Podcasts about Gehazi

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Telling the Story: Part 4 Acts 7:35-53 by William Klock Not very long ago I got into an online discussion with someone about evangelism.  The people I was interacting with were telling me things like, “I don't confront, I just plant seeds” and “We're suppose to share the gospel, not tell the gospel” or “If people are getting mad at you, you're doing it wrong” and “Jesus just loved people.  He wasn't confrontational”.  I found myself wondering if these people read the same Bible I read.  And I was thinking about that whole conversation off and on these last few weeks as I've been working through Stephen's address—his very confrontational address—before the Sanhedrin. Because there's nothing namby-pamby or wishy-washy—or uh, I mean, “non-confrontational”—about Stephen's address.  I expect that if you set Stephen down in our context today and let him do what he did, a lot of modern Christians would be misquoting Matthew 7:1 at him.  You know, “Judge not lest ye be judged.”  But, of course, being confrontational, calling people to repent, proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the truth that he is Lord as something more than just another choice on the religious smorgasbord has nothing to be with being judgemental.  It has everything to do with knowing and having experienced the reality of God's goodness in Jesus and the Spirit and it's about having a vision, a hope of this broken creation—and of humanity—set to rights and God coming to dwell with us forever. We've made our way through Stephen's address over the last three Sundays.  They accused him of blaspheming the torah and the temple and Moses and instead of defending himself, Stephen instead told the story they all knew so well.  But going back to Abraham and working through it all the way to their present day, he showed how the law and the prophets, the torah and the temple had been signposts pointing the people to Jesus the Messiah.  And so it wasn't Stephen who was blaspheming torah and temple—it was them—because they'd rejected Jesus.  The Christians were the true followers of the law and the prophets, the true children of Abraham and Moses, because they recognised that that's what the story was working toward all this time.  But that wasn't what they wanted to hear.  But if we've heard the story that Stephen told, we ought to be prepared.  Rejection is how God often works.  Joseph had been rejected, but God worked something amazing from it.  Moses was rejected, but God worked something amazing from it.  Jesus was rejected, but God worked something amazing from it.  So if Stephen is rejected, we can be confident God will work something amazing from it.  I think they understood, which made them all the more angry, because they understand: if they reject Stephen, they're actually playing right into his narrative.  But they do it anyway. We'll pick up with Acts 7:54.  [Page 1088 in the pew Bibles.]  Luke tells us: “What Stephen said was a blow right to the heart. When they heard it, they gnashed their teeth against him.” Picture them, sitting in their dignified counsel, the priests and leaders of Israel.  But there's no response they can give that won't condemn them, so they just sit there glaring at him as they gnash their teeth. To us that's probably just a picture of rage, but Luke is pulling this image of gnashing teeth from the Old Testament—particularly from the Psalms—where it's always the wicked who gnash their teeth at the righteous or the wicked who gnash their teeth in frustration, aguish, and rage at God after finding themselves on the wrong end of his judgement.  Luke wants to make it clear that these are the leaders of Israel—the men who were supposed to know and to represent God—but instead they've rejected his Messiah and are revealing their wickedness.  Think of Jesus in John 8, addressing a crowd of angry scribes and Pharisees.  “We've got one father and that's God,” they yelled at him.  And he said back, “If God were really your father, you would love me, because I come from God…No, you are from your father, but your father is the devil.” And then, in stark contrast, Luke describes Stephen in verse 55: “He, however, was filled with the holy spirit, and looked steadily up into heaven. There he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. ‘Look!' he said. ‘I can see heaven opened, and the son of man standing at God's right hand!' They've rejected Jesus.  They sit there, almost demonically gnashing their teeth at him—the posture of the wicked who stand condemned before God.  And Stephen stands before them full of the Spirit and with the very vision of heaven those men had longed for.  Luke said at the beginning of all this that as they looked at Stephen his face was like the face of an angel.  And Stephen shouts out to them, “Look!”  I can imagine them looking around, wondering what he's insisting they look at, because of course, no one else is seeing what he sees.  But the fact that his own face had been transformed—or even transfigured—says that he must have been seeing something and they knew it.  And he goes on, “I can see heaven opened and the son of man standing at God's right hand!” I think that whenever I've read this, I've tended to picture Stephen looking up, pointing past the ceiling of the room they were in, as if he's been given a glimpse into—you know—heaven—up there.  But the more I think about the imagery and context here, I don't think that's it.  I think we should be thinking back to episodes like the one in 2 Kings 6.  Israel was under attack by the Arameans.  The Prophet Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, were staying in the city of Dothan when it was surrounded by the Aramean army.  They woke up in the morning to see the huge army surrounding the city and Gehazi began to worry.  “What shall we do?” he asked Elisha.  And Elisha calmly told him, “Don't be afraid, for those who are with us are great than those who are with them.”  I picture Gehazi standing there wringing his hands.  And so Elisha prays, and as he prays, Gehazi's eyes are opened and on the hills all around he sees horses and chariots of fire surrounded the Aramean army.  And that heavenly army didn't arrive when Elisha prayed, like heaven, it was there all along.  The miracle was simply God's gracious allowance to open the eyes of Elisha's servant to see it. It's a reminder that heaven isn't up there, some far away place.  Heaven is here.  God created earth and heaven to overlap, for us to live in his presence.  Our sin has driven a wedge between the two.  But God and his realm are never far away.  As Gehazi was reassured that day as he saw a glimpse of heaven, so Stephen was reassured as the stood before the Sanhedrin.  As the highest court of the Jew was about to render a judgement against him and condemn him to death, I think we should understand what he saw as a sudden revelation of the heavenly court.  And there stood Jesus, the son of man.  The son of man was the character in Daniel's vision who rose to take his throne at God's right hand and from there to quelled the angry kings and nations that raged against God.  And now Stephen sees the ascended Jesus, not now sitting on his throne as Lord, but standing at the right hand of God, the great judge, to act as his advocate and witness.  The court of Israel was condemning him to death, but the heavenly court, the heavenly judge was ruling in his favour. What's interesting about this comparison between the chariots of fire and Stephen's vision of the heavenly court, is the result, the aftermath, the response of God's man.  Because the chariots of fire didn't swoop down to crush the Aramean army.  Instead, Elisha prayed again and God blinded the Arameans.  And Elisha then went out and convinced the blinded Arameans to follow him to Samaria, where Elisha prayed again and the Lord opened their eyes.  The king wanted to slaughter Elisha's “prisoners”, but Elisha warned the king.  It wasn't the king who defeated and captured them, God had done that.  So instead the king prepared a feast for them and then sent them on their way home.  This was Israel in one of her finer moments, obeying God, being light to nations, making known the grace and glory of God.  And I'll come back to it shortly. I think Luke's main point in telling us about this heavenly vision of Stephen's ties in closely with the theme of Jesus and the church being the new temple—something that comes up over and over through Acts.  Remember that for the Jews the temple was the supposed to be the place, not just where heaven and earth overlapped, but the thin place between them where God's people could meet him.  Not fully, of course.  His presence was in the holy of holies where no one could go.  But if they offered the sacrifices that would purify them from the stain of sin and death, they could draw near.  The irony was that God's presence had been gone from the temple for hundreds of years.  They'd rebuilt it when they returned from their exile in Babylon, but God's presence had never come back.  As if God was hinting to them there was something new and better to come.  And Stephen's been preaching on that theme.  The old temple was a signpost pointing to Jesus and to a new temple, not this time made with hands, but established by God himself and filled with is Spirit.  And in as much as I expect this miracle vision of the heavenly court was a gift to Stephen to encourage him—even though he doesn't seem to have needed much of that kind of encouragement—the gospel was enough—it highlighted to everyone present that day the thing that Isreal so longed for in the temple—the convergence of heaven and earth—was now happening in Jesus and his people. And while Stephen's vision seems to be unique in Christian history, we see saint after saint, martyr after martyr going to their deaths with the same sort of calm and composure that we see in Stephen.  I have to wonder if God has given others similar visions to which, for obvious reasons, we simply aren't privy.  Polycarp, Perpetua and Felicity, Ignatius, Thomas Cranmer, Nichols Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Maximillian Kolbe—all died with the gospel and prayers for those who killed them on their lips.  Brothers and Sisters, that's the witness of men and women who are confident in the gospel, in the lordship of Jesus, and in the hope of resurrection and new creation.  These are men and women who understood what the gospel is—not good advice, not another option to try on the religious smorgasbord, not something you should give a try; they knew it to be true and they knew it to be truly good news—the way, the truth, and the life.  They knew the grace of God so powerfully, that they went to their deaths praying that those who killed them would one day know it. So Luke goes on in verse 57: “But they yelled at him at the tops of their voices, blocked their ears, and made a concerted dash at him.  They bundled him out of the city and stoned him.  The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.  So they stoned Stephen.  “Lord Jesus,” he cried out, “receive my spirit.”  Then he knelt down and shouted at the top of his voice, “Lord, don't let this sin stand against them.”  Once he had said this, he fell asleep. “Now Saul was giving his consent to Stephen's death. That very day a great persecution was started against the church in Jerusalem. Everyone except the apostles was scattered through the lands of Judaea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” It's not just that Stephen stood firm on the gospel before the Sanhedrin and it's not just that he had a vision of heaven in which he was vindicated and could go to his death with calm and confidence.  His prayer for his enemies speaks volumes—it's a powerful witness—to the gospel itself. I can't image what it was like for Stephen.  In high school I was hit in the throat by a softball trying to catch someone's pop fly.  It hurt. Apparently I was lucky it didn't crush my trachea.  And that was a softball.  Stephen stood there—and I expect pretty quickly knelt and then lay there—as people threw rocks at him.  The biggest rocks they could find and still throw with force.  It was an absolutely brutal way to die and I can't imagine what kind of sadistic person would take joy in doing it to someone.  I guess that's yet more testimony to the influence the gospel has had on our culture.  And there, at a little distance stood Saul of Tarsus, having given the green light to the angry mob, supervising them as they threw their stones.  Keeping guard over their coats.  But as the rocks were hitting Stephen—imagine a rock breaking your jaw, crushing your nose, breaking your skull—Stephen cried out to God.  He cried out for mercy on those who were killing him. And that stands out as another witness to the gospel.  Because the whole going to a martyr's death, calmly and confidently and stoically, that's admirable, but other people had done that before Stephen.  About two centuries before, in the days when the Greek king, Antiochus Epiphanes, ruled Judaea, there had been a lot of Jewish martyrs.  Antiochus wanted to break the Jews, get them to forsake their “law”.  Get them to become more Greek, and they'd be an easier people to rule.  And so he desecrated their temple.  He made it illegal for them to circumcise their sons.  And his soldiers would round up the openly rebellious and force them to eat pork on pain of death.  2 Maccabees 7 tells the story of one family of Jewish heroes.  Seven brothers are tortured and, one by one, martyred as they stand firm in their faith, as they refuse the soldiers' order to eat pork.  They bore witness to their faith in God, to their hope in the future resurrection of the dead, but they also call down horrible curses on those pagan soldiers as they died.  With their last breath, they called down God's judgement on their enemies. But Stephen: Like those Jewish martyrs, he stood firm in faith.  He warned his accusers and his killers of God's coming judgement.  But he didn't lay it down as a curse.  He laid it down as a warning, a call to repentance—and with his last breath, a prayer for grace.  One of those Maccabean martyrs had yelled out, “This mighty power will torture you and your descendants!”  And Stephen, raised on those same stories of the martyrs, he saw that same divine persistence, but in light of Jesus he saw it very differently.  Stephen knew there is no escaping the Hound of Heaven.  But instead of divine judgment pursuing his enemies, he saw divine grace hounding them, the redeeming love of God pursing them—and if they would not be caught by it—it would pursue and catch and enfold and transform their descendants.  Somehow, someday the grace of God in Jesus, the renewing power of the gospel would catch them, because—Stephen was absolutely certain—that power will one day change the entire world.  That was the point of his powerful speech before them, after all.  From Abraham to Joseph, from Jospeh to Moses, from Moses to Jesus.  That's what the story is about: the grace and glory of the God of Israel to save his creation—not just Abraham's family—but all of creation.  It's about God, in love, giving himself to purify us from the stain of our rebellion, so that he can come home to live with us.  To restore heaven and earth.  And that gospel knowledge, that good news changed everything for Stephen. Brothers and Sisters, think about this.  Imagine people knew nothing of Jesus or the gospel or Christianity other than the astounding fact that Christian martyrs go to their deaths, not hurling curses, but calling down blessing and forgiveness from heaven on the very people torturing and killing them.  That, in itself, says something powerful about Jesus and the gospel and Christianity.  That in itself, would, I think, make a lot of people constructively curious.  That this is what we see from Christian martyrs down through history is witness to the gospel and to the very nature of our faith in the God of love who shed his blood to reconcile his enemies to himself.  A witness to the Jesus who, as he died on the cross, prayed that those who killed him would know God's forgiveness. Would that we, Brothers and Sisters, would be captivated by this same gospel of grace and the same sure and certain hope of reconciliation and resurrection and new creation.  Because our generation of Christians seems to be losing it.  We no longer think of the gospel as good news to proclaim, but as good advice to share, because Jesus is no longer the way, the truth, and the life, but now a way, a truth, a life.  We no longer have a clear hope and vision of creation set to rights by Jesus, maybe because we twisted this idea of “heaven” into a distant, ethereal, disembodied realm, instead of God's realm, present, but unseeable because of our sin.  And so we're afraid to speak of sin as that great evil that keeps us from God and we're afraid to call people to repentance and we're afraid to speak of that day when God will, once and for all, wipe the last traces of sin and evil from the world, to heal the breach between heaven and earth, to pull out the wedge we've so firmly driven between them.  And, in the same way, having consigned Jesus' lordship to a distant heaven, we fear to proclaim that most basic Christian creed—the one carved on our lychgate: “Jesus is Lord”.  Lord, not just in a far away heaven, not just someday in a far away future, but here and now. Brothers and Sisters, we need Stephen's witness just as much as the Sanhedrin did that day.  I pray that we would take it to heart.  And if we lack his confidence, if we lack his hope, if we lack his vision, or if—in contrast to Stephen—we find ourselves gritting our teeth in anger and calling down curses on our enemies, that the Lord would give us a clear vision of his grace, of his kingdom, of his glory.  Amen.

Welcome to episode 256 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we will examine the topic of receiving what you cannot earn — why God insists His greatest gifts must be received freely, and what happens when we try to put a price tag on grace.  Key takeaways:    We are deeply uncomfortable with free gifts. The bigger the gift, the deeper our discomfort. Deep in our bones we believe nothing is truly free — everything has strings attached, every blessing demands reciprocation. Grace without cost does not compute. Naaman returned to Elisha with wagons full of treasure, determined to pay for his healing. His instinct was completely natural — in the ancient Near East, everything operated on patronage and reciprocity. But Elisha's absolute refusal forced Naaman to reckon with something revolutionary: grace that is truly free. Elisha's refusal was not false modesty. It was theology. Accepting payment would have validated Naaman's assumption that God's gifts can be purchased. Grace that can be purchased is not grace — it is wages. It is transaction. It is works. Gehazi did not merely steal. He sold God's grace. He put a price tag on what Elisha had explicitly made free and commodified divine healing into a purchasable product. Once you do that, you have lost the very thing you are trying to sell. Grace marketized is grace destroyed. The punishment of leprosy passed to Gehazi was not disproportionate — it was precise. He took on what Naaman had been freed from. When we turn grace into merchandise, we inherit the very burden Christ came to remove. Naaman's response to unearned healing was not obligation but worship: “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” When you try to pay for grace, it becomes about you. When you receive it freely, it becomes entirely about the Giver. If your Christianity is primarily duty, debt, and obligation — “I have to, I should, I ought to” — you have not yet grasped grace. Authentic worship is not born from what you owe but from what you have been freely given.  Quotable:    Stop asking “What do I owe?” and start asking “Whom shall I worship?” Your good works do not increase God's grace — they flow from it. Your obedience does not earn His love — it responds to it. You are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Receive it.  Application:    Identify how you are trying to pay God back. More services attended, more money given, more hours volunteered — as if these things earn His favor or increase His grace. This is Naaman's theology dressed in Christian language. Your religious activity does not produce God's blessing; it responds to grace already given. Receive what was freely given and let obedience flow from gratitude, not debt.  Be wary of any teaching that links God's favor to your financial giving. Prosperity preaching, seed offerings, pay-to-access ministry — Gehazi's leprosy is the warning. When grace is turned into a product, the product being sold is not grace at all. Test every teacher who suggests that your giving unlocks God's generosity. That is not the gospel; it is commerce.  Examine whether your Christianity is worship or obligation. Ask yourself honestly: Do I read my Bible because I love God or because I am afraid of what happens if I don't? Do I serve because I am grateful or because I feel I owe? Joyless religion is a sign that grace has not yet reached the center. Let the magnitude of what Christ freely gave — forgiveness you could not earn, righteousness you did not deserve, eternal life you could not purchase — move you from duty to delight.  Receive before you give. The order matters. Naaman worshiped because he received. Gehazi corrupted because he grabbed. You cannot give from grace you have not first received. Sit with the gospel this week — not as a theological category but as a personal reality. You were sick. You were healed. You owe nothing. Respond accordingly.  Connect with us:    Web site:  https://springbaptist.org  Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/SBCKleinCampus (Klein Campus) https://www.facebook.com/SpringBaptist (Spring Campus)  Need us to pray for you? Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/  If you haven't already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 Kings 5:1 NKJVThose places beyond human control or remedy are some of the best places to encounter God.And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:2-3 NKJVThe most convincing witness to the lost in our world, is a heart that trusts God even in trials and trouble. And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.” Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 2 Kings 5:4-5 NKJVSo Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:9-10 NIVBut Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 2 Kings 5:11 NIV The only thing we have to offer God is our love, expressed through a life lived gladly and gratefully for Him.Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 2 Kings 5:11-12 NIVThe philosophy that says, "I can run my life better than God," always ends poorly for those who choose it.But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean'? ”So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean. 2 Kings 5:13-14 CSBComplete obedience to the Lord's commands releases the miracle of His grace and goodness in our lives. Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there's no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please accept a gift from your servant.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.2 Kings 5:15-16 CSB When grace and mercy meet humility, deep, lasting healing happens, and divine destiny is established.Gehazi, the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 2 Kings 5:20 CSB Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi? ” Elisha asked him. He replied, “Your servant didn't go anywhere.” 2 Kings 5:25 CSBDeception and rebellion will make you foolish, and will always make a fool of the one who embraces them.Elisha said, “Didn't you know I was with you in spirit when that man stepped down from his chariot to greet you? Tell me, is this a time to look after yourself, lining your pockets with gifts? Naaman's skin disease will now infect you and your family, with no relief in sight.” Gehazi walked away, his skin flaky and white like snow. 2 Kings 5:26-27 MSGIf you trade your integrity for earthly pleasure of treasure it will cost you eternal wisdom and wealth. The most convincing witness to the lost in our world, is a heart that trusts God even in trials and trouble. -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

In this Bible Story, the land of Israel is perishing at the hand of the Syrians. The land is stripped of all its resources. Food, water, and life slowly left the city of Samaria. Women are forced to eat their own children, and all hope seems lost. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 6:24-7:20. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 6:28 from the King James Version.Episode 136: Finally, on recovery from the siege of Ben-Hedad, Israel once again faces famine. But before it hits the land in full force, Elisha goes to warn the Shunemite family he used to sojourn with. After seven years of living outside of Israel, she returns just as Gehazi is telling her story to the King. Meanwhile, the King of Syria, who was critically ill, sent his servant Hazael to the prophet Elisha to see if he would recover. When he finds him, Elisha breaks down in tears because God has made known to him the damage Hazael will do.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the whirlwind took Elijah up into heaven, Elisha didn't just inherit a cloak—he inherited a double portion of a heavy prophetic mantle. If your life currently feels like a series of dry brooks, empty oil jars, or overwhelming spiritual battles, Elisha's ministry provides the exact roadmap to help you find the living water. Summary: In this episode, we deep dive into the masterclass of faith found in 2 Kings 1–13. We move from the final, fiery testimonies of Elijah to the intimate, life-giving miracles of Elisha, tracking how God continues to validate and empower His chosen servants across generations. Passing the Mantle: We break down the beautiful, unwavering loyalty of Elisha to Elijah and what it truly means to receive a "double portion" of spiritual power through humility and close proximity. The Widow's Oil and the Shunammite's Son: We analyze the biology of these miracles, where God takes the tiny resources we have available—a single pot of oil or a small chamber—and multiplies them to preserve life. The Healing of Naaman: We dissect the pride of the Syrian captain who wanted a spectacular display but was commanded to wash seven times in a muddy river. Discover why small, simple things are the hardest for the natural man to accept. Eyes to See: When the Syrian army surrounds Elisha and his servant, we see the ultimate contrast between physical sight and spiritual vision. Learn how to look past the visible opposition to see the mountains filled with horses and chariots of fire. The Power of Elisha's Bones: We conclude with the bizarre and beautiful final miracle of Elisha, where even his dead bones have the power to resurrect a man, proving that our covenant connections to the prophets outlive mortality itself. Call-to-Action:Are you standing at the edge of your own "Jordan River," wondering if the power that was with the giants of the past is still available to you today? What is the "muddy river" the Lord is asking you to wash in right now? Let's talk about it in the comments below. To keep your testimony firmly anchored and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Inroduction 0:03:53 Elijah and the Captains of 50 0:20:57 Elisha's Loyalty to Elijah 0:31:11 Elijah Caught Up to Heaven 0:40:45 Passing the Mantle 0:56:26 Salting the Spring 1:01:52 Mocking Bald Elisha 1:09:37 Victory Over he Enemies of Israel 1:23:04 The Widow's Oil 1:32:31 Making Room for the Prophet 1:42:26 Raising the Woman's Son 2:06:00 Embodying the Condescension of Christ 2:12:22 Replacing Bad with Good and Inadequacy with Abundance 2:16:22 Naaman the Leper 2:45:15 Gehazi's Greed 3:01:38 Floating Iron 3:09:00 Eyes to See 3:18:28 Scarcity and Abundance 3:40:50 Seeing a Fuure You're Meant to Avoid 3:55:15 Choosing the Wrong Side of the Family Tree 4:02:51 The Death of Jezebel and the End of Ahab's Line 4:15:51 Jehosheba, Jehoiada, & the Return of the King 4:29:08 Repairing the Temple 4:41:05 Losing a Righteous Influence 4:48:14 The Death of Elisha 4:56:13 Conclusion

Daily Dose of Hope July 7, 2026   Scripture:  2 Kings 5   Prayer: Jesus, Oh, how we need you! We need you to work within us and through us.  Change our hearts, O Lord, so that we can bring glory to you. More of you, less of me. Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through 2 Kings.   Today's reading is 2 Kings 5.  The chapter begins with Naaman, a decorated military hero who is afflicted with leprosy.  Leprosy in those days was horribly isolating.  In the Old Testament, leprosy is mentioned 55 times but really included a wide variety of different infection skin diseases.    Naaman, who is from Aram (modern day Syria), is told by a servant girl that there is a man of God in Israel who could cure him.  As we read, he goes to Israel and meets the prophet Elisha who gives him a method to be cured.  Naaman is more than a bit arrogant and is appalled that Elisha doesn't come out to greet him and give him some elaborate healing presentation.  It's interesting that Naaman almost misses his healing because of his arrogance and pride.  He thought he deserved some big deal ceremony, when really all he needed to do was be obedient.  I hope he was grateful for his own servants who encouraged him to go ahead and follow Elisha's instructions to bathe in the Jordan River seven times.    How often does our own arrogance and pride keep us from missing God's blessing in our lives?   Naaman is incredibly grateful for his healing, he recognizes the power of God, and wants to give Elisha all kinds of valuable gifts.  Elisha, in typical true man of God fashion, declines.  But Elisha's servant, Gehazi, overhears and decides he is going to get rich off the whole situation.  Maybe Elisha doesn't want Naaman's gifts but he does!  By this time, Naaman is traveling home.  So Gehazi runs out to him and makes up a story about some prophets who need a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.  Naaman, of course, gives him the supplies.    Elisha knows exactly what happens and he severely scolds Gehazi when he returns.  I don't know, I kind of feel sorry for the guy.  He was probably very poor.  But he did lie and he betrayed Elisha.  Thus, the leprosy that Naaman had was given to Gehazi.  Tough justice.  Greed does not pay.   I would love some of your thoughts on this story.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In this Bible Story, we learn of Naaman's new found love for God and desire to bless the people of God. However, Elisha's servant Gehazi's heart changes for the worse, as he descends into a cycle of greed and treachery. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 5:15-27. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 5:27 from the King James Version.Episode 134: Israel was at war once again, this time against the King of Aram. However, the God of Israel, who knows all, would inform Elisha of what the King of Aram was planning and Elisha would, in turn, inform his King. This constant outmaneuvering irritated the King of Aram and he sent soldiers to hunt for Elisha. When the army of Aram arrived at Dothan they surrounded Elisha and his servant. But Elisha was unafraid because He could see the armies of heaven surrounding the armies of Aram. So he prayed and God delivered the men of Aram into Samaria, the land of their enemy. But instead of bloodshed, they were given a feast, and God's mercy was revealed to the nations.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Bible Story, God heals a foreign warrior plagued with leprosy, and who turns down by the King of Israel. Elisha sees this as a perfect opportunity to show all the nations that the Lord is a Lord of healing and power. Naaman is refreshed in the cool water of the Jordan River. As he bathes himself in the river, his sick and dying flesh is replaced with new life. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 5:1-14. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 5:14 from the King James Version.Episode 133: Naaman, now joyfully and powerfully aware of God, rushed to Elisha to proclaim his allegiance to the God of Israel and to give gifts to Elisha. But Elisha would take no gifts for this was a generous act of God. So Naaman departed with dirt from Israel so that he may worship The God of Israel, in his home country. But even in such a moment of joy, evil was at work. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, gave in to his greed and pursued Naaman for gifts of his own. Little did he know that God saw this and made it known to his master. Gehazi and his descendants would be forced to carry the consequences of his actions forever.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes(00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.(05:08) Elijah calls down fire from heaven to consume King Ahaziah's soldiers that were sent to apprehend him.(12:02) Elisha is wrapped in the mantel of Elijah. Youth that mock Elisha are attacked by bears.(25:30) Possible reasons for Elijah being taken to heaven and translated.(26:29) Judah, Israel, and Edom join forces against Moab. They are in desperate need of water as they pass through the Negev desert. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, directs his partners to the prophet Elisha who can provide the miracle they need.(30:08) The king of Edom, desperate to escape Judah, Israel, and Edom, sacrifices his own son to his god Chemosh. He is able to escape. This story emphasizes that monolatry existed in the ancient Near East.(33:27) Elisha multiplies the widow's oil. If we are willing to give what we have to God, he will give us back so much more.(38:07) Elisha raises the son of a widow woman from the dead. Prophets are types of Christ.(40:38) Naaman comes to Elisha to be healed of leprosy, but then second-guesses Elisha's instructions because they seemed too simple. One dip blessings compared to seven dip blessings. Faithfulness to God's commandments brings miracles.(48:12) Elisha refuses to accept a reward from Naaman for being healed. Gehazi secretly obtains the reward and is cursed with leprosy.(50:33) Naaman desires to take home some dirt from the place of his miraculous healing. Cultural context helps us understand why he would want to do this.(53:53) The sons of the prophets leave for more space. Elisha causes an ax to float.(56:44) Syria wages war against Israel in an effort to capture Elisha, their secret weapon. The Syrians are smitten with blindness and are led away in peace.(1:02:14) A seam in the text can be found in 2 Kings 6. Oral traditions that were written and later stitched together by editors leave evidence of their work. Israel, under siege by their enemy and experiencing a famine, is in need of a miracle. The Syrians leave their spoils behind and Elisha's promise of plentiful food is fulfilled.(1:08:40) Jezebel's death fulfills the earlier prophecy of Elijah. Time vindicates the prophets. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 379 | 2 Kings 2-7, Come Follow Me 2026 (July 6-12) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

Reading 1 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16aOne day Elisha came to Shunem,where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.So she said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God.Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roofand furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp,so that when he comes to us he can stay there.”Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?”His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes!She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.”Elisha said, “Call her.”When the woman had been called and stood at the door,Elisha promised, “This time next yearyou will be fondling a baby son.”Reading II Romans 6:3-4, 8-11Brothers and sisters:Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesuswere baptized into his death?We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,so that, just as Christ was raised from the deadby the glory of the Father,we too might live in newness of life.If, then, we have died with Christ,we believe that we shall also live with him.We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;death no longer has power over him.As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;as to his life, he lives for God.Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sinand living for God in Christ Jesus.Gospel Matthew 10:37-42Jesus said to his apostles:“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;and whoever does not take up his crossand follow after me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it,and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.""Whoever receives you receives me,and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophetwill receive a prophet's reward,and whoever receives a righteous manbecause he is a righteous manwill receive a righteous man's reward.And whoever gives only a cup of cold waterto one of these little ones to drinkbecause the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

Dr. Don Parry brings Hebrew precision and prophetic testimony to Elisha's miracles, tracing an unmistakable portrait of Jesus Christ from poisoned stew to resurrected bones, and connecting ancient temples and the Dead Sea Scrolls to the living Restoration.SHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTSEnglish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT228ENFrench: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT228FRGerman: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT228DEPortuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT228PTSpanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT228ESYOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/AwqDQfW_grQFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookBook of Mormon: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastBMBook WEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletter SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE0:00 - Part 2 - Dr. Don Parry2:17 Naaman: mighty man of valor and leper4:24 The little captive maid and testimony under pressure7:04 Dead Sea Scrolls and Dr. Parry's testimony of how he joined the team9:21 Naaman dips in the Jordan seven times11:43 Seven dippings and chiastic structure and biblical numerology13:43 Leprosy in Hebrew scholarship and Jesus referencing Naaman15:44 Gehazi's greed and leprosy as a consequence18:51 2 Kings 6: horses and chariots surrounding Dothan21:05 Elder Holland says heavenly armies are real24:02 Calculating the scale of the heavenly hose and Elisha and the blinded army28:11 Elisha's bones raise the dead and resurrection as a type of Christ31:19 Four principles to study scripture33:20 Dr. Parry's Preserved in Translation - Hebrew structures in scripture36:20 Liken the scriptures38:47 Dead Sea Scrolls and Isaiah–Essene connections to the Book of Mormon41:30 Doctrine matters44:03 Scripture brings light and hope49:09 30 correspondences between ancient and modern temple51:37 Church activity points to the temple and to Jesus Christ53:48 Joseph Smith as prophet and seer56:44 Closing testimony of Jesus Christ58:04 End of Part 2 - Dr. Don ParryThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsAmelia Kabwika: Portuguese TranscriptsHeather Barlow: Communications DirectorSydney Smith: Social Media, Graphic Design "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:  2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 83, 1 Timothy 2 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible for June 20th. On today's episode, the conversation focused on our continued journey through the Scriptures, reading from 2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 83, and 1 Timothy 2. Several points were raised, including the miraculous stories of Elisha—from the widow's jar of oil to the resurrection of the Shunammite's son and the healing of Naaman's leprosy—revealing God's compassion and power. The discussion explored the deeper meaning of these miracles as signs pointing to the ultimate mediator, Christ Jesus, who reconciles God and humanity. A key theme that emerged was the invitation to trust in God's provision and redemption, pray for all people, and embrace a life marked by gratitude and faith. The episode concludes with prayers for peace, guidance, and a reminder of God's unending love. TODAY'S DEVOTION: There's only one man who can make things right. The woman of Shunam knew this in her deepest places. She knew she needed God's man—Gehazi or anyone else simply would not do. She believed that somehow this one man could bring her boy back to life, could make things right in the face of loss and despair. Elisha goes to the boy, and in a strange, intimate act, lies upon him—face to face, hand to hand, eye to eye. It's as if the man of God is absorbing the boy's death into himself, pouring life back where there was none. In this moment, we catch a foreshadowing of another Man who would one day absorb death itself—not just for one boy, but for the whole world. This Man, Christ Jesus, would take on sin, death, and the grave, and through his own sacrifice, defeat death and pull us close to himself—face to face, hand to hand, eye to eye. God has come in the flesh. He has come to rescue us from death and draw us into life eternal. Jesus—the prophet of prophets, the Lamb of God, the Savior of the world—he alone can make things right in us, for us, and through us. Paul put it plainly: "For there is one God and one mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone." Death has been defeated. Through Christ, true life is offered. In him, we stand face to face with the one who brings us out of death and into resurrection life, even now. May God open our eyes today to see it—to see him, to trust him, and to live in the power and joy of his resurrected presence. That's a prayer for my own soul. That's a prayer for my family, for my wife and my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

What begins as faithful service can quickly turn into offense, entitlement, and the desire for more. Through the story of Gehazi, we see the tension between serving with humility and allowing our hearts to drift toward recognition, control, and personal gain.This message explores the discomfort of obedience, the importance of giving grace to one another, and why we must trust God with the outcome while remaining faithful to what He has called us to do. The miracle is never about us, it is always about the Master.

7 takeaways from this study Take your “wilderness” seasons seriously. Times of isolation, sickness, or loss can become holy ground where God has your undivided attention. Ask Him what He is teaching you, not only what He is removing. Treat both body and soul. When facing long-term illness or patterns like addiction, pursue wise medical help and also ask: “What is going on in my heart, habits, relationships, and walk with God?” Guard your tongue. Miriam and Gehazi show how slander, complaint, and deceit can become “spiritual toxins.” Make repentance for sinful speech as real and specific as you would for any outward act. Dedicate what you hear, do, and where you go. The ear, hand, and foot imagery invites a daily prayer: “Lord, cleanse and direct what I listen to, what I put my hands to, and the paths I choose today.” Let your healing deepen your calling. The cleansed leper is not only restored but symbolically “near-priestly.” When God brings you through a trial, ask how your story can now serve others in practical, humble ways. Do not waste your outsider experiences. Like the four lepers in 2 Kings 7, the places where you were most rejected or desperate may become the very places God uses you to bring good news and provision to others. Respond with obedience and gratitude, not just relief. The ten lepers in Luke 17 remind us: it is possible to receive God's mercy and then move on. Make a habit of returning in worship, obeying His instructions, and giving Him glory publicly. Biblical “leprosy” functions as more than a medical label. In Scripture, צָרַעַת ṣāraʿat/tzara’at exposes both physical affliction and spiritual condition. Leviticus 13–14 establishes the basic categories and rituals. Historical narratives in 2 Kings and the Gospels then illustrate how God uses lepers and leprosy to reveal sin, grant cleansing, and redirect lives. Leviticus 14 shows that the ritual for the “leper in the day of his cleansing” (Leviticus 14:2 NASB95) applies after physical restoration has already occurred. The ceremony therefore emphasizes spiritual realities. Later accounts in 2Kings 7, Luke 17, and Mark 1 further develop the connection between outward disease and inner life. Leprosy in Leviticus: Broad and ritual, not narrowly clinical Leviticus 13–14 describes tzāraʿat in terms of color, depth, spread, and duration. The text speaks of white hair, raw flesh, reddish or greenish marks, and deeper depressions in the skin (Leviticus 13:2–8, 18–25). The vocabulary allows many modern skin conditions — such as eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections, or other chronic dermatoses — to fall within its scope. Consequently, ṣāraʿat in Leviticus functions primarily as a ritual and covenantal classification rather than a precise clinical diagnosis like modern Hansen's disease. The passage focuses on whether the condition renders the individual טָמֵא ṭāmēʼ (unclean) or טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (clean), not on identifying a specific pathogen. In addition, priestly involvement centers on examination and declaration. The priest observes, isolates, re-examines, and then pronounces clean or unclean (Leviticus 13:3, 13:13, 13:17). The priest does not apply medical treatment. This division of roles underscores the ritual and spiritual focus of the legislation. Isolation outside the camp: Loss and direct encounter Once declared unclean, the person with ṣāraʿat must live “alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:46 NASB95). Clothing is torn. The head is uncovered. The upper lip is covered. The leper must cry out “Unclean! Unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45). These actions publicly mark the condition and prevent casual contact. Practically, such isolation strips a person of home, normal relationships, and community worship. Family connections become distant, often literally. Daily survival may depend on food left at a distance by compassionate relatives or neighbors. The social cost mirrors the spiritual reality of being separated from the holy presence in the camp. At the same time, this separation places the leper in a kind of wilderness space, separated from community structures. Human mediators can only pronounce, not cure. In this setting, dependence on יי רֹפְאֵנוּ Adonai Rofeinu (the LORD our Healer) becomes central. If healing comes, it comes from God Himself. In this way, the “outside the camp” experience embodies both judgment and opportunity for direct encounter. Physical and spiritual dimensions of disease Biblical material often links physical conditions with inner states without denying natural causes. Emotions, patterns of sin, and spiritual dynamics interact with bodily health. For instance, prolonged anger and anxiety can aggravate stomach ulcers or gallbladder problems. Psalm 32:3–4 portrays unconfessed sin in terms of bodily wasting: “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away… my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer” (NASB95). Here inner guilt and physical experience intertwine. Modern examples follow the same pattern. Alcoholism, while classified as a disease, frequently arises from deep emotional wounds, trauma, or despair. In biblical categories, such factors involve the לֵב lēv (heart) and the רוּחַ rūakh (spirit). Chronic destructive habits grow out of damaged inner life as well as physical predisposition. Consequently, long-term conditions—such as addictions, some chronic illnesses, or persistent psychosomatic complaints—often display both physical and spiritual dimensions. Addressing only the physical symptoms may leave the root issues untouched. When this occurs, patterns can recur, intensify, or shift into alternate forms. Leviticus 14: Cleansing after healing Leviticus 14 opens with a clear temporal statement: “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing” (Leviticus 14:2 NASB95). The ritual begins only after the visible disease has ceased. The priest “shall go out to the outside of the camp; thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper” (Leviticus 14:3). Only then does the ceremony proceed. The ritual includes: Two live clean birds Cedar wood (עֵץ אֶרֶז ʿēṣ ʼerez) Scarlet string or material (שָׁנִי תוֹלָעַת šānî tôlāʿat – scarlet) Hyssop (אֵזוֹב ʼēzov) An earthenware vessel over “living water” (fresh, running water) Later, sacrifices of a guilt offering, sin offering, burnt offering, and grain offering Application of blood and oil to the cleansed person One bird is slaughtered over the living water. The blood and water mix in the vessel. The living bird, cedar, scarlet, and hyssop are dipped in the mixture. The priest sprinkles the person seven times and then releases the live bird in the open field (Leviticus 14:4–7). The individual then washes, shaves, and enters a staged process of re-entry. These procedures do not function as medical therapies. They do not administer herbs, balms, or diet. Instead, they act as symbolic actions that declare cleansing, atonement, and new consecration. Physical healing has already occurred. The ceremony publicly acknowledges this healing and integrates the person back into the worshiping community with a heightened spiritual significance. Connections to Passover, Atonement, priesthood and nazarite vows The elements in Leviticus 14 echo several major biblical themes. First, the use of hyssop and blood recalls Passover. In Exodus 12:22, Israel takes a bunch of hyssop, dips it in the blood, and applies it to the lintel and doorposts. The LORD passes over the homes marked by blood (Exodus 12:23). In that event, deliverance does not depend on prior holiness. The people remain as they are, sheltered by the blood. Salvation comes as a gift. Second, the two-bird pattern parallels the two goats of the Day of Atonement. On Yom Kippur, one goat is sacrificed. The other, the scapegoat, bears the iniquities of Israel into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:7–10, 20–22). The live bird released in Leviticus 14:7 reflects similar symbolism. Guilt and impurity are carried away. The person stands cleared in God's sight. Third, the procedure copies the anointing of priests. At Aaron's ordination, Moses puts blood “on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot” (Leviticus 8:23 NASB95). The same pattern applies to Aaron's sons (Leviticus 8:24). In Leviticus 14:14–17, the cleansed person receives blood and oil on these same points. This alignment indicates a movement toward priestly-like consecration. Fourth, the shaving of all hair resembles Nazarite transitions. A נָזִיר nāzîr (Nazarite) grows hair during a vow period (Numbers 6:5). At completion, the Nazarite shaves the head and presents offerings (Numbers 6:18). In Leviticus 14:8–9, the former leper shaves head, beard, eyebrows, and all body hair twice. This suggests a complete reset and renewed dedication. Taken together, these resonances bind leper-cleansing to: Passover (protective blood and undeserved rescue) Yom Kippur (removal of iniquity and cleansing of intentional sin) Priesthood (set-apart service between God and people) Nazarite vow (special consecration and surrendered life) The restored person thus moves from total exclusion to a status that symbolically approaches priestly consecration. Ear, hand, and foot: Hearing, doing, walking The specific locations of blood and oil carry clear symbolic meaning. In both priestly ordination and leper cleansing, the sequence appears: Right ear lobe Right thumb Right big toe The right ear represents hearing. With blood and oil applied, the hearing life is cleansed and consecrated. The individual is marked to listen to God's word, not merely to surrounding voices. The right thumb represents action and work. Hands grasp tools, perform tasks, give, and receive. Blood and oil on the thumb declare that deeds now belong to God's service. The right big toe represents movement and direction. Feet choose paths. They either walk in God's ways or stray. The consecrated toe indicates that future journeys should align with holiness. By repeating this pattern over a once-unclean person, the text assigns a new quality to daily life. Every sound taken in, every act performed, and every path chosen stands under the sign of cleansing and dedication. Thus, the ritual does not simply restore social status. It reorients the entire life. Speech, sin, and leprosy: Miriam and Gehazi Several narrative passages explicitly associate leprosy with moral failures, especially in speech and covetousness. Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses “because of the Cushite woman whom he had married” (Numbers 12:1 NASB95). God defends Moses and confronts them. After the cloud departs from over the tent, “Miriam was leprous, as white as snow” (Numbers 12:10). The judgment directly follows her misuse of the tongue. Moses intercedes, and Miriam endures seven days outside the camp before restoration (Numbers 12:13–15). Gehazi, servant of Elisha, covets and lies. After Naaman the Aramean receives healing from leprosy, Elisha refuses payment (2 Kings 5:15–16). Gehazi secretly pursues Naaman, invents a story to secure silver and garments, and hides them. Elisha exposes the deceit. Then he declares, “Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever” (2Kings 5:27 NASB95). Gehazi “went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.” In both accounts, leprosy functions as visible confirmation of inner failure — slander and rebellion in Miriam's case, greed and deceit in Gehazi's. These histories do not cover every case of ṣāraʿat. They do, however, establish that Scripture sometimes presents leprosy as a direct, divinely appointed sign of moral and spiritual breakdown. The four lepers of 2Kings 7: Freedom and leadership from the margins 2Kings 6–7 presents another major leprosy-related narrative. Samaria faces siege from the king of Aram. Famine grows so intense that some resort to cannibalism (2Kings 6:28–29). The king of Israel blames Elisha and contemplates his death (2Kings 6:31). Outside the city gate sit four lepers (2Kings 7:3). They analyze their situation. Staying where they are means death. Entering the city also means death by famine. Approaching the Aramean camp may result in death by the sword but also carries a faint possibility of mercy and food. They decide, “Let us go over to the camp of the Arameans” (2 Kings 7:4 NASB95). When they arrive, the camp stands empty. The Lord has caused the Arameans to hear a great noise “like the sound of chariots… and of a great army,” so they flee, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys, and supplies (2Kings 7:6–7). The lepers eat and drink. They take silver, gold, and clothing and hide them (2Kings 7:8). After some time, conscience awakens. They say, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent” (2Kings 7:9 NASB95). They return to the city gate and report their findings. Ultimately, the people stream out, plunder the camp, and food prices drop dramatically, in fulfillment of Elisha's earlier word (2Kings 7:16–18). Here, unhealed lepers become pivotal agents in God's deliverance. Their social exclusion places them outside the besieged city. That marginal position gives them freedom of movement no one inside the walls possesses. Their desperate choice to walk toward supposed death leads to life for an entire population. Thus, people marked as unclean and expendable end up as the first recipients and then heralds of “good news.” Their path out to the enemy camp becomes the route others must follow to find provision. Leprosy in the Gospels: Healing, obedience and gratitude The Gospels include several accounts of lepers approaching Yeshua (Ἰησοῦς Iēsous – Jesus). In Mark 1:40–45, a leper kneels and says, “If You are willing, You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40 NASB95). Moved with compassion, Jesus touches him and says, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mark 1:41). The leprosy leaves immediately. Jesus then “sternly warned him” and says, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (Mark 1:43–44). Nevertheless, the man goes out and “began to proclaim it freely,” with the result that Jesus can no longer openly enter a city (Mark 1:45). In Luke 17:11–19, ten lepers stand at a distance and cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13 NASB95). He tells them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they go, they are cleansed (Luke 17:14). One, a Samaritan, returns, glorifies God, and falls at Jesus' feet in gratitude (Luke 17:15–16). Jesus observes that only this “foreigner” has returned to give glory to God and says, “Your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:18–19). These passages add several layers. First, they confirm that Jesus honors Torah by directing cleansed lepers to priests and prescribed offerings. The rituals of Leviticus 14 retain their place as public testimony. Second, they distinguish between simple physical cleansing and deeper responses of obedience and worship. The man in Mark receives healing but disregards Jesus' explicit command to keep silent. The nine lepers in Luke receive cleansing but do not return in thanksgiving. Only the Samaritan combines obedience (going to the priest) with heartfelt gratitude and God-centered praise. Integrated pattern: Outward disease and inner reality Across Torah, Prophets, and Gospels, leprosy appears in a consistent pattern. In Leviticus, ṣāraʿat marks severe impurity and requires exclusion from the camp, yet it also opens the way to a profound ritual of atonement and consecration once healing occurs. In historical books, leprosy sometimes functions as a direct judgment on sins such as slander, rebellion, greed, and deception. In 2Kings 7, lepers become instruments of salvation for others while still bearing their disease. In the Gospels, lepers receive both healing and instructions that test obedience, gratitude, and witness. The physical condition therefore serves as a visible signpost. It reveals inner realities, exposes the seriousness of sin and uncleanness, and highlights God's power to cleanse and reassign identities. Leviticus 14, with its echoes of Passover, Yom Kippur, priesthood, and Nazarite vows, presents a restored leper not merely as a re-included citizen but as a person with intensified calling. Ear, hand, and foot are marked for God. The one who once cried “Unclean” now carries a distinctive imprint of cleansing and dedication. At the same time, narratives warn that if spiritual lessons remain unlearned, patterns repeat. Samaria experiences temporary relief in 2 Kings 7 but later falls due to ongoing idolatry (2Kings 17:7–23). Individuals like Miriam and Gehazi receive stark reminders that words and motives matter. The New Testament further indicates that some afflictions may remain even in faithful servants (2 Corinthians 12:7–10), not as punishment but as means of deepening dependence on God. Bottom line Biblical leprosy functions as a multilayered sign. It encompasses a wide range of physical conditions yet consistently points beyond the skin to the lēv (heart), rūaḥ (spirit), and community relationship with Adonai. Legal texts, historical narratives, and Gospel accounts converge on a central theme: God reveals, judges, cleanses, and reassigns those marked by uncleanness. In this framework, healing appears as both physical restoration and spiritual reorientation. The law of the leper in Leviticus 14 concludes with a fully reintegrated person whose hearing, actions, and walk are symbolically dedicated to God. Stories of lepers in Kings and the Gospels show that those once outside the camp can become bearers of good news and examples of faith. Thoughts to ponder Wilderness seasons / holy groundWhen you feel most isolated or stripped down, what might God be trying to show you that you can only see in this “wilderness” season? Treat both body and soulIn an area where you're seeking physical relief, what deeper heart issue, fear, or habit might God also be inviting you to address? Guard your tongueIf your recent words were made visible on your skin, what would they reveal—and where is God nudging you toward repentance or restraint? Ear, hand, and foot dedicated to GodWhat you hear, what you do, and where you go today—where is one small, concrete way you can consciously dedicate each of these to God? Healing deepens callingLooking back on a past wound or illness, how might your story now equip you to comfort, guide, or serve someone walking a similar path? God uses outsider experiencesWhere have you felt like an outsider or rejected, and how could that very experience become a bridge to people others are not reaching? Obedience and gratitude, not just reliefIn an area where God has recently helped you, what would it look like to “return” with specific gratitude and fresh obedience, rather than just moving on? The post Healing more than the body: What biblical lepers show about God's kindness (Leviticus 14; 2Kings 7; Luke 17; Mark 1) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

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In 2 Kings 5, a powerful military commander is helpless, an unnamed servant girl becomes the voice of hope, a foreign enemy discovers faith, and an insider misses what God is doing right in front of him. This story is packed with irony, challenging our assumptions about who understands God, who receives grace, and how transformation happens. Join us as we explore Naaman, Gehazi, and the surprising ways God's kingdom overturns human expectations.

Send us Fan MailOn Pentecost Pastor Mark walks through 2 Kings 5 and the story of Naaman and Gehazi. He invites us into seeking the simple things of faith in God.Support the showThe Village Church's sermon podcast is more than just a weekly message. It is an invitation into the great and ongoing story of God's work in the world. Pastors Eric, Mark, Susan, Daniel, and other leaders open the Scriptures not as a collection of abstract ideas but as the living, breathing witness to God's kingdom breaking into our midst. Each episode is a call—not merely to listen, but to take part, to step forward into the life of faith with renewed vision and purpose.Week by week, the pastors and leaders explore the deep rhythms of Christian discipleship—prayer, fasting, generosity—not as isolated duties but as part of a larger, richer, and more beautiful whole. They unpack these ancient practices in light of Jesus himself, the one in whom heaven and earth have come together. But they also turn their attention to the realities of everyday life—relationships, finances, the struggles and joys of being human—demonstrating how the gospel is not merely about what we believe but about how we live as God's renewed people in the present age.The Village Churchvillagersonline@gmail.comMore information at www.villagersonline.com

Send us Fan MailOnce AgainThe child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. He said to his father, “My head! My head!” His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 2 Kings 4:18-20When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.” “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn't I tell you, ‘Don't raise my hopes'?”  Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don't greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy's face.” 2 Kings 4:28-29Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.” When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 2 Kings 4:31-32Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy's body grew warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 2 Kings 4:34-351. God loves a Repeat Performance! If He'll do it then, He'll do it now.If He'll use them, He'll use me.“Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 2 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!” 1 Kings 17:19-20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:22. God often uses momentum instead of a moment! Stop asking if, and start asking how.Small miracles lead to big miracles.Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23Discussion Questions:What is something you said, “never again” to.The woman still went to the man of God in her pain. What does that teach us about where to go when we're hurting?Elisha had to act more than once before the miracle happened. Why do you think God sometimes requires persistence?What keeps people from trying again after disappointment? What practical step can you take this week to “try again”? Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today's message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

Kencan Dengan Tuhan -Jumat, 17 April 2026Bacaan: "Lalu berdoalah Elisa: "Ya TUHAN: Bukalah kiranya matanya, supaya ia melihat." Maka TUHAN membuka mata bujang itu, sehingga ia melihat. Tampaklah gunung itu penuh dengan kuda dan kereta berapi sekeliling Elisa." (2 Raja-raja 6:17)Renungan: Mata jasmani terbentur pada sebuah tembok tetapi mata iman melompati tembok. Mata jasmani terbatas pada sebuah sudut jalan tetapi mata iman melihat apa yang ada di balik sudut jalan. Mata jasmani melihat kegelapan tetapi mata iman menjangkau secercah sinar di balik kegelapan. Mata jasmani menimbulkan keputusasaan tetapi mata iman menimbulkan kekuatan dan pengharapan. Mata iman menjadikan tenang di kala badai menerpa, terhibur ketika kesedihan mendera, tersenyum di balik duka, berbahagia di tengah kepedihan, dan menemukan jalan ketika tiada jalan. Dalam 2 Raj 6:15-17 kita melihat tentara Raja Aram datang mengepung kota Dotan di mana Elisa berada. Dan ketika pelayan abdi Tuhan, Gehazi, melihat tentara Aram yang besar itu, maka ia ketakutan dan memberitahukan kepada Elisa, namun Elisa hanya berkata, "Jangan takut, sebab lebih banyak yang menyertai kita dari pada yang menyertai mereka." Gehazi dengan mata jasmaninya, melihat tentara Aram yang besar sehingga membuat ia gemetar ketakutan. Sedangkan nabi Elisa dengan mata iman, melihat tentara Tuhan yang jauh lebih besar. Gehazi hanya mampu melihat situasi yang dia hadapi dengan mata jasmani. Oleh sebab itulah Nabi Elisa berdoa, "Ya Tuhan, bukalah kiranya matanya supaya ia melihat." Maka Gehazi mulai memiliki mata yang melihat. Nabi Elisa menjalani jenis kehidupan "hidup bukan karena melihat tetapi karena percaya" (2 Kor 5:7). Sedangkan pelayan abdi Tuhan itu menjalani kehidupan yang "memiliki mata namun tidak melihat" (Mrk 8:18). Banyak kali kita juga menjalani kehidupan kekristenan Gehazi, kehidupan yang tidak seimbang. Dengan kata lain, mata jasmani bertindak dan berpengaruh jauh lebih besar dari mata iman. Akhirnya, kehidupan kekristenan yang kita jalani adalah kehidupan yang uring-uringan karena sebuah masalah; penuh dengan kecemasan, ketakutan, dan kekalahan; tidak memiliki sikap iman di dalam Tuhan; kering akan campur tangan Tuhan. Ini bukanlah kehidupan yang Tuhan inginkan! Kita harus mempunyai keyakinan bahwa Tuhan mengontrol seluruh kehidupan kita. Tuhan yang kita sembah adalah Tuhan yang besar, yang bukan sekadar mampu menciptakan langit dan bumi, tetapi juga mampu mengubah situasi dan kesusahan yang kita hadapi. Untuk itulah kita harus dapat melihat segala keadaan dengan mata iman, agar di setiap sudut jalan kehidupan, kita menemukan campur tangan Tuhan. Jika kita hanya hidup dengan mata jasmani, maka kecillah kekuatan kita, tetapi ketika kita hidup dengan mata iman, maka kita lebih dari seorang pemenang. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa:Tuhan Yesus, aku rindu senantiasa menikmati campur tangan-Mu dalam hidupku. Bukalah mata imanku untuk melihat dan merasakan keajaiban-Mu. Amin. (Dod).

Message Take Aways:1. Naaman was suffering from a deadly condition that seemed incurable, serving as a picture of sinful humanity—“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” Romans 5:122. Naaman experienced a miraculous cleansing by exercising genuine faith demonstrated through humble obedience—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:93. Gehazi's covetousness led him to trespass, which he failed to confess, resulting in him suffering the heavy consequences of sin—“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:14-15

Assembly of Yahusha BHP episode 320 officiated by Bro. Jon Dizon 03-05-2026. #Yahuah #Yahusha #biblestudy #faith #trueworship #assemblyofYahusha ©2026 Assembly of Yahusha All rights reserved. The Assembly of Yahusha exclusively own the rights to the contents of this podcast and any non-assemblymember reproduction must have the approval of the Assembly. Only bona fide members of the Assembly are authorized to copy, download, and reproduce the contents of this podcast for their personal or religious use. For permission to copy, download, and reproduce send an email to : info@aoy.today

I was stuck. I’d written half of a devotional article when my thoughts dried up. “God, what should I do?” I prayed. Remembering research that found that our creative output is boosted by an average of sixty percent when we walk, I headed out to the trail behind my house and continued my conversation with God. Thirty minutes later I was refreshed. I returned to my keyboard and finished the entry. In the book of 2 Kings 4:20-35, we read that Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, responded to a Shunammite woman’s plea to help her dead son. At Elisha’s instruction, Gehazi laid his staff on the child (v. 31). They prayed. Then Elisha laid on top of the boy. At last, “Elisha walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and then stretched out on him once more . . . and the boy opened his eyes” (v. 35). Scripture doesn’t tell us why Elisha “walked back and forth,” nor does it say what he was thinking. What we do know is that when Elisha’s prayers weren’t answered, he didn’t give up. It’s not difficult to picture him talking to God in this urgent situation. What do you do when you’re stuck at a dead-end and don’t know what to do? Perhaps a “prayer walk” is in order. Whether we head out to a trail for a walk or pace back and forth in our home, connecting to God when we’re in need brings answers that address our circumstances.

2 Kings 5:15–27 Secret greed is a subtle, yet overpowering temptation. How easy it can be for our desires to get out of whack! Uncover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how one deceitful act led to disastrous consequences (2 Kings 5). Watch Gehazi's secret greed unfold. Guard against discontentment, rationalization, and deception in your own life!

2 Kings 5:15-27 / February 24-25, 2026 Deep in the heart of Elisha's helper, Gehazi, were smoldering embers of greed. Silently, secretively, they remained hidden. No one could tell by looking. Words never passed from Gehazi's mouth, admitting such sin, but it was there nevertheless. Through a series of events those embers burst into full flame. As we recount the story, we want to take sufficient time to examine our own hearts and determine if we suffer from a similar malady. From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters read more

Secret greed is a subtle, yet overpowering temptation. How easy it can be for our desires to get out of whack!Uncover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how one deceitful act led to disastrous consequences (2 Kings 5).Watch Gehazi's secret greed unfold. Guard against discontentment, rationalisation, and deception in your own life!

Secret greed is a subtle, yet overpowering temptation. How easy it can be for our desires to get out of whack!Uncover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how one deceitful act led to disastrous consequences (2 Kings 5).Watch Gehazi's secret greed unfold. Guard against discontentment, rationalization, and deception in your own life! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29?v=20251111

2 Kings 5:15–27 Secret greed is a subtle, yet overpowering temptation. How easy it can be for our desires to get out of whack! Uncover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how one deceitful act led to disastrous consequences (2 Kings 5). Watch Gehazi's secret greed unfold. Guard against discontentment, rationalization, and deception in your own life!

2 Kings 5:15-27 / February 24-25, 2026 Deep in the heart of Elisha's helper, Gehazi, were smoldering embers of greed. Silently, secretively, they remained hidden. No one could tell by looking. Words never passed from Gehazi's mouth, admitting such sin, but it was there nevertheless. Through a series of events those embers burst into full flame. As we recount the story, we want to take sufficient time to examine our own hearts and determine if we suffer from a similar malady. From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters read more

2 Kings 5:15-27 / February 24-25, 2026 Deep in the heart of Elisha's helper, Gehazi, were smoldering embers of greed. Silently, secretively, they remained hidden. No one could tell by looking. Words never passed from Gehazi's mouth, admitting such sin, but it was there nevertheless. Through a series of events those embers burst into full flame. As we recount the story, we want to take sufficient time to examine our own hearts and determine if we suffer from a similar malady. From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters read more

Secret greed is a subtle, yet overpowering temptation. How easy it can be for our desires to get out of whack!Uncover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how one deceitful act led to disastrous consequences (2 Kings 5).Watch Gehazi's secret greed unfold. Guard against discontentment, rationalisation, and deception in your own life!

Secret greed is a subtle, yet overpowering temptation. How easy it can be for our desires to get out of whack!Uncover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how one deceitful act led to disastrous consequences (2 Kings 5).Watch Gehazi's secret greed unfold. Guard against discontentment, rationalization, and deception in your own life! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29?v=20251111

Pastor Bob Pittman's message powerfully highlights the importance of walking in God's presence with humility, integrity, and faithfulness, using the stories of Elijah, Elisha, and Gehazi as key examples. He warns against pride and greed, emphasizing that true spiritual fruit comes from putting God first, embracing accountability, and serving with love. The sermon also addresses the reality of false prophets, urging believers to discern character and remain rooted in Christ. Ultimately, it is a call to live authentically, rely on God's grace, and bear lasting fruit for His kingdom.

In this powerful Bible study from 2 Kings 5, we walk through the story of Naaman — a great and honorable man whose pride, insecurity, and expectations nearly caused him to walk away from his miracle. This episode reveals how God often targets the heart before the symptom, and how what looks like pride on the outside may actually be deep insecurity on the inside. Through Naaman, Elisha, and Gehazi, we see a clear picture of humility, obedience, grace, and the danger of hidden sin. If you've ever felt frustrated because God didn't move the way you expected, this teaching will help you recognize what may be happening beneath the surface — and how to position your heart for true healing and wholeness. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How pride and insecurity can quietly block your healingWhy God often addresses the heart before the outward problemHow Naaman's expectations nearly caused him to miss his miracleThe difference between works and grace in receiving from GodWhat Gehazi's story teaches about hidden sin and spiritual consequencesHow humility and simple obedience open the door to true wholeness Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Human Heart: Pride and Insecurity 03:00 Naaman's Journey: A Study of 2 Kings 5 05:46 The Complexity of Naaman: Greatness and Leprosy 08:57 The Young Girl's Insight: Compassion in Captivity 12:03 The Role of Expectations: Naaman's Anger and Disappointment 15:09 The Path to Healing: Humility and Obedience 17:47 The Gospel Foreshadowed: Naaman's Cleansing 21:06 Elisha's Heart: Compassion Over Glory 24:04 Gehazi's Greed: A Contrast to Naaman's Transformation 26:51 The Consequences of Hidden Pride 29:48 The Call to Self-Reflection and Healing Key Scripture: 2 Kings 5Ephesians 5:25–26Exodus 20:24Psalm 139 (Search my heart, O God) About your host: Jaime Luce' testimony has daunting personal mountains and treacherous financial valleys. She was trapped in day-to-day stress and couldn't see a way forward. But how she started is not how she finished! And she wants you to know God has a plan for your life too, no matter how tough it seems. Today, Jaime has been married to the love of her life for almost three decades, owns two companies, and has become an author and podcaster. God's way is always the blessed way! Free chapter of Jaime's new book: You Don't Need Money, You Just Need God: https://jaimeluce.com/book/ Connect: - Website: https://jaimeluce.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaime.luces.page - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaime_luce/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-luce-00395691/

THE YEAR OF RESTORATION, REVIVAL, & REVITALIZATION!!   Visit the Kingdom Church of Houston website at www.kingdomchurchhouston.com/ and stay connected to our services and upcoming events!   https://linktr.ee/KCOH   Location: 9702 Willow St. Houston, Tx 77088 Services: Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm | Sunday Service at 10am   #jesus #houston #church #faith

THE YEAR OF RESTORATION, REVIVAL, & REVITALIZATION!!   Visit the Kingdom Church of Houston website at www.kingdomchurchhouston.com/ and stay connected to our services and upcoming events!   https://linktr.ee/KCOH   Location: 9702 Willow St. Houston, Tx 77088 Services: Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm | Sunday Service at 10am   #jesus #houston #church #faith

THE YEAR OF RESTORATION, REVIVAL, & REVITALIZATION!!   Visit the Kingdom Church of Houston website at www.kingdomchurchhouston.com/ and stay connected to our services and upcoming events!   https://linktr.ee/KCOH   Location: 9702 Willow St. Houston, Tx 77088 Services: Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm | Sunday Service at 10am   #jesus #houston #church #faith

THE YEAR OF RESTORATION, REVIVAL, & REVITALIZATION!!   Visit the Kingdom Church of Houston website at www.kingdomchurchhouston.com/ and stay connected to our services and upcoming events!   https://linktr.ee/KCOH   Location: 9702 Willow St. Houston, Tx 77088 Services: Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm | Sunday Service at 10am   #jesus #houston #church #faith

2 Kings chapter 5 tells the story of Naaman, a powerful military commander afflicted with leprosy, who encounters the God of Israel through the prophet Elisha. Though Naaman initially resists the simple instruction to wash in the Jordan, healing comes when he humbles himself and obeys God's word. The chapter contrasts true faith with pride and greed, as Gehazi's deceit leads to judgment. This passage teaches that God's grace is not earned by status or power, but received through humility, obedience, and sincere faith. Hashtags: #2Kings5 #Naaman #ObedienceBringsHealing #HumilityBeforeGod #GodHeals #FaithOverPride #ElishaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.“Thank you for listening to SendMe Radio — where we share the Gospel, inspire faith, and keep you connected with powerful stories and updates from around the world. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a message.And remember — you can listen to SendMe Radio streaming 24/7 at www.sendmeradio.net or simply say: ‘Hey Alexa, play SendMe Radio.'

The importance of surrendering yourself to God, rather than following your own "I thought" ideas, is highlighted in 2 Kings 5 in the various reactions of four figures: the maid who served Naaman's wife made a bold declaration of faith; the king of Israel thought highly of himself and assumed the worst; Naaman, full of pride, did not listen to instructions, but eventually submitted to God's way and God healed him; and Gehazi, Elisha's servant, disobeyed his master, taking payment that the prophet had refused, and received Naaman's leprosy as punishment. 2 Kings 5:1-27 VF-2078 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

Luke 17:12-19; The Grateful Leper I've included my notes, but I didn't follow them, choosing instead to offer a meditation on the "go show yourself to the priest" part of the Levitical command and noting how we do the same - and will all do the same one day at the Great Judgment. Homily: Healing, Vision, and the Mercy of God Onee of the things that sometimes gives people pause—especially when they encounter it for the first time—comes from the Book of Needs, in the prayers the priest offers for those who are sick. If you have ever been present for these prayers, you may have been surprised by what you heard. We expect prayers like: "O Lord, raise up this servant from the bed of illness and restore them to health." And those prayers are certainly there. But woven throughout are repeated petitions for the forgiveness of sins. And that can feel jarring. "Why talk about sin?" we think. "This person is sick—not sinful." But the Church is very intentional here. Imagine this: a person is lifted up from their bed of illness, restored to perfect physical health—yet still carries unrepented sin within them. Outwardly, they look alive. Inwardly, they are not. They are, in a real sense, a living corpse. On the other hand—and this is harder for us to accept—someone may remain physically ill, yet live in Christ: healed in their soul, united to Him, walking in holiness and freedom despite bodily weakness. That person is truly alive. Our Lord Himself tells us not to fear those things that can harm the body, but to attend to what shapes the soul. We often joke that it might be easier if spiritual states were visible—if holiness and sin showed up like physical symptoms. Imagine walking through the world able to see, immediately, who was struggling, who was wounded, who needed gentleness or prayer. But most sins are hidden. We become very good at concealing them. Some sins, however, are easier to spot. A habitual drunkard, for example, eventually reveals himself. And there is one sin in particular—one we often excuse—that Scripture treats with great seriousness: the sin of speaking badly about others. In the Old Testament, what we translate as leprosy was often not simply a medical condition but a visible sign—a manifestation of sin made public. Not every skin disease fell into this category, but some did. It was a way God taught His people: what you carry within eventually shows itself without. Consider Miriam, the sister of Moses. She was a holy woman, faithful, devoted—yet when Moses acted in a way she did not expect, marrying a foreign woman, she spoke against him. She gave herself over to resentment and gossip. And the consequence was immediate and unmistakable: she was struck with leprosy and sent outside the camp until she was healed. The warning is clear. How different would our lives be if sins like gossip and disparagement were marked visibly upon us? If a sign hovered over our heads that said: "This person cannot speak about their neighbor with charity." "Do not trust their words; they tear others down." We would recoil at such exposure. Yet spiritually, those signs already exist. And in our time, this sin has become not only habitual, but normalized—especially through social media. Even among Orthodox Christians, we see people eager to label one another heretics rather than first seeking understanding. The slow, patient work of charity has been replaced by accusation. To those with noetic vision—spiritual sight—these sins are as visible as white blotches on the skin. So how do we examine ourselves? One test is how we respond to criticism. Another is how we respond to praise—or its absence. But another, deeply revealing test is this: How do I speak and think about others—especially those who have wronged me? Do I love my enemies? Do my thoughts and words reflect what St. Paul describes as the natural fruit of love? Or do I secretly rejoice when others fall? Scripture gives us another powerful image in the story of Naaman the Syrian—a pagan general afflicted with leprosy. He obeys the prophet Elisha, washes in the Jordan, and is healed. More than that, he turns to the God of Israel with gratitude and humility. He even takes soil from the Holy Land so that he may always remember whom he serves. But then we see the tragic contrast: Gehazi, Elisha's servant. Greed overtakes him. He lies. He exploits grace for gain. And the leprosy that left Naaman clings to him instead. Grace rejected becomes judgment. And finally, we see the greatest transformation of all: St. Paul. Raised among God's people, zealous for the law, Paul persecutes Christ Himself. He bears the unmistakable mark of sin—not on his skin, but in his actions. Yet the Lord blinds him, then restores his sight. And what does Paul do? He does not presume upon grace. He repents. He gives thanks. He becomes like the Samaritan leper in today's Gospel—the one who returns to glorify God. This is the heart of the Gospel. We live in a world filled with sin—not only in its dramatic forms, but in the everyday ways we break trust, speak carelessly, and nurture resentment. These are our leprosies. And yet, the Lord sees us in our affliction. He does not recoil. He heals. He restores us to His image. He cleanses us. He sets us free. But healing is not the end. Gratitude must awaken into a new way of life. God is not interested in transactional thanksgiving—"thank You so You'll give me more." That is manipulation, not love. True thanksgiving becomes wonder. To see a cup of water and marvel not only that it quenches thirst, but that water exists at all—that matter itself has been sanctified by Christ. To see every person we meet—not first as a problem to be solved or a sinner to be exposed—but as an icon bearing divine potential. Yes, we notice sin. But we see through it—to the good that can be nurtured. That is how God treats us. If we think we are proclaiming the Gospel by beating people down with their sins, we are mistaken. Repentance requires a vision of the good. People must know what they are called toward, not only what they must turn away from. This is how we pastor one another. We see the best. We bring it out. We pray. We speak truth when the time is right and love is strong. And when we do this, we stand with that Samaritan leper—foreigners ourselves to the Kingdom—yet welcomed, healed, and restored. May the Lord open our eyes—our noetic vision—so that we may see the grace that permeates all things, the divine logoi present in creation, and the glory of God shining wherever we are able to bear it. And may He grant us the strength to see more, day by day. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

What do you do when God's instructions don't make sense—or when His process feels uncomfortable? In this sermon from 2 Kings 5:14–27, we explore the powerful story of Naaman and Gehazi and learn why trusting God's process is essential to experiencing true healing, freedom, and transformation.Naaman was healed only when he humbled himself and obeyed God's word exactly as given. Gehazi, however, chose shortcuts, greed, and deception—and paid a heavy price. Together, their stories remind us that God's blessings are not just about the outcome, but about the obedience, humility, and faith developed along the way.If you're struggling with waiting, obedience, or understanding what God is doing in your life, this sermon will encourage you to stay faithful and trust God's process.

This episode focuses on the themes of transition and impartation in the spiritual journey, using the biblical stories of Elijah, Elisha, and Gehazi to illustrate how walking with God leads to seasons of change, growth, and responsibility. The speaker emphasizes the importance of moving from being a spiritual son or daughter to becoming a spiritual parent, imparting wisdom and anointing to others. Through examples from 1 Kings and 2 Kings, the message highlights obedience, humility, and the dangers of pride and transactional thinking, ultimately calling listeners to embrace a life of daily surrender and contentment in godliness rather than seeking personal gain or recognition.

Unseen Servants Unseen Servants and the risk of bitterness  As writers, we can often feel unseen. If we're not careful, we can become discontent and desire the praise and recognition from men & women. Are we able to be faithful and seek our approval and recognition from God alone? Let's take a look at some examples in scripture.  Gehazi, servant to Elisha (2 Kings 5:20-27) Martha (Luke 10:38-42) Older son (Luke 15:25-32) Women supporting Jesus (Luke 8:1-3) Our friend Craig Sampson, when I worked in YFC. This man was one of the best volunteers you could ever ask for. Always faithful with no desire for personal gain and recognition.  Matthew 6:4-6 - "Your Father who sees in secret…" Revelation 2:2-4 - "I know the things you do…" May we learn to be content as unseen servants for the Lord, regardless of any praise or recognition we receive from people.    Resources: If you're ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you.  1. Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15-Minutes a Day Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing. Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.   2. Book Writing Lab Workshop - Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes If over the last year, you've struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90-minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book. Get started now for just $27 3. Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book. Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST) Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

Episode NotesEpisode 95: Matthew 8 - Using Infectious Skin Diseases for OutreachNovember 1, 2025 - Host: Dr. Gregory HallIn this episode we'll dive into a particular formula (3 stories of healing followed by a call to discipleship) that Matthew uses to present Jesus' ministry. When we're done, you might ask if infectious skin diseases could be a part of your church's outreach ministry!Resources Referenced and/or Read:The list of Lepers in the Bible is pretty short:  Exod 4 - Moses' hand became leprous as snow, as if he had a skin disease, after he encountered God at the burning bush.Numbers 12:10 - Miriam, sister of Moses, became leprous when she spoke against Moses' leadership.Naaman - 2 Kings 5 - Elisha sent a messenger to him saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”Gehazi, the servant of Elisha - 2 Kings 5:20Joab - 2 Samuel 3:292 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 26  - Uzziah [Azariah], king of Judah, was punished with a skin disease after he went into the temple of the Lord so that he might burn incense.Simon the Leper - Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9Three gospels likely share the same event: Matthew 8:2-4 - unnamed, Mark 1:40-45 - unnamed, Luke 5:12-16 - unnamedLuke 17:11-21 - 9 unnamed Jews - one unnamed SamaritanMatt 11:1-6 - When John the Baptist was imprisoned, John asks if Jesus is the Expected One… and in his response Jesus mentions several miracles associated with his ministry including “the lepers are cleansed”.Show Music:Intro/Outro - "Growth" by Armani Delos SantosTransition Music - produced by Jacob A. HallPodcast Website:The All-America Listener Challenge Updates: https://rethinkingscripture.comMy New Podcast Studio... The Upper Room: https://rethinkingscripture.com/podcast-episodes/More information about The Homes and Help Initiative: https://rethinkingscripture.com/homes-help-initiative/Sister site: RethinkingRest.comRethinking Rest... the Book is now available. The Rethinking Rest audiobook is available only on Audible: More information: https://rethinkingrest.com/the-book/Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RethinkingScripture Twitter: @RethinkingStuffInstagram: Rethinking_ScriptureYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6YCLg2UldJiA0dsg0KkvLAPowered and distributed by Simplecast.

Tuesday October 21, 2025XIX Week After Pentecost —In today's episode, we see how hidden motives, unchecked sin, and careless words can corrupt what God means to be pure and holy.

Dante’s neighborhood in Manila was prone to flooding. On rainy days, the little boy reached school by crossing a makeshift wooden bridge put up by a neighbor. “Mr. Tomas helped the community get around,” Dante said. “He’d guide me on the bridge, shielding me from the rain.” Years later, Dante joined a church north of Manila. Leo, his Bible study leader, mentored him. In a conversation about their childhoods, Dante discovered Leo was Mr. Tomas’ son! “There’s no such thing as coincidence,” Dante said. “God used the son of a man who’d blessed me to help me in my faith.” A woman from the town of Shunem also experienced God’s providence. In faith, she’d followed the prophet Elisha’s advice, leaving home to avoid a famine (2 Kings 8:1-2). In doing so, she’d forfeited her claim to her house and land. Now, at the exact moment she was seeking help from the king about this matter, the king just happened to be talking with Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, about her. Years earlier, Gehazi had seen the woman’s dead son raised to life. Now, Gehazi said, "This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life" (v. 5). The king then “assigned an official to her case” (v. 6) and returned her property. We’ll always experience God’s care especially when things may not go as we planned. Our sovereign God will help us.

In this Bible Story, the land of Israel is perishing at the hand of the Syrians. The land is stripped of all its resources. Food, water, and life slowly left the city of Samaria. Women are forced to eat their own children, and all hope seems lost. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 6:24-7:20. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 6:28 from the King James Version.Episode 136: Finally, on recovery from the siege of Ben-Hedad, Israel once again faces famine. But before it hits the land in full force, Elisha goes to warn the Shunemite family he used to sojourn with. After seven years of living outside of Israel, she returns just as Gehazi is telling her story to the King. Meanwhile, the King of Syria, who was critically ill, sent his servant Hazael to the prophet Elisha to see if he would recover. When he finds him, Elisha breaks down in tears because God has made known to him the damage Hazael will do.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.