“I AM BLESSED IN THIS TROUBLED WORLD!”

 

✝️ 🦅👑🍇👑🦅

Welcome to Wednesday, the *13th day of NOVEMBER 2024._* This is NOVEMBER – OUR MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE for Spiritual Renewal, Divine Influence and True Love!

 

💕🦅 The *GOOD NEWS* is that YOU ARE BLESSED in this troubled world! God has chosen a thirteenth day to annul every handwriting of evil ordinances against your soul. *_Alleluia!_*

 

 

🦅 *OUR BIBLE PASSAGE:*

 

II Kings 4:8-26, 32-37.

 

8. *_Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where a notable woman persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food._*
9. *_She said to her husband, “Look now, I know this is a holy man of God who passes by us regularly._*
10. *_Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall, and let us put a bed for him there, and a table, a chair, and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”_*
11. *_One day, he came, turned into the upper room and lay down there._*
12. *_Then he told Gehazi, his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him._*
13. *_He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak to the king or the army commander on your behalf? ” She answered, “I dwell among my people.”_*
14. *_So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”_*
15. *_So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway._*
16. *_Then Prophet Elisha said, “About this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”_*
17. *_But the woman conceived and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her._*
18. *_And the child grew. Now, it happened one day that he went out to his father and the reapers._*
19. *_He said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he told 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._*
22. *_Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys so that I may run to the man of God and come back.”_*
23. *_So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “ It is well.”_*
24. *_Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.”_*
25. *_And so she departed and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, he said to his servant, Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman!”_*
26. *_Please run now to meet her and say, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she answered, “It is well.”_*

 

* * *

 

32. *_When Elisha came into the house, the child was lying dead on his bed._*
33. *_He went in, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord._*
34. *_And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm._*
35. *_He returned and walked back and forth in the house and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes._*
36. *_Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So, Gehazi called her. And when she came to him, Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”_*
37. *_So she went in, fell at the Prophet’s feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out._*

 

 

 

Beloved, after doing your part, your faith in the LORD is enough for you to overcome your challenges and become a testifier.

 

*_Along with Genuine Christian brethren worldwide, Receive the power of possibility from the Almighty God, and – as we approach the advent – receive your miracle in Jesus’ Name!_*

 

And God’s people say: *_Amen._*

 

 

🦅 Our *THEME:* 🦅

💕 *_“I AM BLESSED IN THIS TROUBLED WORLD!”_* 💕

 

💕 *TEXT:* 🦅

*II Timothy 3:1-9; John 16:33*.

 

🦅 Our *Hymn: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!* 💕

1:

When peace like a river attended my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

*_Refrain:_*

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

 

2:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not in part but the whole

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul

*_Refrain:_*

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

 

3:

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll

The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend

Even so, it is well with my soul.

*_Refrain:_*

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

Oh, it is well; it is well with my soul.

 

 

 

 

*It is well with my soul.*

Source: Musixmatch.

 

Songwriters: Horatio G. Spafford / Sandi Patty

It Is Well with My Soul lyrics © Bridge Building Music, Word Music Llc, Sandis Songs Music, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music, Cfn Music, Word Music, Llc, Getty Music Publishing, Curb Word Music, Discovery Trademark Holding Company Inc, Mercy/vineyard Publishing, Sundae Songs Banana Split, Julian Reid Publishing Company, Emu Music Ltd, Ninth Avenue Music

 

 

* * *

 

 

🦅 *GOOD NEWS* Expounded: 💕

 

💕 *_“In those times of dire distress – at the juncture of decision – we either lose our minds to fear or brace up to take the right action devoid of fear. We have two options to outlive distress: Take the bold way of courage or give up like a coward.”_* – Rt. Rev. Dr Michael A. Femi-Adebanjo 🦅

 

🦅 Our *THEME:* 🦅

💕 *_“I AM BLESSED IN THIS TROUBLED WORLD!”_* 💕

 

💕 *TEXT:* 🦅

*II Timothy 3:1-9; John 16:33*.

 

II Timothy 3:1-9 – NKJV

*_Dangerous Times and Dangerous Human Beings._*

 

1. *_But know this that in the last days, perilous times will come:_*
2. *_For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,_*
3. *_unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,_*
4. *_traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,_*
5. *_having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!_*
6. *_For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,_*
7. *_always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth._*
8. *_Now, as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds disapproved concerning the faith;_*
9. *_But they will progress no further, for their folly will manifest to all, as theirs was._*

💕

 

John 16:33 – NKJV

33. *_These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”_* 💕

 

Beloved Friends, as we gather today, let us take a moment to consider the *Good News* through the lens of God’s servant’s thought: *_“In those times of dire distress – at the juncture of decision – we either lose our minds to fear or brace up to take the right action devoid of fear. We have two options to outlive distress: Take the bold way of courage or give up like a coward.”_*

 

That thought summarises *OUR BIBLE PASSAGE:* II Kings 4:8-26, 32-37 and our *TEXT:* 🦅 II Timothy 3:1-9; John 16:33.

 

Have you checked out the lyrics of our *_Hymn: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL?_* 💕

 

A reverent study of the Hymn, Bible passages and texts for today reveals that the quality of what WE GIVE TO GOD determines what we GET FROM HIS UNIVERSE. What we get from God is secured by our FAITH when our obedience is complete. Getting rewarded through our faith posits that we must reverently synergise our faith with our effort by “doing our part” of the covenant!

 

Then, we can say IT IS WELL and believe we can flourish in fulfilment.

 

The phrase, “It is well,” is a ready assurance to God’s believers in most *troubled world* situations.

 

However, we should not misapply this phrase to legitimise or spiritualise ungodly or lazy dispositions.

 

II Kings 4:8-37 is an account of how God rewarded the *_hospitality and giving spirit_* of the Shunamite woman with the gift of a much-needed son by the proclamation of the Prophet, Elisha. The faith of this woman of Shunem was tested through the death of her precious son. However, she used her works (attitudes) to prove that her faith is unwavering. Little wonder, her declaration to men’s questions was “IT IS WELL.” Her faith worked through her obedience, and her son was resurrected! Say this with me:

*_I believe my past losses shall be changed to multiple gains, in Jesus’ Name. Amen._*

 

*II Timothy 3: 1-17* – the Epistle exposed the marks (signs) of the latter days, where the Apostle foretells the end-time wickedness of difficult people and the acts of the perilous times. Say this with me:

*_Because I believe, I am coming out of the tribulations of 2024 to gloriously recover all I had lost, in Jesus’ Name. Amen._*

 

*Revelation 7:16* say that they *_who overcome the perilous times_* shall hunger no more, neither shall the sun scorch them, nor any heat (Psalm 121: 6; Isaiah 49:10; Rev. 21:4… No more sorrows for them).

 

*John 16: 16-33* – “My sorrow will turn to JOY, Amen.” It is written in John 16: 20, 21:

20. *_Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice, and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy._*
21. *_A woman, when in labour, has sorrow because her hour has come, but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world._* NKJV.

 

From the Old Testament reading, we discovered that *_the Man of God needed help:_* A place to lay his head, food to sustain him, and rest of mind to enable him to perform God’s work properly, especially during his outreach missions. The Shunamite woman’s supply of these necessities *_made it be well_* with her. Being faithful to God includes *_taking care of the servant of God sent to us_* without a need to find excuses to limit our kindness, and *_It shall be well._*

 

The Epistle here tells us of the times we find ourselves today as it links to eternity, when *_it shall be well with those who are faithful to their maker._* The Gospel Lesson captured here also urges us to have hope in Jesus Christ of Nazareth so that *_our night of sorrows might lead to a bright dawn of laughter and fulfilment,_* in Jesus’ Name.

 

The challenges faced by the Prophets and the early Patriarchs were almost impossible to overcome as most of their environments resisted the will of God. However, we saw the move of God’s power where FAITH worked to manifest their fruitfulness.

 

Hence, bible students understand that we must believe God’s word and His servants (2 Chronicles 20: 20) for us to be established and prosper. We must also evangelise – spread the *GOOD NEWS* of Jesus Christ’s birth, life, crucifixion and death for humankind’s salvation – to receive the rewards of bringing souls to Salvation.

 

God is, therefore, calling *_all creation_* to obedience. We must throw away anything that ensures we put God on the shelf for a while to seek our interests. As the scriptures above show, we must aim for a heavenly witness. We must let God’s will be done, not our secular biddings, and *_all shall be well!_*

 

There are paradoxes in this troubled world: Psalm 73: 3 opens up the intents of the human mind: *_“For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”_* The righteous suffer, wallowing in poverty while the ungodly live in affluence; the liars earn most positions of reputation, while the truthful people are persecuted daily for non-conformity with the majority. However, the sinners suddenly turn to the LORD and are saved, while believers are damned for backsliding as their challenges push them to give up on their faith! They must have seen their hope as a forlorn hope, seeing their expectations as being denied.

 

However, in Proverbs 1: 32-33, the Bible tells us not to envy sinners:

32. *_“…For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;_*
33. *_But whoever listens to me will dwell safely And be secure, without fear of evil.”_* NKJV.

 

Two biological brothers: One, a Christian *_all through his life_* until the last straw broke the camel’s back; the other, a riotous freethinker and occult grandmaster. The non-believer in God became stupendously wealthy while his Christ-believing elder brother was a *_reject of society_*.

 

One night before Christmas, the wealthy sibling pondered about the many messages he heard from his elder brother. He watched a Christian sermon on his Cable TV and gave his life to Christ! Conversely, that same hour, the Christian sibling became depressed, gave up his hope in Christ and got heavily drunk on his way back home on the wee hours of Christmas – a careless, run-away driver knocked him down! Soon, the new convert thought about proving his repentance by changing his brother and his family’s lives for the better. He penitently visited his elder brother’s shanty home to give them the good news, and he was welcomed with the mournful news of his brother’s death!

Intuitively, the new convert empowered the bereaved family, transferring the ownership of one of his huge business concerns to his late brother’s nuclear family. That new status completely changed the economic state of the widow and her grown-up children. The income will sustain a highly comfortable life for members of the family. Shortly after putting his own family in order without backsliding, *_the new convert died!_*

 

I have questions: *_According to the scriptures, Will God have mercy on the unfortunate believer-brother who died as a backslidden person and reward him as the righteous? Will God judge the repentant sibling based on past evil deeds?_*

 

Our world is truly troubled, no doubt. And Yes, God appreciates obedient services to Him. There is a widespread economic hardship in our world, garnished by outbreak of war, natural disasters or diseases here or there. While we often get angry about the ignoble deeds of the corrupt officers and underperforming leaders among our national authorities. Often ignoring our justice systems, we are also tempted to extend the same wand of judgment to Ministers of God. Correcting one another in love is right, but we must avoid destructively judging others, especially those placed in ecclesiastical authority over us. God chooses priests he appointed to oversee *_his worship_* and holy things in His Church. God is strong enough to correct His ministers when they err, so he removes that disciplinary power from Kings (Psalm 105:14). The lay people are sanctified to assist the ordained with reverence.

Let their master (the LORD) – and ecclesiastical authorities over them – handle their excesses. God says, *_“Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm!”_* (Psalm 105:15; I Chronicles 16:22.) Let the laity not add to their challenges by crossing divine boundaries. Instead, let us pray for the servants of God.

 

*_Are we indeed in a troubled world?_* I believe we had always been since the great dragon  – the serpent – has been cast down from heaven unto the earth, with his demons! The times had been evil for a long time, and *_the Saints_* are hard to identify! God’s beloved, we must forgive those who have disappointed us and remember the hospitality law that the Shunamite woman, David and Abraham, fulfilled to become exemplary blessings. Our blessings that seem so far away are within our arms’ reach. Your neighbour in need might be the angel you must assist. Let us honour God first with our *_time, talents, and treasures!_* What is in it for us?

 

*_Those who honour God in their troubled world will gain:_*

 

1. GOD WON’T FORSAKE US. Psalm 37:25 – NKJV. *_I have been young, and now am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread._*

(Job 15:23; Psa. 59:15; 109:10).

 

2. GOD WILL HEAR US. Psalm 34:15 – NKJV. *_The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry._*

(Job 36:7; Psalm 33:18; 34:6,17; I Peter 1:12).

 

3. GOD WILL PROMOTE US. Job 36:7 – NKJV *_He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted._*

(Psa. 33:118; 34:15; 113:8).

 

4. GOD WILL PROSPER US. Psalm 92:12, Prov. 3:32.

Psalms 92:12 – NKJV

12. *_The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon._*

(Psa.52:8; Isaiah 65:22; Hos.14:5-6).

 

Proverbs 3:32 – NKJV

32. *_The perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright._*

(Psalm 25:14).

5. IT SHALL BE WELL WITH US. Isaiah 3:10 – NKJV.
6. *_“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”_*

(Deut. 28:1-14; Psalm 128:2; Eccl. 8:12).

 

6. WE WILL SHINE IN HEAVEN. Matt. 13:43 – NKJV.
7. *_Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!_*

(Dan. 12:3; Matt. 13:9; I Cor.15:42-43, 58).

 

Beloved, God gives us a life or death reward based on our lifestyle. Hear Romans 8:13-14 – NKJV.

13. *_For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live._*
14. *_For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God._*

 

Have you been asking God for *_some specific blessings, and God seems not to have heard?_* Matthew 6:33 implies that He hears you. But one more thing needs your attention:

33. *_But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you._* NKJV.

YOU MUST GIVE your life to Jesus Christ in spirit and truth today. Release yourself to God’s Holy Spirit: Live following God’s word. Jesus will lead you when you are born again – or *born of God.* Then, you will live for God, yet achieve every success you desire in holiness, with peace that words cannot describe, on your confession of His Name and submission to His new life in holiness. God’s acceptance will be confirmed: *_It shall be well with you!_* ALL OTHER THINGS… Wealth, Protection, Family Success, Provision of Food, Clothing and Shelter – with your Joy of Salvation will be part of the package: They are designed for those declared righteous by Faith!

 

*_What is more? You are qualified!_* Jesus has promised never to reject or forsake whoever comes to Him with genuine penitence! Whenever Jesus looks at you when you make your requests to Him, He sees Jesus Christ, who died for you to be adopted! God will declare you as being *_justified:_* just as if *_you have never sinned before!_*

 

God is declaring the end from the beginning: *_If_* you will allow God’s word to live in you NOW, to trust JESUS for your life’s decisions, manifestation will prove that *_It is well with you._* You shall be counted amongst those who will reign with Christ Jesus here and in heaven! AMEN.

As we either give our lives to Christ or, if we were already in the number saved by Grace, re-dedicate our lives for sanctified service during this spiritual communion, let us carry this message into our hearts and share it with those around us. The *Good News* is not just for believers; it is a gift meant to be shared. Go forth and be a beacon of hope to those who wander. Amen!

 

*_I now prophesy, according to the Word of God:_*

 

🦅 *_At Christ Jesus’ inspired word, let the great help of God cause you to flourish, annihilating your fears and destroying the traps set for you at these difficult times, in Jesus’ mighty Name. ONLY BELIEVE!_*  🙏

 

GLORY BE TO GOD!

 

*_Alleluia!_*

🦅  * Let Us Say Our 7-Fold Prayer!* 🙏

1. 💕*_My Father, My God: I plead the blood of Jesus over my body, soul and spirit, in Jesus’ Name!_*

,

2. 💕 (Micah 7: 11) *_ I annul the decrees that established every curse under which I labour, in Jesus’ Name!_*

 

3. 💕(Phil. 3:9) *_Through my faith in Christ, I declare failure for every power of evil incensed against my breakthrough, in Jesus’ mighty Name._*

 

4. 💕(Mark 4: 41) *_O Lord, Let all humanity be terrified by God’s power that flows through my life and ministry, in Jesus’ mighty Name._*

 

5. 💕(Luke 12: 12, 32) *_Whatever barrier that would hinder me from receiving my upliftment from today: I sentence you to destruction: “Now, I freeze my devourers’ assets and recover ALL my stolen blessings by fire, in Jesus’ mighty Name!”._*

 

6. 💕(II Kings 4:26) *_In Jesus’ Name, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. I command every ailment in my body system, bones, veins, arteries, blood, soul, and spirit to be cast out into the abyss!_*

 

7. 💕(Luke 12:7) *_Angels of Remembrance, thank you for demolishing and erasing all the powers that had treacherously taken the rulership of my destiny. Today, I claim my endless well-being – in Jesus’ mighty Name._*

As God’s Anointed, I prophesy into your life – according to the Word of God – God has remembered you, ending your life-long relationship with spiritual spouses: You shall forever be freed from every demonic stronghold, in Jesus’ mighty Name.

*_Jesus’ words have become health to your flesh. Receive your spiritual, financial, physical and emotional healing – and your manifestation is divinely declared – in Jesus’ mighty Name._*

 

*_It is well with every sphere of your life: I love you, in Jesus’ Name!_* 💕

 

💕  *_As for me and my household – including these prayer partners reading, hearing and praying along – we shall serve the living God in sound health, good wealth and prosperity of our souls, in Jesus’ Name!_*

Amen!

 

*God Bless You!*

 

 

🦅  *Enter To Worship… Depart To Serve!*  💕

 

 

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HAVE A VICTORIOUS MIDWEEK AND AN ENRICHED LIFE, in Jesus’ Name.* 🌹

 

🦅👑🍇👑🦅✝️