“Life’s brighter when we plan for the future”

Real Man

"And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.“ Luke 4:27

Sad Man

Commander of the army

Highly regarded

Valiant soldier

BUT “...he was a leper.”

Leprosy

Phoenicia

Philistia

IsraelAmmon

MoabJudah

Jerusalem

Dea

d S

eaG

alile

eJ

ord

an

Riv

er

©

Divided Kingdom

Edom

Syria

SamariaMediterranean Divided Kingdom of Israel

Divided Kingdom of Israel

Naaman lived in Syria

Maid from Israel

Elisha lived in Samaria

Maid’s Suggestion

Served Naaman’s wife

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! for he would cure him of his leprosy.”

Elisha calls for Him

Tells the king of Israel: “Make the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel” 2 Kings 5:8

Messenger told him: “Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored , and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:10

Mad Man

V. 11 - Angry = furious

V. 12 – Rage = hot displeasure

Prophet gave a simple way

Mad Man

He will come out to me and stand

He will call on name of the Lord his God

Wave his hand over the spot and cure me

Mad Man

Abana and Pharpar

Better than Jordan

“Couldn't I wash in them, and be cleansed ?”

Mad Man

If told to do something difficult or expensive you would do it.

Do that which is easy and will only take a short time to do.

Glad Man

He dipped 7 times in Jordan River

Flesh was like young boy – cleansed

Returned to prophet and praised God

What leprosy is to the body

Sin is to the Soul

Leprosy destroys the Body

Sin destroys the soul - Rom. 6:23

Comparison of Leprosy and Sin

Begins Small

Spreads over whole body

Separated from God

Sad Man

Sin cannot be removed by human means

Separated from God

Mad Man

Go away angry when told what to do

“I thought”

…in my opinion we should

…God’s way is too simple

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Glad Man

When we obey the commands

Free from all sins

Praise God – rejoice

Happy when give our life to God

Do you have leprosy of the soul ?

Do you have spots of infection ?

Are you young and just entering sin ?

Are you older and rooted in sin ?

You need to be cleansed !!

GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION

hearbelieve

repentconfessRm.10:17Rm.10:17

Mk16:16Mk16:16

LK. 13:3LK. 13:3

Rm.10:10Rm.10:10