Making Room-3-All is Well

Today we continue our January series Making Room with a sermon titled ALL IS WELL.

Pastor's Notes:

2 Kings 4:18-21 NKJV

And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!”
So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everyone!

I hope you are as excited as I am this morning to be continuing down this path of “Making Room”. We’ve looked at making room for increase, making room for the voice of God, and today, I want to look at this from a different angle. I want to look at “Making Room For God To Work”.

I’ve entitled the message specifically “It Is Well”.


 ILLUSTRATION

Many of us are familiar with the gospel song “It Is Well”. Many of us however may not be familiar with the history behind the song.

This incredible story of faith belongs to Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). Much like Job, he placed his trust in God during his life’s prosperity, but also during its calamities. A devout Christian who’d immersed himself in Scripture, many years of his life were joyous. He was a prominent Chicago lawyer, whose business was thriving. He owned several properties throughout the city. He and his beloved wife had four beautiful daughters and one son. Life was more than good — it was blessed.

But faith, no matter how great, does not spare us from adversity.

Just as Horatio hit the pinnacle of his profession and financial success, things began to change. It began with the tragic loss of their son. Not long thereafter, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed nearly every real estate investment Horatio owned.

Just a few years later in 1873, Horatio decided to treat his wife and daughters to a much-needed escape from the turmoil. He sent them on a boat trip to Europe, with plans to join them shortly after wrapping up some business in Chicago. Just a few days later, he received a dreadful telegram from his wife, “Saved alone...” It bore the excruciating news that family’s ship had wrecked and all four of his daughters had perished.

Horatio was on his way to meet his heartbroken wife, passing over the same sea that had just claimed the lives of his remaining children. It was then that he put his pen to paper and the timeless hymn was born, beginning with the words:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

TRANSITION

Wow! Can you imagine being in this situation?

I hope that I’d never have to find out. It sounds a lot like Job! Yet, it sounds like that even in the midst of tragedy, this man had a rock to hang on to! That rock is none other than Jesus.

What do you do when tragedy strikes? How do you respond? It reminds me of our message from last week.

BACKGROUND

In our passage, we learned last week that this notable Shunammite woman valued and honored the prophet, and because she did so, something amazing happened: She gave birth to a son. This led to one of the most difficult things in her life because all of a sudden, as this son grew, that which was promised now died. She didn’t ask for this child, and now her heart is shattered. How she responded shows us how we can respond correctly and thus make room for God to work.

APPLICATION
1. Don’t React Too Soon

- In that culture, a quick burial would have been usual. At the most, she’d have removed it from the house. It was in the heat of harvest time.

- When it looks like our promise has died, we need to be sure not to throw in the towel too soon. We serve a God who is well able!

2. Take It To The Right Place

- Rather than bury him, he took him to the prophet’s room.

- In essence, she laid him in the space she had created for God.

- It’s noteworthy to understand this this is 20 plus years AFTER the boy was born. She maintained this space all these years.

- In order to take it to the right place, you have to have a place!

3. Keep The Right Attitude

- In the middle of all this, she puts her son in the room and begins to make a journey.

- When she is asked why she is in a hurry, she says “It is well”.

- When storms happen, it’s easy for our mouth to start running. She didn’t do that, and neither did Job!

4. Stand Firm On The Promise

- Her promise looks dead, but rather than give up, but she went back to the one where she got the word from!

- She basically pulls on him and says “I’m not leaving you until you make this right.”

- We’ve got to stand in faith even when it looks bad, and give God time to work in our situation.

CONCLUSION