Msg #1745 So-Great-Salvation and its Villains

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The account of Naaman being healed of his leprosy is a superb portrait of what Hebrews 2:3 calls “so great salvation,” but 2Kings 5 also reveals salvation's villain. In 5:3-12 one first has to admire the persistent 3^rd person testimony of a child, the blundering kings who know nothing about how God works, and the man-of-God who only sends a messenger, and confounds all of Naaman's preconceived notions. After Naaman's cleansing don't miss the seven results of authentic salvation recorded in 5:15-19: 1) He returned with his whole company to the man-of-God, 2) A “Now I know” salvation, 3) Overwhelming gratitude, 4) Silver and gold are nothing more than “burden of earth,” 5) A “No other God” mentality, 6) A consciousness of sin, and a need of pardon, and 7) A “Go in peace” joy of salvation. But notice, oh man of God, the seven traits of the villain of this account. In 5:20-25 for Gehazi 1) Gold is not as dirt, 2) long time service is obscured by greed, 3) he pursues after new-converts, 4) he lies about the man-of-God, what he did, what he said, and what he wants, 5) Gehazi is trusted by the new convert, 6) he sneaks around and hides things, and 7) he lies to the man-of-God. Wow, what a portrait. It reminds us that the faithful man of God will indeed be challenged in this old world. Don't miss Elisha's compassion on the villain as he confronts him, rebukes him, and leaves all punishment to the hand of God. Seven years later chapter 8 reveals that the villain struck pay-dirt for a new job, is still talking about the man-of-God, still bumping into people changed by the man-of-God, and is, coincidentally, providentially used to bring God's blessing on them. God is good.

An Essay for week #45 Nov 5, 2017

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