“Go and Wash”

I. Naaman the Leper (2 Kings 5:1-14)

A. Characteristics of leprosy 

1. Contagious
2. Incurable
3. Often a death sentence
4. "Unclean" (Leviticus 13)
5. Results in separation & isolation

B. Naaman - power, position, & wealth / yet, infected by exposure 

C. "Go and wash yourself…" - Healing was already ordained and provided for. 

D. Obedience = healing & cleansing 

II. Man born blind (John 9:1-11)

A. Characteristics of blindness 

1. Inability to see anything, even light
2. Dependence upon other senses to "see"
3. Never knows anything different

B. Blind man - afflicted since birth 

C. "Go wash yourself…" - Healing was already ordained and provided for. 

D. Obedience = healing & sight 

III. Leprosy & blindness as an illustration of sin

A. By birth - we have inherited our sin nature 

B. By exposure - we have been contaminated by our environment 

IV. What does God want YOU to do?

A. John 6:28-29 - They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”  Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

B. John 9:35-39 - When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”  “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”  “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.  Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

V. "Go and wash…" - faith in action through obedience

A. Ephesians 5:25b-26 - Christ "gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word."

B. Hebrews 10:22b - "For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."

C. 1 Peter 1:22 - You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

D. 1 Corinthians 7:1 - Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

E. Our spiritual healing has already been ordained and provided for. 

The City of Refuge

Psalm 61:1-4 O God, listen to my cry!  Hear my prayer!  From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.  Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.  Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!  (see also Psalm 91) 

City of Refuge (Joshua 20) 

• Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 

Being "in Christ" includes being part of the church 

• Ezekiel 34:11-16 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!" 

• John 17:15 "I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one."

• Ephesians 1:22-23 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. 

• Ephesians 4:15-16 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. 

• The church is not a place, nor a day and time.  It is the ekklesia; the assembly of the "called-out" ones.  It is the collective body of believers, anytime and anywhere two or more come together.  Jesus said, "For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

So, why don't people go to church? 

Don't fear others; don't give others a reason to not feel safe.

• Proverbs 29:25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. 

• Ephesians 5:3-9 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 

• Galatians 5:19-26  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. 

• Mark 7:20-23 And then he (Jesus) added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” 

City on a Hill (Matthew 5:14) 

 "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." ~ Jesus 

• Church needs to be a safe environment; whether when gathering together on Sundays, or through the rest of the week; online and off; in groups, or one-to-one. 
• Ask yourself: Do I feel safe where I am in my spiritual walk?  Am I making others feel safe?

Jesus, “I AM”

Jesus' controversial statement

• John 8:12-59
• "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!" (John 8:58)

God's Name in context

• Exodus 3: 13-15 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”  God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”  God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.   This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations."

The seven "I am" statements of Jesus:

• "I AM the Bread of Life" (John 6:32-58)
• "I AM the Light of the World" (John 8:12)
• "I AM the Gate for the Sheep" (John 10:7-10)
• "I AM the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11-16)
• "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25)
• "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:1-7)
• "I AM the True Vine" (John 15:1-6)

Other "I am" Sayings

• "You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I AM." (John 13:13)
• When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."(Matthew 16:13-17)
• The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!” (John 4:25-26)
• But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I AM," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:61-62)
• "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."  "Who are you?" they asked. "Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied.   "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."  They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.  So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." (John 8:23-28)

OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW

• Psalm 23 - "The Lord is my shepherd." / John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd."
• Exodus 15:26 - "I am the Lord who heals you." / Matthew 8:16-17 - "… healed all the sick … took up our sicknesses and carried our diseases."
• Exodus 17:15 - "The Lord is my banner." / John 12:32 - "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."
• Jeremiah 23:6 - "The Lord is our righteousness." / 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV - "… in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
• Judges 6:24 - "The Lord is peace" / Ephesians 2:14 - "Christ Himself has brought peace to us"
• Genesis 22:14 - "The Lord will provide" (a sacrifice) / John 1:29 - "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
• Jonah 2:9b - "My salvation comes from the Lord alone." / Matthew 1:21 - "You are to name him Jesus (the Lord saves), for he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus, the eternal unchanging I AM

• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
• “I AM the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” (Revelations 1:8)
• "I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelations 22:13)

Who do you say that He is?