| Teacher: Phil Tooley Series: Stand Alone |
Phil's Notes | |
Believe
Where are we going? Two goals:
(1) How we can pull from the Old Testament and how it complements the New. Understand the mindset of people of that time frame. For us but not always to us.
(2) The simple lesson of belief
Focus on belief although it is hard to separate it from faith, trust, repentance and obedience
Read Luke 4:16-30 (Holman translation)
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this scripture has been fulfilled.”
22 They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’”
24 He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. 29 They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff. 30 But he passed right through the crowd and went his way.
But first, let’s look at a couple of parallel passages to discover an important point.
Matt. 13: 54-58.
54 He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where did he get all of these things?” 57 And they were offended by him. Jesus said to them “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” 58 And he did not many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Note vs. 58
Mark 6: 1-6. Note vs. 6
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Jesus made reference to two people: The widow at Zarephath who lived in Elijah’s time and Naaman who lived in Elisha’s time. Our focus will be Vs 27.
A brief history:
After king Soloman, the nation split in two. Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Elijah and Elisha were prophets during that time with Elisha as a successor to Elijah.
At the time of Elisha, king Jehoram was king of Israel and Jehosephat was king of Judah.
Syria to the north was conducting a series of raids on Israel and eventually invaded and eventually captured Israel around 720 BC.
Let’s take a road trip to II Kings. Specifically, II Kings 5:1-19. Buckle up!
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
-Naaman was:
(1) An army commander, important to the Syrian king of Aram.
Highly regarded because the Lord used him…for what?
…..The Lord gave him victory. He was a valiant warrior, raiding Israel.
But had a skin disease – leprosy.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
(2,3) Took captives.
The slave girl knew of Elisha and was confident that he could help.
She trusted God and Naaman trusted her. He was desperate.
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
(4,5) Naaman Had the king’s ear and respect. The Letter: official business.
Booty: 750 lbs. of silver @ $25/oz = $300K;
150 lbs. of gold @ $2000/0z = $4.8M Plus clothing.
This was a large caravan. Several animals, servants, horses and chariots.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
“When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.”
(6) A note from the boss
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
Vs. 7 – King Jehoram read the letter and tore his clothes. “Am I God”
“He is trying to pick a fight.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
Vs. 8,9 – When Elisha heard of this he sent a note to the king. He was known.
By both kings 2 Kings 3:12,13. Send Naaman my way. I’ll show him
There is a prophet in Israel. Maybe also show Jehoram?
Naaman’s caravan arrives at Elisha’s house and stands at the door. What a
Contrast this must have been.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
Vs. 10 – Elisha sent a messenger to the door. “Go wash in the Jordan and your
Skin will be restored to you.” Seems simple enough.
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
Vs. 11,12 – Naaman got angry enough to leave. Read Naaman’s thoughts…
“We have better rivers in Damascus, better than all Israel.”
He left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
Vs. 13 – He listened to the council of his servants…..and obeyed.
Vs. 14 – He did as Elisha had said and was cleansed. More than healed…
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
Vs. 15 – Naaman’s statement of belief.
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.”
Vs. 16,17 - An odd request; why dirt? There is a large, fascinating area of study that has to do with cosmic geography. We can only speculate about what Naaman intended to do with dirt but I believe it is connected to cosmic geography where Israel is holy land and his intention to worship only Yaweh.
18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”
Vs. 18,19 – My job includes supporting the king as he worships the god Rimmon.
Am I okay? Yes, God knows your heart. You’re good. Go in peace.
I believe there is a takeaway here. We not only live among many different church traditions, but even in our Leveaner group we have various theology differences. It’s the heart and only the heart that matters.
Back to Luke
Who was there? Brothers, Sisters, childhood friends, synagogue family.
Why were thy angry?
Naaman and the widow were gentiles.
Not the elect of Israel
No Torah - How will how know if he breaks the law?
No scripture - No Psalms, No basis for theology
No temple - No sacrifices
No offerings
No festivals
No circumcision.
Neither Naaman or the widow brought anything to the table. Only belief.
This was a point of friction in Jesus’s word at Nazareth
Jesus asks one thing of us: BELIEVE
This is what Jesus taught.
John 3: 14-18 (To Nicodemus)
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
2000 years later after Jesus and 3000 years after Naaman and 4000 years after Abraham, what is required? Belief.
Micah 6:6-8 6 What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves? 7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sins? 8 Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord required of you:
To act justly,
To love faithfulness (mercy, compassion, kindness)
To walk humbly with your God
Not about performance before the New and certainly not after.
Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What can we bring to the table? Nothing but belief.
Every week at Lev we hear of our new heart, our identity, the fruit of the Spirit, of the abundant life… It all starts with belief.
Remember Thomas, yes, doubting Thomas. He gets a bad rap. Recall that he wasn’t around the previous time when Jesus appeared to the disciples. “I won’t believe”, he said, “until I see the nail prints…”
Jesus told him “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believed.”
That’s you!
Some Additional References:
Matt. 8 The centurion’s servant “just say the word” Vs. 10 and 13
John 1: 11,12
John 5: 24
John 6: 28,29; 35; 40; 47
John 7: 37,38
John 20: 29 (to Thomas)
John 11:25
John 12:36
John 14:1
John 20:31
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:22; 4:3; 10:9;
Galatians 2: 15,16
I John 3: 23
II Kings 5:1-19
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” SoSo, he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord. 18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”
Where are we going? Two goals:
(1) How we can pull from the Old Testament and how it complements the New. Understand the mindset of people of that time frame. For us but not always to us.
(2) The simple lesson of belief
Focus on belief although it is hard to separate it from faith, trust, repentance and obedience
Read Luke 4:16-30 (Holman translation)
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this scripture has been fulfilled.”
22 They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’”
24 He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. 29 They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff. 30 But he passed right through the crowd and went his way.
But first, let’s look at a couple of parallel passages to discover an important point.
Matt. 13: 54-58.
54 He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where did he get all of these things?” 57 And they were offended by him. Jesus said to them “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” 58 And he did not many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Note vs. 58
Mark 6: 1-6. Note vs. 6
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Jesus made reference to two people: The widow at Zarephath who lived in Elijah’s time and Naaman who lived in Elisha’s time. Our focus will be Vs 27.
A brief history:
After king Soloman, the nation split in two. Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Elijah and Elisha were prophets during that time with Elisha as a successor to Elijah.
At the time of Elisha, king Jehoram was king of Israel and Jehosephat was king of Judah.
Syria to the north was conducting a series of raids on Israel and eventually invaded and eventually captured Israel around 720 BC.
Let’s take a road trip to II Kings. Specifically, II Kings 5:1-19. Buckle up!
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
-Naaman was:
(1) An army commander, important to the Syrian king of Aram.
Highly regarded because the Lord used him…for what?
…..The Lord gave him victory. He was a valiant warrior, raiding Israel.
But had a skin disease – leprosy.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
(2,3) Took captives.
The slave girl knew of Elisha and was confident that he could help.
She trusted God and Naaman trusted her. He was desperate.
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
(4,5) Naaman Had the king’s ear and respect. The Letter: official business.
Booty: 750 lbs. of silver @ $25/oz = $300K;
150 lbs. of gold @ $2000/0z = $4.8M Plus clothing.
This was a large caravan. Several animals, servants, horses and chariots.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
“When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.”
(6) A note from the boss
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
Vs. 7 – King Jehoram read the letter and tore his clothes. “Am I God”
“He is trying to pick a fight.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
Vs. 8,9 – When Elisha heard of this he sent a note to the king. He was known.
By both kings 2 Kings 3:12,13. Send Naaman my way. I’ll show him
There is a prophet in Israel. Maybe also show Jehoram?
Naaman’s caravan arrives at Elisha’s house and stands at the door. What a
Contrast this must have been.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
Vs. 10 – Elisha sent a messenger to the door. “Go wash in the Jordan and your
Skin will be restored to you.” Seems simple enough.
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
Vs. 11,12 – Naaman got angry enough to leave. Read Naaman’s thoughts…
“We have better rivers in Damascus, better than all Israel.”
He left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
Vs. 13 – He listened to the council of his servants…..and obeyed.
Vs. 14 – He did as Elisha had said and was cleansed. More than healed…
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
Vs. 15 – Naaman’s statement of belief.
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.”
Vs. 16,17 - An odd request; why dirt? There is a large, fascinating area of study that has to do with cosmic geography. We can only speculate about what Naaman intended to do with dirt but I believe it is connected to cosmic geography where Israel is holy land and his intention to worship only Yaweh.
18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”
Vs. 18,19 – My job includes supporting the king as he worships the god Rimmon.
Am I okay? Yes, God knows your heart. You’re good. Go in peace.
I believe there is a takeaway here. We not only live among many different church traditions, but even in our Leveaner group we have various theology differences. It’s the heart and only the heart that matters.
Back to Luke
Who was there? Brothers, Sisters, childhood friends, synagogue family.
Why were thy angry?
Naaman and the widow were gentiles.
Not the elect of Israel
No Torah - How will how know if he breaks the law?
No scripture - No Psalms, No basis for theology
No temple - No sacrifices
No offerings
No festivals
No circumcision.
Neither Naaman or the widow brought anything to the table. Only belief.
This was a point of friction in Jesus’s word at Nazareth
Jesus asks one thing of us: BELIEVE
This is what Jesus taught.
John 3: 14-18 (To Nicodemus)
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
2000 years later after Jesus and 3000 years after Naaman and 4000 years after Abraham, what is required? Belief.
Micah 6:6-8 6 What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves? 7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sins? 8 Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord required of you:
To act justly,
To love faithfulness (mercy, compassion, kindness)
To walk humbly with your God
Not about performance before the New and certainly not after.
Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What can we bring to the table? Nothing but belief.
Every week at Lev we hear of our new heart, our identity, the fruit of the Spirit, of the abundant life… It all starts with belief.
Remember Thomas, yes, doubting Thomas. He gets a bad rap. Recall that he wasn’t around the previous time when Jesus appeared to the disciples. “I won’t believe”, he said, “until I see the nail prints…”
Jesus told him “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believed.”
That’s you!
Some Additional References:
Matt. 8 The centurion’s servant “just say the word” Vs. 10 and 13
John 1: 11,12
John 5: 24
John 6: 28,29; 35; 40; 47
John 7: 37,38
John 20: 29 (to Thomas)
John 11:25
John 12:36
John 14:1
John 20:31
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:22; 4:3; 10:9;
Galatians 2: 15,16
I John 3: 23
II Kings 5:1-19
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” SoSo, he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord. 18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”
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