S S M C S u n d a y C e l e b r a t i o n 3 N o v 2 0 1 3

2 K i n g s 5 : 1 - 2 7

i n s i g n i f i c a n t l y s i g n i f i c a n t

GE

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2 K i n g s 5 - 2 P a r t s

• Part 1: verses 1-19 - Naaman’s healing —A leper cured from leprosy.

• Part 2: verses 20-27 - Gehazi’s curse —An Israelite cursed with leprosy.

N A A M A N

LEPER

N A A M A N

• Worldly significance – a ‘great’ man with a ‘great’ problem (v. 1).

• ‘Great’ kings could not help (vv. 4-7).

• Words of an insignificant servant pointed to a prophet of the GREAT God (vv. 2-3).

• The prophet’s instructions offended his ‘greatness’ (vv. 11-12).

N A A M A N

• Humility – healed after he was willing to become ‘insignificant’ and follow ‘insignificant’ instructions (vv. 13-14).

• Salvation - A gentile who received God’s favour (v. 1), is healed (v. 14) and worships God as Lord of all the world (v. 15).

• Transformation - from a ‘great’ leper to ‘your servant’ (vv. 15, 17-18).

2 K i n g s 5 - 2 S e r v a n t s

• Part 1: The nameless Israelite servant girl

• Part 2: The named servant of Elisha, Gehazi

s e r va n t # 1

2 Kings 5:2-4

t h e n a m e l e s s s e r v a n t g i r l

• Captive of war - victim of hardship & pain, a slave.

• Servant of Naaman’s wife.

• Insignificant in every way - age, gender, status.

t h e n a m e l e s s s e r v a n t g i r l

• Remembered her beliefs.

• Courage to speak up about what she believed.

• Motivated by genuine care for those in need.

• Her words of truth reached kings and led to Naaman’s healing and salvation.

s e r va n t # 2

2 Kings 5:20-27

G E H A Z I

• Servant of the prophet (v. 20, cf. 2 Kings 4).

• Very likely played a role in the miracle (v. 10).

• Witnessed miracles done by the power of God.

• Very likely worshipped God.

G E H A Z I

• Motivated by a hunger for worldly significance (v. 26).

• Greed: “W.I.I.F.M”—What’s In It For ME (v. 20)?

• His words of deception and lies led to curses on himself and his descendants (v. 27).

• Transformation: from a prophet’s servant to a leper.

2 K i n g s 5 - 2 S a y i n g s

“My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from

him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him

and get something from him.”

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

i n s i g n i f i c a n t l y s i g n i f i c a n t

P h i l i p p i a n s 2 : 5 - 8

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied

himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming

obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

M a r k 1 0 : 4 5

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life

as a ransom for many.”

P r o p h e t , P r i e s t & K i n g

2 K i n g s 5 - 2 C h a l l e n g e s

1. LOVE God : Looking Inward

PURSUE God’s significance in spite of my insignificance – past, pain, fears.

Whose significance am I living for / am I running after?

2 K i n g s 5 - 2 C h a l l e n g e s

2. LOVE Others : Looking Outward

PROCLAIM God’s significance.

Release others to do the same.

Listen to God speaking through the insignificant people He has placed in my life.