WEBVTT

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 Okay, this morning I am very excited to continue our series, Christ in the Old Testament, as

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 we look at the gospel story throughout the whole Bible, New Testament and Old Testament.

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 Now, when I was growing up, well for most of my life, I have dreamt of doing something

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 great.

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 When I was a young boy, I wanted to be an artist.

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 I couldn't draw very well, but I wanted to be an artist.

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 But I didn't just want to be any artist.

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 I wanted to be a great artist.

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 I wanted to paint and draw the very best things that anyone could draw or paint.

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 Then I remember when I was about 12 years old, for about two or three weeks, I had this fantasy

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 that I was going to write a book.

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 I wasn't a very good writer, and I didn't particularly like writing, but I liked the idea of what

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 people would say when a 12-year-old had written a New York Times bestseller book.

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 I thought that would be amazing to have my name in lights, that people thought, here

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 is a child prodigy, a genius that can write this amazing book.

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 Well, that only lasted a few weeks.

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 But almost throughout all my high school, I wanted to be a great sportsman.

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 I dreamt about playing football in the Premier League, which was a very far-fetched dream because

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 I couldn't even make the first team at my school.

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 But that didn't matter.

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 I wanted to play for Manchester United and score the winning goal, or I wanted to play

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 cricket for South Africa, my country.

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 I loved playing cricket.

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 Again, I was average, but I dreamt about being great at cricket.

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 That obviously didn't materialize.

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 And then when I realized that God might be calling me to be a pastor, I had this dream about

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 what it would be to be the world's greatest pastor.

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 To have thousands of people flocking to hear my sermons, clamoring to join my church, what

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 it would look like and feel like to be a great pastor.

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 Throughout my life, I've despised the idea of being average or ordinary.

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 Whatever I did, I wanted to achieve some kind of greatness.

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 I wonder if you can resonate with me.

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 This morning, as we come to our passage of Scripture, we're going to dive into one chapter

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 in 2 Kings chapter 5.

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 It's in your bulletin.

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 And we're going to meet a man by the name of Naaman.

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 And Naaman was somebody who not just dreamt about greatness.

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 He was a man who had achieved much greatness.

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 In everything that he did in his life, he was well-respected.

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 He had a reputation for being a great man.

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 And he had broken through the ceilings of being ordinary and achieved greatness.

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 Now, the date is around 1200 BC.

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 There is a man in Israel called Elisha.

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 Elisha is the prophet of Israel.

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 He's kind of the man that has brought God's word to the nation of Israel.

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 And he's a man that God has used very powerfully.

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 He's done many miracles.

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 He's raised some people from the dead.

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 God has worked powerfully through Elisha.

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 But that doesn't mean that everything is fine and well in the nation of Israel.

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 You see, Israel had just been attacked previously by another nation called Syria.

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 And they were now under Syrian occupation.

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 The king of Syria was, in a sense, their king.

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 And the army of Syria was always on the doorstep threatening them.

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 They were under Syrian authority and Syrian occupation.

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 And so we pick up the story in 2 Kings 5, verse 1.

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 We're going to read through the text as we go today.

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 And then we'll bring three points at the end.

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 So read with me verse 1.

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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 great victory to Syria.

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 He was a mighty man of valor.

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 But he was a leper.

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 Okay, so here we meet this man, Naaman.

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 Naaman is a powerful man.

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 He's the commander of the armies of Syria.

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 And Syria have defeated their enemies.

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 They are a powerful military nation.

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 Naaman is a well-respected man.

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 He's a well-decorated soldier.

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 In addition to this, he has the favor of the king.

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 The king likes him very much.

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 Because due to Naaman's leadership, Syria defeated their arch enemies, Israel.

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 By all accounts, Naaman has had a very successful life.

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 His career has gone well.

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 He is respected in society.

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 He is well-liked and well-approved of.

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 He's the kind of man whose name would have frequently appeared in the financial times as a respected member of society.

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 But Naaman has a problem.

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 And it's a problem that he cannot solve.

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 It's a problem that he cannot solve with all his fame, with his money, with his connections to the king.

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 He cannot solve this problem with military might or power.

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 It's a problem that is going to kill him.

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 And it's a problem that is outside of his control.

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 You see, Naaman has leprosy.

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 Okay?

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 Now, leprosy is bad news for anyone.

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 Leprosy means that your body doesn't function so well.

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 The members of your body stop working.

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 You stop getting feeling.

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 And your body stops functioning.

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 But the problem with leprosy was not just that it affected your body.

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 It also affected all your relationships.

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 Because leprosy in those days was considered to be contagious.

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 You're considered an outcast.

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 You're often relegated to a leprosy colony.

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 And so overnight, all your relationships are destroyed.

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 Your reputation in society is destroyed.

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 And so for a man who's respected in society like Naaman, to contract leprosy was not just bad news for his body.

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 It meant the end of his career, the end of his status in society, the end of his reputation.

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 For Naaman, this is devastating.

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 Everything that he holds in high regard is suddenly in jeopardy.

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 And in those days, it was incurable.

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 This is catastrophic news for anyone, but especially for a man who's well respected like Naaman.

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 And I wonder how we would respond if we were diagnosed with such a condition.

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 Well, Naaman encounters some very good news.

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 Some really good news.

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 But he gets it from the most unlikely source.

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 Read verse 2 with me.

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 It says,

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 Okay, so what's happening here?

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 On one of the military expeditions, Naaman goes.

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 He conquers this village.

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 And he finds this young lady there.

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 And he says,

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 My wife's been looking for someone like you to administer to her, to work in her service.

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 And so he brings her back.

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 And she now works as a servant to Naaman's wife.

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 She's obviously suffered a great deal.

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 She's been trafficked from Israel to Syria.

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 She's away from her family, her home, her people.

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 And she's now a slave in the service of Naaman's wife.

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 She's just a young girl.

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 She's just a servant.

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 She's never commanded an army.

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 She doesn't have the ear of the king like Naaman.

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 Here is just a simple girl who's probably never done anything great.

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 We don't even know what her name is.

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 Here is a young girl who's overlooked, who's despised, possibly abused, rejected.

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 She's a foreigner.

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 She's insignificant.

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 She's poor.

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 But here is a girl who knows something.

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 She knows something that Naaman, for all his prestige, all his education, all his accolades, all his success,

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 she knows something that Naaman doesn't.

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 Although she doesn't know much, she knew enough.

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 She knew who God is.

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 She knew that there's one true God.

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 She knew that God is really God.

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 She knew that nothing is impossible for God.

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 And most importantly, she knew how to find him.

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 She knew how to find him.

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 She knew this servant girl understands something of the sovereignty of God and the mercy of God.

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 For she says, if only Naaman were with Elisha, the man of God, he would heal her.

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 And parents, just as a side, I was thinking about this last night as I was just finishing up preparing.

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 For those of us that are parents, I want us just to consider, as we long for our children,

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 who would we rather our children grow up to be like?

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 Educated, sophisticated, well-regarded Naaman, who has no clear idea who God is and how to find him.

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 Or a young servant girl whose name we don't remember, who's never achieved anything great,

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 but someone who knows who God is.

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 Who knows that God is truly God.

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 Who knows that nothing is impossible for God.

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 And knows how to find him.

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 I pray as parents that we will be the kind of parents that want our children to grow up like this young girl.

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 Someone who knows God.

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 Well, for some reason, this girl, I don't fully understand it,

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 but she decides to show the most incredible grace and mercy to Naaman.

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 Instead of hating him and reviling him, instead of gloating in his downfall and saying to herself,

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 well, he deserves everything that comes his way,

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 she decides to show him incredible grace.

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 Because she goes to her mistress, Naaman's wife, and she says,

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 I know how Naaman can get healed of his leprosy.

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 Naaman needs to go to Israel and to find the man of God.

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 Well, Naaman hears this, and he goes straight to his king, the king of Syria,

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 and he tells him what this girl says.

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 And together they hatch a plan.

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 And the plan is this.

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 They say, you go to the king of Israel.

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 I, the king of Syria, will write a letter, give it my official royal stamp,

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 and I will command him to make sure that he secures your healing.

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 Okay?

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 And so Naaman gets on his horse, and he takes a whole entourage of people and money and gifts,

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 and he goes to the king of Israel.

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 And so look at what happens as he goes.

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 He's determined to secure his healing, and so verse 5 says this,

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 he went taking with him 10 talents of silver, 6,000 shekels of gold, and 10 changes of clothing.

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 Okay?

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 So he goes to the king of Israel with a letter from the king of Syria.

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 He also goes with his army behind him, kind of backing him.

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 But in case the king of Israel is giving him any trouble or, you know, is making it a bit difficult,

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 he takes a whole pile of money and some changes of royal clothing just to sweeten the deal,

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 you know, just in case he needs some encouragement.

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 Okay?

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 And so he goes, and verse 6, it says,

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 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read,

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 When this letter reaches you, know that I, the king of Syria, have sent you Naaman my servant,

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 that you may cure him of his leprosy.

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 When the king of Israel read this letter, he tore his clothes.

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 Okay?

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 Good thing Naaman sent a change of clothes with him, right?

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 And he said to him,

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 Am I God?

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 Am I able to kill and make alive?

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 This man sends word to me to cure a man of leprosy.

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 Consider how this king is seeking a quarrel with me, a fight with me.

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 So the king gets worried, right?

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 Because now Naaman's come to him on the king of Syria,

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 and this letter says,

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 You are to heal this man.

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 Well, he doesn't have the power to heal him,

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 but at the same time, if he refuses him and lets him down,

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 or maybe the Syrian army is going to come invade them again and attack them.

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 So what's he to do?

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 He can't heal him, but he also can't refuse him.

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 Well, look at verse 8 with me.

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 It says,

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 When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes,

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 he sent him a letter, saying,

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 Why have you torn your clothes?

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 Let this man Naaman come to me now,

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 that he may know that there truly is a prophet, a man of God in Israel.

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 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots,

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 and he stood at the door of Elisha's house.

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 But Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying,

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 Go and wash in the river Jordan seven times,

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 and your flesh will be made clean.

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 You'll be restored.

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 You'll be made clean.

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 Okay, so Elisha sends a servant to go and meet Naaman,

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 and he says,

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 You want to be healed?

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 You want to be restored?

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 Well, there's a river down there called Jordan.

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 Just go and wash seven times, and God will heal you.

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 Sounds simple, right?

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 Well, look at Naaman's response.

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 Look at verse 11.

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 Naaman was angry,

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 and he went away,

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 muttering to himself,

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 Behold, I thought that man would come out and stand

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 and call on the name of his God

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 and wave his hands over me

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 and cure me of my leprosy.

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 Are not Abanra and Pahapa,

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 the rivers of Damascus,

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 are they not better than all these rivers in Israel?

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 Could I not wash in them and be cleaned?

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 And so he turned away

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 and went away in a fit of rage.

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 This is not turning out to be a very fruitful business trip

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 for poor Naaman, right?

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 Firstly, this young servant girl really gets his hopes up

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 and says,

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 Just go to Israel and you'll be healed.

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 He goes there and he goes to king's palace

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 and he says,

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 Here I am.

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 I want my healing.

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 And the king says,

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 I can't heal you.

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 And just when it looks like all hope is lost,

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 Elisha sends a message saying,

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 Come to my house.

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 I'll help you.

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 And he goes there,

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 and Elisha doesn't even meet him.

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 He sends a messenger to go and talk to him.

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 And finally,

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 this messenger gives him a pretty silly message.

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 He says,

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 You want to be healed?

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 Just go wash in that river.

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 And Naaman is thinking to himself,

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 What kind of insult is this?

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 Doesn't Elisha realize who I am?

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 Don't you know,

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 Naaman says,

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 that I am the commander of the king's army,

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:13.659
 the very army that have defeated you.

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:16.579
 Don't you realize you are our subject?

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.240
 And when I come to Israel,

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.199
 you treat me with such inferiority.

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.879
 And when I come to Elisha,

00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:26.440
 you don't even come out of your house and greet me.

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.820
 You just send your servant.

00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:29.560
 Who do you think I am?

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:30.740
 And then he says,

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:33.580
 If I wanted to merely wash in a river,

00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:36.060
 I would have gone to a great river,

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:37.980
 in a great country like Syria,

00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.879
 with great people around me,

00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.540
 important people watching me,

00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:43.280
 because that's who I am.

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:46.280
 Why should I wash myself in some meager little river,

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.440
 in a meager little nation like Israel,

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:50.420
 with unimportant people washing me?

00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:52.039
 I am Naaman.

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:55.779
 I deserve a better treatment than that.

00:14:56.719 --> 00:14:58.879
 And so Naaman turns around in his chariot,

00:14:59.019 --> 00:15:01.279
 and he leaves in a fit of rage.

00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:03.879
 You see, friends,

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:06.419
 what God is trying to show Naaman here,

00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:08.339
 and what God is actually trying to show us,

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:11.179
 is that Naaman's problem was not just

00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:12.740
 that he had leprosy of the skin.

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:16.500
 The problem was actually that he has leprosy of the heart.

00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:19.079
 You see, Naaman's heart is sick.

00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:21.600
 It's not just his skin that's sick.

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.500
 That's one thing.

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.620
 But Naaman's heart is not sick,

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.639
 is not well.

00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:28.000
 His heart is diseased and is broken.

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:30.120
 It's the inner reality of his heart that needs healing.

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.500
 See, friends, for all of us here,

00:15:33.020 --> 00:15:34.980
 the reason for most of our problems

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.400
 and our struggles in life

00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:39.220
 is because our hearts have got leprosy.

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:40.200
 Our hearts are sick.

00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:42.139
 Our hearts don't function like they're meant to.

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.140
 The reason why marriage is hard

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.559
 and we fight with our spouses

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:47.080
 is because we are self-centered

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:48.480
 and we are self-seeking.

00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.860
 The reason why we don't get on with our colleagues

00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:52.319
 and our family

00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:54.480
 is because we are self-justifying

00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:57.159
 and we want to seek our own pleasure.

00:15:57.580 --> 00:16:00.199
 The reason why we get disappointed with our kids

00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:02.600
 and we get frustrated when things don't go our way

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.259
 is because our hearts,

00:16:04.319 --> 00:16:08.679
 at the deepest and the most fundamental recesses of our hearts,

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.459
 is that we actually seek our own good.

00:16:11.859 --> 00:16:13.199
 We're looking after ourselves.

00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:16.419
 And in our hearts, we want to be somebody great.

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:18.519
 But God is showing us here

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:21.959
 that Naaman's problem wasn't just his lifestyle or his actions.

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:24.699
 Naaman didn't just need to change his eating habits

00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:26.079
 or to do a bit more exercise.

00:16:26.479 --> 00:16:28.079
 What Naaman needed was somebody

00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:30.079
 to cure the leprosy of his heart.

00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:33.000
 Friends, just like leprosy,

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:36.799
 sin makes our hearts not function properly.

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.899
 Sin damages our relationships.

00:16:39.099 --> 00:16:40.240
 It damages our friendships.

00:16:40.839 --> 00:16:42.299
 And just like leprosy,

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.979
 sin is highly infectious.

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.959
 It affects every area of our lives.

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.339
 But you know what?

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.120
 Just like leprosy,

00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:50.899
 the leprosy of our hearts,

00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:52.419
 sin is just as incurable.

00:16:53.099 --> 00:16:55.159
 You can't fix it by changing your lifestyle.

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.939
 You can't fix it by going to the gym.

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:59.519
 You can't fix it by eating more healthily.

00:17:00.079 --> 00:17:01.599
 There's a problem with our hearts

00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:03.959
 and we need a miracle, a cure to fix it.

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.899
 Friends, the problem with sin

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.840
 is that it's destructive,

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:08.380
 it's far-reaching,

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.560
 it's incurable,

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.860
 it's fatal.

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:14.320
 And none of us are immune from it.

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:17.300
 None of us are immune from it.

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:20.259
 And that's exactly why God brings Naaman

00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.820
 to this terrible situation

00:17:21.820 --> 00:17:23.540
 where he wants to show Naaman

00:17:23.540 --> 00:17:24.600
 the condition of his heart.

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:26.740
 He brings Naaman to the end of himself

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.340
 and he wants to say,

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:29.440
 Naaman, can't you see what's going on in your heart?

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:31.800
 Can't you see the reason why you're angry

00:17:31.800 --> 00:17:33.180
 is because you feel entitled

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:35.080
 to be treated better than that?

00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.140
 Friends, sometimes God will bring us

00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.560
 to a terrible situation.

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:41.299
 Sometimes God will bring difficulty into our life

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.560
 because in his kindness and his grace,

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.880
 he wants to reveal to us

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.840
 the ugliness of the sin in our hearts.

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.380
 He wants to reveal to us

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.980
 the true condition of our hearts.

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.779
 And it's the mercy of God to show us that.

00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.600
 And so God does this for Naaman.

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:57.320
 But the good news of the scriptures is this,

00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.200
 that God doesn't leave us there.

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:02.759
 You see, just as God sent this young servant girl,

00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:05.400
 this girl that was overlooked and despised,

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:08.480
 God sent this servant girl to show Naaman

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.519
 how to get his healing,

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.160
 God sent another servant.

00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.940
 He sent another servant.

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:15.019
 Someone too that was overlooked,

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.819
 someone that was despised,

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.360
 someone that society didn't think of very highly,

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:21.319
 God sent Jesus Christ

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.299
 to show us the condition of our heart,

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.440
 to bring us healing.

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.779
 You see, this servant girl

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.019
 is the most unlikely and improbable sources

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.320
 of hope for Naaman's life.

00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:33.740
 And Jesus Christ in the same way,

00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:35.600
 born in the backwaters of Israel,

00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:38.160
 just like the servant girl despised,

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.720
 rejected, looked down upon,

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.500
 in many ways unimpressive,

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.740
 very few people thought he was great.

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:46.080
 Who would have thought a servant girl

00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:48.700
 would have been the solution to Naaman's healing?

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.279
 Friends, who would have thought

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.080
 that a carpenter from Israel,

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:54.340
 born to an unwed teenage mom,

00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:56.039
 born in the backwaters of Israel,

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.779
 would hold the key to our healing

00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.679
 and our salvation.

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.059
 But he does.

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.199
 He does.

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:03.220
 And just as the servant girl

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:05.679
 shows Naaman how to be saved and healed,

00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:07.699
 Jesus Christ, another servant,

00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.199
 comes and he shows us the salvation

00:19:10.199 --> 00:19:11.639
 that we so desperately need.

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:14.179
 Well, let's get back to our story.

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.179
 Look what happens here.

00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:17.720
 Elisha tells Naaman via his servant

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:19.579
 to go and wash in the Jordan River

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.959
 and be healed.

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:24.039
 And twice, in verse 11, verse 12,

00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:27.140
 the scripture tells us that Naaman is angry.

00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:29.420
 Now the question is why?

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:32.880
 Why is Naaman angry with Elisha

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.840
 when Elisha has just told him how to be healed?

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:38.620
 Why wouldn't Naaman be frustrated?

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:41.579
 Elisha just told him how to be saved,

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:44.299
 how to be cured of this life-threatening disease,

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.039
 this disease that is going to kill him.

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:48.519
 Naaman has just solved his problem,

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:51.059
 and yet Elisha has just solved this problem,

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.680
 and yet Naaman is angry.

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:56.660
 Friends, why does Naaman reject this good news

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.819
 that Elisha brings him,

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.980
 the good news of his healing?

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.879
 Well, I'll pull it to you.

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:03.599
 It's the exact same reason that we reject the gospel.

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:08.200
 The same reason that Naaman rejects Elisha's good news

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:10.599
 is the same reason that you and I reject the gospel.

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.839
 It's the same reason we don't believe the gospel deeply.

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:16.440
 There's three things here that Naaman finds offensive

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:18.340
 about Elisha's proposed solution.

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:20.279
 Three reasons why he's offended,

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:24.279
 even insulted by Elisha's supposedly good news.

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.960
 And they're the same reasons

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.740
 why we get insulted by the gospel.

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.740
 Three reasons.

00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.420
 First is this.

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:33.420
 Look at how Elisha snubs Naaman.

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:36.799
 He doesn't honor him as Naaman thinks he deserves to be honored.

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:41.140
 You see, Naaman prides himself in his status as a great man.

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.900
 He's a commander of the king's army.

00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:45.980
 He has a reputation as being a man of great valor,

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:48.180
 of great strength, of great courage.

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.920
 He prides himself as being a man of influence,

00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:52.600
 a man of wealth.

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:54.580
 He's a man of financial means.

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:57.480
 And so when he hears that he needs to go to Elisha,

00:20:57.740 --> 00:21:00.900
 he comes with his horses and his chariots and his entourage

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:04.519
 and his 6,000 gold coins and his change of clothing.

00:21:05.040 --> 00:21:07.120
 And he stands outside Elisha's door.

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.560
 And what does Elisha do?

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:11.099
 He doesn't even come out to meet him.

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:14.059
 He sends a servant to go and tell him what to do.

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.039
 And Naaman's response is,

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:18.679
 doesn't Elisha realize who I am?

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.919
 Who does he think I am?

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.879
 That all he does is he sends his servant.

00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:25.279
 Elisha doesn't even come out to greet me.

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:28.940
 And Naaman is offended by the lack of awe

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:31.799
 and the lack of reverence that Elisha shows him.

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:35.099
 Friends, in the Gospels,

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:38.200
 Jesus Christ is constantly showing us

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:40.599
 that those who think of themselves as important

00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:42.599
 miss the grace of God,

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.680
 while those who don't think of themselves

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:47.480
 as particularly important find the grace of God.

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.419
 Remember the one point,

00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:53.700
 a rich, young official comes to Jesus.

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:54.879
 And he says,

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:58.019
 Jesus, I want to know what is it that I need to do

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.859
 to get into the kingdom of God,

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.660
 to know God,

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:02.139
 to secure an eternal life.

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:06.400
 And Jesus shows him a couple of areas in his life

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.960
 where he needs God's grace.

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.599
 And every time Jesus says,

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:11.259
 well, what about this area of your life?

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.019
 This rich, young, wealthy man says to him,

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:16.000
 no, I think I'm covered in that area.

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:17.039
 I think that's good.

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.119
 And Jesus says,

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.879
 okay, well, what about this area of your life?

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.400
 And he says,

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.680
 no, I've done that.

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.480
 Don't worry, I'm fine.

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:22.940
 Thank you.

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.539
 And Jesus keeps on wanting to show him

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.460
 his need for grace.

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:30.460
 And eventually this man who's so proud goes off.

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:32.579
 And Jesus turns to his disciples and he says,

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:34.960
 how hard it is for a rich man

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.480
 to enter the kingdom of God.

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.160
 Okay.

00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:40.319
 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:43.240
 than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God.

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.160
 What's Jesus saying?

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.039
 He's saying,

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:48.240
 it's so hard for those that are rich in self-importance,

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.319
 those who are rich in self-sufficiency,

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:54.120
 those who are rich in pride to receive the grace of God.

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.319
 But then straight after that,

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.559
 a Roman centurion comes to Jesus.

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:01.079
 Here's a man who has men under him.

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.400
 He's a man of authority.

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.279
 And he comes to Jesus and he says,

00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.799
 Jesus, my servant is sick.

00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.920
 Will you come and heal him?

00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:10.160
 And Jesus says, sure, let me come to your house.

00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.860
 And the centurion says to him,

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:14.779
 Jesus, I'm not worthy to have you come to my house.

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:17.600
 Just say the word and I know he'll be healed.

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:21.059
 Friends, here is a rich young official

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:25.099
 that insists on his own self-importance and he gets nothing.

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:30.039
 Here is a Roman centurion who insists on his own worthlessness,

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:32.059
 his lack of importance,

00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:34.500
 and he gets everything that he needs.

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:37.440
 Jesus said this, he said,

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.759
 blessed are the poor in spirit,

00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:40.859
 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:43.500
 Blessed are those who are not rich in their own eyes,

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.000
 said Jesus,

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:47.659
 for those are the ones who are able to receive what I want to give them.

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:51.240
 Friends, God is teaching Naaman what he wants to teach us today,

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:53.680
 that the only way to find God,

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.720
 the only way to find the grace of God,

00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:58.400
 the only way to find the healing and the salvation

00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:01.000
 that Naaman needed and you and I need

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:03.360
 is to admit our need for it

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:05.580
 and to come to God on our knees.

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.759
 See, Naaman goes to Elisha

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.200
 and he expects Elisha to bow down before him

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.800
 and to revere him and to say,

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.200
 oh, your greatness,

00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:15.240
 thank you for coming to my house,

00:24:15.540 --> 00:24:16.820
 let me help you.

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.819
 And Elisha gives him none of that.

00:24:19.679 --> 00:24:21.639
 Elisha says, that's not how you find God.

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.700
 Naaman, you want to find God?

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.659
 You find him on your knees.

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:28.319
 You find him on your knees.

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:31.139
 Friends, I don't know where you're at today.

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.279
 You may be a Christ follower,

00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.819
 you may be a spiritual seeker.

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:37.439
 You may have been a Christian for many years,

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.819
 maybe you're a Christian with doubts,

00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:41.240
 maybe you're a Christian with questions,

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:44.439
 maybe you're not so sure about this whole Jesus thing.

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:46.119
 Friends, come to Jesus.

00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.720
 Bring your doubts,

00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.319
 bring your questions,

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:51.139
 bring your concerns,

00:24:51.939 --> 00:24:52.879
 bring your pain,

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.740
 bring your anxiety.

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.539
 Come to Jesus.

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:58.599
 But don't come in pride.

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:01.179
 Don't come in self-importance.

00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:03.639
 Don't come rich in self-sufficiency.

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.519
 Come to him on your knees.

00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:07.319
 That's where you find him.

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.139
 You find him on your knees.

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:11.079
 Naaman is offended

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:13.819
 because Elisha doesn't honor him as a great man.

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.299
 He asks him to come to him on his knees.

00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:18.199
 Second thing is this.

00:25:18.939 --> 00:25:22.059
 Naaman is offended by the simplicity of grace.

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:26.460
 Naaman's offended by almost the ordinariness

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:28.159
 of Elisha's solution.

00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.679
 The fact that it was just so plain,

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.559
 so simple,

00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:33.899
 made it untenable for Naaman.

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.720
 Look at what he says.

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.619
 Look at verse 11.

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.439
 He says,

00:25:36.440 --> 00:26:05.019
 Throughout this story,

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:07.400
 God has been trying to show Naaman

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:10.180
 that he's been looking in all the wrong places

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:12.079
 to find what he's looking for.

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:14.460
 First, it's a little servant girl,

00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:16.359
 not the great doctors of Syria,

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:18.500
 that tell him where to find his healing.

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:21.700
 Then when Naaman does saddle up his war horse

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.680
 and he goes to Israel,

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.480
 where does he go?

00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.359
 He goes to king's palace

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.940
 because palaces are where important people go.

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.819
 That's where important solutions are found.

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.680
 That's where problems are solved.

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.420
 But the king can't help him.

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:35.800
 And so he hears that Elisha can help him.

00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:37.220
 So he goes to Elisha's house,

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.480
 but it's not Elisha,

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.560
 the great man of God,

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.220
 that heals him.

00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.420
 It's the servant,

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:44.460
 the man whose name we don't even know,

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.640
 that tells him to go and wash in the rivers.

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.820
 And eventually,

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:48.420
 finally,

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:50.940
 when the servant does give him a solution,

00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.400
 it's as simple

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:54.759
 and as unimpressive

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.779
 as just go and take a bath

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.820
 in the rivers.

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.039
 You see,

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:01.400
 Naaman wanted dramatic ceremony.

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.940
 He wanted religious occasion.

00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:04.480
 He wanted bells and whistles

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.640
 and smoke and fire and lights

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.060
 and he wanted fireworks.

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:10.840
 He wanted Elisha to build an altar

00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:12.100
 and to call on God

00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:13.100
 and wave his hands

00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.340
 and high ceremony.

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.500
 And he doesn't get any of that.

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.080
 Elisha says,

00:27:18.780 --> 00:27:19.580
 just trust me.

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.400
 Just trust me.

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.100
 Go and wash in the river

00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:24.640
 and you'll be cleaned.

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:25.920
 And friends,

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.019
 the gospel story

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.200
 is one of majesty

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:29.720
 and his magnificence

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:31.440
 but is clothed in ordinariness.

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:33.759
 It's the creator of the universe

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.420
 born in a manger.

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:37.660
 It's the God of all creation

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:39.880
 hanging on a cross.

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.000
 It's in the simplicity

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.640
 and the ordinariness of Jesus

00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.740
 is part of the reason

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.059
 why Israel rejected him.

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.460
 They wanted a king

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.539
 to come on a war horse.

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.700
 They wanted a king

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.640
 who they could fear

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.539
 and they could adore.

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.940
 They wanted a soldier

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.819
 to come in might

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.360
 and power

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.539
 and deliver their enemies.

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.240
 And instead,

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.200
 they got a baby in a manger.

00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.639
 And Jesus tells a parable

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.299
 where he says,

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:03.359
 the gospel is like a man

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.659
 who found a treasure

00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:06.480
 buried in a field.

00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:07.940
 And he went away

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.519
 and he sold everything he had

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.500
 to buy that field

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.319
 to have that treasure.

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.440
 And the truth is,

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.379
 that's exactly what

00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:14.220
 the gospel is like.

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.319
 It's a treasure

00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:16.859
 that is worth everything.

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.839
 It's a treasure

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:19.359
 that's worth more than

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.099
 all the gold

00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.879
 and the diamonds

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.639
 and all the jewels

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.379
 and all the world.

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:24.119
 It's a magnificent treasure.

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.559
 But very often,

00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.259
 this treasure

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.119
 is buried

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:29.759
 in a field of ordinariness.

00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.059
 It's hidden

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:32.419
 in a field of ordinariness.

00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:33.939
 And Naaman wanted

00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:35.279
 to find,

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:35.959
 to be honored

00:28:35.959 --> 00:28:36.500
 and he wanted

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.399
 the power

00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:38.259
 and the glory

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.159
 and the strength.

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.419
 And yet,

00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:42.159
 that's not where you find

00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:43.379
 what you're looking for.

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:44.379
 Friends,

00:28:44.439 --> 00:28:45.399
 seldom is God found

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.259
 on High Street.

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.539
 It's in the field

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.179
 of ordinariness

00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:49.319
 we find what our souls

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.039
 are looking for.

00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:51.159
 Friends,

00:28:51.219 --> 00:28:51.939
 what about you?

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.359
 Where are you looking

00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:53.899
 for Jesus?

00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.679
 Do you want Jesus

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.579
 to come and be

00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:57.199
 an ally

00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.099
 to your quest

00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.699
 for health

00:28:58.699 --> 00:28:59.279
 and wealth

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.159
 and prosperity?

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.719
 A comfortable life?

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.019
 Friends,

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.919
 you won't find him there.

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.699
 You'll find Jesus

00:29:04.699 --> 00:29:05.500
 in the simplicity

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.399
 of repentance.

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.439
 You'll find Jesus

00:29:08.439 --> 00:29:09.839
 in the simplicity

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.679
 of a child.

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.500
 You'll find Jesus

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.439
 as you come and serve

00:29:13.439 --> 00:29:14.199
 the marginalized

00:29:14.199 --> 00:29:15.099
 and the hurting

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.899
 and the poor

00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:16.739
 and the vulnerable.

00:29:17.479 --> 00:29:18.339
 You'll find Jesus

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:19.379
 as you serve those

00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.500
 that have got no means

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.559
 to serve you back.

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.139
 You'll find him

00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:24.440
 on your knees.

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:25.599
 Friends,

00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.419
 when was the last time

00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:27.319
 you got on your knees?

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.779
 Cried out to God

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.019
 and said,

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.220
 God,

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.019
 I'm so grateful.

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.899
 That's where you find him.

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.119
 You find him

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.740
 on your knees.

00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.480
 The gospel's mind

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.799
 staggeringly glorious

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.440
 and beautiful,

00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.700
 but it's hidden

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.539
 in a field

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.399
 of ordinariness.

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:41.799
 Finally,

00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.480
 Naaman is offended

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:45.039
 by the cost of grace.

00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:46.700
 By the cost of grace.

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:49.220
 This is a little tricky

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.640
 to see,

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.539
 but if we understand

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.160
 the gospel,

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.360
 this is really important.

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.000
 So let's see

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.080
 if we can make sense

00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:54.420
 of this.

00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.880
 Elisha comes to Naaman

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.819
 and on one hand

00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:00.180
 he says to Naaman,

00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:01.000
 Naaman,

00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:01.960
 if you want to be healed,

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:03.000
 it'll cost you nothing.

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:03.700
 Remember,

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.519
 Naaman comes

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:06.460
 with a whole truckload

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.340
 of money

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.220
 and clothing

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.059
 and wealth

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.860
 and gifts

00:30:09.860 --> 00:30:11.700
 to buy his healing.

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.019
 Right?

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.720
 And Elisha says,

00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.120
 it'll cost you nothing.

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.279
 It's for absolutely free.

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:18.279
 But on the other hand,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.559
 Elisha says,

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:21.059
 it'll cost you everything.

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.940
 And that was a price

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.460
 that Naaman

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:25.000
 was not willing to pay.

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.400
 See friends,

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.400
 when you come to Jesus,

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.840
 his offer of grace

00:30:28.840 --> 00:30:29.799
 is exactly the same.

00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.360
 On one hand,

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.600
 he says it costs you nothing.

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.740
 It's absolutely free.

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.039
 You can't earn it.

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.940
 You can't buy it.

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.940
 You can't merit it.

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.400
 But at the same time,

00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:39.299
 it demands everything of you.

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.740
 It'll cost you everything.

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.400
 And just like Naaman,

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.259
 for many of us,

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.940
 the reason we don't know God

00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.400
 and the reason

00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.740
 we don't know God deeply

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:48.440
 is that that is a price

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.900
 more than we're willing to pay.

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.759
 And so look at what happens here.

00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:53.780
 Naaman arrives with his chariots

00:30:53.780 --> 00:30:54.460
 and his servants

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.259
 and his entourage

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:57.000
 and Naaman expects

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.680
 that if he's going to be healed

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.580
 of this leprosy,

00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.940
 it's going to cost him a lot.

00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.180
 It's going to cost him

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.900
 a lot of money,

00:31:03.300 --> 00:31:04.320
 a lot of his time,

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.860
 a lot of his energy,

00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:07.100
 a lot of his devotion.

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.980
 It's going to cost a high price.

00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:10.140
 And Naaman is willing

00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:11.259
 to pay this price.

00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:11.560
 Right?

00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:14.279
 But what Elisha tells him

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.099
 to do cost him

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.919
 none of those things.

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:17.200
 But what did it cost him?

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.399
 What did it cost him?

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.559
 It cost him his pride.

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:21.980
 Right?

00:31:22.679 --> 00:31:23.779
 And that was a price

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:25.960
 that Naaman is not willing to pay.

00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.139
 A little bit later,

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.200
 his servants come to him

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.519
 and he says,

00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:29.419
 Master,

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.019
 so Naaman gets on his horse

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.500
 and he says,

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.319
 I'm out of here.

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.839
 Forget you, Elisha.

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.980
 I'm going back to Syria.

00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.339
 Right?

00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.940
 And his servants

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.839
 chase him down.

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.740
 They get on their horse

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.220
 and they say,

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:40.139
 wait, wait, wait,

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:40.460
 Naaman,

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.539
 let's talk about this.

00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.500
 And they say,

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:44.059
 if that man,

00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:44.559
 the prophet,

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.840
 had told you

00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:47.220
 to do something great,

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.819
 would you not have done it?

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:49.880
 You see,

00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.460
 if Elisha had said to him,

00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:53.100
 go and prove your greatness,

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.920
 go slay some dragon,

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:57.200
 go build a magnificent temple,

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.600
 go on an expedition

00:31:58.600 --> 00:31:59.799
 to the ends of the world,

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:02.340
 go and swim through fire and ice,

00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.559
 Naaman would have said,

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.740
 that I can do.

00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:06.579
 There's a price I can pay.

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:08.539
 There's a God I can serve.

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:08.799
 Right?

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:10.059
 If Elisha had said,

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.940
 go and do some magnificent thing

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:13.279
 to prove your greatness,

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.099
 Naaman would have said,

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.480
 yes,

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.399
 now I can do it.

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.419
 I'll show you

00:32:16.419 --> 00:32:17.740
 that I deserve this healing.

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.480
 Here's Naaman's problem.

00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.440
 He says,

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.339
 you want me to go wash

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:21.819
 in that river?

00:32:22.659 --> 00:32:23.700
 Anyone can do that.

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.399
 Anyone can do that.

00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:27.059
 My soldiers can do that.

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.659
 A child can do that.

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:30.419
 A drug dealer can do that.

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:32.159
 Give me something great to do.

00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.000
 Give me something

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.599
 that will show

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.559
 that I'm magnificent.

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:35.659
 Give me something

00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.500
 that will prove

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.279
 my greatness

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.340
 and how rich

00:32:38.340 --> 00:32:39.340
 and wealthy I am.

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.300
 Give me something

00:32:40.300 --> 00:32:41.740
 that will cost me a lot.

00:32:43.300 --> 00:32:43.720
 And Naaman,

00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.820
 Elisha comes to him

00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:45.259
 and says,

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.600
 unless you wash in the river,

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.440
 you'll never be saved.

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:51.100
 Sally Lloyd-Jones,

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:51.900
 the author

00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:53.800
 of the Jesus Storybook Bible,

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.540
 writes this.

00:32:54.600 --> 00:32:55.019
 She says,

00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:57.100
 all Naaman needed

00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:58.600
 was nothing,

00:32:59.340 --> 00:33:01.000
 but nothing was the one thing

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.380
 that Naaman didn't have.

00:33:03.320 --> 00:33:03.860
 You see that?

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:06.379
 Elisha didn't want his money.

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.559
 He didn't want his devotion.

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.679
 He didn't want his religious,

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:12.500
 moral performance.

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.919
 He wanted him to come empty.

00:33:15.699 --> 00:33:16.919
 He wanted him to admit

00:33:16.919 --> 00:33:18.699
 that he needed God's grace.

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:21.319
 He wanted him to come with nothing.

00:33:22.219 --> 00:33:24.119
 Naaman had everything in the world

00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:26.619
 except nothing.

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:29.059
 He didn't know how to come empty-handed.

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.479
 Remember the words of that old hymn?

00:33:31.899 --> 00:33:33.559
 Nothing in my hands I bring,

00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:35.700
 simply to your cross I cling.

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:36.819
 Friends,

00:33:36.879 --> 00:33:38.379
 the only way that we find God,

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.399
 the only way that we find

00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:40.259
 the grace of God

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.099
 that we're looking for

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:43.259
 is to not come with all our stuff

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.960
 and all our moral performance

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.819
 and all the things

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.639
 that we think will earn us

00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:49.019
 our salvation.

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:51.279
 It's to come before our Christ,

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:51.859
 our King,

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.099
 with nothing.

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.619
 It's to come empty.

00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:56.339
 It's to come and admit

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:58.379
 that we need his grace.

00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.840
 As Hong Kongers,

00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:00.820
 we don't like to admit

00:34:00.820 --> 00:34:02.900
 that we're in anybody's debt, right?

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.720
 We don't like people

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.480
 to give us something

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.540
 that we haven't paid for

00:34:06.540 --> 00:34:07.620
 or earned or achieved.

00:34:08.160 --> 00:34:09.920
 We don't like to lose face like that.

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.559
 We don't like to admit

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.640
 that we're either weak

00:34:12.640 --> 00:34:13.280
 or incapable

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:14.840
 or in someone else's debt.

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.000
 But friends,

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.860
 the grace of God

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.559
 is not something

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.760
 that you can achieve.

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:20.300
 It's simply a gift

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.220
 that you receive.

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:23.599
 And these three rocks of offense,

00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:25.299
 the humility of God's grace,

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:27.319
 the simplicity of God's grace,

00:34:27.439 --> 00:34:29.199
 and the cost of God's grace,

00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:30.259
 the cost of his price,

00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:32.359
 these things almost cost

00:34:32.359 --> 00:34:33.339
 Naaman his life.

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:35.259
 Naaman almost went home

00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:35.919
 empty-handed.

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.879
 He almost died

00:34:36.879 --> 00:34:38.859
 because of these three things.

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.339
 And friends,

00:34:39.439 --> 00:34:39.719
 you know what?

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.919
 These three things

00:34:40.919 --> 00:34:42.159
 are the exact same things

00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.939
 that will cost us

00:34:42.939 --> 00:34:44.099
 finding the grace of God.

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.739
 They're the exact same things

00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.619
 that will stop us

00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.899
 from finding who God is

00:34:47.899 --> 00:34:48.819
 and encountering him

00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:49.980
 in his power.

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.599
 And although it's

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.639
 the easiest thing in the world,

00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:53.460
 at the same time,

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.260
 it's the most difficult

00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:54.900
 thing in the world

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:56.400
 because the only thing

00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.019
 that we don't know

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.960
 how to bring to God

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:59.360
 is our nothing.

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.659
 Our nothing.

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:03.920
 Well, look at what happens next.

00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.619
 Naaman is offended.

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.019
 He's insulted.

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.400
 He's angry.

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.099
 And so he gets on his horse

00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:10.659
 and he says,

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.440
 forget this guy, Elisha.

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.519
 I'm going back to Syria.

00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.699
 Verse 13.

00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:17.699
 His servants drew near to him

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.019
 and said,

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:18.480
 Master,

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:19.840
 let's talk about this.

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:21.760
 If that prophet had told you

00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.820
 to do some great thing,

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.400
 would you not have done it?

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.920
 Well, how much more then

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.519
 when he says,

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:28.380
 simply go and wash in the river?

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.300
 Okay, so that they negotiate

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:32.460
 and eventually they convince him.

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:34.280
 Naaman tentatively,

00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:36.380
 he decides to swallow his pride,

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.059
 to trust Elisha

00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:39.880
 and to bank his life

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:41.380
 on this very simple word

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:42.740
 that Elisha has given him.

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:44.019
 Verse 14.

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:46.280
 So Naaman went down to the river

00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.900
 and he dipped himself

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:49.720
 seven times into the Jordan

00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:51.000
 according to the word

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.940
 of the man of God

00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:54.840
 and his flesh was made clean

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:56.320
 like a baby's bottom.

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:56.880
 Right?

00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:58.280
 His flesh was restored

00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.060
 like a child

00:35:59.060 --> 00:36:00.780
 and he was clean.

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:01.519
 Okay?

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:03.100
 So Naaman goes down.

00:36:03.580 --> 00:36:04.240
 He's not so sure

00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:05.240
 that this is going to work

00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:05.660
 but he says,

00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:06.800
 okay, I'll try it.

00:36:07.160 --> 00:36:08.160
 He washes in the river

00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:10.700
 and God miraculously heals him.

00:36:11.439 --> 00:36:12.719
 But now look what happens.

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.619
 Naaman goes home

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.419
 a different man.

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.299
 Naaman is changed.

00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:18.319
 He's not just,

00:36:18.439 --> 00:36:19.739
 his skin is not just healed,

00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:21.219
 his heart is healed.

00:36:21.339 --> 00:36:22.779
 Look what happens in verse 15.

00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:23.960
 In verse 15,

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:25.099
 he goes back and he says,

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:27.460
 now I know that there is no God

00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.159
 in all the earth

00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:30.460
 except the God of Israel.

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:31.339
 You see,

00:36:31.339 --> 00:36:33.399
 he came to Israel superstitious.

00:36:33.859 --> 00:36:34.719
 He came thinking,

00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:36.659
 maybe this God can heal me.

00:36:36.739 --> 00:36:37.460
 I'm not so sure

00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:39.039
 but maybe this God can heal me.

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:40.679
 But now he goes back,

00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:41.300
 a believer.

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:43.460
 Naaman is not just healed,

00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.559
 he's saved.

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.539
 Because what happens after this

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:48.639
 is he goes back to Syria,

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.179
 he's now a believer

00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:51.360
 in the God of Israel.

00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:53.019
 He came to Israel

00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:54.519
 to save his reputation,

00:36:54.739 --> 00:36:55.880
 to save his wealth,

00:36:56.239 --> 00:36:57.340
 to save his career,

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.619
 to save his name.

00:36:59.059 --> 00:37:00.880
 But now he goes back to Syria,

00:37:01.219 --> 00:37:01.940
 a worshiper,

00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.360
 not of the gods of Syria

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.639
 but of the God of Israel,

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.860
 the one true God.

00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:07.139
 He goes back

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:08.579
 and he's willing to put his name,

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.739
 his reputation,

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.940
 his career,

00:37:11.259 --> 00:37:11.980
 his wealth,

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:13.360
 everything on the line

00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.219
 as he goes back

00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:14.599
 and he says,

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.860
 I believe in that God.

00:37:16.299 --> 00:37:16.960
 See what's happened?

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:19.159
 He came to try and save himself

00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:20.519
 and now he goes back

00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.639
 putting all those things

00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.159
 on the line.

00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:23.779
 What's happened to Naaman?

00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:24.980
 Friends,

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.460
 he's become a believer.

00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:27.920
 He's got saved.

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.799
 God hasn't just saved his skin,

00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:31.559
 God has changed his heart.

00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:32.440
 And friends,

00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.420
 that's the gospel.

00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.840
 That's what happens

00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:36.000
 in the gospel of the Bible,

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:36.819
 in the Old Testament

00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:37.640
 and the New Testament.

00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:38.880
 As we encounter

00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.720
 the living God,

00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.980
 God changes not just

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.880
 our circumstances,

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:44.000
 he changes our hearts.

00:37:44.600 --> 00:37:45.800
 Naaman comes out of the water

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.640
 a new man.

00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:47.980
 But it's all by grace.

00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.920
 He hasn't done a single thing

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.620
 to deserve it.

00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:52.019
 He hasn't earned it.

00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:53.360
 He hasn't bought it.

00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:54.800
 He hasn't achieved it.

00:37:55.100 --> 00:37:55.460
 In fact,

00:37:55.539 --> 00:37:56.580
 that's been the problem

00:37:56.580 --> 00:37:57.200
 all along.

00:37:57.580 --> 00:37:58.200
 All along,

00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.320
 he's wanted to earn it.

00:37:59.580 --> 00:38:00.700
 He's wanted to buy it.

00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.980
 He's wanted to achieve it.

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.500
 But for the first time

00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:04.280
 that he comes

00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:06.059
 and he tries to get it

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:07.240
 not by buying it,

00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:08.260
 but he receives it

00:38:08.260 --> 00:38:09.800
 simply as a gift of grace,

00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:11.179
 that's when Naaman

00:38:11.179 --> 00:38:12.679
 is changed.

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:16.079
 Let's land with this.

00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:17.559
 The question I want to ask

00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:18.780
 as we land is why.

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:21.460
 Why could Naaman receive

00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:23.619
 this incredible gift

00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:24.740
 for free?

00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:26.400
 He didn't earn it.

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.260
 He didn't buy it.

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:28.639
 He didn't pay a cent for it.

00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:29.599
 You see,

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.920
 this story is a true story.

00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:32.039
 It's not just a parable

00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:33.119
 in the Bible.

00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:33.880
 This is true,

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:35.180
 but it's also true for us.

00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:36.059
 Friends,

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:36.559
 we too,

00:38:36.720 --> 00:38:37.400
 like Naaman,

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.639
 will find our healing,

00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:40.220
 find our restoration,

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:41.500
 will find our salvation

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.900
 for free.

00:38:43.579 --> 00:38:44.300
 You can't earn it.

00:38:44.680 --> 00:38:45.519
 You can't buy it.

00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:47.019
 You can't achieve it.

00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:48.280
 But why?

00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:50.119
 How can you and I

00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.240
 receive it for free?

00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.440
 Why does God forgive us

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.740
 of the leprosy of our hearts?

00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:55.659
 Why does God give us

00:38:55.659 --> 00:38:56.019
 a new heart?

00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:57.220
 Why does God forgive us

00:38:57.220 --> 00:38:57.700
 of our sin

00:38:57.700 --> 00:38:59.000
 absolutely for free?

00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.260
 You can't buy it.

00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:01.000
 You can't earn it.

00:39:01.040 --> 00:39:01.900
 You can't achieve it.

00:39:02.240 --> 00:39:03.200
 Is it because God

00:39:03.200 --> 00:39:04.260
 has no standards

00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:05.160
 that he just says,

00:39:05.240 --> 00:39:05.360
 oh,

00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:06.380
 I'll just forgive your sin.

00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:07.580
 Let's just pretend

00:39:07.580 --> 00:39:08.320
 it doesn't happen.

00:39:08.760 --> 00:39:09.680
 What's a little bit of sin

00:39:09.680 --> 00:39:10.660
 between me and you?

00:39:11.020 --> 00:39:12.320
 Does God have no standards?

00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:13.220
 Of course,

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:14.120
 God's got standards.

00:39:14.720 --> 00:39:15.500
 You read the Bible,

00:39:15.640 --> 00:39:16.480
 you know how holy,

00:39:16.680 --> 00:39:17.280
 perfect,

00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:18.520
 righteous God is.

00:39:19.060 --> 00:39:19.480
 Of course,

00:39:19.540 --> 00:39:20.320
 God has standards.

00:39:20.940 --> 00:39:21.640
 So how can God

00:39:21.640 --> 00:39:22.760
 just forgive Naaman's sin,

00:39:23.100 --> 00:39:23.620
 your sin,

00:39:23.660 --> 00:39:24.300
 and my sin,

00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:25.380
 without us having

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:26.120
 to do anything

00:39:26.120 --> 00:39:27.000
 to achieve it

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.600
 or earn it?

00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:28.880
 Friends,

00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:29.779
 the reason is

00:39:29.779 --> 00:39:31.519
 because the great cost

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.880
 that Naaman had to pay

00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:34.559
 but he couldn't pay,

00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.719
 Jesus paid on our behalf.

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.239
 Jesus Christ

00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:39.539
 went to the cross before us.

00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:40.440
 See, friends,

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:41.539
 there is one deed,

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.739
 there is one remedy

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.599
 which could cure

00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.759
 the leprosy of our hearts.

00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:46.139
 The only deed,

00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:47.099
 the only cost,

00:39:47.219 --> 00:39:48.339
 the only remedy

00:39:48.339 --> 00:39:50.739
 cost the only sinless man

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:52.219
 his life on the cross.

00:39:52.779 --> 00:39:53.659
 Jesus did go

00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.500
 to the ends of the earth

00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:55.059
 for us

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:56.000
 because we couldn't.

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:56.719
 You see,

00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:57.579
 even if Elisha

00:39:57.579 --> 00:39:58.399
 had said to Naaman,

00:39:58.779 --> 00:39:59.079
 Naaman,

00:39:59.219 --> 00:40:00.439
 go and slay some dragon.

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:01.299
 Naaman,

00:40:01.459 --> 00:40:02.819
 go to the ends of the earth.

00:40:03.179 --> 00:40:03.399
 Naaman,

00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:05.000
 go and do some great thing.

00:40:05.319 --> 00:40:06.879
 No matter what Naaman did,

00:40:06.919 --> 00:40:08.019
 wouldn't have been enough.

00:40:08.439 --> 00:40:10.179
 There is no price enough

00:40:10.179 --> 00:40:12.059
 to pay for the healing

00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:12.719
 and salvation

00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.639
 that God had for him.

00:40:14.279 --> 00:40:15.199
 But there is a price.

00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:16.699
 But it costs

00:40:16.699 --> 00:40:17.980
 the only sinless man

00:40:17.980 --> 00:40:20.399
 his life on the cross.

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:21.820
 Jesus Christ

00:40:21.820 --> 00:40:22.519
 didn't just swim

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.880
 through fire and ice.

00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:25.119
 Jesus Christ

00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:25.960
 swam through an ocean

00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:27.019
 of divine judgment

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:28.340
 and divine wrath for us.

00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:29.740
 Jesus didn't just go

00:40:29.740 --> 00:40:30.780
 and slay some enemy.

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.860
 He slayed the ultimate dragon

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:35.860
 of sin and death for us.

00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:37.820
 Jesus Christ

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:39.300
 paid the ultimate price

00:40:39.300 --> 00:40:39.940
 that you and I

00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:40.500
 couldn't pay.

00:40:41.180 --> 00:40:41.440
 Friends,

00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:42.800
 what could wash our sin away?

00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:44.720
 Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:47.059
 What could make us whole again?

00:40:47.680 --> 00:40:49.820
 Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:50.880
 You see,

00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.660
 the story of Naaman

00:40:51.660 --> 00:40:52.619
 is really the story

00:40:52.619 --> 00:40:53.180
 of the gospel.

00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:55.280
 It's the story of all of us.

00:40:55.780 --> 00:40:56.619
 It's the story of how

00:40:56.619 --> 00:40:57.800
 our hearts are sick

00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:58.519
 with leprosy.

00:40:59.099 --> 00:40:59.720
 But it's the story

00:40:59.720 --> 00:41:00.360
 of how Jesus

00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:01.480
 has come to heal us.

00:41:02.059 --> 00:41:02.680
 Jesus has come

00:41:02.680 --> 00:41:03.599
 to give us new life.

00:41:04.380 --> 00:41:05.240
 But Jesus comes

00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:05.619
 and he says,

00:41:05.700 --> 00:41:06.480
 you can't buy it.

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.780
 You can't earn it.

00:41:08.180 --> 00:41:09.240
 You can't achieve it.

00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:10.460
 All you do is

00:41:10.460 --> 00:41:11.019
 you come to me

00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:11.519
 on your knees.

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:12.760
 You come to me

00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:13.920
 with nothing in your hands.

00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:15.260
 You come and you admit

00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:16.079
 that you need it.

00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.500
 And in that place

00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.480
 you'll find the grace

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.039
 that your heart

00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.660
 is looking for.

00:41:19.659 --> 00:41:20.899
 It's the story

00:41:20.899 --> 00:41:21.619
 of how Jesus

00:41:21.619 --> 00:41:23.099
 secured our hope

00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:23.679
 and our healing

00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:24.839
 from the terrible sickness

00:41:24.839 --> 00:41:25.619
 of our own hearts.

00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:27.379
 It's found in the grace

00:41:27.379 --> 00:41:28.500
 and the kindness of Christ.

00:41:28.899 --> 00:41:29.759
 It's the story

00:41:29.759 --> 00:41:30.960
 of how the grace of God

00:41:30.960 --> 00:41:31.679
 is for free

00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:32.579
 because it cost

00:41:32.579 --> 00:41:33.819
 his son everything

00:41:33.819 --> 00:41:35.239
 as Jesus died

00:41:35.239 --> 00:41:36.420
 on the cross for us.

00:41:37.399 --> 00:41:37.940
 It's the story

00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:38.559
 of how we come

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:39.519
 and we bring to Christ

00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:40.079
 our nothing

00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:41.679
 and get everything

00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:42.819
 in return.

00:41:43.719 --> 00:41:43.960
 Friends,

00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:44.799
 will you trust him?

00:41:45.799 --> 00:41:46.039
 Friends,

00:41:46.039 --> 00:41:46.480
 will you come

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:47.279
 to Jesus Christ

00:41:47.279 --> 00:41:47.820
 this morning?

00:41:48.699 --> 00:41:48.880
 Friends,

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.320
 will you come

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:50.219
 to him empty handed?

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:51.460
 Will you come

00:41:51.460 --> 00:41:52.119
 and bring you nothing?

00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:52.699
 Will you come

00:41:52.699 --> 00:41:53.900
 and admit your need

00:41:53.900 --> 00:41:54.719
 for his grace?

00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:56.079
 Will you come

00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:56.480
 and admit,

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:56.900
 Christ,

00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:57.500
 I need you?

00:41:58.259 --> 00:41:59.679
 Let's do that together now.

00:42:00.279 --> 00:42:00.840
 Let's pray.

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:06.019
 Will you join me

00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:06.980
 as we pray together.

00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:15.059
 Father,

00:42:15.160 --> 00:42:16.300
 we admit that,

00:42:17.300 --> 00:42:18.680
 God,

00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:19.579
 we are no different

00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:20.400
 from Naaman.

00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:23.460
 We may look different

00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.220
 on the outside.

00:42:25.160 --> 00:42:25.780
 The trajectory

00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:26.600
 of our lives

00:42:26.600 --> 00:42:27.519
 and our life story

00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.700
 may be a little different.

00:42:28.699 --> 00:42:31.139
 But in our heart

00:42:31.139 --> 00:42:31.599
 of hearts,

00:42:31.739 --> 00:42:31.919
 God,

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:32.699
 we too

00:42:32.699 --> 00:42:34.119
 are suffering

00:42:34.119 --> 00:42:35.619
 from a great disease.

00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:37.599
 God,

00:42:37.699 --> 00:42:38.319
 sin has captured

00:42:38.319 --> 00:42:38.939
 our hearts

00:42:38.939 --> 00:42:39.659
 and we have turned

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:40.179
 from you.

00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:43.039
 Father,

00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:44.319
 we need a great miracle

00:42:44.319 --> 00:42:45.619
 to heal us.

00:42:46.399 --> 00:42:47.759
 We can't save ourselves,

00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:48.119
 Lord.

00:42:49.659 --> 00:42:50.000
 And so,

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:50.299
 Jesus,

00:42:50.399 --> 00:42:51.199
 we come before you

00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:51.659
 this morning,

00:42:51.759 --> 00:42:51.939
 God.

00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:52.779
 For those of us

00:42:52.779 --> 00:42:55.379
 that are not Christians,

00:42:56.379 --> 00:42:58.539
 your only hope

00:42:58.539 --> 00:42:59.380
 is found

00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:00.259
 in coming to Jesus.

00:43:01.300 --> 00:43:02.039
 You can try

00:43:02.039 --> 00:43:02.940
 every other remedy.

00:43:04.099 --> 00:43:04.460
 You can

00:43:04.460 --> 00:43:06.940
 try some great expedition,

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.320
 slay some dragon,

00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:09.579
 achieve some greatness.

00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:11.759
 You cannot cure

00:43:11.759 --> 00:43:12.320
 the leprosy

00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:12.860
 of your heart.

00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:15.279
 You want to be free

00:43:15.279 --> 00:43:15.699
 from it?

00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:16.400
 You have to come

00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:16.860
 to Jesus.

00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:18.619
 But you have to come

00:43:18.619 --> 00:43:18.960
 empty.

00:43:19.840 --> 00:43:20.739
 You have to do

00:43:20.739 --> 00:43:21.920
 what is very difficult

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:23.019
 for us as Hong Kongers

00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:23.360
 to do,

00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:24.119
 which is to admit

00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:25.239
 our need for grace.

00:43:25.239 --> 00:43:27.699
 you have to come

00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:28.039
 and admit

00:43:28.039 --> 00:43:28.879
 that your only hope

00:43:28.879 --> 00:43:29.659
 is found in Him.

00:43:31.899 --> 00:43:32.259
 Friends,

00:43:32.299 --> 00:43:32.599
 if you know

00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:33.019
 how to believe

00:43:33.019 --> 00:43:33.500
 this morning,

00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:34.199
 can I ask you

00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:34.739
 to do that?

00:43:35.839 --> 00:43:36.599
 Can I ask you

00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:37.399
 to put your hope

00:43:37.399 --> 00:43:38.079
 in King Jesus?

00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:42.419
 Won't you swallow

00:43:42.419 --> 00:43:43.139
 your pride?

00:43:45.079 --> 00:43:45.819
 Won't you admit

00:43:45.819 --> 00:43:47.819
 your sin,

00:43:47.979 --> 00:43:48.879
 your need for grace?

00:43:51.139 --> 00:43:51.899
 Ask Jesus

00:43:51.900 --> 00:43:52.760
 to wash it away.

00:43:53.820 --> 00:43:54.559
 Ask Jesus

00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:55.579
 to make you clean.

00:43:56.240 --> 00:43:57.599
 Not just your skin,

00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:58.440
 but your heart.

00:44:00.180 --> 00:44:00.920
 Ask Jesus

00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:01.579
 to come and

00:44:01.579 --> 00:44:02.559
 wash away your sin.

00:44:03.900 --> 00:44:04.200
 But friends,

00:44:04.280 --> 00:44:04.720
 for those of us

00:44:04.720 --> 00:44:05.380
 that are believers,

00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:07.400
 we need to do that

00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:07.840
 as well.

00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:10.039
 We need to come

00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:10.720
 and constantly

00:44:10.720 --> 00:44:11.940
 admit our need

00:44:11.940 --> 00:44:12.760
 for Christ's grace.

00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:13.500
 We need to confess

00:44:13.500 --> 00:44:14.099
 our sin.

00:44:14.940 --> 00:44:15.660
 We need to admit

00:44:15.660 --> 00:44:16.960
 that it's not

00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:18.240
 our religious devotion,

00:44:19.380 --> 00:44:20.700
 our great effort,

00:44:20.699 --> 00:44:22.619
 to our moral performance

00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:23.899
 that earns us

00:44:23.899 --> 00:44:24.519
 God's favor.

00:44:24.679 --> 00:44:25.919
 It's Christ's sacrifice

00:44:25.919 --> 00:44:26.839
 and Christ alone.

00:44:29.119 --> 00:44:29.379
 Friends,

00:44:29.439 --> 00:44:30.519
 maybe you feel like

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:32.219
 your walk with God

00:44:32.219 --> 00:44:33.659
 has been hard work

00:44:33.659 --> 00:44:34.259
 and you're not

00:44:34.259 --> 00:44:35.379
 dedicated enough.

00:44:36.919 --> 00:44:38.500
 Maybe you feel like

00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:40.259
 God is upset with you

00:44:40.259 --> 00:44:40.939
 because you

00:44:40.939 --> 00:44:42.699
 haven't worked hard enough.

00:44:42.779 --> 00:44:43.399
 You haven't done

00:44:43.399 --> 00:44:44.059
 enough for Him.

00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:45.779
 Friends,

00:44:45.859 --> 00:44:46.579
 can you bring

00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:47.779
 your nothing to Jesus?

00:44:47.899 --> 00:44:48.500
 Will you admit

00:44:48.500 --> 00:44:49.079
 that you've got

00:44:49.079 --> 00:44:50.259
 nothing in your hands?

00:44:50.699 --> 00:44:53.980
 Will you cling

00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:54.679
 on to the cross

00:44:54.679 --> 00:44:55.199
 of Christ

00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:56.000
 and Christ alone?

00:45:09.279 --> 00:45:09.739
 Friends,

00:45:09.799 --> 00:45:10.239
 for those of us

00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:10.819
 that are holding

00:45:10.819 --> 00:45:11.539
 on to

00:45:11.539 --> 00:45:13.879
 hurt,

00:45:13.880 --> 00:45:17.320
 bitterness,

00:45:17.320 --> 00:45:17.640
 bitterness,

00:45:18.220 --> 00:45:20.820
 disappointments,

00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:23.420
 will you bring

00:45:23.420 --> 00:45:24.240
 those to King Jesus

00:45:24.240 --> 00:45:24.820
 this morning?

00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:28.559
 Come on your knees.

00:45:29.900 --> 00:45:31.099
 Don't come in pride.

00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.579
 Bring those things

00:45:34.579 --> 00:45:36.700
 that come to Him

00:45:36.700 --> 00:45:37.200
 on your knees.

00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:39.119
 Come and admit

00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:39.700
 that you need

00:45:39.700 --> 00:45:40.720
 Christ to heal you.

00:45:40.719 --> 00:45:42.719
 come and ask God

00:45:42.719 --> 00:45:43.419
 to do a work

00:45:43.419 --> 00:45:43.899
 of grace

00:45:43.899 --> 00:45:44.519
 in your hearts.

00:45:47.519 --> 00:45:48.279
 I really feel

00:45:48.279 --> 00:45:48.579
 that God

00:45:48.579 --> 00:45:49.259
 wants to bring

00:45:49.259 --> 00:45:50.039
 healing this morning.

00:45:50.119 --> 00:45:51.019
 He wants to heal us.

00:45:52.119 --> 00:45:52.939
 He wants to set

00:45:52.939 --> 00:45:53.699
 some of us free.

00:45:55.779 --> 00:45:56.399
 Oh, Holy Spirit,

00:45:56.500 --> 00:45:56.739
 come.

00:45:58.899 --> 00:45:59.500
 Come and do

00:45:59.500 --> 00:46:00.019
 it, we pray.

00:46:00.019 --> 00:46:00.159
 Amen.

00:46:01.159 --> 00:46:02.059
 Amen.

00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:02.279
 Amen.

00:46:02.279 --> 00:46:02.559
 Amen.

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:02.639
 Amen.

00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:03.079
 Amen.

00:46:04.079 --> 00:46:04.619
 Amen.

00:46:04.619 --> 00:46:06.339
 Amen.

00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:07.000
 Amen.

00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:07.059
 Amen.

00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.119
 Amen.

00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:07.639
 Amen.

00:46:07.639 --> 00:46:07.679
 Amen.

00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:08.139
 Amen.

00:46:08.139 --> 00:46:08.659
 Amen.

00:46:08.659 --> 00:46:08.919
 Amen.

00:46:08.919 --> 00:46:09.480
 Amen.

00:46:09.500 --> 00:46:09.639
 Amen.

00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:09.959
 Amen.

00:46:09.959 --> 00:46:10.079
 Amen.

00:46:10.079 --> 00:46:10.259
 Amen.

00:46:10.259 --> 00:46:10.699
 Amen.