This is for Everyone | Part 2 | Dustan Bell

When Jesus was crucified, Pontius Pilate ordered that a notice be nailed above His head: 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'  

The message was translated into the three languages of the day, Aramaic, Latin and Greek. From the Cross, by command of a Roman Governor, the good news was preached to all.

2 Kings 5v1-3

The king of Syria had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Syria great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

At this time Syrian raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a maid.

One day the girl said to her mistress [Naaman's wife], "I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy."

2 Kings 5v9-14

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha's house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: "Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy."

But Naaman became angry and walked away. "I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!" he said. "I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?" So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'"

So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

• The message of God's love are is for everyone … even Naaman (no-one is beyond it)

• The mission of God's love is for everyone … even the Servant Girl (no-one is beneath it)

Four realizations of the person God uses.

1. I AM THE RIGHT PERSON

The young servant girl doesn't seem like the most likely candidate to make a difference.

She is:

• Young – in a culture that esteems age
  
  
• Female – in a patriarchal culture that viewed women as second class
  
  
• Captive – in a culture that degraded the slaves

But God used her to bring hope and help to others.

Matthew 5v14

You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

2. I'm the right person, in the RIGHT PLACE…

The girl could have said:

"How could anything good happen here?"

If there's one thing God specializes in, it's placement.

For example, the earth and the solar system (the anthropic principle)

Psalm 37v23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

Job 23v10

But he knows the way that I take …

3. I'm the right person, in the right place, at the RIGHT TIME…

At the very moment that Naaman needs a cure, the servant girl, who happens to know of a Prophet who can heal Naaman, that servant girl happens to be in earshot of the conversation.

Acts 17v26

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

Psalm 31v5

My times are in your hands …

Esther 4v14

Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this?"

4. I'm the right person, in the right place, at the right time, with the RIGHT ANSWER.

Everyone finds their answer in Jesus.

• To the condemned – Jesus is forgiveness.
• To the addict, He's our deliverer
• To those enslaved, He's our Redeemer
• To the abandoned, Jesus is our adoption.
• To the deceived, Jesus is truth.
• To the lost, Jesus is the way.
• To those left high and dry, He is faithful and true
• To the dead, Jesus is the Resurrection and the life.
• To the sick, Jesus is healing.
• To the defeated, He's the Victorious One
• To those in a dark space, He's the light of the world
• To the lonely, He's a friend.
• To those in fear, He's the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
• To those who feel far from God – He's the mediator
• To the weak, he's the mighty one
• To the hopeless, He's our hope
• To the hungry, He's the bread of life
• To those who are shaken, He's the cornerstone
• To the tormented, He's our peace.
• To the confused He's our Wonderful counselor
• To the guilty, He is Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

You don't need to be Jesus … you just help introduce people to Jesus.