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Who Led Him To The River?. 2 Kings 5:1-3 A Jewish handmaid began This girl had been removed from her home and family by a Syrian raid. She had good reasons to not help Naaman ( Love) She had faith in the power of Elisha
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Who Led Him To The River? • 2 Kings 5:1-3 A Jewish handmaid began • This girl had been removed from her home and family by a Syrian raid. • She had good reasons to not help Naaman (Love) • She had faith in the power of Elisha • The majority of people who visit us come because they were invited by a member • How many Christians can supply a name
Who Led Him To The River? • 2 Kings 5:4 Naaman’s Wife • And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. • Appears a third party heard the maid and told Naaman (no credit to the wife) • Other versions translate the one astelling the king (which connects to verses 5-6) • This would suggest the wife told Naaman, and Naaman told the one who told the king
Who Led Him To The River? • The influence of the family can be the biggest deterrent to obedience • Any gospel sermon can be undercut by the hypocrisy of the home (teens, spouse) • 1 Peter 3:1-6 converted by conduct of wife • Do we distract from Christ when visitors enter the building? • Friendly or cold, superior, aloof…
Who Led Him To The River? • 7 Israel’s King least faithful (maid, wife, Naaman, one, Syrian King…) • Protocol, Permission, Detour? • 8-10 a messenger • He could have given inaccurate instructions • He could have refused to help this Syrian deeming him unworthy of the healing
Who Led Him To The River? • 2 Kings 5:11-12 (Pride) 13-14 the servants • Members need to reaffirm the message (don’t apologize for the sermon) • Some will leave the building in doubt (excuses, preconceptions, pride…) • The servants made a logical argument • How many sins are never cleansed by baptism because no one will reaffirm the message to the disenchanted visitor?
Who Led Him To The River? • Jewish Handmaid, Naaman’s Wife, Messenger of Elisha, Servants of Naaman • All appear to be insignificant (no names) • Some are likely forgotten when we recall the narrative of Naaman • The failure of any one of them would have resulted in Naaman staying a leper