100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:02,640Leprosy200:00:02,640 –> 00:00:08,740Leprosy in the Bible is a powerful picture300:00:08,740 –> 00:00:12,440of what sin does in our lives.400:00:12,440 –> 00:00:16,000We know that sin makes us guilty, so we need to be forgiven.500:00:16,000 –> 00:00:20,299But the Bible also stresses that sin defiles us600:00:20,299 –> 00:00:22,559so that we need to be cleansed.700:00:22,559 –> 00:00:26,700Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick,800:00:26,700 –> 00:00:28,559glad you could join us today,900:00:28,600 –> 00:00:32,299Colin, this sounds to me very much like the story of Naaman.1000:00:32,299 –> 00:00:35,720This is one of my favourite stories in the Old Testament.1100:00:35,720 –> 00:00:41,419It’s a wonderful story of this man, who was a commander of the army.1200:00:41,419 –> 00:00:43,560I mean, he had everything going for him,1300:00:43,560 –> 00:00:47,820and yet he had this terrible affliction of leprosy.1400:00:47,820 –> 00:00:51,820And without telling the story right at the beginning of the programme,1500:00:51,820 –> 00:00:56,959I want us to see today that this is a story of marvelous hope.1600:00:57,259 –> 00:01:03,860I can’t imagine anyone who was less likely to become a worshipper of the living God,1700:01:03,860 –> 00:01:07,820and yet this man, who was so far away from God,1800:01:07,820 –> 00:01:11,180experienced the grace of God in the most wonderful way.1900:01:11,180 –> 00:01:16,360I think for anyone who is looking for hope, for a friend, or for a loved one,2000:01:16,360 –> 00:01:20,220who is far from God and has very little interest,2100:01:20,220 –> 00:01:23,360I think this is a wonderfully encouraging story.2200:01:23,559 –> 00:01:27,660I hope that that encouragement will come to all of us as we open the Bible together today.2300:01:27,660 –> 00:01:31,699Well, join us if you can today in 2 Kings Chapter 5,2400:01:31,699 –> 00:01:34,900as we begin a message God will cleanse us.2500:01:34,900 –> 00:01:36,139Here is pastor Colin.2600:01:36,139 –> 00:01:41,160We’re looking at a remarkable story from the life of Elisha today.2700:01:41,160 –> 00:01:42,839It comes in two parts.2800:01:42,839 –> 00:01:46,900In the first part, a rich leper is converted.2900:01:46,900 –> 00:01:52,779And then in the second part a rogue prophet is exposed.3000:01:52,779 –> 00:01:57,120These two stories almost go in opposite directions.3100:01:57,120 –> 00:02:00,919In the first part we have a man who doesn’t know God,3200:02:00,919 –> 00:02:03,680but he comes to faith in the living God.3300:02:03,680 –> 00:02:06,279In the second part we have a man who does know God3400:02:06,279 –> 00:02:11,160and is even known as a servant of God who ruins his testimony3500:02:11,160 –> 00:02:14,020and destroys his own ministry.3600:02:14,020 –> 00:02:18,639So wherever you are, whatever your position before God today,3700:02:18,639 –> 00:02:22,880there will be something in these stories for you.3800:02:22,880 –> 00:02:26,940Now we are introduced to a man by the name of Naaman3900:02:26,940 –> 00:02:32,440who was the commander of the army of the king of Syria.4000:02:32,440 –> 00:02:37,820Naaman is described here as a great man, a great man.4100:02:37,820 –> 00:02:40,899A man of mighty valour.4200:02:40,899 –> 00:02:43,979He was known for his strength, he was known for his courage,4300:02:43,979 –> 00:02:48,020and because of his many courageous acts on the fields of battle,4400:02:48,059 –> 00:02:49,820he would have risen through the ranks4500:02:49,820 –> 00:02:52,320until he became the commander of the army.4600:02:52,320 –> 00:02:54,199The very top position of all,4700:02:54,199 –> 00:02:58,100he was a direct report to the king of Syria.4800:02:58,100 –> 00:03:02,660There are not many people who rise as high in their career4900:03:02,660 –> 00:03:05,500as this man, Naaman, did.5000:03:06,440 –> 00:03:09,300He’s not only a direct report to the king,5100:03:09,300 –> 00:03:12,960but the king holds him in high favour.5200:03:12,979 –> 00:03:14,520And I want you to notice why.5300:03:14,520 –> 00:03:15,520Verse 1.5400:03:15,520 –> 00:03:18,899Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria,5500:03:18,899 –> 00:03:22,279was a great man with his master, and in high favour.5600:03:22,279 –> 00:03:23,360Why?5700:03:23,360 –> 00:03:30,119Because by him, the Lord had given victory to Syria.5800:03:32,639 –> 00:03:37,399You see, God gave victory to the enemies of his people.5900:03:38,740 –> 00:03:43,059This must have been very hard for God’s people to stomach.6000:03:43,080 –> 00:03:46,320It’s quite clear here that when their enemies prevailed,6100:03:46,339 –> 00:03:48,000the reason for their prevailing6200:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,240was that the Lord gave them victory.6300:03:51,539 –> 00:03:53,580So we like believing that God is sovereign6400:03:53,580 –> 00:03:55,300when he’s clearly acting for us.6500:03:55,320 –> 00:03:57,059When things seem to be going against us,6600:03:57,059 –> 00:03:58,940we’re not so sure.6700:03:58,960 –> 00:04:02,559But this truth is very, very clear in the Bible—6800:04:02,559 –> 00:04:05,419that when God’s people sinned against him,6900:04:05,419 –> 00:04:09,100he gave them into the hands of their enemies.7000:04:09,740 –> 00:04:12,199And that pattern is seen repeatedly7100:04:12,259 –> 00:04:13,360in the book of Judges.7200:04:13,360 –> 00:04:15,600And it’s quite plainly stated here7300:04:15,600 –> 00:04:18,200that Naaman’s army prevailed in battle7400:04:18,200 –> 00:04:22,019because the Lord gave them victory.7500:04:22,440 –> 00:04:26,299So success in life comes from the hand of God,7600:04:26,299 –> 00:04:28,820whether a person recognizes God,7700:04:28,820 –> 00:04:31,839worships God, believes in God or not.7800:04:33,480 –> 00:04:37,399Your godless boss, if you have one,7900:04:37,399 –> 00:04:39,019has been given the success8000:04:39,019 –> 00:04:42,059that he or she enjoys by the hand of God.8100:04:42,179 –> 00:04:44,679Even if they don’t believe that he exists.8200:04:46,420 –> 00:04:50,079And Naaman had been blessed by God with great success.8300:04:51,140 –> 00:04:55,299But you notice here that he also had a great affliction.8400:04:55,299 –> 00:04:59,160He suffered from a terrible disease.8500:04:59,160 –> 00:05:02,359Verse one, Naaman commander of the army8600:05:02,359 –> 00:05:04,739of the king of Syria.8700:05:04,739 –> 00:05:07,959He was a great man with his master is in high favor8800:05:07,959 –> 00:05:11,339because by him the Lord had given if to Syria.8900:05:11,980 –> 00:05:13,600He was piling up everything that’s going for him.9000:05:13,600 –> 00:05:18,600He was a mighty man of valor but he was a leper.9100:05:22,040 –> 00:05:25,339And that one terrible reality outweighed everything else9200:05:25,339 –> 00:05:27,000that was going for this man.9300:05:28,579 –> 00:05:30,899Great success.9400:05:30,899 –> 00:05:33,459Great achievements.9500:05:33,459 –> 00:05:35,339Great reputation.9600:05:36,880 –> 00:05:38,019But he was a leper9700:05:38,779 –> 00:05:41,899and leprosy in Bible times as you would know9800:05:41,899 –> 00:05:44,019was an incurable disease.9900:05:44,019 –> 00:05:47,500So here’s a man that has a great past,10000:05:47,500 –> 00:05:51,899a prestigious present and a grim future.10100:05:54,100 –> 00:05:59,100Now leprosy in the Bible is a powerful picture10200:06:00,000 –> 00:06:02,640of what sin does in our lives.10300:06:02,640 –> 00:06:06,720We know that sin makes us guilty so we need to be forgiven10400:06:06,739 –> 00:06:11,119but the Bible also stresses that sin defiles us10500:06:11,119 –> 00:06:13,559so that we need to be cleansed.10600:06:14,579 –> 00:06:17,679And you see leprosy is a kind of picture10700:06:17,679 –> 00:06:20,760of the defiling effects of sin.10800:06:20,760 –> 00:06:25,760See, like leprosy, sin starts small, but it spreads.10900:06:28,359 –> 00:06:33,160Like leprosy, sin is hidden usually at the beginning11000:06:33,239 –> 00:06:36,940but then it eventually shows.11100:06:38,140 –> 00:06:40,640Like leprosy, sin alienates us from God11200:06:40,640 –> 00:06:43,519and it alienates us from other people.11300:06:43,519 –> 00:06:45,640And in Bible times, it was a condition11400:06:45,640 –> 00:06:48,799for which there was no known cure.11500:06:50,059 –> 00:06:52,519So what we’re looking at today is a remarkable story11600:06:52,519 –> 00:06:54,859of how God, by His miraculous power,11700:06:54,859 –> 00:06:59,760healed this man, Naaman, of his leprosy.11800:06:59,760 –> 00:07:01,459And as we follow this story,11900:07:01,459 –> 00:07:04,980we’re going to see not only how he was healed of leprosy,12000:07:04,980 –> 00:07:08,980but by way of analogy how it is that a sinner12100:07:08,980 –> 00:07:14,019can be cleansed and reconciled to God.12200:07:14,019 –> 00:07:19,019Now, remember that Naaman did not know the God of the Bible,12300:07:19,739 –> 00:07:22,899but God very wonderfully brought someone into his life12400:07:22,899 –> 00:07:24,859who did know him.12500:07:24,859 –> 00:07:26,380She was a little girl,12600:07:26,380 –> 00:07:29,660a little girl whose name we don’t even know.12700:07:29,700 –> 00:07:33,540Verse two, now the Syrians on one of their raids12800:07:33,540 –> 00:07:37,339had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel,12900:07:37,339 –> 00:07:41,720and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.13000:07:42,540 –> 00:07:45,619Now, I want us to think about this little girl’s story13100:07:45,619 –> 00:07:48,119and her experience.13200:07:48,119 –> 00:07:50,739I mean, it would cause anyone with a heart to weep.13300:07:51,980 –> 00:07:55,179She was born into a believing family.13400:07:56,179 –> 00:07:58,940She would have learned about the God of the Bible13500:07:58,940 –> 00:08:02,459in her early years, how he did miracles,13600:08:02,459 –> 00:08:04,940parting the Red Sea, feeding his own people13700:08:04,940 –> 00:08:08,420in the wilderness, bringing them into the promise land.13800:08:08,420 –> 00:08:10,940She knew that when God’s people sinned against him,13900:08:10,940 –> 00:08:12,899he sent prophets.14000:08:12,899 –> 00:08:15,059That he had spoken and worked miraculously14100:08:15,059 –> 00:08:18,540through Elijah, the prophet, and that he was still speaking14200:08:18,540 –> 00:08:21,480and working miraculously in her day14300:08:21,480 –> 00:08:24,899through Elisha, the prophet.14400:08:24,940 –> 00:08:28,899Here’s a little girl growing up14500:08:28,899 –> 00:08:31,540with the knowledge of the truth,14600:08:31,540 –> 00:08:34,179blessed in her early years14700:08:34,179 –> 00:08:36,479to come to know the God of the Bible14800:08:36,479 –> 00:08:40,059and to have living faith in him.14900:08:41,140 –> 00:08:44,520And then one day without any warning,15000:08:44,520 –> 00:08:47,640tragedy struck.15100:08:47,640 –> 00:08:48,900Can you imagine this?15200:08:48,900 –> 00:08:51,960You can, because the world never changes.15300:08:51,960 –> 00:08:53,479It sounds very familiar.15400:08:53,479 –> 00:08:56,099One day without any warning,15500:08:56,099 –> 00:08:59,359raiders arrived in chariots15600:08:59,359 –> 00:09:01,159and they seized this little girl15700:09:01,159 –> 00:09:03,400and they abducted her,15800:09:03,400 –> 00:09:05,059removed her from her family.15900:09:06,080 –> 00:09:07,559And when they returned home,16000:09:07,559 –> 00:09:09,200Naaman, the commander,16100:09:09,200 –> 00:09:11,000decided that this little girl16200:09:11,000 –> 00:09:13,359would be an excellent servant16300:09:13,359 –> 00:09:14,799for his wife.16400:09:16,380 –> 00:09:17,580Now, dear friends, think about this.16500:09:17,580 –> 00:09:21,179After what this young girl had endured,16600:09:21,179 –> 00:09:23,619it would not have been in the least surprising16700:09:23,619 –> 00:09:27,580if she was absolutely filled with hatred.16800:09:29,140 –> 00:09:32,419She might have taken pleasure in Naaman’s illness.16900:09:33,440 –> 00:09:34,659She might have been thinking,17000:09:34,659 –> 00:09:37,099serves him right.17100:09:38,299 –> 00:09:40,820He commands the army that took me17200:09:40,820 –> 00:09:43,020from my home and my family.17300:09:43,020 –> 00:09:45,580I hope he suffers long17400:09:45,580 –> 00:09:48,880and that in the end he rots in hell.17500:09:49,700 –> 00:09:52,559But there isn’t anything remotely like that17600:09:52,559 –> 00:09:54,080in this little girl.17700:09:55,500 –> 00:09:56,640We’re told verse three17800:09:56,640 –> 00:09:58,099that she said to her mistress,17900:09:58,099 –> 00:09:59,479Would that my lord18000:09:59,479 –> 00:10:01,799were with the prophet who is in Samaria.18100:10:01,799 –> 00:10:04,840He would cure him of his leprosy.18200:10:06,200 –> 00:10:07,400See this little girl,18300:10:07,400 –> 00:10:10,299she is an amazing example18400:10:10,299 –> 00:10:12,919of what it means to shine like a light18500:10:12,919 –> 00:10:14,919in the darkness of this world.18600:10:14,919 –> 00:10:16,460She is just full of faith.18700:10:17,320 –> 00:10:18,559She’s full of hope.18800:10:19,260 –> 00:10:20,719And she is full of love.18900:10:20,719 –> 00:10:22,580She believes with all her heart19000:10:22,580 –> 00:10:24,080that God’s marvelous grace19100:10:24,080 –> 00:10:26,440is not only for her and for her people,19200:10:26,440 –> 00:10:28,960but that it really is for all people.19300:10:28,960 –> 00:10:31,820She believes that God loves their enemies.19400:10:32,840 –> 00:10:34,380And so she loves them too.19500:10:35,440 –> 00:10:37,260And she prays for our enemies19600:10:37,260 –> 00:10:38,700and she longs for them19700:10:38,700 –> 00:10:40,940to know the blessing of her God.19800:10:42,580 –> 00:10:46,080Well, Naaman took what this little girl said seriously.19900:10:47,080 –> 00:10:50,159He went to his boss, the King of Syria.20000:10:50,159 –> 00:10:51,440And the King of Syria said,20100:10:51,440 –> 00:10:54,780”Go now, and I will send a letter20200:10:54,780 –> 00:10:56,640to the King of Israel.”20300:10:56,640 –> 00:10:57,460So verse three,20400:10:57,460 –> 00:11:01,059Naaman went taking with him 10 talents of silver,20500:11:01,059 –> 00:11:06,0596,000 shekels of gold and 10 changes of clothing.20600:11:07,479 –> 00:11:10,799So he is equipped with a letter from the King20700:11:11,820 –> 00:11:15,859and he’s carrying with him a boatload of money.20800:11:16,320 –> 00:11:17,419Why?20900:11:17,419 –> 00:11:19,919Because money talks21000:11:19,919 –> 00:11:24,559and Naaman wants Elisha to know that he is a man of means21100:11:24,559 –> 00:11:27,700and that if Elisha can cure him of his leprosy,21200:11:27,700 –> 00:11:32,700he is in a position to reward Elisha very richly, indeed.21300:11:34,580 –> 00:11:36,140Well, we’ve got to pause briefly here,21400:11:36,140 –> 00:11:37,500but we’ll be back very shortly21500:11:37,500 –> 00:11:40,099and we’ll see how Naaman came to faith21600:11:40,099 –> 00:11:42,619as three different scenes unfold,21700:11:42,619 –> 00:11:44,580so I hope you’ll stay with us.21800:11:44,619 –> 00:11:47,340Our message today is called, God Will Cleanse Us21900:11:47,340 –> 00:11:50,179and it’s part of the series, In God We Trust,22000:11:50,179 –> 00:11:54,059based on the life of Elisha in two kings.22100:11:54,059 –> 00:11:55,799If you’ve missed any of the series,22200:11:55,799 –> 00:11:58,559you can easily catch up or go back and listen again22300:11:58,559 –> 00:12:02,820by coming to our website, that’s at openthebible.org.uk22400:12:02,820 –> 00:12:07,820or by searching the podcast sites for Open The Bible UK.22500:12:07,979 –> 00:12:12,000Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.22600:12:12,020 –> 00:12:14,799Now, the story of how this man, Naaman,22700:12:14,799 –> 00:12:17,000came to faith in the living God22800:12:17,000 –> 00:12:21,039really plays out in three remarkable scenes.22900:12:21,039 –> 00:12:24,200The first scene takes place in the palace23000:12:24,200 –> 00:12:29,200of the king of Israel, and things didn’t go so well there.23100:12:29,200 –> 00:12:33,000When Naaman arrived at the palace of the king of Israel,23200:12:33,000 –> 00:12:35,479he brought with him the letter from the king,23300:12:35,479 –> 00:12:36,559which said,23400:12:36,559 –> 00:12:40,080I have sent to you, Naaman, my servant,23500:12:40,080 –> 00:12:44,179that you may cure him of his leprosy.23600:12:44,179 –> 00:12:45,659That’s what the letter said.23700:12:46,979 –> 00:12:48,200And so we’re told, verse seven,23800:12:48,200 –> 00:12:51,159that when the king of Israel read the letter,23900:12:51,159 –> 00:12:54,380he tore his clothes and he said,24000:12:54,380 –> 00:12:57,760am I God to kill and to make alive24100:12:57,760 –> 00:12:59,760that this man sends words to me24200:12:59,760 –> 00:13:02,159to cure a man of his leprosy?24300:13:03,640 –> 00:13:08,640Only consider and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.24400:13:10,599 –> 00:13:12,580You see what he is saying?24500:13:12,580 –> 00:13:15,479The king of Syria, I know what he’s up to.24600:13:15,479 –> 00:13:19,400He’s staging a diplomatic incident.24700:13:19,400 –> 00:13:22,679He’s setting me up by calling on me24800:13:22,679 –> 00:13:25,400to do something that I obviously can’t do,24900:13:25,400 –> 00:13:28,479and when I can’t deliver on what he has asked of me,25000:13:28,479 –> 00:13:30,840he will use this to provoke a conflict25100:13:32,520 –> 00:13:34,679so you can understand his frustration.25200:13:36,359 –> 00:13:37,780Amen can’t heal himself.25300:13:37,780 –> 00:13:39,440The king of Syria can’t heal him.25400:13:39,440 –> 00:13:41,900And obviously the king of Israel can’t heal him.25500:13:43,900 –> 00:13:46,700The strange thing here though is25600:13:46,700 –> 00:13:47,919that the king of Israel25700:13:47,919 –> 00:13:50,820seems not even to have thought about calling on Elisha.25800:13:50,820 –> 00:13:53,419He knew what he couldn’t do.25900:13:53,419 –> 00:13:57,320He didn’t seem to have reckoned on what God could do.26000:13:58,500 –> 00:14:00,820But Elisha heard that the king had torn his clothes26100:14:00,820 –> 00:14:03,179and sent a message to the king, verse eight,26200:14:03,179 –> 00:14:05,020why have you torn your clothes?26300:14:05,020 –> 00:14:07,119Let him come now to me,26400:14:08,119 –> 00:14:13,119that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.26500:14:13,520 –> 00:14:16,200So Naman comes with his chariots26600:14:16,200 –> 00:14:20,000and with his horses arrives outside Elisha’s house.26700:14:20,000 –> 00:14:21,479It must’ve been quite a sight.26800:14:21,479 –> 00:14:24,559I mean we’re talking here about the ancient equivalent26900:14:24,559 –> 00:14:26,679of a presidential motorcade.27000:14:26,679 –> 00:14:27,880I mean, can you picture this,27100:14:27,880 –> 00:14:32,880it’s horses, plural, it’s chariot plural,27200:14:33,039 –> 00:14:35,919and can you picture them arriving27300:14:36,080 –> 00:14:37,919complete with a boatload of money27400:14:37,919 –> 00:14:40,880and with many, many servants?27500:14:41,979 –> 00:14:45,760So scene two takes place outside Elisha’s house,27600:14:45,760 –> 00:14:50,440verse nine, so Naman came with his horses and chariots27700:14:50,440 –> 00:14:54,520and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.27800:14:54,520 –> 00:14:56,320Can you imagine this man27900:14:56,320 –> 00:14:59,320standing in his chariot surrounded28000:14:59,320 –> 00:15:03,260by the motorcade and all of the servants28100:15:03,260 –> 00:15:06,960and he’s looking towards the door of Elisha’s house28200:15:08,039 –> 00:15:13,039and Elisha sent a messenger to him saying,28300:15:13,640 –> 00:15:16,820go and wash in the Jordan seven times28400:15:17,820 –> 00:15:22,739and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.28500:15:24,880 –> 00:15:29,539Now, sending out a messenger to a man28600:15:29,659 –> 00:15:33,140to a man standing in a chariot surrounded28700:15:33,140 –> 00:15:35,979by his retinue having come from a foreign country28800:15:35,979 –> 00:15:37,479and being such a great dignitary28900:15:37,479 –> 00:15:39,359that everyone respected so much,29000:15:40,400 –> 00:15:42,140they’re not exactly an example29100:15:42,140 –> 00:15:43,900of how to win friends and influence people,29200:15:43,900 –> 00:15:44,859don’t you think,29300:15:46,900 –> 00:15:51,059but Elisha knew exactly what he was doing.29400:15:52,340 –> 00:15:55,659See remember, Naaman did not know the God of the Bible29500:15:56,460 –> 00:16:00,559and Elisha therefore knew that he would see him29600:16:00,559 –> 00:16:03,900as being some kind of magician29700:16:03,900 –> 00:16:06,900with special healing powers29800:16:06,900 –> 00:16:08,080and actually you can see that29900:16:08,080 –> 00:16:09,739that is indeed what Naaman thought.30000:16:09,739 –> 00:16:11,559If you look at verse 11 he says,30100:16:11,559 –> 00:16:13,479I thought that he would come,30200:16:13,479 –> 00:16:16,400surely come out to me and stand30300:16:16,400 –> 00:16:18,479and call upon the name of the Lord his God30400:16:18,479 –> 00:16:22,140and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper,30500:16:22,140 –> 00:16:24,960you see, he thought that Elijah would come out30600:16:25,020 –> 00:16:27,260and perform some kind of ritual30700:16:27,260 –> 00:16:29,200and that Elisha was a person30800:16:29,200 –> 00:16:31,080who had some special healing powers30900:16:31,080 –> 00:16:32,979that were resident within himself31000:16:32,979 –> 00:16:35,000and that if he said certain words31100:16:35,000 –> 00:16:37,280and waved his hand and so forth and so on31200:16:37,280 –> 00:16:39,359that this might bring about the healing.31300:16:41,460 –> 00:16:44,760And Elisha knowing that that’s what he thinks31400:16:44,760 –> 00:16:49,760really wants Naaman to come to know the living God.31500:16:50,739 –> 00:16:54,940He doesn’t want Naaman to think31600:16:54,940 –> 00:16:57,659that the power lies within Elisha.31700:16:58,619 –> 00:17:01,520So what Elisha does is he takes himself31800:17:01,520 –> 00:17:03,520entirely out of the picture.31900:17:04,959 –> 00:17:07,319Naaman doesn’t even see him32000:17:08,439 –> 00:17:10,640and he just gives him a word.32100:17:10,640 –> 00:17:14,880You go and wash yourself seven times in the river Jordan32200:17:14,880 –> 00:17:18,479so that when the miraculous healing took place32300:17:18,859 –> 00:17:22,380at the river Jordan it was so plain and obvious32400:17:22,380 –> 00:17:24,599that it was the living God who did it32500:17:24,599 –> 00:17:26,079because Elisha wasn’t even there32600:17:26,079 –> 00:17:28,500at the time when it happened.32700:17:31,619 –> 00:17:33,380But Naaman was angry.32800:17:35,780 –> 00:17:39,780He was angry because Elisha had hurt his pride.32900:17:40,780 –> 00:17:43,619I thought he would come out to me.33000:17:44,680 –> 00:17:46,219You see what he’s saying there?33100:17:46,260 –> 00:17:49,540This man has shown me no respect.33200:17:49,540 –> 00:17:51,619This man has insulted me.33300:17:52,920 –> 00:17:54,260I’m a great man.33400:17:55,339 –> 00:17:58,500I came here and I want to be affirmed.33500:18:00,160 –> 00:18:03,239I want to be recognized for who I am.33600:18:05,260 –> 00:18:08,699He’s angry because Elisha hurt his pride.33700:18:10,219 –> 00:18:12,119And he’s angry because Elisha33800:18:12,119 –> 00:18:14,319offered only one way to be cleansed,33900:18:14,319 –> 00:18:15,640that’s the point of verse 12.34000:18:16,520 –> 00:18:18,979He says, there are other rivers in Damascus.34100:18:18,979 –> 00:18:21,079Could I not wash in them and be made clean.34200:18:22,660 –> 00:18:25,359Then he was angry because he didn’t want to do34300:18:25,359 –> 00:18:28,880what Elisha said, go wash in the Jordan seven times.34400:18:28,880 –> 00:18:32,880That is not something that I want to do.34500:18:35,400 –> 00:18:37,380Now friends what we have here if you think about it34600:18:37,380 –> 00:18:42,180is a perfect picture of the response34700:18:42,180 –> 00:18:45,780of the natural human heart to the gospel34800:18:45,780 –> 00:18:47,780of our Lord Jesus Christ.34900:18:47,780 –> 00:18:52,780Think about this, the gospel humble’s us.35000:18:54,319 –> 00:18:59,099It says to us whatever your achievements,35100:18:59,099 –> 00:19:03,219whatever your virtues, whatever your position,35200:19:03,219 –> 00:19:05,300your influence in life.35300:19:06,699 –> 00:19:09,680They make absolutely no difference whatsoever35400:19:09,680 –> 00:19:11,479to your standing before God.35500:19:11,479 –> 00:19:14,140Before Almighty God you are a sinner35600:19:14,140 –> 00:19:18,459and you are in no better a position than any other sinner.35700:19:18,459 –> 00:19:21,079And the natural response of the proud human heart35800:19:21,079 –> 00:19:23,219to that is to be angry.35900:19:24,979 –> 00:19:28,079The human heart is proud by nature,36000:19:29,339 –> 00:19:33,699and the natural response to the gospel that humbles us36100:19:34,660 –> 00:19:35,760is to be angry.36200:19:36,699 –> 00:19:41,520And, of course, the human heart by nature is independent.36300:19:41,520 –> 00:19:45,540And so the natural response of the human heart36400:19:45,540 –> 00:19:47,839to being told that there is one way36500:19:47,839 –> 00:19:50,780in which you can be cleansed is to be angry36600:19:50,780 –> 00:19:54,500and to say I want to choose my own way.36700:19:54,500 –> 00:19:57,939You’re telling me that you can only be cleansed36800:19:57,939 –> 00:20:00,280through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.36900:20:00,280 –> 00:20:02,680Well, the natural response of the human heart37000:20:02,680 –> 00:20:04,420is to be very angry about that.37100:20:04,439 –> 00:20:06,160Why can’t I choose my own way?37200:20:09,079 –> 00:20:13,239And then the human heart is angry towards the gospel37300:20:13,239 –> 00:20:16,800because, by nature, it is a sinful heart37400:20:16,800 –> 00:20:20,079and a sinful heart clings to sins that it loves.37500:20:21,599 –> 00:20:23,319You’re telling me go wash.37600:20:24,479 –> 00:20:25,819You’re telling me repent.37700:20:28,040 –> 00:20:31,619That is not something that I want to do.37800:20:32,579 –> 00:20:36,099And so, Naaman was angry.37900:20:36,099 –> 00:20:38,339He turned away, verse 12,38000:20:38,339 –> 00:20:42,280and he went away in a rage.38100:20:43,260 –> 00:20:46,619So, he’s actually returning home38200:20:46,619 –> 00:20:50,079and he’s taking his money and his leprosy with him,38300:20:51,739 –> 00:20:52,939except for one thing.38400:20:54,579 –> 00:20:57,079The marvelous intervention of his servants.38500:20:58,079 –> 00:20:59,800Love this, verse 13.38600:20:59,800 –> 00:21:03,359But his servants came near and said to him,38700:21:03,359 –> 00:21:05,959my father, it is a great word38800:21:05,959 –> 00:21:07,479that the prophet has spoken to you,38900:21:07,479 –> 00:21:09,579will you not do it?39000:21:09,579 –> 00:21:13,979Has he actually said to you, wash and be clean?39100:21:15,660 –> 00:21:16,979And you see what’s happening here?39200:21:16,979 –> 00:21:20,959Naaman had taken offence at the command.39300:21:21,839 –> 00:21:25,000God’s commanding me to do something, I don’t want to do it.39400:21:26,000 –> 00:21:27,699But the servants come to him and say,39500:21:27,699 –> 00:21:30,359now Naaman, you’ve taken offence at God’s command,39600:21:30,359 –> 00:21:32,979but did you not hear God’s promise?39700:21:34,040 –> 00:21:38,939He said, wash and be clean.39800:21:40,359 –> 00:21:43,619Now you see, this may be precisely the position39900:21:43,619 –> 00:21:46,479of some of us here in this service this morning.40000:21:46,479 –> 00:21:49,760You have been offended by God’s command.40100:21:51,479 –> 00:21:53,680There is something that God calls you to do40200:21:53,719 –> 00:21:55,180and you don’t want to do it.40300:21:56,680 –> 00:21:59,699Or there is something that God calls you to give up40400:22:01,280 –> 00:22:03,040and you don’t want to give it up.40500:22:04,239 –> 00:22:07,880And you’re offended by God’s command40600:22:07,880 –> 00:22:09,719and you’re stuck in that position.40700:22:09,719 –> 00:22:10,699Here’s the question.40800:22:10,699 –> 00:22:12,920Did you not hear God’s promise?40900:22:15,140 –> 00:22:18,300He says you can be clean.41000:22:18,920 –> 00:22:22,640What a challenging and encouraging story today.41100:22:22,640 –> 00:22:24,560You’ve been listening to Open The Bible41200:22:24,560 –> 00:22:26,479with Pastor Colin Smith41300:22:26,479 –> 00:22:29,140and a message called, God Will Cleanse Us.41400:22:29,140 –> 00:22:31,979It’s from our series In God We Trust41500:22:31,979 –> 00:22:34,739based on the book of Elisha from 2 Kings.41600:22:34,739 –> 00:22:36,599If you’ve missed any of the series so far,41700:22:36,599 –> 00:22:39,359you can easily catch up or go back and listen again41800:22:39,359 –> 00:22:41,439by coming online to our website.41900:22:41,439 –> 00:22:44,380That’s at openthebible.org.uk42000:22:44,380 –> 00:22:47,219and you’ll also find us on your favorite podcast42100:22:47,260 –> 00:22:48,900on your favorite podcast site42200:22:48,900 –> 00:22:51,719by searching for Open The Bible UK42300:22:51,719 –> 00:22:54,119or follow the link from our website.42400:22:55,099 –> 00:22:57,619Open the Bible isn’t just about the program,42500:22:57,619 –> 00:22:59,640the website and podcasts.42600:22:59,640 –> 00:23:03,079Here’s Open The Bible’s Executive Director John Martin42700:23:03,079 –> 00:23:06,300with news about Open The Bible’s Bible Study Course42800:23:06,300 –> 00:23:07,819Fly Through The Bible42900:23:07,819 –> 00:23:11,140and the Open The Bible film, Heaven How I Got Here43000:23:11,140 –> 00:23:13,219being used in local churches.43100:23:13,219 –> 00:23:14,959David, we’ve got an interesting story43200:23:14,959 –> 00:23:17,160from Wales that I’d love to tell you about.43300:23:17,579 –> 00:23:21,500Eden Gate is a Christian charity in South Wales43400:23:21,500 –> 00:23:23,880that exists to serve those who are homeless or vulnerable,43500:23:23,880 –> 00:23:28,099providing practical help and sharing the message of Jesus.43600:23:28,099 –> 00:23:30,859Amanda Cunningham, our Communications Manager,43700:23:30,859 –> 00:23:33,359saw an opportunity to help Liam,43800:23:33,359 –> 00:23:36,020one of the team who runs weekly Bible studies43900:23:36,020 –> 00:23:38,660with those Eden Gate serves.44000:23:38,660 –> 00:23:41,199Liam was delighted to hear about our various resources44100:23:41,199 –> 00:23:44,079including the Fly Through The Bible materials44200:23:44,079 –> 00:23:45,339and the one hour film44300:23:45,420 –> 00:23:47,560of The Story Of The Thief On The Cross,44400:23:47,560 –> 00:23:49,000Heaven How I Got Here.44500:23:49,900 –> 00:23:51,420Liam said this,44600:23:51,420 –> 00:23:54,780”The Fly Through The Bible’ course has worked well.44700:23:54,780 –> 00:23:57,760The short videos have been a fantastic resource44800:23:57,760 –> 00:23:59,739and serve as a brilliant springboard44900:23:59,739 –> 00:24:02,739for really positive group conversations.45000:24:02,739 –> 00:24:05,319I appreciate the way the programme follows key figures45100:24:05,319 –> 00:24:06,540from the Old Testament45200:24:06,540 –> 00:24:09,160and highlights God’s covenant or promises45300:24:09,160 –> 00:24:12,520ultimately showing how they are fulfilled in Jesus.’45400:24:12,520 –> 00:24:13,500Liam also said,45500:24:13,500 –> 00:24:15,280”We also recently watched45600:24:15,280 –> 00:24:18,500the Heaven How I Got Here film with one of our groups45700:24:18,500 –> 00:24:20,319and it was truly moving.45800:24:20,319 –> 00:24:23,239You could have heard a pin drop in a room full of men45900:24:23,239 –> 00:24:26,119who would never normally sit through a one hour showing46000:24:26,119 –> 00:24:28,739let alone watch in complete silence.46100:24:28,739 –> 00:24:31,020It clearly resonated deeply.’46200:24:31,900 –> 00:24:33,920We’re delighted about this partnership46300:24:33,920 –> 00:24:36,079and if listeners would like to support it,46400:24:36,079 –> 00:24:37,959they can just go to the website,46500:24:37,959 –> 00:24:42,160openthebible.org.uk and click on the button donate.46600:24:42,160 –> 00:24:43,900You can get involved in supporting46700:24:43,900 –> 00:24:46,900Open the Bible’s work by coming to our website,46800:24:46,900 –> 00:24:49,579openthebible.org.uk46900:24:49,579 –> 00:24:51,540You’ll find lots more information,47000:24:51,540 –> 00:24:54,400terms and conditions and you can give online.47100:24:55,219 –> 00:24:57,760For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,47200:24:57,760 –> 00:24:58,859I’m David Pick,47300:24:58,859 –> 00:25:01,660join us again next time on Open the Bible.47400:25:01,660 –> 00:25:21,420Is there something God wants you to do47500:25:21,420 –> 00:25:23,979or something he wants you to give up47600:25:23,979 –> 00:25:25,880that you don’t want to do?47700:25:25,880 –> 00:25:29,219Discover God’s promise next time on Open the Bible.