1 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:14,600 Please meet me in the book of 2nd kings in the Old Testament 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:22,900 and chapter 4. Today, I want to just take the 3 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:26,300 time to briefly speak to you about a profound statement that 4 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:30,100 is found in the scriptures made by an unnamed woman. 5 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:33,900 That has incredible. Meaning for believers today. 6 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:38,000 And in fact, it is an affirmation that innumerable 7 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,800 Christians have made. And I've declared in song over 8 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,300 decades but more than this statement being found in a well 9 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:50,400 known him. What we are about to discover 10 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,400 and skim over is in fact, a statement that has the 11 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,900 expression of the security that every single one who has put 12 00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:04,900 their faith in Christ has because of his Mercy And because 13 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:08,800 he is a good god. And the story where this 14 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,600 precious declaration is found as found in Second Kings. 15 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:14,000 But before we go to the particular verse, I want you to 16 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,500 understand the background of the story, there is a man named 17 00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:18,900 Elijah. He was a prophet. 18 00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:22,600 He was a servant of God and Elijah was a traveling Minister. 19 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:25,300 He would do what he had to do throughout Israel and he would 20 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:28,000 pass by many towns and cities. And there was a particular place 21 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,400 that he would he would travel by called shun. 22 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,700 Mm. And there was a woman there, we 23 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:34,700 don't have her name. All we are told is that she was 24 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:38,500 a wealthy woman and she was obviously, Woman who had great 25 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:41,900 generosity in her heart. She was a woman, had the gift of 26 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:44,500 hospitality. So, she would see this man of 27 00:01:44,500 --> 00:01:47,200 God, walked by her home from time to time. 28 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,500 And so it was impressed on her heart to, at least invite him in 29 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:53,900 for a warm meal, a lunch or a dinner so that he can be fed and 30 00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:58,700 fueled as you serve the Lord. And what began as just a 31 00:01:58,700 --> 00:02:05,100 thoughtful lunch, grew into this desire for her to actually build 32 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:09,400 a room for him in her house. So that this man could come and 33 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,200 lodge and relax and just be replenished and refreshed again 34 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,700 as he served the Lord. And so Elijah, here is 35 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:19,800 experiencing this great Love From This Woman. 36 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,000 This care, this attention, and it Dawns on him. 37 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:28,000 I long to do something in return for this motherly st. 38 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:33,700 And as he's there, he calls his assistant to call for her and 39 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:35,500 there he is. Relaxing in that room and as 40 00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:37,300 he's relaxing that room, she comes for it. 41 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,100 And he says, something of the sort of what can I do for you. 42 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,200 You've done so much for me. So how can I return? 43 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,900 What you have given to me? And because of her humility and 44 00:02:47,900 --> 00:02:51,900 because of her, her great sense of service to the Lord. 45 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:54,800 She does not demand anything. She doesn't ask for anything. 46 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:59,300 She doesn't request a thing. She just longs to serve without 47 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:04,300 any interest in mind. And so, she stays quiet, but 48 00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:06,200 Elijah would not let her go empty-handed. 49 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,500 And so, he looks at his servant, gehazi has Ghazi. 50 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:12,300 What can we do for this woman? And gehazi made the observation? 51 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:17,000 Well, she's childless. And her husband is old. 52 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:20,300 Maybe it, maybe a son would be nice. 53 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,900 So Elijah makes a prophetic declaration by this time in 54 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:28,200 Spring. Next spring, you will hold a 55 00:03:28,208 --> 00:03:33,400 baby in your arms and her reaction is so great because 56 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,800 it's almost as though, she can't believe what she's hearing. 57 00:03:36,700 --> 00:03:39,400 It's too good to be true. But sure enough, this man of God 58 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:44,000 who spoke on behalf of God, made it happen and this barren woman. 59 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,400 Now, not only has a son by has a legacy to continue. 60 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:54,500 For a husband and his name and with that, understanding we come 61 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:57,700 now to verse 18. And I'm sure I'm sure we can dig 62 00:03:57,700 --> 00:03:59,700 so much deeper than this. But with the time that we have 63 00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:01,800 left, let's just explore at least a few things. 64 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,900 In verse 18 here of chapter 4, when the child had grown, he 65 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:11,700 went out one day to his father among the Reapers and he said to 66 00:04:11,708 --> 00:04:17,000 his father, oh my head, my head, the father said to his servant, 67 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,700 carry him to his mother. And we had lifted him and Autumn 68 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:24,000 to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon and then he 69 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,600 died. Right there in her arms, he gave 70 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:34,200 his final breath, as she held that Miracle child for the final 71 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:40,200 time. and we look at this, and we think, How did this happen? 72 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,200 Some time has passed, obviously, since this child has been given 73 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,600 because he was clearly old enough to walk with his dad into 74 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:51,000 the fields and he was of age to express himself and communicate. 75 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,200 But he was still young enough for somebody to carry him in 76 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,500 their arms and bring him to his mother. 77 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,300 We do not know the precise age but regardless, it's a tragedy 78 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:03,900 to say the least for you. And I to hear of any child to 79 00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:07,500 pass on from this life as such a youth. 80 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:11,200 And as such a young plant, not fully grown is. 81 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,300 Gut-wrenching. It's almost difficult to imagine 82 00:05:15,300 --> 00:05:18,500 the pain and the distress and the bitterness that a parent 83 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:22,500 would feel to see their own child slip away from life right 84 00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:26,800 before them. The same woman who was visited 85 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:31,000 by Supernatural intervention was also visited by a tragedy. 86 00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:36,800 A calamity. It's worth noting when this 87 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,800 happened notice in verse 18. When the child had grown, he 88 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:45,900 went out one day to his father among the Reapers that is all 89 00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:49,500 that we need to know to get an idea of when this happened and 90 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:53,400 how it applies to us for there. To be Reapers means that this 91 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:57,200 unexpected disaster happened during the Harvest Time for the 92 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,700 nation of Israel. And what that means exactly is 93 00:06:00,700 --> 00:06:04,700 first, it was a very busy time. This is when the men and the 94 00:06:04,707 --> 00:06:08,700 woman would bring themselves to much work in order to gather in 95 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,600 all that they have showed and all that, they have watered and 96 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,900 planted and protected and watched over four months. 97 00:06:16,100 --> 00:06:20,000 Harvest season was not Lex less taxing than sowing season it 98 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,900 demanded so much energy to expel, to ensure nothing was 99 00:06:23,900 --> 00:06:25,800 missed, and nothing would go to waste. 100 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:29,700 So this is a very tight time in terms of scheduling, the terms 101 00:06:29,700 --> 00:06:32,000 of planning, and in terms of efforts. 102 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,100 But secondly, it was a joyous time. 103 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,300 Whenever there is a harvest, it is often in the scriptures 104 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:41,900 associated with great joy, both spiritually and obviously 105 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:45,400 physically, this is when all the hard work paid off this is when 106 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:48,200 Try. This is where profit was made. 107 00:06:48,300 --> 00:06:51,300 And so during the Harvest time for these ancient people, it was 108 00:06:51,300 --> 00:06:54,400 not just something personal. It was a communal thing. 109 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,600 People would come over. There would be Feast, there 110 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,900 would be celebration. There would be a sharing among 111 00:06:58,900 --> 00:07:01,900 one another. And it was in fact more than 112 00:07:01,900 --> 00:07:03,800 that. It was a it was a special time 113 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,100 of worship where faithful Israelites would take the first 114 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:10,100 fruits of their crops and they would come by faith into the 115 00:07:10,100 --> 00:07:12,900 presence of God and say, this belongs to you. 116 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:15,700 You are The Giver of all things, you are the grower of all 117 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:17,400 things. This is yours. 118 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,300 The first we will not reserve it. 119 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,100 We will say by faith, all comes from you and all comes back to 120 00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:26,300 you. What does that mean in light of 121 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:30,400 this? It means this though there is 122 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,900 never a favorable time for Calamity to visit. 123 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:36,300 It seems especially inconvenient for this tragedy and this 124 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:40,200 Misfortune to occur. During the Harvest. 125 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:45,200 Be reminded through this story that trials, tend to interrupt 126 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,700 our schedules. And oftentimes appear when they 127 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:54,400 are least expected. They catch us by surprise and 128 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,400 they don't wait for things to settle down before they seek to 129 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,900 test. You and me trials, don't knock 130 00:07:59,900 --> 00:08:01,900 on the door of your life and say can I come in? 131 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:08,700 And it's very rare where you and I are mentally prepared for, for 132 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:11,200 a Calamity or even open to it. You know, I think this is a good 133 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:17,600 time for a disaster to come in. And to ruffle my life, they 134 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,400 arrived without warning, they barge in unannounced. 135 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,100 And if we are not strengthened by consistent devotion and 136 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:29,900 discipline in the Lord, then those the most tribulations can 137 00:08:29,900 --> 00:08:35,600 knock the wind out of you and cause your faith to be shaken 138 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,299 for the worse. That is not what you see with 139 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:41,100 this woman. It is not what you see with this 140 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:45,100 woman as she caressed. This child and his final breath 141 00:08:45,100 --> 00:08:52,100 was was breathe out. We read here that once she lies 142 00:08:52,100 --> 00:08:54,800 him in a bed, the same bed that Elijah light. 143 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,600 In, as a guest verse 21, she went up and laid him on the bed 144 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,400 of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out and 145 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,100 she called her husband and said, send me one of the servants. 146 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:06,400 And one of the donkeys that I make quickly go to the man of 147 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,900 God and come back again. And he said, why, why will you 148 00:09:09,900 --> 00:09:12,300 go to him today? It is neither new moon, or a 149 00:09:12,308 --> 00:09:16,700 Sabbath. She said all is well. 150 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,900 All is. Well, that's the statement. 151 00:09:22,100 --> 00:09:25,100 That's the affirmation, that's the Declaration. 152 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:29,200 She said, with total confidence would total composure. 153 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:34,000 All is well. And then she goes on her way to 154 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,200 find this man of God. The man of God, that promise, 155 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,600 this child, that had special authority. 156 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,900 To even give that that wonderful gift to her by the power of God, 157 00:09:42,900 --> 00:09:45,400 and she seeks him. And as she seeks him, Elijah, 158 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,400 Caesar at a distance. So he sends gehazi again, run to 159 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,900 her. And as you run to her, do not 160 00:09:49,900 --> 00:09:53,100 hesitate to ask is all well with you is all well, with your 161 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:55,600 husband is all well, with the child. 162 00:09:56,700 --> 00:10:02,100 And what is her response as we come down here to verse 26. and 163 00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:07,700 she answered at the end of the verse, all is well, All is well. 164 00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:15,400 How can that be? How can you even utter such 165 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:20,400 words when your only child the future of your, your husband's 166 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,500 name, the one who introduced a joy that you've never known 167 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:28,100 before and was suddenly snatched from you within a few hours? 168 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:32,100 How can you even say With a straight face. 169 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,800 All is well. Well, it's important to 170 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,600 understand what that really means and I think it's good to 171 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,900 see that for this woman to declare. 172 00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:45,600 All is well does not mean that she was insensitive to the 173 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,900 severity of the situation. Nor does it mean that she was 174 00:10:47,900 --> 00:10:52,100 disconnected with the turmoil that she experienced as a human 175 00:10:52,100 --> 00:10:57,200 being look at verse 27 and when she came to the mountain to the 176 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:01,700 man of God, she caught hold of his feet and gehazi came to push 177 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:04,600 her away, but the man of God said, leave her alone. 14. 178 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,000 She is in bitter distress. And the Lord has hidden it from 179 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:15,200 me and has not told me. Do you see there is a genuine 180 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:19,200 deep pain and none of us can blame her for it. 181 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:25,500 But to have a faith that says, all is well, does not mean that 182 00:11:25,500 --> 00:11:29,400 you will not know an ache to your soul, doesn't mean that you 183 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,400 won't cry, doesn't mean that you won't be broken. 184 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:37,400 In the presence of God heard. This stress does not discredit 185 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,000 the fact that she really meant it when she said all is well. 186 00:11:43,900 --> 00:11:45,500 Because it's a statement of faith. 187 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,300 It's a statement coming from a truth that she was convinced by 188 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:55,500 regardless of the turmoil. That was torturing her at this 189 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:58,300 moment. You read earlier in this chapter 190 00:11:58,300 --> 00:12:00,900 that this woman is referred to as a wealthy woman. 191 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,500 And it's so obvious that she used her prosperity and she used 192 00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:08,800 her property to bless the work of God and the Servants of God, 193 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,200 including Elijah. But I don't see a wealthy woman 194 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,000 just in the physical. I see a wealthy woman and Faith, 195 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:20,800 rich. Rich in faith. 196 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:23,300 And what's important to see here is that the richness of 197 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:26,900 someone's Faith, the quality of faith that really matters is 198 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:32,500 always discovered in affliction. It's always found in pressing X. 199 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,900 Common Faith. Easy faith. 200 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:42,400 Unbelieving faith. Can say all is well, when all is 201 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:47,000 well. But you can be sure that someone 202 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,700 possesses a trust in God. That is worth something when 203 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:55,000 they can say all is, well, while they're smelling a little bit of 204 00:12:55,000 --> 00:13:01,100 Hell in their life. When you can say, all is well, 205 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:04,300 and to a world that doesn't understand who you believe in. 206 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,900 They would think that that's a contradiction to your 207 00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:11,100 circumstances. But she said it and she wasn't 208 00:13:11,100 --> 00:13:13,500 giving lip service. She wasn't trying to impress, 209 00:13:13,500 --> 00:13:16,500 her husband by being a spiritual woman that that quote certain 210 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:19,700 things to seem as though, you are superior. 211 00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:21,900 She's not trying to impress this minister of God. 212 00:13:21,900 --> 00:13:23,400 She really means what she's saying. 213 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:26,300 And all you have to do is take the time to realize her 214 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:29,800 composure throughout this life, shaking event to see the 215 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,600 strength that she has. By giving instructions, she 216 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,400 didn't collapse, she didn't fall apart. 217 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,500 She didn't raise her fist to the heavens. 218 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,800 She's even in her humility submitting to the orchestration 219 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,400 of all that is taking place because she really, really 220 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:51,600 trusted in God and could say all is well she proved it and all I 221 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,200 would love to say much more than this at this time. 222 00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:57,600 But all I want to say to you at this point is take this truth 223 00:13:57,900 --> 00:14:00,900 for yourself and leave this place today. 224 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:04,400 By knowing because of the Lord Jesus Christ. 225 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,600 You can say, at all times in all things, all is well. 226 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:12,500 Again, you can say all is well, because no matter what happens 227 00:14:12,500 --> 00:14:15,700 in this flesh and in this world, your soul has been secured by 228 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:18,700 the savior's blood and you're headed towards eternal life. 229 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:24,600 You can say all is well, because the same God who times our 230 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:29,900 blessings like he did for this woman also schedules are trials. 231 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:35,700 And the duration of them. You can sing it is well as we 232 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:39,900 will after this. Because we do not serve a God 233 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:42,600 who plays sadistic games with our lives. 234 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:47,100 But in all his giving and all his taking away, he has a 235 00:14:47,108 --> 00:14:52,100 glorious purpose to do a work in us that would sanctify us 236 00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:54,800 cleanse us mold us and purify us. 237 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,300 In a way that would bring much glory to him and Gooden us. 238 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,800 And you may be wondering, well, what's the purpose of this? 239 00:15:04,300 --> 00:15:09,400 Why would God grant this woman? A miracle child only to only to 240 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,300 take him away and for her to experience a grief that she 241 00:15:12,300 --> 00:15:14,600 could have just avoided if he didn't give the child to begin 242 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:18,000 with. What is this? 243 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,500 Here's a child. Now I'm not let me take his 244 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:22,700 life. This would be an example for the 245 00:15:22,708 --> 00:15:25,800 great skeptic or the hater of God to say, what kind of God is 246 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:30,500 this? Is it merely to test her faith? 247 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,200 Was it to produce in her even more Sanctified character? 248 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,400 Those she seems so Godly to begin with. 249 00:15:38,900 --> 00:15:41,600 Was it so that she and others can bear witness to a greater 250 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,300 power of God? Who not can just give life, but 251 00:15:44,300 --> 00:15:47,700 can raise the dead to life. I'm sure it includes all of 252 00:15:47,708 --> 00:15:51,700 those things. But there are purposes. 253 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:58,500 Even in pain that God veils from our eyes, but at the same time, 254 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:00,900 gives us examples in the scripture so that we can draw 255 00:16:00,900 --> 00:16:05,800 encouragement from as we endure things that are weighty and 256 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,900 profound. And this is one of those stories 257 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:14,000 where we get a just a little idea of the wisdom of God, as he 258 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,600 becomes Lord of our lives and guides us even through 259 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,100 suffering. because this is not the last time you hear of this 260 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:23,700 woman, she's reintroduced to us in chapter 8 and verse one and I 261 00:16:23,708 --> 00:16:31,600 would like you to turn their briefly to see Second Kings 81. 262 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,000 We read. Now, Elijah had said to the 263 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:40,600 woman who son he had restored to life arise and depart with your 264 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:45,300 household and sojourn wherever you can for the Lord has called 265 00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:50,400 for a famine and will come upon the land for seven years. 266 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,100 So here's this woman. With her, with her child, 267 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:58,300 raising the dead, and Elijah comes with with an Insight from 268 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:00,300 the Lord, there's a famine that's going to hit our land. 269 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:03,000 And it's going to last several years, you need to go wherever 270 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:04,599 you need to go. She goes to the land of the 271 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:09,400 Philistines, several years passed by, she comes back home. 272 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,300 She abandoned her home, her land and remember she was a wealthy 273 00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:15,900 woman, she had much and something obviously happened 274 00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:19,099 during that time because she plans to go to the king of 275 00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:23,099 Israel, to appeal, for her land, for her property for her home. 276 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,300 And as she is prepared to do that. 277 00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:29,700 We read later on in this chapter in The Following verses, that 278 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:33,000 gehazi is actually in the presence of the king, the same 279 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,700 servant who witnessed that child that wants was dead. 280 00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:40,100 Come to life and the king of Israel is there stroking. 281 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:44,200 His beard curious, knowing that gehazi was a close associate to 282 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,700 the prophet and asked tell me some of the things that Elijah 283 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:52,200 has done. So gehazi without hesitation 284 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,700 being an eyewitness begins to share about the story of how a 285 00:17:56,700 --> 00:18:00,800 woman, a rich woman son was given miraculously but also died 286 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,700 and was raised to life. And in that precise moment, as 287 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:09,400 he's explaining this, the woman, the mother of this child walks 288 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:15,400 in And he looks at her while he's explaining it to him and he 289 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,000 says that's the one. She's the mother. 290 00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:24,000 She's the one that actually had her child raised from the dead. 291 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:29,700 And has the king, react. How does the king react? 292 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:33,400 Well, verse 6 tells us? And when the king asked the 293 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,600 woman, if the story was true, she told him. 294 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:41,100 So the king appointed, an official for her saying, restore 295 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:44,500 all, that was hers together with all the produce of the fields 296 00:18:44,500 --> 00:18:46,300 from the day that she left the land. 297 00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:51,000 Until now you have to understand that this woman, very likely was 298 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,600 prepared for a difficult challenge through receive all 299 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,600 that she had lost during those seven years. 300 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,000 And I believe for the main reason that this king, the king 301 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,200 of Israel during this time was not a righteous King. 302 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,300 He was not a holy man, he was not a God-fearing man. 303 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,400 I believe when he asked what Elijah done in the name of God, 304 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:12,400 it was just out of curiosity. But God is going to show in this 305 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:17,200 moment that because this woman was walking in obedience to him, 306 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,000 he would and Providence, prepare her. 307 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,100 So that what she had known would be preserved and what she had 308 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:28,900 known would be protected. And so at the right time, The 309 00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:30,700 unbelieving would say this is luck. 310 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:33,200 This is coincidence. This just happens for the 311 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,500 universe to fall things into place, but the believer knows, I 312 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:41,700 know, my God and I know that this is Providence, this is God, 313 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,400 orchestrating and moving the people and the pieces to be in 314 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,900 the right place at the right time for the sake of the good of 315 00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:51,300 one of his servants. And that's exactly what it is. 316 00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:55,200 This is not coincidence. But this teaches us much more 317 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,200 than that, that as you choose to live under the lordship of Jesus 318 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,600 Christ, he promises he promises his shepherding over your life, 319 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:08,000 realize What's Happening Here? You read from verse 1 of chapter 320 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,500 8, down to verse 6. And you'll see how many times 321 00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:15,200 the fact that this boy, This Woman's child was raised from 322 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,400 the dead and it's calling us to make a connection. 323 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:24,300 And here's the connection. Who would have known that 324 00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:26,400 several years before this moment? 325 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:30,900 How the testimony of This Woman's child dying and being 326 00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:37,200 raised would contribute to her future being secure and kept for 327 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:42,900 her and her family? in other words, it would be very 328 00:20:42,900 --> 00:20:47,300 difficult to believe that this woman from should mm when she 329 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:51,800 was visited by this crisis. Thought to herself all is well 330 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,900 because seven years from now, a king is going to hear the story 331 00:20:55,900 --> 00:21:00,000 of this miracle and it's going to so move his heart that he's 332 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:04,200 going to actually Crown me with favor when I probably wouldn't 333 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,400 receive it. There's no way she knew that 334 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,700 because she's not omniscient, there's no way she knew that but 335 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:14,300 there is Reason to believe that God knew that. 336 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,200 That God knew that that if you want to see the multi-faceted 337 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,400 purpose of God. Yes, he was doing a work in her. 338 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:26,100 He was doing a work to glorify his name but this God Who Loved 339 00:21:26,100 --> 00:21:30,100 this servant because she loved him and served him for saw. 340 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:34,900 There is going to be a famine in this land and my servant has 341 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:39,100 much and she's going to have to relocate and she's going to have 342 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:42,100 to come back and she's going to have to make an appeal to a King 343 00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:45,700 who's not righteous. And so I will prepare a The 344 00:21:45,708 --> 00:21:49,500 money that will be presented to this King and his heart will be 345 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:52,000 moved and he will dispense Mercy to her. 346 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,700 God knew. God knew how that miracle 347 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,000 though. It didn't make sense in the 348 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,500 moment and didn't seem to provide any benefit for that 349 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:08,900 time would bring about a good many years from then. so that's 350 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:11,500 why you and I can say all is well because we serve the same 351 00:22:11,500 --> 00:22:15,800 God that when we cannot reconcile, how this pain has a 352 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:19,700 purpose, God has already had something determined before even 353 00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:24,500 came about That we can rest in that truth, that we can trust in 354 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:28,800 that truth that we can as James says, now, only be stable. 355 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,300 And steadfast and on shaken. But what is James say, count it 356 00:22:34,300 --> 00:22:37,300 all joy. Huh. 357 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:41,600 Count it all joy. It's not just neutral. 358 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,000 You can actually have reason to praise God. 359 00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:47,100 For the various sufferings that you may be enduring because 360 00:22:47,100 --> 00:22:51,800 there is a purpose behind that and this woman would know it for 361 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:55,900 chapters later from when she experienced that inconvenient 362 00:22:56,500 --> 00:23:01,400 that inconvenient tragedy. Now many students of the Bible 363 00:23:02,100 --> 00:23:05,500 as I closed a now. Make the inspirational 364 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,400 association between all is well with the woman from shown mm. 365 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,600 But in my personal reading of this book in Second Kings, I've 366 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,200 come to realize that she was not the only one that said all is 367 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,000 well. Somebody use that same 368 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:21,400 terminology something to use that same phraseology. 369 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:24,600 But had a whole different circumstance. 370 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:32,900 Ghazi gehazi in chapter five after he served Elijah for some 371 00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:35,900 time witnessed another miracle, and that was a man covered in 372 00:23:35,900 --> 00:23:39,000 leprosy from Syria. He was miraculously healed. 373 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,200 And this man Naman came to Elijah and says, I'll give you 374 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,400 whatever you want, you want gold, you want clothing and 375 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,700 Elijah refused. He would not take payment from 376 00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:52,100 this Foreigner, less. You come under the idea that 377 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:56,500 these Servants of the true God do things for God for profit and 378 00:23:56,500 --> 00:24:01,400 I should was a very wise man. But name rather gehazi saw name 379 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,300 and walk away. And there was there was a 380 00:24:03,308 --> 00:24:05,900 disturbance in him to think we're going to just let this 381 00:24:05,900 --> 00:24:10,300 Rich this rich man walk away. This this man of profit and of 382 00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:13,900 prestige just leave when we can have more and so he conjures up 383 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:18,100 a plan, he conjures up a plan to run towards naming without 384 00:24:18,100 --> 00:24:21,100 Elijah's knowledge. And what does he want to do? 385 00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:24,900 He wants to receive something for himself and so in chapter 5 386 00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:29,300 and verse 21, look what happens. So gehazi followed Amen. 387 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,900 And when name and saw someone running after him, he got down 388 00:24:32,900 --> 00:24:36,200 from The Chariot to meet him and said is all well. 389 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:43,700 Sound familiar. Is all well gehazi verse 22 and 390 00:24:43,708 --> 00:24:48,800 he said all is well. All is well. 391 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,500 My master has sent me to say, they're just come now to me from 392 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:57,000 the Hill Country of Ephraim two, young men of the sons of the 393 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,000 prophets, please give him a talent of silver and two changes 394 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,600 of clothing. Gehazi. 395 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:04,900 Is everything? Okay? 396 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:11,900 It is well. Same wording. 397 00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:17,900 Confident. Couldn't be more wrong. 398 00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:20,700 There are people today in this place. 399 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:25,900 Who can say all is well, because Jesus Christ saved you and he's 400 00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:29,200 Lord of your life. And you have this assurance. 401 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,400 As you heard from these testimonies that you have a 402 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,200 relationship with the Living, God that he made possible 403 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,600 because of what he's done on the cross, you can say all is well 404 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,200 you can worship Him in tragedy and Triumph and it's very likely 405 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,200 today that in this room, there are some people who are visiting 406 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,300 that Jesus Christ is he's an idea. 407 00:25:48,700 --> 00:25:50,400 He's just another historical figure. 408 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:53,300 You're just here. Soaring support to a friend or 409 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:56,200 relative and you can say like a hazy. 410 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,500 All is well your life is good, you're healthy. 411 00:26:01,100 --> 00:26:04,800 You're healthy, you have a good job, you have a stable home, 412 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,300 your future is planned, and you're good. 413 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:11,800 And so if somebody were to come to you and say how's life, you 414 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:19,600 can say all is well. And it is my duty to say to you 415 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:22,900 in love. How can all be well? 416 00:26:24,900 --> 00:26:29,800 When your soul is not saved. How can all be? 417 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:33,500 Well, when like gehazi your soul is riddled with greed. 418 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:38,600 And the cancer of lust is eating away at you day after day night 419 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:39,900 after night, how can all be well? 420 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:45,000 When you know, in the deepest corridors of your conscience 421 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,500 that if you were to stand before a holy God, you would not have 422 00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:51,100 eternal life. And even if you were to offer 423 00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:54,300 him some good, it would be like, filthy rags in his side because 424 00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:56,400 he is just so brilliant, and holy and pure. 425 00:26:56,700 --> 00:26:59,700 How can you say all is well, how can gehazi say all is? 426 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:04,100 Well, when he is in this moment, lying and coveting. 427 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,700 And misrepresenting the God that he said he would serve at one 428 00:27:08,700 --> 00:27:15,600 point. if you say all is well, And Jesus Christ is not your 429 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:20,100 lord and savior, then you were just as mistaken as gehazi was. 430 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:26,300 All is not well. Because the author of life is 431 00:27:26,300 --> 00:27:31,700 not the Lord of your life. And your sins will give you a 432 00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:36,000 bill one day and you will have to pay for them for yourself. 433 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:42,900 All might be well on the surface for the mere 60, 70, 80 years of 434 00:27:42,900 --> 00:27:46,700 your missed of an existence on this planet. 435 00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:48,900 But there is another world more real than this one. 436 00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:55,700 And it is eternal. And so, I invite you to sit all 437 00:27:55,700 --> 00:27:59,200 is well on a different premise on a different foundation and 438 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,200 that is because Christ has entered in and he is washed you 439 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,400 from your sin and he is filled you with his spirit and he is 440 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,700 allowed you to know the joy of fellowship with him fellowship 441 00:28:10,700 --> 00:28:13,500 with the people of God, and a future fellowship with his 442 00:28:13,500 --> 00:28:17,400 presence that can never be taken from you because he is a savior 443 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,700 that completes his saving work in you. 444 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:23,200 And so if you're here today and you heard testimonies and you 445 00:28:23,208 --> 00:28:27,900 heard a brief message, I believe that this is God and His 446 00:28:27,900 --> 00:28:31,200 Providence just like this woman who came in at the right time in 447 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,800 the right place to receive good for her future. 448 00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:38,400 This is God, bringing you at the right time at the right, place 449 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:44,300 to hear the right words for you to know Salvation And it's free. 450 00:28:46,100 --> 00:28:48,900 And it's extended to you today as we heard from one of our 451 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:51,700 sisters. Not because you're perfect, not 452 00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:54,500 because you impress God, nothing of the sort. 453 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,500 But because you are a sinner, and because you are broken and 454 00:28:57,508 --> 00:29:00,500 because, you know, that you have violated God's law, you come, as 455 00:29:00,500 --> 00:29:06,400 you are to him, you come in your filth, you come in all your 456 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:10,400 failed attempts to try to even impress, God, you come to me. 457 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,800 Even though prior to this moment, you've ignored God and 458 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,600 you've shunned him. You've probably even Walked him 459 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,400 with all of that into consideration Christ, still bids 460 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,900 you to come and he's ready to forgive you. 461 00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:26,900 This instant he's ready to change you and to transform you 462 00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:31,600 to make you his child, and the way in which that is experienced 463 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,900 the access to that is laid out in the Bible, repent and 464 00:29:34,900 --> 00:29:38,600 believe. Realize what your sin has done 465 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:43,200 to Christ on the cross, realize the great depth of the painting 466 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,500 that was made something that we laugh about and we joke about 467 00:29:46,500 --> 00:29:49,100 something that might prick, our conscious from time to time it, 468 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:52,400 put the sinless Savior on a cross. 469 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,800 And he did it for you. And he did it for you. 470 00:29:58,900 --> 00:30:02,300 You turn from that sin and you put your faith and trust in the 471 00:30:02,308 --> 00:30:05,800 finished work of Jesus Christ. As you heard so many times 472 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,900 today, I mean, you got an extraordinary service. 473 00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:11,600 You didn't just hear a preacher come up here with his Bible to 474 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:13,200 preach you though. That is sufficient. 475 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,400 The word of God is sufficient. The testimony of the Gospel is 476 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,700 sufficient but on top of that you got real life stories of 477 00:30:19,700 --> 00:30:21,700 people saying, Christ changed me. 478 00:30:22,900 --> 00:30:27,500 How much more do you need? What is it that you require for 479 00:30:27,500 --> 00:30:32,700 him to get your attention? Know that he is with total 480 00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:35,100 confidence. He is in this moment. 481 00:30:35,100 --> 00:30:39,300 Calling you to be safe today and you can walk out of here, not 482 00:30:39,300 --> 00:30:42,600 just meeting nice people. Not just seeing somebody, do 483 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,700 something with good moral conviction. 484 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:47,300 Today, a friend or a family member. 485 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,600 You can leave your today with the assurance that you are his 486 00:30:52,300 --> 00:30:55,100 And that you have the same hope that was declared by so many 487 00:30:55,100 --> 00:30:56,900 today. I invite you today, you don't 488 00:30:56,900 --> 00:30:59,500 have to go through a preacher, you don't have to go through any 489 00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:01,300 Booth. You don't have to sit in any 490 00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:04,100 session. We believe in a risen Christ. 491 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:06,900 Who in this moment is more real than anybody else. 492 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,500 And you can speak to him in your Contrition, in your Brokenness 493 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:14,000 and confess that sin, and at the same time confessed that Christ 494 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,600 did died. He was buried, he was raised and 495 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,800 that he is the savior of the world including you. 496 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,300 Why would you, why would you reserve yourself from such a 497 00:31:23,308 --> 00:31:24,700 gift? Why would you hold back? 498 00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:26,500 What do you have? What do you have? 499 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:29,100 That is greater than this news. What do you have? 500 00:31:29,100 --> 00:31:31,300 That is greater than this life Christ that I've come to they 501 00:31:31,300 --> 00:31:33,500 might have life and have it more abundantly. 502 00:31:34,900 --> 00:31:40,800 Somebody asked me two days ago. Curious is making Jesus Christ, 503 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:42,800 Lord. Something that only affects 504 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,700 where I spend eternity or does it does as I do something for me 505 00:31:46,700 --> 00:31:49,600 now. What a question. 506 00:31:51,500 --> 00:31:54,400 I said, oh, he does so much more than you can imagine. 507 00:31:56,100 --> 00:32:00,200 He breaks the shackles of sin, he infuses you with a piece. 508 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,100 There is something of a joy of knowing that you are in right 509 00:32:04,100 --> 00:32:06,400 standing with him. And then on top of that, he 510 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:10,900 gives you a purpose on this planet broken shattered. 511 00:32:10,900 --> 00:32:15,400 Dark depraved to be a light among many lights to make an 512 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,000 impact on other people for his glory. 513 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,400 Why would you say no to that? Say yes. 514 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:25,700 Today he is awaiting for you to give him your heart. 515 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:34,700 Let's pray. Well, we thank you for this 516 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:37,000 wonderful time together in your presence. 517 00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:43,100 And we ask Lord that as we sing, it Is Well with My Soul. 518 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,000 That we can. All really mean what we say, 519 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:53,700 Thank you that in that. In that statement, we can say it 520 00:32:53,700 --> 00:32:56,000 at all times. In all things. 521 00:32:57,300 --> 00:33:01,200 And we pray for those who cannot say it confidently, you cannot 522 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,100 say it beyond the moment beyond the day-to-day, but even for 523 00:33:05,100 --> 00:33:08,900 eternal life, that today would be the day where they can say it 524 00:33:09,500 --> 00:33:14,500 with a total trust and joy and assurance that it is really well 525 00:33:14,500 --> 00:33:17,200 with them. So, Lord, we've done. 526 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:19,500 What we can the testimonies have been declared. 527 00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:23,100 The word has been has been preached but Lord, only your 528 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:27,000 Holy Spirit can change the human heart, please Lord. 529 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,800 Have your way with those that you've called to be in this 530 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:34,800 place for this purpose to hear of your love for them and lure. 531 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:37,400 We glorify you for all these testimonies we pray for every 532 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:40,600 person that was baptized that you would Empower them to be 533 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,600 Faithful Servants. That Lord, they would continue 534 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:46,800 on in a life of obedience that they would glorify you beyond 535 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,200 the time that they did today, then you would protect their 536 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:53,200 families that you protect their children, their spouses or God. 537 00:33:53,300 --> 00:33:56,500 And if they don't know you that what happened today, might 538 00:33:56,500 --> 00:33:59,600 affect Their hearts to realize that this is real. 539 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:04,400 Crisis real be blessed. As we close this service, 540 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:09,699 singing Because of You, it is well, in Jesus name, amen.