1. Noah Jonah Naaman Matt. 24:37-39 Matt. 12:39-40 Luke 4:27 Real or Fable ??

2. 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

3. Characters: Naaman Little Maid King of Israel Elisha Servants

4. Phoenicia Philistia Israel Ammon Moab Judah Jerusalem Dead Sea Galilee Jordan River © Divided Kingdom Edom Syria Samaria Mediterranean Divided Kingdom of Israel Naaman lived in Syria Maid from Israel Elisha lived in Samaria

5. Sad Man Captain of Syrian army Honorable man Mighty man of valor BUT “...he was a leper.”

6. Leprosy Worst corruption this side of the grave Caused by micro-organism Very contagious Three signs: Bright spot Rising on surface Scales Like snow

7. Maid’s Suggestion Helped Naaman’s wife “Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.” Her advice was accepted Went to King of Israel - disturbed

8. Elisha calls for Him Tells the king of Israel: “Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel” 2 Kings 5:8 Messenger told him: “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.” 2 Kings 5:10

9. Mad Man V. 11 - Wroth = furious V. 12 – Rage = hot displeasure Prophet gave a simple way

10. Mad Man He will come out to me and stand He will call on name of Jehovah He will strike his hand over the place

11. Mad Man Abana and Pharpar Better than Jordan “May I not wash in them, and be clean?”

12. 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.

13. Glad Man He dipped 7 times in Jordan River Flesh was like a child – cleansed Returned to prophet and praised God Offered him gold and silver

14. What leprosy is to the body Sin is to the Soul Leprosy destroys the Body Sin destroys the soul - Rom. 6:23

15. Comparison of Leprosy and Sin Begins Small Spreads over whole body Contagious Unfit for society Separated

16. Sad Man Sin is incurable by human means Sacrifices = shedding of blood Separated from God Must be cleansed to be happy

17. Mad Man Go away angry when told what to do “I thought” …in my opinion we should …God’s way is too simple

18. 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.

19. Mad Man Some want to substitute Follow their plan Do not think baptism is necessary

20. Glad Man When we obey the commands Baptism for remission of sins Free from all sins Praise God – rejoice Happy - give our life to God

21. 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 !!

22. GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION hear believe repent confessbaptism Rm.10:17 Mk16:16 LK. 13:3 Rm.10:10Rm.10:10 1 PET. 3:21

23. When you are cleansed then you need to return and give glory to God. Luke 17:12-19 V. 17 “Where are the nine?”

24. Naaman got what he went after when he kept the commandment of God. We shall get what we want [life] when we obey the commandments of God.

25. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 arthurpigman@cybrtyme.com www.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning May 6, 2007