It is Well

The inspiration for this hub came as a result of attending the Agape International Family Worship Center, where the Pastors are Duane and Cathy Coleman. What a dynamic service. The atmosphere was rich and full of the power of intercessions, thanks, spontaneous praises and the Word of God came forth mightily. Like a mighty wind ripping through and rending all oppression and discouragement and encouraging and edifying us to trust in God, no matter what we may be experiencing and are going through. Whether our dreams are broken, severed, fading and have died, and what we are hoping for has not yet manifested and come into fruition. Dreams can be resurrected, brokenness can be mended, severed and fading aspirations can be restored and faith is the evidence of what we are hoping for. Glory to God the Father, in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged, all is well.

Pastor Cathy broke the bread of life, reminding us that we will not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, the voice of God in the earth is the Holy Spirit and the emphasis of this message is present tense "All is well and it is well" The King James Version for this account has, it is well.

Diligence is a relentless determination regardless of opposition, these are words which I can remember for over 30 years. whenever I think of the word diligence the entire phrase pops into my mind. It was spoken by my Pastor in Brooklyn, New York, as he taught us about being diligent and doing all things as unto God. Being relentless speaks of courage and determination and it has no regard for what opposes, oppresses, interrupts, and interferes or any weapon formed against us. Why? Only because we have faith in God, and when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God lifts up a standard. We trust His Word and Spirit to guide and keep us through it all and we can say "it is well" in every situation.

Storms produce various climates, but we need the principles, counsels and precepts of God's Word and Spirit to make it through them all, in and by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! It is well, and all is well.

There is an old hymn entitled, it is well with my soul. "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; Though satan should buffet, though trials come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate and has shed His own blood for my soul, 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.

The Scripture was taken from 2 Kings 4:8-37. It is the story of the Shunammite woman. This woman possessed a determination that is undeniably amazing, in which the death of her son couldn't even break her spirit. I was experiencing a new look at diligence in action. The revelation imparted through this message is worth taking a further look. I am even going to be cognizant to begin to decree it into my life, it is well and all is well. When someone asks me, how are doing, my desire will be to answer all is well, even if experientially things are a challenge. All is well speaks just what it inculcates, everything is well. Faith is speaking, calling those things which may not be as though they were. My Dad used to say, everything is everything. To say all is well even when there is a shaking going on is not a fabrication, it is a reality that goes beyond sight and senses. It is our reliance on God, that all is well. If God be for us, who can be against us, and what can separate us from His love. God is the only reason that we can openly declare all is well.

(2 Kings 4:37)

The story begins with the Prophet Elisha passing through a region called Shunem, where there was what the verse described as a great woman, and she constrained the prophet to eat bread. Extending to him generosity and hospitality. So it came to pass that as often as he passed by this region, he would drop by to eat bread. The woman later discussed the matter with her husband, and told him that she perceived the prophet to be a holy man of God, and that he passed by them continually and quite often. She suggested to her husband that they make a little chamber, or compartment with a wall, and set in this room a bed, table, stool and candlestick, so that when he passed through he could eat bread, and he would have somewhere to rest himself. This event fell on a day when he came there, and he turned into the chamber and could lie down, and rest before the next journey.

He told his servant whose name was Gehazi, to call the Shunammite, and ask her to come, and when he had called her she stood before them. He wanted to ask her a question. The prophet was full of appreciation because of this woman's thoughtfulness and wanted to acknowledge her, ascertaining that she had been mindful of them to make preparations for sharing her bread and future layovers. The prophet in turn wanted to know what could be done for her as a result of her kindness, and consideration. He offered to put in a good word with the king, or to the captain of the host, but she answered, that she dwelt with her own people, the folks of Shunem, and that she was an inhabitant of this city in Issachar. The prophet pondered the question some more asking his servant, what could be done for her? Gehazi the servant answered, Surely she doesn't have any children and her husband is old.

The Prophet Elisha then prophesied over the woman and told her, about this time according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son. The woman answered and said, No, my lord, man of God, do not lie to your handmaid. This was a very strange twist to this prophetic word. She thought he was lying to her. Imagine that, she had already perceived that he was a holy man of God earlier in the chapter, yet now she had her doubts about the words spoken over and to her. Doubt shows up when we receive a prophetic word for the purpose of stealing the promise. There are so many lessons we can learn from this story, it is loaded with what is present day applicable. The woman conceived and bare a son at that season that Elisha had prophesied unto her and according to the time of life. After all he is a seer and prophet packing the requested double portion of his predecessor the Prophet Elijah.

When the child grew, there fell on a day, that he went out to where his father was working with the reapers. He said to his father, my head, my head. His father said to one of the lads, carry him to his mother, knowing that his mother will know what to do for him. When he had taken the lad and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. What a sorrowful event this must have been. This mother's refusal to dwell on the situation is astounding. Look at this activity and the things she did.

1) She went up to the room she had made for the prophet, and

2) Laid him on the bed of the man of God, and

3) Shut the door upon him, and

4) Went out

5) She called unto her husband, and told him to send one of the young men and one of the asses that she may run to the man of God and return.

All these things mentioned above she did after learning that her son was dead. There she was moving towards a resolve. Now this is a true example of relentless determination regardless of opposition, sheer diligence. Death usually takes us through some stormy weather, and play somber chords until we realize that God has it all under control. Long before the song, "I won't complain" was written, this woman had resolved not to talk the problem, and not to murmur or complain. Nevertheless she knew that there was a real issue and concern to take up with the prophet.

Her husband asked her why was she going to see the prophet today, reminding her that it was not a new moon, and nor was it the Sabbath. She just answered him, it shall be well. These words jumped off the page right into my spirit and soul. It shall be well. This is a lesson plus, so much more of how to respond to grief, death, principalities, and powers, with the blessed assurance that if God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword. Being fully persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-38). I am reminded of the Apostle Paul, in (1 Corinthians 15:55) asking. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory. However, he is speaking on the other side of the cross and after the finished works of Jesus Christ. The Shunammite woman was way on the other side, but she had a determination worth examining.

Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant to drive, and go forward and not to slow down unless she told him to. So she went and came to the Prophet Elisha at Mount Carmel. it came to pass, when he saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi, behold the Shunammite woman is yonder. Run and meet her and ask her:

1) Is it well with thee?

2) Is it well with your husband?

3) is it well with the child?

She answered, "it is well". Wow! This woman was not paying close attention to her circumstances and situation. She possessed a relentless determination to make a connection with the man of God to inquire about her son. All the questions posed to her, she answered with one "it is well". When she came to the prophet to the hill, she caught him at the feet: But Gehazi came near to push her away. Elisha the prophet told him, to leave her alone because her soul was vexed within her and that the Lord hadn't revealed what she was going through to him. Then she said, Did I desire or ask for a son, did I not say, do not deceive me? She wanted an answer and sought one face to face, but the prophet knew she was experiencing something very heavy, but didn't know the particuliars because he said God had not revealed it to him.

The prophet said to Gehazi, gird up your loins, take my staff in your hand, and go to the woman's home, and if you met anyone do not stop, but to lay his staff upon the face of the child. The mother told the prophet, as the Lord liveth, and as his soul liveth, I am not going anywhere. In other words I am waiting on you man of God. Gehazi went before them and laid the staff upon the face of the child, but there was no response. He met the prophet and told him that the child did not awaken.

When Elisha was come into the house, the child was dead lying on the bed, where his mother left him. He went in the room, and shut the door, and only him and the dead child were in the room and he prayed unto the Lord. He laid upon the child, put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, his hands upon his hands, and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child became warm. He walked to and fro and then stretched himself upon him, and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the Shunammite, and when she came in the room, he told her to take up her son. Then she fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground and took her son. In Old Testament times it was more probable to go to the prophet for a word from the Lord.

This account brings to mind, (Hebrews 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The Shunammite woman was persistent and expected an answer from the prophet and held on to her faith that he was a holy man of God. (Matthew 10:41), He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. When we believe the prophets of God, we too will receive a prophets reward, she received her miracle. This is how being diligent and exercising the relentless determination necessary regardless of opposition always has rewards. Death couldn't even steal her blessing. It is well, and all is well, why?because El Shaddai, the Almighty God has everything that pertains to you and I under His control and all is well!