Introduction

Learn how to think.

Learn how to work, even when it’s hard and unfair.

Learn how to manage your time.

Learn how to encourage the kids in younger grades.

Learn how to avoid pride.

Deuteronomy 4

• Deuteronomy 4:1-14 – You need to obey!
• Deuteronomy 4:15-31 – Idolatry
• Deuteronomy 4:32-40 – God (end of first speech)
• Deuteronomy 4:41-43 – Interlude (eastern cities of refuge)
• Deuteronomy 4:44-49 – Introduction to Moses’ second speech.

Deuteronomy 5

• Deuteronomy 5:1-5 – God made this covenant with us.
• Deuteronomy 5:6-21 – Repeating the 10 commandments
• Deuteronomy 5:22-33 – The people were afraid.

Introduction

• Revelation 2:1-7

Casually stray to a different authority

Give up hope and optimism

Introduction

• We’ll be studying some things in the Bible that are not discussed as often.
• We’ll look primarily at the Bible, also pulling in other sources for additional information as necessary.

Naaman

• Text: II Kings 5:1-19

What do we know about Naaman?

• His position? Head gui of Syrian army under the King of Aram (Syria)
  • Not a captain?
  • Translation could mean captain, general, ruler, prince, etc.
  • Context indicates a top military officer.
• King considered him to be a great man
• Highly respected
• God chose to give Aram victory through Naaman (I Kings 22:29-40)
• Valiant warrior
• Leper
• Laws of leprosy (Leviticus 13-14)
  • Lepers were unclean
  • Prophet’s purity?

What can we guess about Naaman?

• Inspiring leader
• He and his wife communicated with each other
• Very good relationship with his king (Hadadezer – generous gifts to take and a letter)
  • Talent of silver: A weight of 75 pounds. Ten talents is work about $654,480 today.
  • Shekel of gold: A weight of about 0.4 ounces. Six thousand shekels would be worth about $5,759,520 today.
• Believed that Israelite prophets were subject to their king in what they did as prophets.
  • John 11:48
• His actions scared the king (Jehoram) into thinking he was trying to start a war.
• Given to ceremony (arrived with chariots and horses, expected ceremony from Elisha)
• Short temper (furious over Elisha’s failure to reciprocate ceremony and command to wash in the Jordan River)
• Willing to listen (took correction from his servants)
• Had loving concern from those who served him (servant girl, other servants)
• Willing to humble himself (obeyed and dipped in the Jordan seven times)

Some things we can learn

• God’s favor doesn’t imply faultlessness on our part.
• Was faith a requirement for Naaman’s healing?
• Kindness to your servants can pay off, even if you don’t deserve it.
  • Servants took a risk correcting the boss
  • Servant girl may just have remembered Proverbs 24:17; 25:21-22
    • Same principle at work between God and Elisha
    • II Kings 6:21-23 – God’s reward to her?
  • Servant girl was likely a faithful Israelite at a time of great unfaithfulness
    • Jehoram was king at the time.
    • He was an evil king who led Israel to sin.
    • Put away pillar of Baal (where his brother was murdered by his parents)
    • Continued all the rest of his parents’ sins

Introduction

• Proverbs 22:24-25

Like it or not, the way I behave is affecting people.

I may be having a bad influence.

• Matthew 18:4-6
• Romans 14:13
• I Corinthians 5:6-8 – One sinner can have a tremendous effect on the entire congregation.
• Even if I think I am hiding my sin, my influence on others is not as good as it should be.
• I Corinthians 8:9
• II Timothy 2:14 – Wrangling with words could ruin others.

But there is enormous potential for good influence!

• Matthew 5:13-16
• Philippians 4:8-9 – Can I tell other people to copy what they’ve seen me do?

Three areas to think about …

Joy

• Acts 13:47-49
• Often, we can do our best teaching when we are at the lowest point in our lives.

Humility

• I Peter 5:5
• Proverbs 11:2
• Acts 26:1, 9, 15, 19 – Paul humbly admitted his previous mistakes.
• I Peter 2:12, 15

Healthy relationships

• I Timothy 3:4-5 – How did the man manage his family relationships?
• Ephesians 6:1
• Proverbs 17:17; 18:24

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer