http://vimeo.com/87361825

2 Kings 5: Israelite Girl, Naaman, Elisha, & Gehazi

Jesus at the center removes harmful labels

John TuggleJesus can replace bitterness with COMPASSION

2 Kings 5:1-8 “The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.*
2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy…”

Jesus can HEAL us from what holds us back

2 Kings 5:9-19 “14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!
15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
16 But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused…”

Jesus can guide us to true, lasting SIGNIFICANCE

2 Kings 5:20-26 “20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him…”

Centering our lives on Jesus is the only way to overcome the influence of negative, harmful labels we have picked up along the way.