Podcasts about Naaman

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Koller, OCD, joins Terry 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Luke 4:16-30 – Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had grown up, and went according to His custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, He handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at Him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His Mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the Son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,' and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'” And He said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl Him down headlong. But He passed through the midst of them and went away. Saints in Heaven, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Original Postdate: September 2, 2024 === Gospel Luke 4:16-30 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,' and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Reflection One of the most fascinating things about Jesus as a messiah, someone who came to change the entire world and free us from an excessive power of evil over us. He was so ordinary. He was of the house of David, but basically the fundamental thing was he was seen as an ordinary guy, from a little not so great town, that had a shady past because many thought maybe he was illegitimate. But you look at that and he is the voice of God. This ordinary human being on the surface. But what is it about him that's so powerful? Not him or his physical life on this planet, but the God that dwelled in him and did such extraordinary healing work. Closing Prayer Father, the gift of spirit to each and every one of us is beyond measure. Yet we often look for other qualities about us that we would be more like things that were honored by our culture, that were beautiful, that were wealthy, that we have a great education. None of that is really necessary for a human being to be effective in the world, if they allow God to work through them. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pastor Russell Johnson opened the Like Never Before series with the movie cameo, the famous face that flashes on screen and disappears. He said that is how Gentiles looked in Israel's story: Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, Nineveh, rare. Then Jesus arrives and the cameos become regular cast. In John 4:4, the word behind "had to pass through Samaria" is not geography. John uses it for divine necessity, the same compulsion behind the Son of Man being lifted up. Samaria was not a detour. It was the destination. Devout Jews would add days to their journey to avoid that ground, carrying centuries of contempt back to the Assyrian resettlement of 722 BC and the rival temple on Mount Gerizim. Jesus went straight through, sat down tired at Jacob's well at noon, and asked a Samaritan woman with five husbands behind her for a drink. Samaritan, woman, sinner: three walls, walked through on purpose. Pastor Russell showed this was always God's heart, from Genesis 12:3 to Isaiah 49:6, but in the Old Testament grace flowed through the nation. Now God sits on the well Himself. He closed with the first two pastors of Faith Bible Church, Bill Elkins and Dave Anderson, and fifty years of grace now handed forward.

Episode 4205 │ August 16, 2026 Jesus's first sermon named two outsiders as the only people God actually healed. His hometown crowd tried to throw Him off a cliff for saying it. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings continue their series on faith and trust with a personal story from Brad — a detour through Los Padres National Forest that became an unplanned lesson in slowing down long enough to reflect God's heart rather than manipulate a corrupt situation into resolution — before returning to Luke 4, where Jesus stops mid-verse in His first sermon, deliberately omitting the "day of vengeance" language from Isaiah 61 and instead naming the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the leper, two outsiders from idol-worshiping nations, as the only people God actually healed in a time of national crisis. Brad traces the Old Testament jubilee command — every seventh year and every fiftieth year, debts canceled, slaves freed, inheritance restored — as a covenant Israel never once obeyed, and connects it directly to Elijah's showdown with Ahab and Jezebel, God sending him to hide by a drying brook, feeding him through unclean ravens, and then sending him into Jezebel's own hometown of Zarephath — a name meaning blast furnace, the place of refining — to be sustained by a widow with nothing left to give. The episode closes on the reframe Brad returns to throughout: God does not punish covenant-breakers out of insecurity but allows them to experience the consequences of what they actually trusted in, and the posture He is looking for is not manipulation or threat but immovable faith that reflects His heart even when justice has not yet arrived. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  Why did Jesus deliberately stop before finishing the Isaiah 61 passage in His first sermon, and why does citing the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the leper — both outsiders from idol-worshiping nations — as the only two people God healed in a national crisis explain why His hometown crowd tried to kill Him? What was the jubilee command in the Old Testament — debts forgiven, slaves freed, and inheritance restored every fiftieth year — and why does the fact that Israel never once obeyed it, even during Jeremiah's warning before Nebuchadnezzar's invasion, reveal something essential about the gospel's actual starting point? Why did God send Elijah to hide by a drying brook, feed him through unclean ravens, and then send him directly into Jezebel's hometown to be sustained by a widow with nothing left — and what does the meaning of Zarephath as "blast furnace" reveal about how God provides in the exact place designed to refine faith? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. DOWNLOADS Citizen's Guide - Community Organizing Against Data Centers: click here Citizen's Guide - Auditing Automatic License Plate Readers: click here Citizen's Guide - Auditing Your State's Driver License Data: click here AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Naaman had everything: power, honor and wealth

2 Kings 5:1-17 What is so important about a Syrian commander being cured of leprosy? Why does God record this event for us? And what does it have to do with me? We consider those questions as Pastor Andrew shares a special message about a man named Naaman whose experience with God is actually not all that different from our own.

Episode 4200 │ August 9, 2026 A widow threatens an unrighteous judge with a black eye until he gives her justice. Jesus asks one question after: will He find faith like that? WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings open with Luke 18's parable of the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge — a woman with no standing in her society who refuses to leave the judge's presence until justice is rendered, framed by Jesus not as a lesson in twisting God's arm but as a question of whether faith can hold its ground when the outcome looks impossible, closing with the piercing line: when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? Brad works through a live personal example of standing in that same gap — a broken promise, no legal leverage, and a decision to take the matter before God as the court of final appeal rather than escalate or walk away — before moving into Luke 4, where Jesus opens His ministry in Nazareth quoting Isaiah, is initially praised, then names Elijah's widow at Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian leper as evidence that God's mercy was never confined to Israel, a statement so offensive to His hometown crowd that they try to throw Him off a cliff. The episode closes on Naaman's radical simplicity — a foreign general who knew nothing of Scripture, obeyed one instruction, and left worshipping the true God on borrowed dirt — as the model for the kind of faith that doesn't need theological sophistication, only unwavering trust in who God actually is. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What is the difference between persistent prayer as twisting God's arm and persistent prayer as standing immovable in a place of settled peace — and why does Brad argue that most people misapply the widow's persistence as a formula rather than a posture of faith? Why did Jesus's hometown crowd go from praising His gracious words to trying to throw Him off a cliff within the same sermon — and what does His deliberate reference to Elijah's widow in Sidon and Naaman the Syrian reveal about how offensive the scope of God's mercy was to a chosen-people mindset? What did Naaman's healing require that no religious knowledge or scriptural literacy could substitute for — and why does his simple recognition that this is the true God, without a single Bible verse memorized, represent the kind of faith Jesus says He is looking for when He returns? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. DOWNLOADS Community Sovereignty Framework: click here AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Could the healing you're asking God for begin with something happening inside you? In this message, Pastor Bayless Conley looks at Job, Hezekiah, and Naaman to reveal how humility, repentance, and a changed heart can accompany God's restoring work. Be encouraged to let God work within you as you trust Him for healing and restoration.

Naaman's physical condition is a picture of the spiritual condition which plagues each of us.

The devotion warns against the deception of loving sin more than God, particularly when believers attempt to apply God's grace and mercy to sins they refuse to mortify. Drawing on John Owen's theology, it identifies this attitude as a sign of hypocrisy that perverts divine grace into sensuality rather than holiness. The text contrasts true Christian sincerity with the fleshly reasoning that seeks conditional forgiveness while maintaining sinful habits. By referencing biblical examples like Naaman and Paul's warnings, the message emphasizes that indulging in sin under the guise of mercy is inconsistent with genuine faith. Ultimately, it calls for vigorous opposition to sin, asserting that grace must not be used as a license for continued unrepentance.

It's a familiar scenario. A man is driving his family on vacation; let's say they're going from Chicago to California. His wife gently points out to him that she just saw a sign saying, "Welcome to Kentucky." OK, Kentucky is definitely not between Chicago and California. Repeatedly, the Mrs. suggests that Mr. stop and ask directions. Then she says that four-letter word, "I think we're lost." Oh, will he stop and ask for directions? No! Maybe it's something in the male chromosome. Like most men, he's too proud to admit he's lost, and he's probably not going to be getting to California. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Lost But Proud." When it comes to our eternal destination, I think most of us hope to end up in heaven. But do you know what will keep a lot of people from ending up where they hope to? Pride. The kind that's just too proud to admit you're lost - that you can't get there on your own. There's a powerful picture of this in our word for today from the Word of God. It's a story I love. It's in 2 Kings 5:1. It's the story about a Syrian general named Naaman who discovers that he has the incurable disease of leprosy. None of his victories, none of his fame can help him. So he accepts advice to go to the prophet Elisha in Israel who prescribes something that is not Naaman's idea of how you get well. The prophet says, "Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." Naaman is furious! He says, "I thought 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." The general had brought money to pay for a cure, but the prophet wouldn't take the money. See, Naaman had his own idea of how he could get cured. It just wasn't God's idea. It wouldn't work. Finally, "he went down" the Bible says "and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young man." Naaman would go on dying until he swallowed his pride and did it God's way. You and I go on carrying the death penalty for our sin until we swallow our pride and come to God His way. Which is to lay aside all of our attempts to get to Him through our own goodness, through our religion, through our spiritual connections, and we just go to the cross of Jesus and let Him wash away our sins. And let me tell you, only Jesus can. He said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). That's because there was only one way to pay your death penalty. Somebody had to die, and Jesus did. We're drowning and we can't possibly swim to God. Our only hope is Jesus, the Rescuer. It's in abandoning every other hope of heaven and grabbing Him like He's your only hope, because He is your only hope. Don't let your pride make you miss heaven; being too proud to admit you've never really given yourself to Jesus even though everyone thinks you have, too proud to come to your spouse's faith, too proud to lay aside depending on your religion. Please, let this be your Jesus-day. If you're ready to finally put your total trust in Jesus to forgive you, to rescue you, tell Him that now where you are. Tell Him, "Jesus, you are my only hope. Only You died for my sin. I admit I am lost. You came back from the dead, you can come into my life. You came to find me, and I am Yours from this day on." If that's where your heart is at, then our website ought to be your next stop online. That's what it's all about is making sure your sins are forgiven and you're ready to live and ready to die, and you've got Jesus. It's ANewStory.com, will you check that out? If you're too proud to admit that you need Him, you will never end up in heaven. Pride can literally cost you your soul.

The post 08 – Naaman and Gehazi: Free but Costly Pt. 2 appeared first on .

God's grace is for everyone. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16, NIV).

God's grace is for everyone. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16, NIV).

The life of Naaman is filled with examples such as humility, obedience and trust—characteristics sorely needed today. Great lessons from a great man.

My wife and I had been on the road for quite a while, and company was coming as soon as we got home. Frankly, with the whirlwind that preceded our departure, there was some unfinished work that we left behind at home. And, thankfully, a friend came over while we were gone and pitched in. One job my wife had asked her to tackle was to get some stubborn food and melted wax spots out of our nice red tablecloth. Well, one of the first things we noticed when we walked in the door after our trip was that tablecloth spread out on the dining room table, looking as good as new. And it had a handwritten note on it. It simply said: “I'm clean. I've been washed, and all my dirty spots came out.” Pretty amazing - a note from a tablecloth. That could only happen at our house. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Finally Clean.” Not long after I read that note on the tablecloth, I thought to myself, “Ron, you should have a note like that on you.” Because those words describe what Jesus Christ did for me; something no religion could have ever done. “I'm clean. I've been washed, and all my dirty spots came out.” You know, actually, that's the testimony of every person who has ever trusted Jesus to forgive their sins, based on what He did on the cross for them. And you know, it could describe you before this day is over. In 2 Kings 5, beginning with verse 10, our word for today from the Word of God, God tells the true story of a man who is a revealing example of how this dirty-to-clean miracle works. Naaman is a Syrian military leader who, for all his fame and success, can't do a thing about the terminal leprosy he suddenly developed. Hearing about Elisha, God's prophet, Naaman travels to Israel with his entourage to try to find a cure. He tries to buy the cure with the big money he brings with him, and the man of God won't touch the money. Then, speaking through His prophet, God tells Naaman, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” Naaman is not about to humble himself and bathe in the muddy Jordan River. He tells his servants he should just go home and do it his way. But they urge him to give this strange prescription a try, and here's the outcome: “So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” Wow! Well, here's the point: if you'll go to the place where God says you can be cured of your terminal sin-cancer and do what He says, He'll make you clean, He'll make you new. You can't buy His forgiveness by giving Him money. You can't earn His forgiveness by doing great things. You can only receive His forgiveness by going, in your heart, to Jesus' cross and throwing yourself on His mercy and His love. He's the only One who can make you clean because He's the only One who could or would pay the death penalty for all your sin. So, this can be the day you can bring to Jesus all those mistakes, all the wreckage, the regrets of a lifetime, so you can be clean inside for the first time in your life. Doesn't that sound good? He's waiting to hear from you. You can talk to Him something like this: “Jesus, You died on that cross to pay for my sin, and you know, I have never really grabbed you in total trust to be my Rescuer from my sin. But beginning today, Jesus, I'm pinning all my hopes on You, because I know you're alive. Starting today, Jesus, I'm yours.” You know, if you want that new beginning that only Jesus can give you, I urge you to go to our website and check out the information there from the Bible about how to know you have begun a relationship with Jesus and you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com. And that's a pretty good name for it, because that's where your new story could begin. See, there's no greater peace, no greater freedom than to be able to say from this day on, “I'm clean! I've been washed, and all my dirty spots came out!”

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. 

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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

Speaker: Tim Wilson

Can Old Testament stories be used to teach practical lessons for the Christian life? A listener's question about Naaman, obedience, and the seven dips in the Jordan leads to a larger discussion about when application is faithful to the text—and when it begins to rewrite it.

What if the breakthrough we've been waiting for isn't years away, but available right now? This powerful message challenges us to shift our understanding of God's timing from gradual processes to instantaneous miracles. We're invited to examine the biblical truth that many of God's most significant works happen in a moment—salvation, justification, becoming a new creation, receiving the Holy Spirit—all occur instantly. The teaching draws us into Luke 4:18, where Jesus boldly declares that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him to heal, deliver, and set captives free, then simply states, 'This day is this scripture fulfilled.' Yet we discover something profound: not everyone in that room received their miracle. The difference wasn't God's willingness or power, but the people's reception. Through the stories of the widow who gave her last to Elijah and Naaman who had to obey by dipping in the Jordan, we see a pattern—instant miracles require instant obedience and faith. The challenge before us is sobering: Are we rejecting what heaven has already released because our minds are louder than our faith? Are we waiting for process when God is offering power? This isn't about denying the journey of transformation, but recognizing that revelation can be instantaneous, and that revelation becomes the foundation for our progressive transformation. We're called to stop disqualifying ourselves from what God has already qualified us for. We pray this message blesses you and gives you the strength you need to do and be all that God has called you to do and be! Leave a comment below letting us know how this message impacted you today, we'd love to chat with you! #RelevantChurch #ElevateConference2026 #PastorChrisSarno -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Give: Text to Give: Text your amount to 888-364-4483 Online Giving: Visit our website http://www.relevantfl.org/giving to give via debit, credit, or ACH Mail It In: Send gift Via USPS to 920 Beville Rd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @RelevantChurch Relevant Church Website: https://www.relevantfl.org/ Relevant Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevant_fl/ Relevant Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelevantFL Relevant Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relevant_fl?_t=8mNFjdYMYoh&_r=1 Relevant Church App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1615804850?fbclid=IwAR3aHqo_6kr8Tzd_JK6xihjfJkVk6j7-iqITDj1u1wFicDLn6g6C29gL3LY Rkidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkidzfl Relevant Youth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantflyouth/ Relevant Church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nUtPIkecEehfstUWWPIVU?si=QBMEtu85SyuU3FxRM1X7lg&nd=1 Pastor Chris Sarno's Website: https://www.chrissarno.tv/ Chris Sarno App: http://www.chrissarno.tv/app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture References: 1 Timothy 4:14 Acts 13:2-3 2 Timothy 4:2, 5 Genesis 14:17-20 Genesis 15:1 Romans 1:16 Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:1 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Hebrews 4:12 Luke 4:18-27 Psalm 119:130 James 1:21 Hebrews 4:1-3 Joshua 1:8 Isaiah 31:4 1 Peter 5:8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, July 17th 2026 Pastor Chris Sarno Relevant Church Elevate Conference 2026 | Night Three | Relevant Church | Pastor Chris Sarno

Can Old Testament stories be used to teach practical lessons for the Christian life? A listener's question about Naaman, obedience, and the seven dips in the Jordan leads to a larger discussion about when application is faithful to the text—and when it begins to rewrite it.

Walk with Marilyn as she takes you through the pages of Scripture and into the lives of Ruth, Naaman, Esther, Abigail, and David in her book Wide Open Doors. Through their lives you will discover how favor can change your circumstances, your health, your family and even your nation.

Walk with Marilyn as she takes you through the pages of Scripture and into the lives of Ruth, Naaman, Esther, Abigail, and David in her book Wide Open Doors. Through their lives you will discover how favor can change your circumstances, your health, your family and even your nation.

Ben Crelin

Moses and the Phases of Vision In the recent sermon titled "Moses - EP6 7.12.26," the story of Moses as depicted in Exodus 3 and Exodus 4 is used to explore the development of leadership and vision in the context of faith. The sermon emphasizes the idea that effective leadership is developed over time and through various phases, as explained by Dr. J. Robert Clinton in "The Making of a Leader." The Phases of a Godly Vision The sermon outlines the four phases of a vision anchored in God's call: Birth of a Vision: This is the initial spark of an idea for God's kingdom. For Moses, this began with the vision of delivering the Israelites from slavery. Death of the Vision: This phase is marked by obstacles and setbacks that cause doubt and abandonment of the vision. Moses experienced this when he fled to Midian after his initial attempt to lead ended in failure. Rebirth of the Vision: God rekindles the vision, as seen when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush at Exodus 3:10, commanding him to return to Egypt and lead his people to freedom. Fulfillment of the Vision: This occurs when the vision becomes reality, as Moses eventually leads the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses' Objections and God's Responses Moses raised several objections to God's renewed call: "Who am I?" (Exodus 3:11): Moses doubted his worthiness, but God assured him, "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). "What if they do not believe me?" (Exodus 4:1): God provided Moses with signs like turning his staff into a snake (Exodus 4:2-4) to prove His presence. "I am slow of speech" (Exodus 4:10): God reassured Moses, "I will help you speak" (Exodus 4:11-12). Despite these reassurances, Moses initially resisted, saying, "Please send someone else" (Exodus 4:13). However, God's anger was kindled, and He provided Aaron to assist Moses, demonstrating that God equips those He calls. Vision and Leadership The sermon suggests that every believer is called to have a vision for God's kingdom, whether grand or modest. It highlights that visions are not always about monumental tasks like Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, but can be simple acts of faith and obedience, akin to the servant girl's vision for Naaman's healing. Reflection and Call to Action The sermon concludes with a call for self-reflection: Do you know God's vision for your life? Are you willing to pursue it, despite objections or fears? It encourages believers to pray for clarity and to rely on God's strength to fulfill His purposes. The message is clear: God can resurrect visions that seem dead when we acknowledge our limitations and depend on Him. In closing, the sermon reminds us that a relationship with Jesus is foundational for receiving and pursuing a God-given vision. As Jesus transforms our hearts, He enables us to serve His kingdom purposefully. For further reflection, consider reading Exodus 3-4 to see how God's interactions with Moses can inspire your own journey of faith and leadership.

No matter what follows the word "but" in your life—fear, failure, rejection, weakness, sickness, insecurity, or lack—God has the final word.In this powerful and deeply personal message, Dr. Ethel Sefakor Boadum unpacks the transforming truth of "But God"through the stories of Mephibosheth, Naaman, and Gideon, revealing how God's mercy, grace, and presence rewrite impossible stories. With biblical insight, heartfelt testimony, and practical encouragement, this sermon reminds us that our limitations are not our identity, our condition is not our conclusion, and God's intervention changes everything.If you've been waiting on God, battling discouragement, or wondering whether He still sees you, this message will strengthen your faith and remind you of one life-changing truth:Your story doesn't end with "but..."—it continues with "But God."

What if the miracle you're waiting for is on the other side of one more step of obedience?Continuing our series, Small Things Make a Big Difference, Pastor Dale Oquist returns to the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. After traveling over 100 miles in search of healing, Naaman discovers that God was after something even greater than a cure. Through humble obedience, God reveals Himself.This message reminds us that partial obedience is still disobedience, and that God often uses our greatest struggles to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. The breakthrough you long for may begin with simply taking the next faithful step.This message explores:Why God wanted more than just to heal NaamanThe danger of partial obedienceWhy faith requires perseveranceHow God often works through the small thingsWhat it means to be faithful in the presentWhy your greatest struggle may lead to your greatest encounter with GodHow obedience prepares us for the miracles God wants to do

A kidnapped slave girl shares good news with her master's wife.

A kidnapped slave girl shares good news with her master's wife.

The Eternal Significance of Seven by Autumn Dickson There are many patterns in the Old Testament. The story of Naaman, the Syrian, falls right in line with one of these patterns. Naaman was a Syrian captain. The Lord utilized Naaman to deliver Syria. He was a good man, but he was also a leper. A captured Israelite girl resided as a servant in his home. She audibly wishes that Naaman could visit the prophet in Israel because the prophet could cleanse him of his leprosy. The testimony of the captured servant girl reaches Naaman and through a series of diplomatic relations, Naaman finds himself outside of Elisha's door. Elisha doesn't come out, but he does send instructions for Naaman. 2 Kings 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. Naaman is supposed to wash in Jordan seven times. He's annoyed about these instructions for a number of reasons: Elisha didn't come out to greet him, the river Jordan isn't as nice as the rivers in his homeland, and it seems like such a silly thing. Despite his annoyance, his servants are able to convince to wash seven times. He does so, and he is cured of his leprosy. I actually talked about this story four years ago when I went through Come Follow Me the first time. I talked about how arbitrary it was for Naaman to wash seven times in the river Jordan. I still stand by the principles I taught in that post. However, I am now four years older and wiser, and I have learned that washing in the river seven times is not arbitrary at all. Seven is a very symbolic number. In the bible, the number seven symbolizes completeness, so let's look at this story from that angle and let's also generalize the details just a tad so that they become relatable. A man wants to be clean (it specifically says that he was “cleansed” from leprosy). He has to go to a prophet to figure out how to be cleaned. The prophet instructs him to “be complete,” and he will be cleansed. He is cleansed. I think this is so cool. If we want to be clean in our day and age, the Lord still works through the same patterns. He works through His prophets to point us in the right direction. Through his prophet, we are given instructions. If we follow through on those instructions towards completion, we are cleansed. Naaman's story is a parallel for receiving salvation. I was definitely mistaken in thinking that seven was an arbitrary number. However, I actually love that I made the mistake because it led me to an important realization: bathing in the river seven times is not what healed Naaman. I don't think there was some odd organism in the river that year that ate away at his chronic bacterial infection. I think the Lord healed him for his obedience. And isn't that the key here?! As Latter-day Saints, we believe in salvation through grace. Naaman didn't actually wash off his leprosy in the river. He was healed by the Lord. It was a gift that was given to him. But the Lord didn't cleanse Naaman until after Naaman was obedient in washing seven times, in being “complete.” Latter-day Saints believe that salvation is a gift; we also believe we will be judged by our actions and whether we followed the Lord. The Lord judges us, cleanses us, and gives us that gift of salvation if He judges us worthy. We see this same pattern multiple times in the Old Testament. It was the same with the walls of Jericho. The Israelites were instructed by the prophet to circle the city seven times, and the Lord made the walls come down so that they could enter into the promised land. The Israelites didn't make the walls come down; they were obedient and the Lord judged them and enabled them to enter into the promised land. We work towards completion, and the Lord cleanses us so that we can enter into the Celestial Kingdom. So what does it mean to be complete? There are probably a lot of things to be said about reaching completion, but the first thing that came to mind in this particular moment was the captive Israelite girl. There were skirmishes along the border of Syria and Israel. Syria would perform raids into Israel, and they would steal women and children and turn them into slaves. This is likely how she came to be a slave in Naaman's household. She was young. Some biblical scholars believe she was anywhere from 8-14 years old. We know nothing of her family, whether they were killed or put into slavery elsewhere or whether she was simply taken away from them. What we do know is that she was in a pagan household, and despite her youth, she believed in a prophet in Israel. Belief will take us so far, and yet, she takes it beyond belief. That little servant girl held true compassion. She loved Naaman's household enough to want Naaman to be cured and okay. Despite the fact that Naaman might have been partially to blame for her slavery, she had compassion. Completion does not mean perfection. If we specifically strive towards perfection, we often end up discouraged. Instead, I would hope that we strive for completion. In my mind, completion means that we become beings that mirror Christ. We have faith. We have enough love in our hearts that our actions follow suit. That little servant girl reflected Christ. She loved the very people who betrayed her. Being betrayed enabled her to save Naaman. We don't know if she had to work through homesickness or anger or deep depression, but we do know she loved. I think that love helped her be complete in the sense that she turned outwards and was like Christ, but I also have the distinct impression that her love healed her. No matter what she went through, that love healed her enough that she could be compassionate. I testify that the Lord teaches us His gospel in patterns. He teaches His gospel again and again and again through His servants, the prophets. I testify that He is the one who gives salvation to us, and I also testify that doing our best to become the kind of person who reflects Him brings healing and joy and peace into our lives no matter what we've been through. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 2 Kings 2–7 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

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

What do you do when the assignment God places before you feels far bigger than your strength? Whether you're facing a difficult conversation, an overwhelming season, a ministry opportunity, or a step of obedience that feels impossible, fear can convince you that everything depends on you. But Scripture paints a very different picture. God never calls us to rely on our own sufficiency. He invites us to know Him more deeply and trust that He will provide everything we need for every assignment He gives. In this episode, Jennifer welcomes author and Bible teacher Grace Fox to explore four powerful names of God that strengthen us when fear threatens to hold us back. Through the stories of Abraham, Naaman, Jeremiah and others, they discuss how God equips His servants, brings healing to the areas that keep us stuck, remains present in life's chaos and faithfully sustains us every step of the journey. If you've been hesitant to move forward because the road ahead feels uncertain, this conversation will encourage you to focus less on your fear and more on the faithful God who goes with you. Resource referenced: Names of God: Growing Strong: Devotional Study with Video Access Scriptures Discussed: Genesis 15:2–6 — Abraham calls God Adonai while waiting for God's promised son. Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Talents and trusting the Master's character. 2 Kings 5:1–19 — Naaman's healing and the obedience that precedes restoration. Genesis 1:1–2 — The Spirit of God hovering over the waters in creation. Lamentations 3:22–23 — God's mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. Luke 15:11–32 — The Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Father's faithful welcome. 2 Corinthians 12:9 — God's power made perfect in weakness (referenced in the closing encouragement). Hebrews 10:24 — Encouraging one another toward love and good works (closing challenge). Connect with Grace Fox: On her website On Instagram On Facebook Follow her work on Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to episode 253 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we will examine the topic of the forgotten faithful — how God uses obscure, unnamed witnesses to accomplish kingdom purposes far beyond what they can see.  Key takeaways:    God doesn't need your name in lights to use you powerfully. An unnamed slave girl's single sentence set off a chain reaction that led to the healing and conversion of Syria's greatest general — and her name was never recorded. God's providence doesn't stop functioning when humans act wickedly. The Syrian raid was sinful and violent — and God used it to position His witness exactly where He wanted her. Difficult circumstances are not obstacles to your mission; they are the platform for it. Authentic Christian witness doesn't depend on how we have been treated. The servant girl had every human reason for bitterness and silence. She spoke anyway, with no conditions and no trace of resentment. Gracious witness despite mistreatment is the most powerful apologetic. We are not responsible for outcomes — we are responsible for faithfulness. God doesn't call us to be successful; He calls us to be obedient. We plant and water; God gives the growth. There is no such thing as a small sphere of influence in God's economy. The servant girl spoke to her mistress. That one conversation eventually reached a king, a prophet, and a general who declared, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” She never saw the final result. She didn't know her testimony would be recorded in Scripture thousands of years later. Faithfulness doesn't require visible fruit — it requires speaking truth where God has placed you and trusting Him with the ripple effects. Stop praying for extraction from difficult circumstances and start asking who God wants you to reach right where you are. Your hard situation may be your pulpit.  Quotable:    You may never know whose Naaman you helped heal. The servant girl didn't. She just spoke truth in her small sphere, from the lowest possible position, to the people God put in front of her — and left the rest to Him. That is all He is asking of you.  Application:    Stop praying for a better platform. That difficult workplace, that hostile neighborhood, that caregiving situation that feels like captivity — ask God to change how you see it before you ask Him to change it. You may be precisely where He wants you. The question is not “How do I get out?” but “Who is God asking me to reach right here?”  Don't let grievances silence your witness. Identify someone you have withheld witness from because of how they treated you — a boss, a neighbor, a family member, a coworker. The servant girl's army destroyed her life and she still spoke up for her captor's healing. Your mistreatment does not exempt you from your mission. If anything, it makes your testimony more credible.  Measure faithfulness by obedience, not outcomes. Release the need to see results. You will likely never know the full downstream impact of a gospel conversation, a prayer offered, a truth spoken at the right moment. Plant the seed, water it faithfully, and trust God with the harvest. He may use your “small” faithfulness to accomplish purposes you will not see until eternity.  Speak to the person in front of you. The servant girl didn't wait for a larger audience or a more favorable moment. She spoke to her mistress about her master's need. You don't need a platform — you need the next conversation. Be the unnamed faithful in someone's story today.  Connect with us:   Website:  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. 

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

This week we learn all about the prophet Elisha, including the story of Naaman - for kids. We learn God can work miracles in my life. I can choose to do what God commands through His prophet. And The Lord is watching over me. This is a come follow me podcast for kids who are primary aged in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A kids podcast all about the Old Testament heros.Are you looking for a scripture study church podcast? You are listening to Come Follow Me Kids! A Come Follow Me Podcast For Kids. This is specifically a Primary Podcast or Primary Scripture Study Poscast that studies Come Follow Me. Welcome to Come Follow Me Kids! We are a scripture study podcast that accompanies the Come Follow Me Manual by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We play games, sing songs, and tell stories to go along with the scriptures. This year we are specifically studying the Old Testament. We sometimes use audio clips from the Friend Magazine and other church sources, however we are not officially sponsored by the church in any way. If your children would like a free baptism shout out or to be guests on this podcast, email us at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com. If you like this podcast, please leave us a review. Thank you!

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

Diligent Teacher with Lisa Earl A Bible podcast for ladies Ep313 - The Prideful Naaman

→ 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.

In this Bible Story, God promises a child to a childless woman to reward her generous spirit. However, when the boy's life was abruptly taken, all hope seems to disappear. Elisha lays over the child's body, and by the grace of God his life was restored. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 4:8-37. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 4:35 from the King James Version.Episode 132: Naaman, a mighty warrior for Syria and beloved by his King, developed leprosy and his days in battle started becoming fewer. When an Israelite slave in Naaman's house heard of his condition, she told of the prophet Elisha and how he could heal her master. At once Naaman requested permission from his king to visit this prophet in Israel. But when Elisha sent word for what he had to do to be clean, Naaman was outraged. However, his servant talked to him gently and he softened his heart to obey. And as he dipped into the waters of the Jordan; his heart and his body were made new.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

The story of Naaman is very instructive to anyone who needs a good miracle in their life.  Those small and simple actions can bring great things.If you'd like to view the video that goes with the podcast, click here!

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

Lynne's Handouts: https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/2-kings-2-7-8-11?searchId=0eb3e36bfb24dcd9bb1d1bece1531216b59539a8fde17ee80224af0653c92aa3-en-v=fadf3b9 In this episode of Women in the Old Testament, Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the faith, courage, and influence of often-overlooked women whose actions changed lives and strengthened God's work. The discussion highlights Naaman's wife, the faithful Hebrew handmaiden whose testimony led to a miraculous healing, and the remarkable Shunammite woman whose hospitality, faith, and perseverance brought blessings to her family. Through their stories, viewers gain fresh insights into discipleship, service, and the powerful impact of righteous women in the Old Testament.

In this episode of Don't Miss This, Dave Butler and Grace Freeman study 2 Kings 2–7 and discover that the God who worked miracles through Elijah is the same God who continues to work through Elisha. As one prophet passes the mantle to another, these chapters remind us that God's power has never been limited to one person or one generation. He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever, still healing, providing, rescuing, and strengthening His children. From the healing of the waters at Jericho to the widow's overflowing oil, each miracle points beyond Elisha and toward the heart of God. Whether providing more than enough for a grieving family, reminding us that repentance brings lasting healing, or showing that His blessings often exceed our expectations, these stories reveal a Savior whose grace is abundant. God is not interested in merely helping us survive. He delights in restoring, multiplying, and making us whole. The story of Naaman teaches that God's greatest miracles often come through simple acts of faith. Though Naaman expected a dramatic solution, healing came through humble obedience as he washed in the Jordan River. These chapters invite us to trust that God is patient with our growth, willing to work with us through every attempt, every setback, and every step toward becoming completely clean. His purpose is not partial healing, but complete restoration. The episode concludes by showing that no concern is too great or too small for the Lord. Whether raising a child back to life, helping someone recover a borrowed axe head, or answering the quiet prayers of everyday disciples, God cares deeply about every part of our story. Together, these chapters testify that the same God who performed miracles in the Old Testament still works in our lives today, inviting us to trust Him, seek His Spirit, and believe that His power is never exhausted. Chapters: 00:00 INTRO 03:52 Discussing Elijah's Miracles in Hebrew 08:29 Discussing faith and relationship journey 10:21 Desiring a life led by the Spirit 13:31 Continuing God's miracles and presence 16:54 Discussing lasting impact of miracles 22:44 Widow's plea for help 26:03 Questioning and starting to pray 26:33 Questioning faith and superstitions 30:20 Elisha's miraculous revival 33:05 Discussing a leper's honorable introduction 38:23 Naaman's Servants Encourage Him 41:01 The significance of number seven 44:33 Floating ax head miracle story 47:08 God's care in everyday life Sign up for the Don't Miss This newsletter at www.dontmissthisstudy.com #dontmissthis #comefollowme NEWSLETTER LINK: The Don't Miss This video, the prayer poster, and tip-ins for kids, teens, couples and individuals can all be found in this week's newsletter. Sign-up link in bio if you haven't had a chance yet!! www.dontmissthisstudy.com Instagram: @dontmissthisstudy Podcast: Don't Miss This Study Facebook: Don't Miss This Study Follow Grace Instagram @thisweeksgrace Follow David Instagram: @mrdavebutler Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrdavebutler/ Subscribe to the Don't Miss This App https://www.dontmissthisstudy.com/app

This video provides teaching ideas, discussion prompts, and activities to support the 2 Kings 2-7 lesson in the Come, Follow Me manual.It is designed to serve as a practical resource for teachers, parents, missionaries, and anyone preparing to teach this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.My hope is that these ideas will help simplify your preparation, increase student engagement, and strengthen your confidence as you teach. Lesson Resources and Links Link to "Naaman and Elisha" Video :https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-03-0074-naaman-and-elisha?lang=eng Link to Purchase UV pens: https://amzn.to/4xXXLBE  Link to “Live by Faith, Not by Fear" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2017-01-0004-live-by-faith-not-by-fear?lang=eng& Teaching with Power ResourcesFor links to videos, lesson plans, subscriptions, weekly lesson materials, go to www.teachingwithpower.comTo sign up for a Full Old Testament Subscription, go to:  https://www.teachingwithpower.com/product-page/2026-old-testament-bundle-subscription-all-slides-handouts-and-lesson-plansContact: teachingwithpower@gmail.com Credits & NotesMusic provided by the YouTube Audio Library — Dancing StarSome illustrations in this video were generated using Chat GPT AI.Additional Bible illustrations are provided by Sweet Publishing( http://sweetpublishing.com) under the Creative Commons 3.0 Share-Alike License.All other images are in the public domain. DisclaimerThe content of this video reflects my personal insights and teaching ideas. It does not represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This video provides teaching ideas, discussion prompts, and activities to support the 2 Kings 2-7 lesson in the Come, Follow Me manual.It is designed to serve as a practical resource for teachers, parents, missionaries, and anyone preparing to teach this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.My hope is that these ideas will help simplify your preparation, increase student engagement, and strengthen your confidence as you teach. Lesson Resources and Links Link to "Naaman and Elisha" Video :https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-03-0074-naaman-and-elisha?lang=eng Link to Purchase UV pens: https://amzn.to/4xXXLBE  Link to “Live by Faith, Not by Fear" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2017-01-0004-live-by-faith-not-by-fear?lang=eng& Teaching with Power ResourcesFor links to videos, lesson plans, subscriptions, weekly lesson materials, go to www.teachingwithpower.comTo sign up for a Full Old Testament Subscription, go to:  https://www.teachingwithpower.com/product-page/2026-old-testament-bundle-subscription-all-slides-handouts-and-lesson-plansContact: teachingwithpower@gmail.com Credits & NotesMusic provided by the YouTube Audio Library — Dancing StarSome illustrations in this video were generated using Chat GPT AI.Additional Bible illustrations are provided by Sweet Publishing( http://sweetpublishing.com) under the Creative Commons 3.0 Share-Alike License.All other images are in the public domain. DisclaimerThe content of this video reflects my personal insights and teaching ideas. It does not represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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  

If you've been running on empty for months — chronic fatigue, autoimmune flares, a body that won't cooperate no matter how much you sleep — and part of you has quietly wondered whether God is doing this to you or just letting it happen, this episode is for you. We're walking through five biblical reasons God allows suffering, and what to actually do while you're still in the middle of it. Fair warning: these reasons aren't wrapped in a bow. A few of them are genuinely hard to sit with. But stay to the end, because there's real encouragement waiting there. This one is for the Christian woman who is done spinning her wheels and ready to take real steps toward healing — body and faith, together. As a Registered Nurse and holistic health coach, I bring both a clinical lens and a faith-centered one to this conversation, because holistic health was never meant to separate the two. Why God Allows Suffering: 5 Biblical Reasons 1. So God's Works Can Be Displayed — John 9 When Jesus's disciples ask who sinned to cause a man's blindness, him or his parents, Jesus answers plainly: neither. "It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." — John 9:3 Illness isn't always a verdict on someone's character. Sometimes it's simply the setup for what God plans to do next. If you've walked through healing, your story matters — telling it points other people back to Him. 2. Because God Works in Ways We Don't Fully Understand — Job The Book of Job is genuinely hard, and it's okay to say so. Job loses his family and his health, and when God finally speaks, He doesn't explain Himself. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding." — Job 38:4 There's no tidy resolution here. Just a reminder that we serve a God whose understanding is bigger than ours — which means some suffering won't make sense from where we're standing, and that's allowed to be true without shaking our trust in Him. 3. Temporary Suffering Can Be Training Now, and Protection Later — Joseph, Genesis 50 Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned — roughly seventeen years between the dream God gave him and the day it came true. When his brothers later feared retaliation, Joseph told them: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive." — Genesis 50:20 God used that season to train Joseph for the leadership he'd eventually need, and that same training is what positioned him to protect his entire family years later when famine hit. The suffering came first. The protection came after, once the training had done its work. If you're walking through chronic illness or a season of low energy right now, it's worth asking what this might be preparing you for, and who it might one day let you protect. 4. So God's Power Can Be Made Perfect in Weakness — 2 Corinthians 12 Paul asked God three times to remove his "thorn in the flesh." God didn't. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul's conclusion was that his weakness became the very thing that made him strong. Self-sufficiency tends to pull us toward leaning on our own strength instead of God's. Sometimes the thorn stays so the credit goes to God's power, not ours. 5. So We Will Lack Nothing — James 1 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness... that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." — James 1:2-4 Nobody signs up for trials willingly. But if the process produces something in us we'd otherwise be missing, that reframes the waiting — even when it doesn't make it easy. What to Do While You're Waiting on God Faith Matters — But It's Not a Verdict on Your Healing (Luke 8) A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touches the edge of Jesus's garment and is instantly healed. He tells her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well." Faith plays a real part in healing. But just because you haven't been healed yet doesn't mean you don't have enough faith. The man born blind in John 9 wasn't blind because of a lack of faith. Faith is a factor, but it's not the only one. There may be other things at work that have nothing to do with how much faith you have, so there's no need to carry guilt over it or pick yourself apart looking for what's missing. Obedience Is Part of the Process (2 Kings 5) Naaman was told to dip in the Jordan River seven times to be healed of leprosy — and he almost refused because it felt too simple. When he finally obeyed, he was healed. Sometimes God is asking for action alongside our faith — working with a doctor, researching natural remedies, changing a habit, simply doing the next obedient thing in front of you. Faith and action aren't in competition. And underneath it all is a quiet principle worth remembering: we reap what we sow. Good choices tend to bear good fruit, even when the harvest is slow to show up. Remembering God's Goodness in the Waiting There's a lot in Scripture that's genuinely hard to understand — Job's story, Ezekiel being told not to publicly mourn his wife, and plenty more. But understanding everything was never the requirement for trusting God's goodness. "He will never leave you nor forsake you." — Hebrews 13:5 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." — Romans 8:28 He's been proving that for thousands of years. He's still doing it now, even in the waiting. Key Takeaways Suffering is not automatically a punishment for sin or a sign of insufficient faith. Some of God's ways genuinely won't make sense from where we're standing — and that's allowed. Hard seasons can be preparation for something ahead that isn't visible yet. Faith and practical obedience — medical care, lifestyle changes, natural remedies — work together, not against each other. You're responsible for your next faithful step, not for forcing an outcome or understanding the whole plan. This episode is educational and faith-based reflection, not medical advice or a diagnosis.  Ready for Your Next Step? If you are experiencing low energy or autoimmune symptoms, I'd love to help you with your next steps. I have a few spots open for a More Energy Strategy Session, where we'll look at what's actually going on and build a clear path forward. You can book your session at herholistichealing.com/services.