THE DECLARATION OF FAITH: IT SHALL BE WELL
or No Name Heroes
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
I don’t know what you are going through today?
But I know a God that loves you. God has a plan and a work for you.
You can never find fulfillment without ministry.
Please study this?
Don’t give up! Don’t give in!
IT SHALL BE WELL.
TEXT:
2 Kings 4:1 -- 37
A DECLARATION OF FAITH:
2 Kings 4:23 And he, (her husband), said, Wherefore wilt thou go unto him, (the Preacher), today? t is neither new moon, nor the Sabbath. AND SHE SAID, "IT SHALL BE WELL!"
The lesson today has five characters:
1. The Preacher, Elisha, the Man of God.
2. His servant, Gehazi, the man of God in training.
3. A nameless woman and mother, nameless to us, not to those that knew her or to God.
4. Her husband and provider
5. Her son, her seed, her Divine provision, her reward.
IT SHALL BE WELL.
Seems the Preacher, Elisha was a circuit preacher and he and his servant traveled all around the nation teaching, exhorting, and ministering to people.
The lesson teaches us God has many ministers. Some get the up front ministry, others quietly support and help the minister to minister.
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WHAT IS MINISTRY?
My simple definition of ministry is this:
TO SEE A NEED, TO PRAY, TO DEVELOP A PLAN,
AND TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE NEED!
See if this idea of ministry is Biblical?
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As the Preacher traveled and grew hungry, he would eat old bread he carried.
One day this nameless woman came up to the Preacher, and said,
"Why don’t you and your servant come home with me today and eat?
I have plenty of food to share."
We call this woman, the Shunammite woman.
The lady saw a need.
The man of God would minister to all the people and then be very hungry, and have little to eat.
As this lady started her MINISTRY it seemed so little and useless.
Maybe she had to convince her husband, this is the man of God and he deserves better than old, cold bread. IT SHALL BE WELL.
Ministry cost! She would have to plan ahead, she would have to cook extra.
She would sweat. Food never came from cans and the grocery store.
This MINISTRY COST GREAT EFFORT! IT SHALL BE WELL.
Little did this woman realize, MINISTRY has benefits.
Perhaps it would take many years to experience the benefits, but God knows and keeps good records.
It was not long until Elisha and his servant was back ministering in the area.
The Shunammite woman invited them to her house again.
Her house was lonely, just her and her husband, and when the preacher was there
the little woman felt so good. Sure, there was extra sweat, but she could feel the blessings of God reign on her little home. IT SHALL BE WELL.
MINISTRY OFTEN OPENS UP MORE MINISTRY!
One day when the Shunammite woman finished her dishes,
she watched the old Preacher and his servant as they left.
It dawned on her, where are they sleeping?
maybe she heard the Preacher coughing?
And her heart ached as she saw another need.
O, God, Your Precious Man is sleeping on the ground under the stars.
This can’t be!
As she pondered the Man of God sleeping on the cold, damp ground,
as realized a need. She could have pondered, I feed the two of them, this should be
someone else’s burden, not mine.
As the Preacher and his servant sat at her table eating and enjoying her precious gift of service that she offered not only to the two men, she was COOKING FOR GOD!
They finished eating one day and left her house, they were so tired, the traveling, the ministry to the people, the woman saw another chance to MINISTER to the Minister.
IT SHALL BE WELL.
She sat down next to her precious husband and leaned her head over on his chest.
She said, "The Lord has really blessed our home since we started feeding Elisha and Gehazi. I love you so much. God put us together. But, HONEY, I THINK THERE IS MORE FOR US TO DO? What about you?"
He might have replied, "Baby, we feed those two Preachers all the time, ain’t that enough? We are poor, do you know what all that food does? It doubles our expenses?"
As her heart burned, she knew she could never be a minister, yet she knew she had a ministry. She knew there was more. IT SHALL BE WELL.
I am so thankful to those that see a harvest, white and ready to be harvested.
One day, the lady woke up to a sound of a hammer, the husband caught the vision that had been birthed in her heart. They started remodeling their house. They cut down trees, made the lumber.
The neighbors walked by and said, What are you doing? There are only two of you,
why remodel and enlarge your house? You don’t need to do that? IT SHALL BE WELL.
A fire burned in this precious home, there was dust all over the house. It wasn’t easy.
There was blisters and pain. As the lady cooked for her husband, she would fold her arms, and say O, God, we love You so much, You have used our home, use us MORE.
One day, the husband drove his last nail, they went to the furniture store and picked out some simple furniture. A table, a bed, and candle stick.
After church was over, the lady hurried home, Elisha came over the hill. The lady’s husband was sitting on the porch. He felt so good, Elisha saw the work of the man’s hands and admired it. As Elisha pushed away from the table, the man said, "COME, SEE!"
Elisha got up from the table, and walked outside, in through a little door.
The man said, "MY WIFE AND I BUILT THIS JUST FOR YOU! WE WANT YOU TO EAT HERE AND SLEEP HERE ANYTIME YOU ARE IN THIS AREA!
I know Elisha was so excited, a soft bed, a warm room. No more worry about rain.
Can you imagine Elisha’s first night in that feather bed, as he lay back to go to sleep, he burped real big, and said -- THANK YOU GOD, AS I HAVE MINISTERED
YOU HAVE BUILT A SUPPORT TEAM TO MINISTER AND ENCOURAGE ME.
IT SHALL BE WELL.
Please, know this was not the end of the Shunammite woman’s work, the husband may have finished, but there was extra laundry, sheets to wash, candles to make,
now with a good bed, he would be here more often and eat more.
Please notice, the whole community would benefit from this lady’s team work offering. The Man of God doing the Work of God would now have a permanent address in this area. As Elisha was working with many people, this little no name woman doing a no named work, caused the blessings to open, not just to her,
the work of her hands would open blessings to the whole area.
Someone would know the Preacher is at the Shunammite woman’s house, my son is sick, let’s go get anointed and be blessed!
THERE IS A REST TO THIS STORY... IT SHALL BE WELL.
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One day Elisha was laying in his bed on clean linen, and thought,
HOW CAN I EVER REPAY THIS WOMAN?
Elisha sent Gehazi over to their part of the house and asked them,
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
THE MASTER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU NEED?
WE WILL PRAY.
The husband and his precious ministering wife, said,
You won’t believe this, God has so blessed us, we don’t need anything.
Tell the Preacher, we don’t need anything.
Gehazi returned to his Master, the man of God, and said, they don’t need anything,
they ask for nothing for the work. BUT I NOTICED, THEY HAVE NO CHILDREN.
Don’t you think a son would brighten up this place? IT SHALL BE WELL.
Perhaps things are not bright now, but I AM EXPECTING ... the woman could say!
Elisha prayed, and on the next visit Gehazi said, Look Elisha she is in a family way! Nine months later, there was the cry of a DIVINE PROVISION.
GOD GAVE THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN A SON.
As they finished eating their meal, Elisha would tell the son a Bible story.
Elisha taught their son about God. I am sure Elisha would hold the baby boy as the woman did the dishes.
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THIS BRINGS US TO TODAY’S LESSON ON A DECLARATION OF FAITH:
2 Kings 4:23 And he, (her husband), said,
Wherefore wilt thou go unto him, (the Preacher), today?
It is neither new moon, nor the Sabbath.
AND SHE SAID, "IT SHALL BE WELL!"
The teenage boy was out in the field putting up hay.
It was hot, the boy developed a headache. IT SHALL BE WELL.
The Dad had to finish working, so he sent his son to the house.
No doubt, the boy was throwing up and very sick. The pain was terrible.
The mother placed cool damp rags on his head, the boy lay lifeless.
The boy was having trouble breathing, the next thing you know, the boy exhales and
takes his last breath, the Mother knows what to do. IT SHALL BE WELL.
The enemy is trying to steal her gift of God.
The enemy laughs at her years of ministry, and says: I stole your Divine Provision.
IT SHALL BE WELL.
2 Kings 4:23 And he, (her husband), said,
Wherefore wilt thou go unto him, (the Preacher), today?
It is neither new moon, nor the Sabbath.
AND SHE SAID, "IT SHALL BE WELL!"
DEFINE SHALL?
Not now --- will be able to --- used to express what is inevitable
to express futurity --- determination --- necessity --- compulsion
obligation ---
DEFINE WELL:
without trouble --- no difficulties --- being satisfactory --- being blessed, prosperous
cured --- healed --- an issue of water --- to rise above --- in proper, good manner
kindly way --- completeness
LOOK AT THE DECLARATION OF FAITH:
The conditions to come will be without trouble or difficulty,
all will be cured and prosperous. IT SHALL BE WELL.
How can you say: IT SHALL BE WELL WHEN YOUR ONLY SON IS DEAD?
Stone cold, dead?
Wait a minute enemy this lady knows there is a PATH TO FOLLOW.
The PATH TO THE MINISTER’S HOUSE WAS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED YEARS AGO. The Mom knew, what God gives by intercession is kept by intercession.
Now her husband and her stand at the corpse of their son.
Call the undertaker? Call the coroner? NO!
No! Call the God that she has faithfully served.
Let the words be --- IT SHALL BE WELL.
This Mother had learned to walk and talk by faith.
This mother had been with the Preacher and his servant.
This mother knew the voice of God.
She orders her husband, get the fastest horse and buggy we have, you carry our son
into the Preacher’s ROOM, wait... IT SHALL BE WELL.
As the horse traveled it seemed so slow. But there was no room for doubt.
As the Mother passed her neighbor’s house, the neighbor yelled,
"Where you going so fast?"
The Shunammite woman yelled, IT SHALL BE WELL.
As the Mother passed others on their way, they asked,
Where you going?
She yelled, IT SHALL BE WELL.
When the enemy tried riding in her buggy, the enemy said, after all those hard cooked meals, after all those days of laundry, you are nothing, your work is nothing, and I have destroyed your son. Ha, Ha, your only son is dead! D-E-A-D!
She looked heavenward, and declared her statement of faith...
IT SHALL BE WELL!
The last hill, the path to the Preacher’s house, the path to the Man of God, the Path to God had been established many years ago.
A DECLARATION OF FAITH:
2 Kings 4:23 And he, (her husband), said,
Wherefore wilt thou go unto him, (the Preacher), today?
It is neither new moon, nor the Sabbath.
AND SHE SAID, "IT SHALL BE WELL!"
2 Kings 4: 26 Gehazi the servant, runs to meet the Shunammite woman .
Gehazi, says: IS IT WELL WITH THEE? IS IT WELL WITH YOUR HUSBAND?
IS IT WELL WITH YOUR SON?
Notice the answer has changed, for now she knows the God of the Ages has honored her efforts, and she answers:
IT IS WELL ... IT IS WELL.
The Preacher never had to ask directions to this home, this home had been a friend to the Preacher, his servant, and to God.
The boy is laying on the Preacher’s bed.
What if the years of ministry had not developed?
What if this home had not known the Preacher or the God of the Preacher?
Would there had been faith to declare --- IT SHALL BE WELL?
2 Kings 4:32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold the child was dead, and lay upon HIS bed... Elisha’s bed? Divine Provisions?
It shall be well. IT SHALL BE WELL!
2 Kings 4:33 Elisha goes into the bedroom and shuts the door...
No room for crying and doubting... IT SHALL BE WELL.
The boy sneezes 7 times, he gets warm ... IT SHALL BE WELL.
Gehazi calls the Mother, COME GET YOUR SON...
IT IS WELL.
The declaration of faith came to bear fruit.
But don’t forget the Path to God was laid in little ministry over many years.
Can you do something for the Pastor? Can you help the Missionary?
Can you love an old person shut in and alone?
I learned a painful lesson many years ago.
I will tell you, I have learned this lesson many times since.
SOME TIMES THE WORSE THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU,
COULD BE THE BEST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU.
IT SHALL BE WELL!
There was an officer in the army that hated one of the young men under him.
He was constantly picking at the Private.
He called the Private: hillbilly, hick, stupid, knucklehead and many other names.
The officer spit toward the young soldier several times.
One day, the young soldier did something that did not please the officer.
The officer spoke a few dirty words and told the strong young man,
" You are stupid, lazy, and no good, seems you cannot follow orders. You are not fit to be in this army!"
The young soldier stood to his feet and looked the commander in the eye,
and said, " Sir, someday it will be different. Sir, I promise you will repent of those words."
In disgrace the young man walked away.
There was a terrible battle. The enemy was very strong and well disciplined. The attack of the enemy was a surprise and caught our soldiers off guard. Soon the officer and his men were cut off from the rest of their men. Death started visiting in the camp.
The officer was wounded and fell to the ground to die or be captured by the enemy for torture.
Out of no where, the young soldier that had been so often the brunt of the officers criticisms and meanness, stepped out of the darkness. The young soldier had heard that battle was going sore against them, so he left the security of his troops and headed toward those in trouble. Because of his heroic efforts, when all was running away, he ran into the battle. His efforts alone were responsible for finding his commander and officer. The young man looked into the wounded officer’s eyes and wrapped his arms around him and carried him toward safety.
As the young man carried the man that had been mean to him back to our troops and laid him on a M. A. S. H. bed, the officer looked up and said:
"Young man, I am very sorry, please forgive me. Our nation is great today because of MEN LIKE YOU!"
I am telling you, God loves you. God cares.
Others are watching! What are we showing them?
IT SHALL BE WELL. GOD KNOWS YOU BY YOUR FIRST NAME.
All this bad stuff will have to turn around.
THIS TOO SHALL PASS! Jesus loves you, find your place of ministry, see needs and pray and develop a plan to help someone else. Real joy is found by reaching down and lifting others to GOD’S HEART. Grow a path to ministry.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
"Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing.
God is unchanging.
Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God:
God alone is sufficient." (St. Teresa of Avila)
If everyone that reads this would send two copies to a friend, you would help me and become my partner. My hands are small, will you enlarge them? This is no chain, this is God’s word.
