed.
35:23
Wherever God's providence
35:26
actually places you.
35:27
Be true to the things
35:28
you've learned
35:29
in your Sunday school.
35:30
In your Bible class.
35:31
In your church.
35:32
Under the preaching
35:33
of the word of God.
35:35
And that's what he's saying
35:36
to ourselves as well today.
35:38
Here was a little girl.
35:40
And she was true
35:41
to her faith.
35:43
She was true
35:44
to the religion
35:44
she belonged to
35:45
of the people of Israel.
35:47
Israel.
35:47
She spoke up
35:49
with concern
35:50
for this Naaman
35:51
who actually owned
35:54
her really
35:54
as the person
35:56
who was in charge
35:57
of that household.
35:59
But she spoke up
36:00
and said
36:02
if only my Lord
36:03
were with the prophet
36:04
who's in Samaria
36:06
he would cure him
36:07
of his leprosy.
36:09
So that's really
36:09
one of the great
36:10
great emphases
36:12
that we have
36:12
in our Christian life
36:14
isn't it?
36:14
We come across
36:15
different people
36:16
different days
36:17
different areas
36:17
especially those
36:19
we are with regularly.
36:20
This is the business
36:21
that we're in
36:22
as far as God is concerned.
36:24
Tell them about me
36:25
he's saying.
36:27
Tell them about
36:27
where there is a cure
36:28
for their sin.
36:29
Tell them
36:29
where there is
36:31
a person
36:31
who knows
36:32
their situation
36:33
where this saviour
36:34
is to be found
36:35
and what he can do
36:36
for them.
36:39
And so she spoke up
36:40
and even though
36:43
she's not named
36:43
that's not important.
36:46
You may never be famous.
36:49
We may never have
36:50
prominence in society.
36:52
We may never leave
36:53
a legacy
36:54
that will be thought about
36:54
for many generations
36:55
to come.
36:57
That doesn't really matter.
36:59
What really matters
37:00
is that for the time
37:02
that you and I
37:03
have in this world
37:04
and for the time
37:06
that God enables us
37:07
and leaves us
37:08
with our abilities
37:09
mentally and physically
37:10
we are there for him.
37:12
we are there
37:14
to be his representatives
37:15
to be his people
37:16
to be his witnesses
37:18
to be his church.
37:21
It doesn't matter
37:21
how old we are
37:22
it doesn't matter
37:23
how young we may be
37:25
wherever God
37:26
has placed us
37:27
we are there
37:27
for him
37:29
and for his sake.
37:31
So here's the servant girl
37:33
the slave girl
37:34
and we come now
37:37
to the godly prophet.
37:38
verses 4 to 8
37:41
actually tell us
37:42
of how things developed.
37:44
Naaman went into
37:45
his own king
37:46
his own master
37:47
told him about
37:49
what this girl had said
37:50
so the king of Syria said
37:51
well you go
37:52
and I'll send a letter
37:53
to the king of Israel
37:54
so he did so.
37:55
And of course
37:55
Naaman took with him
37:56
a whole lot of stuff
37:58
that he was going to give
37:59
to Elisha
38:00
this was his
38:00
this was his
38:01
going to be
38:03
Elisha's reward
38:04
for what he was going
38:05
to do for him.
38:06
He took all of these things
38:07
that are mentioned there
38:08
the money
38:09
the changes of clothes
38:10
and he took the letter
38:11
as well
38:12
from the king of Syria
38:13
to commend Naaman
38:15
to the king of Israel
38:16
and when the king of Israel
38:19
read the letter
38:20
he was furious
38:21
he tore his clothes
38:23
and he said
38:24
am I God
38:24
to kill
38:25
and to make alive
38:26
that this man
38:27
sends word to me
38:28
to cure a man
38:28
of his leprosy
38:29
only consider and see
38:30
how he's seeking
38:31
a quarrel with me
38:32
that's all the king of
38:33
the king of Israel
38:34
made of it
38:34
and of course
38:35
he was quite wrong.
38:36
that's why
38:37
Elisha actually
38:38
scolded him
38:39
when he heard about this
38:40
when he heard
38:41
that he had torn
38:41
his clothes
38:42
that he had done
38:43
this dramatic
38:44
thing
38:45
why have you done this?
38:50
let him come now
38:51
to me
38:51
that he may know
38:52
that there is
38:53
a prophet in Israel
38:54
in other words
38:55
Elisha was saying
38:56
to his king
38:57
to the king of Israel
38:58
what on earth
38:59
are you thinking about?
39:00
do you think
39:00
there is no God
39:01
in this place?
39:02
do you think
39:03
God cannot cure this man?
39:04
there is a man
39:06
who is king
39:07
and he's just lost
39:08
his way
39:09
he's lost his way
39:11
spiritually
39:12
he should
39:13
immediately have said
39:14
of course
39:15
Elisha
39:16
the man of God
39:17
I'll send you
39:18
I'll introduce you
39:19
to him
39:19
and he'll be able
39:20
to help you
39:21
and here is this man
39:22
this king of Israel
39:23
that's not what's
39:24
on his mind
39:25
he's looking after himself
39:26
and his own interests
39:27
and he has it
39:28
in his mind
39:28
the only reason
39:29
that this name
39:30
has come from
39:31
the king of Syria
39:32
is to actually
39:33
be a plant
39:34
in order to spy out
39:36
in order to actually
39:37
seek a quarrel
39:38
an excuse for war
39:40
well how wrong
39:43
we can be
39:43
how wrong
39:45
our political leaders
39:46
can be as well
39:47
and how wrong
39:49
we can be ourselves
39:51
in our conclusions
39:53
about things
39:54
so that's how he came
39:55
to meet Elisha
39:57
and so
39:58
in verse 9
39:59
Naaman came
40:01
with his horses
40:01
and chariots
40:02
and stood
40:03
at the door
40:04
of Elisha's house
40:05
and Elisha sent
40:06
a messenger to him
40:07
saying go
40:08
and wash in the Jordan
40:09
seven times
40:10
and your flesh
40:11
shall be restored
40:11
now if you look
40:12
carefully at the wording
40:13
there
40:13
it's very deliberately
40:14
worded
40:15
and it's really interesting
40:16
how the detail
40:17
is given to us
40:18
Naaman came
40:19
with his horses
40:21
and chariots
40:22
and stood
40:23
at the door
40:23
of Elisha
40:24
there is this
40:25
great man
40:26
this famous
40:27
field marshal
40:28
in Syria
40:29
and there he is
40:30
with all his retinue
40:31
with his grand
40:32
accompaniment
40:34
and there he's coming
40:35
to Elisha
40:36
the prophet of God
40:37
in Israel
40:37
and he stands
40:39
at Elisha's door
40:39
he doesn't dismount
40:40
from his chariot
40:41
he's expecting
40:42
that this man
40:43
Elisha will come out
40:44
and have an audience
40:45
with him
40:46
all he's got to do
40:47
is stand there
40:47
and show his importance
40:49
surely Elisha
40:50
is going to recognize
40:51
this is a really
40:52
important man
40:52
I'd better go out
40:53
and talk with him
40:54
Naaman
40:55
doesn't do
40:56
any such thing
40:56
just leaves him
40:59
standing there
40:59
and he sends
41:01
a messenger
41:02
instead
41:02
and the messenger
41:05
says go and
41:06
wash in the Jordan
41:07
seven times
41:09
and
41:11
as Elisha's
41:13
message is
41:13
given to Naaman
41:14
he becomes
41:16
absolutely
41:17
furious
41:18
he goes away
41:20
in fact
41:21
in a rage
41:22
as you read
41:24
later on
41:24
in the passage
41:25
in verse 12
41:26
why is he so angry
41:28
why would a person
41:29
be so
41:30
enraged
41:32
about a message
41:33
that was to do
41:34
with the healing
41:35
of his leprosy
41:36
what could cause
41:37
such a reaction
41:38
well two things
41:40
two very closely
41:41
related things
41:43
Naaman
41:45
had come
41:46
to Elisha
41:46
with his own
41:48
plan
41:48
with his own
41:50
idea of how
41:51
he was going
41:52
to be cured
41:52
of his leprosy
41:54
see what he's
41:55
saying here
41:55
verse 11
41:56
Naaman was angry
41:57
and went away
41:58
saying
41:58
behold
41:59
I thought
42:00
that he would
42:01
surely come out
42:02
and stand
42:03
and call upon
42:04
the name of the Lord
42:05
and wave his hand
42:06
over the place
42:07
and cure the leprosy
42:08
there was
42:10
the Naaman's
42:11
own
42:11
idea
42:12
of what was
42:13
necessary
42:14
to cure him
42:15
from his leprosy
42:16
and it's all
42:17
built into
42:17
these two words
42:19
I thought
42:20
behold
42:21
I thought
42:23
that's your problem
42:25
and that's my problem
42:26
when it comes to
42:27
our dealing
42:28
with our sin
42:28
our relationship
42:29
with God
42:30
how is it
42:31
we think
42:32
naturally
42:32
just like Naaman
42:33
I thought
42:34
it's our own thoughts
42:36
we want to focus on
42:37
it's our own thoughts
42:38
we want to stand on
42:39
we have our own plan
42:40
as to how our life
42:41
should develop
42:42
human lives
42:43
sinful lives
42:44
have their own idea
42:45
as how things
42:47
can be put right
42:49
behold
42:53
I thought
42:55
you go to the New Testament
42:57
and you'll find
42:59
the same thing
42:59
many times
43:00
just go to Saul
43:02
of Tarsus
43:03
who became
43:04
the Apostle Paul
43:05
and these words
43:06
would fit
43:06
very much
43:07
into his own testimony
43:09
as you find it
43:10
in the likes
43:10
of Philippians 3
43:11
which we looked at
43:13
not so long ago
43:13
and there was
43:15
this man
43:15
this very able man
43:17
this teacher
43:20
in Israel
43:20
Saul of Tarsus
43:23
Pharisee
43:26
skilled in the Old Testament
43:29
knew his Bible
43:30
and he had his own idea
43:33
of how he was right
43:35
with God
43:36
when many others
43:37
were wrong
43:38
his own ability
43:41
his own
43:42
keeping of the law
43:43
his own obedience
43:45
to God
43:46
as he saw it
43:46
that's what really
43:48
gave him
43:49
in God's sight
43:51
gave him
43:51
the kudos
43:52
gave him
43:53
the acceptance
43:54
gave him
43:55
undoubtedly
43:55
the favor of God
43:56
as far as he was concerned
43:57
until Jesus
43:59
met him
43:59
on the way
44:00
to Damascus
44:01
and his plan
44:03
crumbled
44:03
God
44:05
crushed his plan
44:07
he smashed it up
44:08
because it was
44:09
completely wrong
44:10
and Paul
44:13
would have said
44:13
behold
44:14
I thought
44:15
I thought
44:17
this was the way
44:17
I was convinced
44:19
this was the way
44:20
I was convinced
44:21
I was in the right
44:22
but God
44:23
had other ideas
44:24
and Jesus
44:26
soon destroyed
44:27
Saul's own plan
44:30
and Saul's own
44:31
view of salvation
44:33
not only did
44:33
Naaman
44:34
though come
44:35
with his own plan
44:36
he also came
44:37
in his pride
44:39
and the two things
44:41
very often go together
44:42
don't they
44:42
almost inevitably
44:43
go together
44:44
our own plan
44:45
as to how we come
44:46
to be saved
44:47
and our pride
44:48
in standing on
44:50
that plan
44:51
and on that idea
44:51
but you see
44:52
what he's saying
44:52
he was told
44:54
go and wash in the Jordan
44:55
seven times
44:55
what does he say
44:56
are not
44:57
Abana
44:58
and Farfar
44:59
the rivers of Damascus
45:00
better than all
45:02
the waters of Israel
45:03
could I not
45:04
wash in them
45:05
and be clean
45:06
so he turned
45:07
and went away
45:07
in a rage
45:08
you see what he's saying
45:08
well Abana
45:09
and Farfar
45:10
apparently were
45:11
very clear waters
45:12
beautiful rivers
45:14
whereas the Jordan
45:15
very often brown
45:16
and dirty brown
45:17
carrying a lot of soil
45:18
here is this man saying
45:20
I'm not going to wash
45:22
in the Jordan
45:23
I've got Farfar
45:24
I've got Abana
45:25
back home
45:26
and they're better
45:27
than all the waters
45:28
of Israel
45:29
can I not wash
45:30
in them
45:31
and be cleaned
45:32
you see his pride
45:35
and his plan
45:37
go together
45:38
and it's his pride
45:41
for this moment
45:43
that just will not
45:44
accept
45:45
that the word
45:46
that God
45:47
has sent him
45:48
through the prophet
45:48
is actually superior
45:50
to any of his own
45:51
plans
45:52
yes the waters
45:53
of the Jordan
45:54
may be dirty brown
45:56
compared
45:56
to the rivers
45:57
of Damascus
45:58
but that's where
46:00
God is saying
46:01
that's where
46:02
you'll be cured
46:03
and you know
46:05
that's so often
46:06
the case isn't it
46:07
with the presentation
46:08
of the gospel
46:09
and the message
46:10
of the gospel
46:11
about Jesus Christ
46:13
I thought
46:16
we say in relation
46:18
to that
46:18
I thought
46:19
that my own work
46:21
would be enough
46:22
that my own ability
46:23
would see me through
46:24
and aren't there
46:26
just so many
46:27
other ways
46:28
along with the way
46:29
that the Bible
46:30
talks about
46:31
when it speaks
46:32
about putting
46:32
your trust
46:33
in Jesus
46:34
and having Jesus
46:35
exclusively
46:36
as your savior
46:37
are there not
46:38
all these other ways
46:39
are they not
46:39
just as good
46:40
are not these
46:41
other religions
46:42
just as good
46:43
is secularism
46:44
not just as good
46:45
well God is saying
46:48
you believe
46:50
in the Lord
46:51
Jesus Christ
46:52
and you shall
46:53
be saved
46:54
that's God's way
46:57
that's so often
46:59
what Paul is emphasizing
47:00
in the likes
47:02
of his letter
47:03
to the Corinthians
47:04
for example
47:05
as he talks there
47:07
about
47:07
to the Corinthians
47:08
about
47:09
the wisdom
47:10
of God
47:11
as against
47:12
the wisdom
47:13
of human beings
47:14
the wisdom
47:14
of men
47:15
and here he is
47:17
saying that
47:17
the Jews
47:18
seek after
47:19
wisdom
47:21
so do the Greeks
47:22
they are all
47:24
after wisdom
47:24
the way of wisdom
47:26
the way
47:26
of acceptance
47:27
with God
47:28
but we preach
47:31
Christ crucified
47:33
stumbling block
47:35
to the Jews
47:36
and foolishness
47:38
to the Greeks
47:39
a man who was
47:46
crucified
47:46
on a cross
47:49
at Calvary
47:49
rose from the dead
47:53
three days later
47:54
ascended to heaven
47:56
that's the record
47:56
of the gospel
47:57
and yet our hearts
48:01
unless God
48:01
changes us
48:02
will say
48:03
no I can't
48:04
accept that
48:05
that just
48:06
can't be right
48:07
I prefer
48:09
my own way
48:09
I thought
48:11
it should be
48:12
this way
48:13
let me ask
48:15
this question
48:16
do you have
48:20
a plan
48:21
today
48:21
and a pride
48:23
that's keeping
48:25
you from peace
48:26
with God
48:26
is your own
48:29
plan
48:30
and your own
48:31
pride
48:32
keeping you
48:33
from peace
48:34
with God
48:35
from coming
48:36
to know
48:37
the way
48:37
of salvation
48:38
as God
48:39
sets it out
48:40
for us
48:40
have you
48:42
discarded
48:42
your own
48:43
view
48:43
have I
48:44
discarded
48:44
my own
48:45
view
48:45
as I am
48:46
as a sinner
48:47
fallen
48:47
into sin
48:49
and with my
48:51
own ideas
48:52
of how I
48:53
should be
48:53
living my
48:54
life
48:54
and be
48:54
right with
48:55
God
48:55
have you
48:56
have I
48:56
discarded
48:57
that
48:58
and taken
49:00
up instead
49:00
God's plan
49:01
in Christ
49:02
because that's
49:04
really
49:04
that's really
49:05
the essence
49:06
of the issue
49:08
isn't it
49:09
just as Naaman
49:10
so Naaman
49:12
teaches us
49:12
we need to
49:13
discard our own
49:14
view and our
49:15
own plan
49:15
and certainly
49:16
our own
49:16
pride
49:17
and fall
49:19
in with
49:19
God's plan
49:20
and God's
49:20
provision
49:21
in the Lord
49:22
Jesus Christ
49:23
verse 13
49:24
his servants
49:26
came and said
49:26
to him
49:26
my Lord
49:27
my father
49:28
it is a
49:29
great word
49:29
the prophet
49:30
has spoken
49:30
to you
49:31
will you
49:31
not do
49:32
it
49:32
has he
49:33
actually
49:34
said
49:34
do you
49:34
wash
49:35
and be
49:35
clean
49:35
you see
49:36
what comes
49:37
across from
49:37
that is
49:38
the sheer
49:38
simplicity
49:39
of God's
49:41
plan
49:42
the simplicity
49:44
of what he's
49:44
being told
49:45
as against
49:46
what he himself
49:47
might have
49:47
thought
49:48
that's how it is
49:50
with our salvation
49:51
as well
49:52
because God's
49:53
method
49:54
is the simple
49:56
method
49:56
we come to
49:57
believe in Christ
49:58
we come to
49:59
give ourselves
50:00
to Jesus
50:01
we come to
50:02
trust in him
50:03
we come to
50:04
accept him
50:05
as he is
50:05
as he's offered
50:06
in the Bible
50:07
and that's
50:08
what God
50:08
is saying
50:08
you do
50:09
that
50:09
and you'll
50:09
be saved
50:10
but we
50:13
invent the
50:13
complexities
50:14
we invent
50:16
things that
50:16
really
50:17
complicate
50:17
the matter
50:18
don't we
50:18
we want
50:19
to find out
50:20
more about
50:20
this faith
50:21
and what
50:21
this faith
50:22
is
50:22
well that's
50:23
alright
50:24
once you're
50:24
in Christ
50:25
but don't
50:26
actually try
50:26
and complicate
50:27
things
50:28
in a way
50:29
that keeps
50:29
you from
50:30
coming to
50:30
Christ
50:31
because very
50:31
often
50:31
the things
50:32
that we
50:32
persuade
50:33
ourselves
50:34
of
50:34
and want
50:34
to work
50:35
through
50:35
and say
50:36
we can't
50:37
understand
50:37
very often
50:38
they're just
50:39
invented
50:39
by us
50:40
for the
50:42
sake of
50:42
avoiding
50:43
obedience
50:43
to Christ
50:44
and obedience
50:46
to Christ
50:47
is very
50:48
simply
50:49
capitulating
50:50
to him
50:50
yielding
50:51
our minds
50:52
our lives
50:53
to be ruled
50:54
by him
50:54
that's
50:55
God's
50:56
way
50:57
and today
51:00
if you've
51:01
not yet
51:02
come
51:02
at least
51:03
to make
51:04
it known
51:04
that you
51:05
are a
51:05
Christian
51:06
that you
51:06
want
51:06
to
51:07
serve
51:08
the
51:08
Lord
51:08
I
51:08
know
51:08
that
51:09
there
51:09
are
51:09
some
51:09
of
51:09
you
51:09
here
51:10
who
51:10
give
51:10
every
51:11
indication
51:11
in your
51:12
life
51:12
that
51:12
you're
51:13
serious
51:13
about
51:13
this
51:14
spiritual
51:14
business
51:15
who give
51:17
lots of
51:17
indications
51:18
that
51:18
this is
51:20
really
51:20
where you'd
51:21
want to be
51:21
your life
51:22
to be
51:22
anchored
51:22
in
51:23
Christ
51:23
and going
51:24
on
51:24
serving
51:25
him
51:25
don't
51:27
be
51:27
deflected
51:27
from
51:28
that
51:28
don't
51:30
actually
51:30
be
51:30
persuaded
51:31
by someone
51:31
who says
51:32
it's not
51:32
that
51:33
simple
51:33
it is
51:34
that
51:34
simple
51:35
you trust
51:37
in the
51:38
saviour
51:38
you come
51:40
into the
51:40
possession
51:41
of salvation
51:42
what could
51:43
be more
51:43
clear and
51:45
simple than
51:46
that
51:46
don't complicate
51:49
things
51:49
in a way
51:50
that prevents
51:51
you coming
51:51
to give
51:52
your life
51:53
over to
51:53
Jesus
51:54
and
51:57
here is
51:57
Naaman
51:58
having
51:59
heard
51:59
the
51:59
seven
51:59
advice
52:01
so he
52:03
went
52:03
down
52:03
and
52:04
dipped
52:05
himself
52:05
seven
52:05
times
52:06
in the
52:06
Jordan
52:06
according
52:08
to the
52:08
word
52:08
of the
52:08
man
52:09
of
52:09
God
52:09
his
52:10
flesh
52:11
was
52:11
restored
52:11
like
52:11
the
52:12
flesh
52:12
of
52:12
a
52:12
little
52:12
child
52:13
and
52:14
he
52:14
was
52:14
clean
52:15
he
52:16
did
52:17
exactly
52:17
as
52:17
God
52:18
required
52:18
of
52:19
him
52:19
as
52:20
the
52:20
message
52:20
from
52:21
God
52:21
through
52:21
the
52:21
prophet
52:22
set
52:22
before
52:22
him
52:23
you see
52:24
God's
52:25
way
52:25
always
52:26
works
52:27
and
52:29
I'm
52:29
sure
52:29
he
52:29
might
52:29
have
52:29
said
52:30
to
52:30
himself
52:30
well
52:30
why
52:31
didn't
52:31
I
52:31
do
52:31
this
52:31
in
52:31
the
52:31
first
52:32
place
52:32
why
52:33
did
52:33
I
52:33
give
52:33
myself
52:33
all
52:34
that
52:34
hassle
52:34
of
52:35
anger
52:36
and
52:36
frustration
52:36
and
52:37
thinking
52:37
that
52:37
my
52:38
way
52:38
was
52:38
best
52:38
I
52:39
should
52:39
have
52:39
done
52:40
as
52:40
just
52:40
accepted
52:40
his
52:41
word
52:41
to
52:41
begin
52:41
with
52:42
and
52:42
I
52:42
could
52:42
have
52:42
saved
52:42
myself
52:43
all
52:43
that
52:43
hassle
52:44
well
52:44
of
52:44
course
52:44
but
52:45
isn't
52:46
that
52:46
what
52:46
life
52:46
is
52:46
like
52:47
and
52:49
there
52:49
are
52:49
many
52:49
people
52:49
who
52:49
come
52:50
to
52:50
the
52:50
Lord
52:50
after
52:52
a
52:52
struggle
52:52
after
52:53
trying
52:54
to
52:54
work
52:54
through
52:54
the
52:54
complications
52:55
that
52:56
they
52:56
make
52:56
for
52:57
themselves
52:57
and
52:58
at
52:58
the
52:58
end
52:58
of
52:58
the
52:59
day
52:59
they'll
52:59
say
53:00
well
53:00
why
53:00
didn't
53:00
I
53:00
just
53:01
do
53:01
it
53:01
all
53:01
that
53:01
time
53:02
ago
53:02
I
53:04
should
53:04
have
53:04
done
53:04
it
53:04
then
53:05
and
53:07
maybe
53:07
you're
53:07
here
53:07
today
53:08
maybe
53:09
you've
53:09
been
53:09
just
53:10
struggling
53:10
struggling
53:12
your way
53:12
through
53:12
complications
53:13
that
53:13
you're
53:14
making
53:14
for
53:14
yourself
53:16
coming
53:16
to
53:17
God
53:17
and
53:17
coming
53:17
to
53:18
know
53:18
Christ
53:19
as
53:19
your
53:19
saviour
53:19
is
53:19
concerned
53:20
put
53:22
the
53:22
complications
53:23
aside
53:23
take
53:25
Jesus
53:25
at
53:25
his
53:25
word
53:26
look
53:28
to
53:28
him
53:28
and
53:29
the
53:30
truth
53:30
of
53:30
his
53:30
word
53:31
do
53:32
what
53:32
Naaman
53:32
did
53:33
accept
53:34
it
53:34
as
53:35
it
53:35
is
53:36
and
53:37
you'll
53:37
find
53:37
that
53:37
that
53:38
actually
53:39
works
53:40
perfectly
53:41
believe
53:42
in the
53:43
Lord
53:43
Jesus
53:43
Christ
53:44
and
53:45
you
53:45
will
53:45
be
53:45
saved
53:45
it's
53:46
not
53:46
going
53:46
to
53:46
take
53:46
away
53:46
all
53:47
the
53:47
hassles
53:48
of
53:48
your
53:48
life
53:48
it
53:48
won't
53:49
take
53:49
away
53:49
all
53:49
the
53:49
difficulties
53:50
it
53:51
doesn't
53:51
mean
53:51
that
53:51
the
53:52
problems
53:52
will
53:52
just
53:52
drift
53:53
out
53:53
of
53:53
your
53:53
life
53:54
and
53:54
from
53:54
then
53:55
all
53:55
will
53:55
be
53:55
just
53:56
like
53:57
a
53:57
constant
53:57
summer's
53:58
day
53:58
you know
54:00
that's
54:00
not
54:00
the
54:00
case
54:01
you
54:02
know
54:02
the
54:02
devil
54:03
will
54:03
persuade
54:03
you
54:03
many
54:04
ways
54:05
or try
54:05
to
54:05
persuade
54:05
you
54:06
actually
54:07
it's
54:07
not
54:08
in
54:08
your
54:08
gain
54:08
it's
54:09
not
54:09
to
54:10
your
54:10
advantage
54:10
to
54:16
but it
54:17
is
54:17
there's
54:17
no
54:18
sign
54:18
now
54:18
of
54:18
the
54:18
leprosy
54:19
as far
54:20
as
54:20
Naaman
54:20
is
54:21
concerned
54:21
notice
54:23
what it
54:23
says
54:23
there
54:23
his
54:24
flesh
54:25
was
54:25
restored
54:25
like
54:26
the
54:26
flesh
54:26
of
54:27
a
54:27
little
54:28
child
54:28
a
54:30
marvelous
54:30
description
54:31
if you
54:32
look at
54:32
a baby
54:32
child
54:33
with
54:34
that
54:34
fresh
54:35
skin
54:35
with
54:36
that
54:36
beautiful
54:37
look
54:37
that's
54:39
what
54:39
Naaman's
54:40
skin
54:40
was like
54:40
after he
54:42
did what
54:42
God
54:43
required
54:43
of him
54:43
and
54:45
that's
54:45
what
54:46
God
54:47
will do
54:47
for
54:47
us
54:48
too
54:48
that's
54:50
exactly
54:51
how it
54:51
will be
54:51
when we
54:53
give
54:53
ourselves
54:54
to
54:54
God
54:55
when we
54:56
trust
54:56
in
54:56
Christ
54:57
when we
54:57
accept
54:57
his
54:58
way
54:58
of
54:58
salvation
54:58
in
54:59
Jesus
54:59
life
55:01
comes
55:01
to be
55:02
renewed
55:02
remember
55:04
how it
55:05
is in
55:05
the book
55:07
of
55:07
Proverbs
55:07
and in
55:10
this
55:10
passage
55:10
that I'm
55:11
going to
55:11
read
55:11
it has
55:12
a
55:13
reference
55:13
to
55:13
not
55:14
leaning
55:14
on
55:14
our
55:14
own
55:14
understanding
55:15
go back
55:16
to
55:16
Naaman's
55:16
own
55:16
plan
55:17
Naaman's
55:19
pride
55:19
also says
55:20
be not
55:21
wise
55:21
in your
55:21
own
55:21
eyes
55:22
here's
55:22
the
55:23
passage
55:23
Proverbs
55:24
3
55:24
verses
55:25
5
55:25
to
55:25
8
55:26
we'll
55:27
close
55:27
with
55:27
that
55:27
trust
55:28
in
55:28
the
55:28
Lord
55:29
with
55:30
all
55:30
your
55:30
heart
55:31
and
55:31
do
55:32
not
55:32
lean
55:32
on
55:32
your
55:32
own
55:33
understanding
55:33
in
55:35
all
55:35
your
55:35
ways
55:35
acknowledge
55:36
him
55:36
and
55:37
he
55:37
will
55:38
make
55:38
straight
55:38
your
55:38
paths
55:39
be
55:40
not
55:40
wise
55:41
in
55:41
your
55:41
own
55:41
eyes
55:42
fear
55:43
the
55:43
Lord
55:43
turn
55:44
away
55:45
from
55:45
evil
55:45
it
55:46
will
55:46
be
55:46
healing
55:47
to
55:48
your
55:48
flesh
55:48
and
55:49
refreshment
55:50
to
55:51
your
55:51
bones
55:52
may God
55:53
bless
55:53
this word
55:54
to us
55:54
let's pray
55:54
Lord
55:57
our
55:57
God
55:57
we
55:58
thank
55:58
you
55:58
today
55:58
that
56:00
your
56:00
gospel
56:01
sets
56:01
before
56:01
us
56:01
the
56:02
way
56:02
of
56:02
salvation
56:02
so
56:03
clearly
56:03
Lord
56:05
we
56:05
know
56:05
that
56:05
there
56:05
are
56:05
many
56:06
things
56:06
in
56:06
your
56:06
word
56:06
that
56:07
we
56:07
cannot
56:08
fully
56:08
understand
56:09
that
56:10
there
56:10
are
56:10
many
56:10
things
56:11
we
56:11
need
56:11
to
56:11
work
56:11
through
56:12
in
56:12
terms
56:12
of
56:12
increasing
56:13
our
56:13
knowledge
56:13
of
56:15
yourself
56:15
of
56:15
salvation
56:16
and
56:16
of
56:16
ourselves
56:17
but
56:18
we
56:18
thank
56:18
you
56:18
that
56:19
that
56:19
way
56:19
of
56:19
salvation
56:20
is
56:21
so
56:21
clearly
56:21
marked
56:22
out
56:22
for
56:22
us
56:24
to
56:37
us
56:37
Lord
56:37
help
56:38
us
56:38
today
56:38
to
56:38
do
56:39
this
56:39
and
56:40
help
56:40
us
56:40
by
56:40
your
56:41
grace
56:41
to
56:41
discard
56:42
the
56:43
many
56:43
reasonings
56:44
that
56:44
we
56:44
find
56:45
arising
56:45
in
56:45
our
56:45
own
56:46
sinful
56:46
hearts
56:46
and
56:48
the
56:48
many
56:48
ways
56:48
in
56:48
which
56:48
the
56:49
devil
56:49
tempts
56:49
us
56:49
away
56:50
from
56:50
trusting
56:50
in
56:51
you
56:51
grant
56:52
that
56:52
we
56:52
may
56:52
come
56:53
Lord
56:53
to
56:53
depend
56:53
upon
56:54
your
56:54
word
56:54
and
56:55
that
56:55
we
56:56
may
56:56
come
56:56
and
56:56
cast
56:57
ourselves
56:58
into
56:58
your
56:59
care
56:59
hear
57:00
us
57:00
then
57:00
we
57:01
pray
57:01
and
57:01
be
57:01
with
57:01
us
57:01
this
57:02
evening
57:02
and
57:03
be
57:03
with
57:03
Scott
57:03
as
57:03
he
57:04
leads
57:04
the
57:04
worship
57:05
this
57:05
evening
57:05
grant
57:06
him
57:06
your
57:07
grace
57:07
Lord
57:07
we
57:07
pray
57:08
and
57:08
all
57:09
of
57:09
these
57:09
things
57:09
we
57:09
seek
57:10
with
57:10
the
57:10
pardon
57:10
of
57:10
our
57:11
sin
57:11
for
57:12
Jesus
57:12
sake
57:12
Amen
57:13
we'll
57:16
sing
57:16
now in
57:16
conclusion
57:17
this
57:17
time in
57:17
Psalm 51
57:18
Psalm 51
57:20
that's
57:20
in the
57:20
Scottish
57:21
Psalter
57:21
version
57:21
it's
57:25
on page
57:25
281
57:26
we're
57:27
singing to
57:28
the tune
57:28
Walsall
57:29
and it's
57:31
verses
57:31
6 to
57:32
10
57:32
behold thou
57:35
in the
57:35
inward
57:36
parts
57:36
with
57:36
truth
57:36
delighted
57:37
art
57:37
and
57:38
wisdom
57:39
thou
57:39
shalt
57:39
make
57:39
me
57:40
know
57:40
within
57:40
the
57:40
hidden
57:40
part
57:41
to
57:42
thou
57:42
with
57:42
hyssop
57:43
sprinkle
57:43
me
57:43
I
57:44
shall
57:44
be
57:44
cleansed
57:45
so
57:45
yea
57:46
wash
57:47
thou
57:47
me
57:47
and
57:47
then
57:48
I
57:48
shall
57:48
be
57:49
whiter
57:49
than
57:49
the
57:49
snow
57:50
of
57:51
gladness
57:51
and
57:52
of
57:52
joyfulness
57:52
make
57:53
me
57:53
to
57:53
hear
57:53
the
57:53
voice
57:54
that
57:55
so
57:55
these
57:55
very
57:55
bones
57:56
which
57:56
thou
57:56
hast
57:56
broken
57:57
may
57:57
rejoice
57:57
all
57:58
my
57:59
iniquities
57:59
blot
57:59
out
58:02
sin
58:02
create
58:03
a
58:04
clean
58:04
heart
58:04
Lord
58:04
renew
58:05
a
58:06
right
58:06
spirit
58:07
me
58:07
within
58:08
these
58:08
verses
58:08
6
58:09
to
58:10
10
58:10
to
58:10
God's
58:11
praise
58:11
behold
58:18
thou
58:19
in
58:20
the
58:20
inward
58:22
parts
58:23
with
58:25
truth
58:26
delighted
58:28
art
58:30
and
58:32
with
58:33
song
58:33
thy
58:34
child
58:35
make
58:36
me
58:37
know
58:38
within
58:40
the
58:41
hidden
58:43
heart
58:46
to
58:48
thy
58:49
with
58:50
his
58:51
thoughts
58:52
make
58:53
help
58:54
me
58:55
I
58:56
shall
58:57
be
58:58
cleansed
59:00
soul
59:02
yea
59:03
wash
59:05
thou
59:05
me
59:06
and
59:08
then
59:09
I
59:10
shall
59:11
be
59:12
whiter
59:14
than
59:16
the
59:17
snow
59:18
of
59:20
gladness
59:23
and
59:24
of
59:25
joy
59:26
fullness
59:28
make
59:29
me
59:30
to
59:31
hear
59:33
the
59:33
voice
59:36
that
59:37
soul
59:38
these
59:39
very
59:41
bones
59:43
which
59:44
thou
59:45
hast
59:46
broken
59:47
may
59:49
rejoice
59:51
joy
59:53
all
59:54
my
59:55
name
59:56
may
59:57
quet
59:59
he's
1:00:00
brought
1:00:01
out
1:00:02
life
1:00:03
aside
1:00:05
from
1:00:07
myself
1:00:09
create
1:00:11
a
1:00:13
king
1:00:14
heart
1:00:15
lord
1:00:16
bring
1:00:18
you
1:00:18
and
1:00:20
my
1:00:21
spirit
1:00:21
me
1:00:23
within
1:00:24
I'll go
1:00:27
to the
1:00:28
door just
1:00:28
to my
1:00:28
right here
1:00:29
after the
1:00:29
benediction
1:00:30
now may
1:00:32
the grace
1:00:32
of the
1:00:33
lord
1:00:33
jesus
1:00:33
christ
1:00:34
the love
1:00:34
of god
1:00:34
the father
1:00:35
and the
1:00:36
communion
1:00:36
of the
1:00:36
holy
1:00:36
spirit
1:00:37
be with
1:00:37
you now
1:00:38
and ever
1:00:38
more
1:00:39
amen
1:00:40
oh
1:00:50
you
1:00:50
you
1:00:51
you