It Is Well, With My Soul

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.

Refrain:
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath 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, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul! 

This hymn was written after two major trau­mas in Spafford’s life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the At­lantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daugh­ters died, the Holy Spirit in­spired these words. They speak to the eter­nal hope that all be­lievers have, no mat­ter what pain and grief befall them on earth.

The world would have us think that anything we do is all right.  If it makes you happy, then do it.  If you disagree then you are judgmental, if you speak against, it is hate speech.

Satan would have us believe that the word of God is too judgmental, that it is hate speech.   You should expect that from someone who will not submit to the authority of God.

As sinners we must confess our sins and submit ourselves to God’s authority to be forgiven and freed.  We must do this on a daily basis because we sin on a daily basis.  We do so in thought, word and deed.

To think that we can live any way we choose, do anything that makes us feel good and not submit to the authority of God is living in a fantasy.

For Christians, not to say this is wrong, and to not urge these people to turn from their sinful ways is heresy.

On the judgment day those who feel that they can choose how to live and still enter the gates of heaven will be disappointed.   Matthew 7:21-23  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants.  (22)  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?'  (23)  Then I will tell them publicly, 'I've never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.'

Now is the time to stand firm in the faith and now is time to continue to preach the Good News of Jesus the Christ.  We must do this with love, not animus. 

As public opinion continues to strike against the tenants of our faith, as denominations continue to give in to public opinion, as those around you ridicule and deride you, remember this.  Philippians 3:14-15  I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.  (15)  Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think. 

We are under attack but we are not alone, if God is for us, who can be against us?

It is well, with my soul

Pastor Steve