Sanctification

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Dan and Chip Heath, the team of brothers who wrote the best-selling book Made to Stick, tell the following story about a doctor who was trying to get his colleagues to practice proper hand-washing techniques:

Dr. Leon Bender became frustrated when he took a South Seas cruise and observed that the crew was more diligent about hand-washing than the staff at his own hospital. Frequent hand-washing by doctors and nurses is one of the best ways to prevent patient infections, and studies estimate that thousands of patients die every year from preventable bacterial infections.

Bender and his colleagues tried a variety of techniques to encourage hand-washing, but the staff's compliance with regulations was stuck around 80 percent. Medical standards required a minimum of 90 percent and [his hospital] was due for an inspection from the accrediting board. They had to do better.

One day, a committee of 20 doctors and administrators were taken by surprise when, after lunch, the hospital's epidemiologist asked them to press their hands into an agar plate, a sterile Petri dish containing a growth medium. The agar plates were sent to the lab to be cultured and photographed.

The photos revealed what wasn't visible to the naked eye: The doctor's hands were covered with gobs of bacteria. Imagine being one of those doctors and realizing that your own hands—the same hands that would examine a patient later in the day, not to mention the same hands that you just used to eat a turkey wrap—were harboring an army of microorganisms. It was revolting. One of the filthiest images in the portfolio was made into a screensaver for the hospital's network of computers ensuring that everyone on staff could share in the horror.

Suddenly, hand-hygiene compliance rose to nearly 100 percent and stayed there.

The Heath brothers conclude that we usually won't change our behavior until we see and even feel how we contribute to the problems in our world and in our relationships.

We hear this story this morning and anyone a germ freak? Yeah? I don’t know about you, but the idea of going in and having surgery by a doctor that had just eaten a bucket of chicken… and then not washing their hands…

But here’s the key, it’s easy for us to identify certain professions that we would like to wash their hands… but the truth is, is we, in of ourselves, whether we realize it or not. Probably have pretty dirty hands. Like even in church, have you ever had someone come up to shake your hand or give you a hug… right after they (show) wiped their nose… “Hey brother, good to see you today…” It’s like “Gross!” We’re turned off by germs… We’re turned off by grossness.

We transition then to ourselves this morning. And while we’re quick to point out others germs… how often do we take a look within? How often are we washing our own hands? How often are we concerned with our own sanctification?

If you have your bibles turn with me to the Book of 2 Kings 5. And as you’re turning there this morning, I want us to see 1. The Specifics of Sanctification, 2. The gift of sanctification, and 3. The responsibility of sanctification.

1. Specifics of Sanctification

1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 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.”

As we stop and consider the scripture, we find a man by the name of Naaman, who is the commander of the army for the king of Aram. Aram, being modern day Syria. And Naaman, the Bible tells us is a great man, he’s highly regarded and respected with the King and with the people… and here’s a strange twist, because the Lord had given victory to Aram through him.

So, here’s our primary figure. This valiant soldier, Naaman who has the favor of God… who’s living in Aram. But there’s one problem. One issue… and the issue is Naaman, despite his success, and his reputation as a fighter, and so on, has the incurable disease (at least at the time) the disease of leprosy.

Now it’s at this point that we’re introduced to a young girl, who was taken the bible says by a band of raiders and brought back to Aram… where she would go on to serve Naaman’s wife. Vs 3 tells us of her that: “3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

And so, although it wasn’t on Naaman’s radar before… now, with the news of this young Israelite girl. He goes to the king of Aram. And the king says, well sure, go… I’ll write a letter to Israels king, and send you with supplies and gifts.

So Naaman goes, he brings the letter and gifts to King Jehoram. King Jehoram, who doesn’t follow the way of the Lord. And see’s what’s going on… and thinks the king of Aram is trying to start a fight.

And it’s at this point that God intervenes. We’re told:

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 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.”

But here’s what’s crazy, notice Naaman’s response.

11 But 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. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 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.

You know it’s funny. God would use Elisha, to tell Naaman, just go and take a dip out in the Jordan river. Do that 7 times, and you’ll be cleaned... but rather than listening. He gets frustrated. It’s like Naaman is looking for a more complicated requirement.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

You see friends, there was a simple, and straight-forward approach to his healing… but it started with doing things God’s way.

Starbucks first turned regular drip coffee into a $5 half-caff, extra whipped cream mocha latte. Now they’re producing dozens of bizarre concoctions dreamed up by social-media stars. These complex drinks include a Triple Caramel Threat––cold brew with caramel syrup, vanilla sweet cold foam blended with dark caramel and caramel drizzle––and a Matcha Pink Drink featuring the chain’s Strawberry Açaí Refreshers Beverage with green tea powder and sweet cold foam added. Their complexity is lengthening lines and driving baristas nuts.

“It is a bit exhausting,” said a Starbucks barista in Buffalo, N.Y. The drinks treat Starbucks’s menu less like a lineup of drinks and more like a buffet of ingredients to be mixed together in crazy ways to create off-menu drinks that may list 10 separate customizations on the side of the cup.

The customized beverages center on a Starbucks mainstay––customers’ ability to tailor any drink to their tastes––and take it to the extreme. Starbucks says in addition to the beverage options listed on its menu boards, there are 170,000-plus ways baristas can customize beverages.

American society suffers from a plague of things that are far too complicated.

You see here’s the point… We as Americans, are you used to having things our way… We like to do things according to our plan, our vision, our expectations… because, well we’re Americans…

You see I don’t know about you, but, I think with me it’s easy to be like “C’mon Naaman… God’s making it easy for you… he’s putting the instructions right in front of you… He’s trying to cleanse you… Just do what he says…”

And yet, how many times are we just like Naaman???You see, God has given us his Word… He hasn’t made it complicated for us.

Deut 30:11-14 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Church, we know what we’re supposed to do… God’s put it right in front of us in His word… but how often do we listen? And then, we get ourselves in a mess… and we look to God like he’s the one to blame… all the while, its our own decisions, and sins, and choices that have brought us to where we are…

Church, there are specific requirements to sanctification… and starts with admitting our need for a savior, and for Him to wash away our sins…. Its starts with admitting we need to be clean… have we gone to him recently? Are we asking for Him to wash us this morning?

2. Gift of Sanctification

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” 19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said…

It's funny when we look at Naaman, we notice not only a transformation of his health… but also of His heart.

Naaman goes from a place in verse 11 which reads: 11 But 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

So it goes from Naaman Speaking to Elisha about his God… to now, Naaman stating, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” So, there’s been a change of heart.

And by the way, I don’t want to overlook the end of this verse which tells us: 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” And Elisha would say: 19 “Go in peace”

I don’t know about you, but when I first read this, I scratched my head a little. I mean, Rimmon is the Syrian version of Baal. 1. Naaman simply asks whether or not God will forgive him. He does not ask permission to worship Rimmon. And 2. Naaman has stated his opinion of Rimmon and has declared his intention to serve and offer sacrifices to Yahweh

But here’s the main thing I want us to focus on. If we go back to verse 15 for a moment, we’re told:

You see in Naaman’s mind, he had this marvelous act done for Him. And out of his Joy and excitement, he says to Elisha for his part, let me give you a gift. To which vs 16 explains: 16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

And Naaman’s like well at least let me load up this dirt and bring it with me. It’s like going to the baseball game and not just Getting the t-shirt, but also the dirt from the playing field dirt.

But again, here’s the beauty of this miracle that has been done… it’s a gift… A gift for Naaman, a gift for us

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

I’m reminded of a story from Christianity Today’s Editor, David Neff who writes:

This morning, I received the latest promotional e-mail from a clothing provider I really like to patronize: L. L. Bean. I read the subject line with interest: "Double Coupon Dollars: Our Gift to You."

The old sales trick worked. The promise of something free compelled me to open the e-mail. But the first words I read from the e-mail itself gave me a different message: "Earn Double Coupon Dollars." Wait. Didn't the subject line say it was a gift? Now they want me to "earn" their gift?

Theological spirit that I am, I lost interest in L. L. Bean's promotion and instead began thinking about all the ways throughout history that churches have pulled that same "bait and switch" trick: Salvation is God's free gift; here's how you earn it.

Many of us can relate with David this morning… We’ve all been promised from marketers this free gift or product… but typically, there are strings attached…

Friends, I’m reminded of Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

And yes, God has prepared us for Good works… but listen, God loves you this morning… He loved you way before you ever did anything for Him… Church, would we be grateful for his gift this morning.

3. Responsibility of Sanctification

19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said. After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. 22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. 26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? 27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

We stop and consider this scripture, and for the sake of time, we won’t spend a ton of time on this last point… but here’s what I want us to see. Gehazi see’s that Elisha has allowed Naaman to leave free of charge.

Gehazi of course being Elisha’s assistant, and Gehazi see’s this moment as an opportunity to come in and profit of Naaman. And so, as we read, Gehazi would go and track down Naaman. Vs 21 told us: 21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. 22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

You see, Gehazi had a great start… He, as the bible says, was running a good race… and yet, in a moment of laps of judgement… he allows his heart to deceive him… He runs after Naaman, he lies about 2 young men needing the silver and sets of clothing…

And God isn’t having any of it… Gehazi would go back to Elisha and Elisha will call him on it. Vs 25 explains:

You see my heart breaks for Gehazi… I mean his sin, this momentary lapse of judgement would not only affect him, but also his descendants… and here’s the truth, we may wrestle with that idea this morning… we see that We serve a Just God… who nothing is hidden from his sight. And as we go from this place, as we go about our week. We need to guard our hearts.

Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

But here’s where else I’m encouraged… that our same God… who is Holy, who is pure… who is just… would take our iniquities and transgressions… and place them on his son. His only son.

I’m going to call the elders up at this time. And at this time, we’re going to enter into a time of communion.

You see, we’ll celebrate at the end of the month. We look to Easter, and the death, burial, and resurrection of our savior.

Read Isaiah 53:1-6

Isaiah 53:1–6 NIV

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.