Woodward First Assembly

End Game-3-The Blessed Hope

Today we finish the EndGame series as Pastor Brad teaches us about The Blessed Hope.

Pastor's Notes:

TEXT    1Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everybody!

I’m so glad to be here and bringing you this truth this morning. Today will be the final installment of our “Endgame” series. I’ve enjoyed teaching you the truths about what happens when we die and the soul and spirit leaves the body. Our spirit immediately goes to Heaven or Hell to await our final judgement.

However what happens if we don’t die? What if we are alive at the time that Jesus comes to catch His people away?

This morning, I want to talk to you about a doctrine we refer to as the rapture of the church.

ILLUSTRATION

When I was growing up, I was taught over and over again to live right, because we very well could be living when Jesus comes back to catch us away!

As a teenager, this would scare you pretty bad. It’s one thing for your parents to catch you doing something, but God?

TRANSITION

The truth is, Jesus and the apostles taught us to watch and be ready, because we did not know the day, nor the hour that the Son of Man would come. Luke 12:40 NKJV. Jesus even said His coming would be like a “thief” Revelation 16:15 NKJV.

Why be ready?

BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT.

THERE IS NOT ANOTHER SINGLE PIECE OF BIBLE PROPHECY SINCE 1967 and the reestablishment of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel that needs to happen for the Lord to come.

IT COULD EVEN HAPPEN TODAY!

Because those who are not will be left behind to experience times of hardship like the Earth has never experienced. This is called the “Tribulation Period”.

Basically, the Second coming of Christ is one event that is broken down into two sequences: The Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming. These sequences are separated by 7 years of tribulation, which the last 3 1/2 years are called “Great Tribulation”.

RAPTURE........................SEVEN YEARS..................SECOND COMING

EXPLANATION

• -  The Rapture is a sudden coming for the church. This is not a visible coming of Christ, as He will not come down to Earth. Rather, we will meet Him in the air. The church will be in Heaven, where the Judgement Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will happen.

• -  The Seven Year Tribulation period will happen immediately after this, with a flesh and blood person the Bible calls “Antichrist” rising to power. He may be alive before the rapture, but he will not be revealed before. He will appear peaceful at first, offering world solutions, He will make a peace treaty with Israel which will result in the agreement to allow them to rebuild the Third Temple. (Which by the way, they already have everything they need to do it!) When it is built, on the day of dedication, he will demand worship and set himself there to be worshiped. This starts the last half, which is called “Great Tribulation.” In these 7 years, many Jews are converted, many are killed, and the wrath of the Lamb can’t be escaped. It is called “Jacobs Trouble”.Jeremiah 30:7 NKJV “Alas! For that day is great,So that none is like it;And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,But he shall be saved out of it.” This period serves a purpose to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah. NOTE: This is why the church is taken, but ISRAEL is left. We already accepted the wrath of God and it was laid on Jesus at the cross! The Jews who rejected Jesus must experience this, though many will be saved out of it.

• -  At the end of this seven year period, there will be a visible appearing of Christ where every eye will behold Him. (Revelation 1:7 NKJV). He will physically set His feet on the Mt. of Olives, coming with His saints to do battle against all the enemies of Israel at the Battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-6 NKJV)

  BACKGROUND

 

With that being said, I wanted you to see that one is Christ coming for us, and another is Him coming with us. In our passage, Paul is encouraging the church to hold on through difficulty and not to lose hope. Many trials had happened and many had “lost” those they love to death.

His remedy to this situation was to remind them of the catching away of the church, which is why we call it “The Blessed Hope”.


APPLICATION 1. The Rapture

- We get the term “rapture” from the Greek rendering of “caught up”, which is “Harpazo”. That word means to be “snatched up with violent force”, or “to remove from harm’s way”.

- It literally will be a catching away.

- We will be taken to Heaven while the wrath is upon the Earth.

- Many say that us who preach the rapture just want to escape!

- Hebrews 2:3 NKJV "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"

- Luke 21:29-36 NKJV "Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with[a]carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may [b]be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

2. The Resurrection

- This speaks of the resurrection of the body. The spirit and soul do not stay in the grave. They are released to the Lord at death. This is a resurrection of the body, which shall then be changed into a glorified body, much like Jesus had after His resurrection.

- The spirit of the dead in Christ will meet their body, and we will be caught up together!

- This is dead swallowed up in victory!

3. The Reunion

- Those saints who died and those who are living shall be caught up physically together.

- What a blessed time of reunion this will be!

- Our loved ones we cherished on Earth will see us again if they died in Christ.

4. The Reassurance

- This is the hope we have, that this world is not all there is. - There’s an escape from judgement.
- A hope of resurrection.
- A reuniting with those we love.

- Forever to be with Christ.

CONCLUSION

The question is this: Are you ready to meet Jesus if He were to come right now at this very moment?

Another Gospel: Jehovahs Witness

End Game-2-This House Is Not My Home

Today we continue with our End Game series. Pastor Brad teaches us about heaven is a sermon he calls "This House Is Not My Home."

Pastor's Notes:

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 NKJV

5 For we know that if our earthly [a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee.6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everybody!

I pray all of you had a great weekend and were able to rest a little. Last week, we started a series entitled “Endgame”, where we began to look at life after death. In our particular study last week, we looked at Hell, which we learned is the eternal state of the damned.

This morning, I want to talk to you about Heaven, that place where the redeemed go when they die. The message is entitled “This House Is Not My Home”.

ILLUSTRATION

As I was thinking about this passage, and particularly this title, my mind began to trek through my life. Being in ministry, the Lord has moved us around several places. In doing that, we’ve lived in several different types of housing. Some of them I really liked. Particularly, the last home I lived in. It was our first home purchase. If there was a possible was for us to move that house to Oklahoma, we would have done it!

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Sunday, February 9, 2020

However, there was one house we lived in that I absolutely hated. I was youth pastoring, and this house was given to us to rent very cheap, but it had major cosmetic issues. It was close to the church, so it worked. We had our first child in that place. We quickly began to decorate and fill it and make the most out of it. In fact, we have some great memories in that house.

What’s the point? The house doesn’t make it a “home”. What makes a house a “home” is what is on the inside of it like family, love, meals, memories, etc.

TRANSITION

Just as our house becomes a home by what’s inside of it, our body houses our spirit and our soul. The Scripture teaches us that this earthly body is temporal. It’s not our permanent residence. That’s why Paul referred to the body as a tent. A tent is never meant to be a permanent dwelling. It is meant to be a temporary place of shelter.

The trouble is, I think most of us life like this is all there is. In fact, eternity should determine our choices while down here on the Earth.

BACKGROUND

In our passage, Paul who is a tent-maker by trade, uses the fleshly body and refers to it as a tent. He then speaks of how the heart of every believer longs for that eternal home where God has made a place for those who believe in Him.

Let’s look at the actual truth that Paul tells us about life.

APPLICATION
1. THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE

- First of all, Paul talked about the temporal nature of life, comparing it to a tent. We all know compared to a foundational house like we live in, a tent is nothing!

- Now, the truth is that while we live in this tent, we are to take care to it. I knew a smart alec preacher one time who had really let his health go making fun of some other pastors who were trying to take care of there own body through fitness and exercise, and he offered this verse:
1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

- This verse is not saying that staying in shape is bad. In fact, it is GOOD to stay in shape because your body is the vehicle that houses your spirit and soul, and it helps you get work done for the Lord. That being said, in light of eternity, 70-80 years is nothing! But we live godly knowing that this is not all there is. The best is yet to come!

2. THE TRUTH ABOUT RESURRECTION

- Paul mentions that we are groaning to be clothed. That’s because there is a promise of a resurrection. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has put eternity in the hearts of man. I think every person when honest really understand that there is more than just this life.

- In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul tells us about the resurrection of our bodies being clothed with a heavenly body. This mortal body will put on immortality.

-

3. THE TRUTH OF HIS PRESENCE

- What makes Heaven “heaven”?

- Heaven is ultimately Heaven because God is there

- After we are resurrected and the end of all things happen, God will create a new heaven and a new Earth. That place will be one of no curse. John records this in Revelation 21 as a place of no sorrow, no pain, no curse, and where God reigns forever from the New Jerusalem!

CONCLUSION

Another Gospel: Mormon

End Game-1-Hell Is No Joke

Today we start a new series that Pastor Brad calls End Game. We start the series with a sermon titled Hell Is No Joke.

Pastor's Notes:

Luke 16:19-31NKJV

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and [a]fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with [b]the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everybody!

I’m so glad you have joined us this morning. My prayer this week is that everyone has gotten rested up and healed up from all of the nasty stuff that has been going around. Last week, I preached a stand alone message entitled “America’s Only Hope”, in which I let out a challenge for us to seek the Lord for our nation. Today, I’m launching a brand new series I’ve entitled “Endgame”, and I’m going to be looking at what happens to a man after this life is over. Perhaps it will be comforting to some. To others, it will be shaking. Regardless of how it makes you feel today, it doesn’t change the fact that we are all going to face eternity. Today, I want to talk to you about the eternal place for the lost called Hell, in a message I’ve entitled “Hell Is No Joke”.

TRANSITION

Let’s face it: We live in a world where people do not like to talk about this. It seems like every single person who has died has “gone up to be with the Lord” or “I’ll see them again in Heaven.”. The Woodward News will even say “So and So has gone one to be with the Lord......”

No one ever seems to talk about the fact that there is a place called Hell, and people are going there by the droves.

“Why preacher, why be so negative?”, you might would say. It’s by lack of faith that I say such things, but I’m echoing the words of Christ here: We looked at the the Woodward News, but let’s look at the GOOD NEWS!

JESUS SAID

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 [a]Because narrow is the gate and [b]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Many means MOST
Few means JUST A COUPLE

Revelation 21:15-16 NKJV tells us the exact size of the New Jerusalem, where we will live for eternity, but Isaiah 5:14 NKJV says that Hell has enlarged itself, and is wide beyond measure!

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It seems to me that since there is a “Highway to Hell” and a “Stairway to Heaven”, it speaks to its anticipated flow of traffic. 



ILLUSTRATION

I’ve often witnessed to people through the years and led many people to Christ. I’d love to tell you every single one of them accepted Jesus. Some of them scoffed. I’ve even heard people joke and laugh and say “I’m ok with going to Hell. I’ll just party with the Devil for all eternity.” You may think that sounds cute and all, but Hell is no laughing matter!

When I was pastoring in the state of Louisiana, a lady in my church had a son who was a professing atheist. He mocked Christians publicly. He called them weak, stating that “All Christianity is can be likened unto a crutch for the weak.” That man, being 400 lbs and the manager of a pizza restaurant, suddenly grabbed his chest, fell over, and he died. At the request of his wife, he was buried in his favorite shirt: A black t shirt with a large snake on the front.

As I stood in front of that casket, trying to console a family who has lost a loved one, what can you say?

“He has gone on to meet his Maker and receive his eternal reward. He can’t come back, but you must go. What will YOU do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?”

Hell is no laughing matter!

Let’s look at this story so that we can see what Jesus told us about this terrible place.

BACKGROUND

In our passage, Jesus was telling a particular story. Some have said it is a parable, but Jesus said there was a “certain” rich man, and then He calls Lazurus by name. This is something He didn’t do in other parables. He is being specific. He tells about one man who is wealthy and has need of nothing, and another man who is broken by life and is a beggar. Both men came to the end of their lives.

That shows us that no matter how much money you have or don’t have, it can’t stop you from entering eternity. It shows the differences. One man is comforted, and the other has lifted his eyes up in Hell. Great torment surrounds his eternal soul. He begs for water, yet he gets none. He cries out but he gets no help. He begs and pleads for Abraham to go tell his brothers about this place, yet he is told that is not possible. Jesus uses this story to talk to use about the suffering of a place called Hell.

It’s true—It doesn’t sell big books. Preachers aren’t talking about it much. Preaching about Hell may have cooled off, but my dear friend, it’s actually as hot today as it’s ever been.

APPLICATION
1. WHY WE TALK ABOUT IT

- It’s in the Word

- It’s a challenging day to be a pastor in this offended generation. If you’re listening to me by podcast or the internet today, hear me: If your pastor doesn’t preach all the truth from the Bible. you better get out now!

- The Old Covenant talks about Hell. Daniel 12:2 NKJV And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,Some to everlasting life,Some to shame and everlasting [a]contempt.

- Jesus talked about it often.

Matthew 10:28 NKJV 8 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [a]hell.

Matthew 25:30 NKJV And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

- Paul believed in it.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 NKJV 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

- John the Revelation writer did.

Revelation 14:11NKJV And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Revelation 20:15 NKJV And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

- To wake up Christians

We have become spiritually lazy when it comes to soul winning. Many have even said “That’s not my ministry.” Jesus and Paul both commissioned us to preach the Gospel of reconciliation.

- Many don’t want to disturb men. If you warned a family that they were headed toward the end of a road and on the edge there was a cliff that would cause them to plummet to their death, you’d be a hero. If you warn people of the judgement to come, you are a bigot, small minded, and a fanatic.

- To warn the lost

- Many don’t believe in Hell. It’s still there, and they are still going if they don’t know Christ!

- To share with them the love of the one who died for them!

2. THE DEBATE ABOUT IT

- “A loving God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell!” The choices we make determine where we do.

- “What parent would punish his children by burning them in eternal fire?” God has no children in Hell!

- “All of the Hell I’m going through here on Earth is all the Hell there is.”

The hell you experience here is the one you created. The one you’ll experience down there is the one God created.

The fact is, God has given you many opportunities to get right with Him. In fact, if you die today without accepting Jesus, my voice will ring in your ears throughout eternity.

3. THE DETAILS ABOUT IT

- It’s instant upon death. You wait there until the final judgement, - There’s torment. He cried for mercy
- You can still feel. He wanted his tongue to be cooled.
- It’s permanent.

- You have memory and conscience. Your concern for the lost grows. Yet, it’s too late.

- All the wicked will be there.

- It will burn with unquenchable fire.

We can summarize it like this: Hell is the place of conscious, eternal torment where people experience God's punishment for their sin. Yes, Hell is "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41), but also for those who join them in their rebellion against God (Matt 11:20–24). The horror of hell is such that Jesus says, "if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43). For those who do not enter the narrow door of faith and repentance in Jesus (Luke 13:24) a place of weeping and gnashing teeth awaits them (Luke 13:28).

4. HOW WE AVOID IT

- Not by good works
- Not by religious association
- We avoid it by calling on the name of Jesus. Romans 10:13 NKJV

CONCLUSION

So when we say we are saved, what are we saved from?

AKA: Adonai

America's Only Hope

Today Pastor Brad preaches a timely stand alone message he calls America's Only Hope.

Pastor's Notes:

2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NKJV

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everybody!

What a joy it is to be in God's house with His people.I had fully intended to finish my series today on making room, but I just couldn’t get peace in that direction, although I still had a ton I could say. Yet while I am praying over our nation, I’m deeply burdened by the division morally, politically, and spiritually,

In the months to come, we will be approaching a very heated election. Get ready for the emails, robo calls, ruthless paid commercials of politicians slinging mud at each other, all with the promise of “I can do a better job than they can.”

Birthed out of the thoughts and prayers over the last few weeks, I wanted to preach a message this morning entitled “America’s Only Hope”.

ILLUSTRATION

When you turn on the news, all you hear about are our presidential candidates promising us the world. Some say they will cut taxes and have health reform, yet others say they will continue to "Make America Great Again”. While I do appreciate our president, the only thing that will truly make America great again is a move of God!

Our hope is not in Washington.
Our hope is not in a political party.
Our hope is in the Jesus!
America's Only Hope is a genuine move of God across this nation.

You see, we can fuss at the TV. We can fuss at the school system. We can fuss at the everything around us, but the truth of the matter is, the condition of America has partly to do with the condition of the church.

BACKGROUND

In our text this morning, Solomon is dedicating the glorious temple that he had built for God. In the passage, it is referenced about the judgement that would often come upon the land because of the condition of the people. Yet Solomon shares with us that God’s plan is always restoration and redemption!

We live in a day of distorted grace where people would say that God doesn’t judge things anymore, and that we shouldn’t preach things like this. However, let me give you this shocking New Testament passage:

1 Peter 4:17-18 NKJV

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,

Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Church, it’s time to wake up!

The same truth that was shared with Israel that would lead to her rebound is the same thing that will help us. Let’s look at the three things mentioned in the passage.

APPLICATION 1. Humility

- The first thing we see in our scripture is a call to humility!

- To have humility is to not think too highly of yourself. Confidence is one thing, but pride is another!

- American pride is something that has been pumped into us from grade school. I agree we should love our country, but we should at times be ashamed at the things going on in our nation.

- Legalized abortions, gay marriage, promotion of drugs and alcohol, pornography production, and vile movies all hail from within our borders.

- We must humble ourselves.

2. Hunger

- We must pray and seek His face.

- This speaks of spiritual hunger.

- Revival always happens when people turn from their current state and start seeking after God. Matthew 5 tells us “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

- Until the church is willing to get serious about prayer and seeking the face of God, we won’t see a move like we could.

3. Holiness

- The next thing we see is repentance. That is not just being sorrowful. Many come to an altar and cry, and they think that is repentance. Repentance is changing the mind and the direction.

- The church has to turn from their wicked ways. What wicked ways? - Idolatry (Not just statues in 2020).
- Sexual perversion.
- Lukewarmness.

- Spiritual laziness.

- We must again not go into legalism, but walk in true holiness and contriteness of spirit.

CONCLUSION
When we do this, He will forgive our sin and heal our land.

AKA: I Am

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 
 


Making Room: The Voice Of God