Theology

*05/08/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elisha  2 Kings 2-6; 13:14-21 Introduction VI This power to divide water was with Moses at the Red Sea, with Joshua at the Jordan, and had just been exercised by Elijah (2 Kings 2:8). When the company of prophets at Jericho saw Elisha do this, they understood that the same spirit that had been with Elijah was now with Elisha and immediately acknowledged him as their leader (2 Kings 2:15). But they did not believe that Elijah had simply been taken up to heaven - they thought that the Spirit of the Lord would have put him down on some high hills or in some other place. A search party was sent out, but found no trace of Elijah. 2 Kings 2:16-18 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya...

*02/08/2026* *THANKSGIVING SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elisha  2 Kings 2-6; 13:14-21 Introduction V As a mark of mourning Elisha tore his clothes (2 Kings 2:12). He then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen off. He used this cloak to strike the water of the River Jordan (2 Kings 2:13). His next words, *Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?* suggests that at first nothing happened. His question reveals his recognition that the power to stop the river flowing was not embedded in any magic in the cloak but came from God, who had granted him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. When Elisha realized this, God showed his presence and the River Jordan divided, as it had in the days of Joshua (2 Kings 2:14; Joshua 3:7). We hear nothing more of Elijah’s cloak. *Tithes & Offering* Genesis 14:18-20 Account name:  *The Ecumenican Church* A...

*29/07/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elisha  2 Kings 2-6; 13:14-21 Introduction IV Suddenly a chariot of fire came between them, separating them (2 Kings 2:11). Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind, leaving Elisha to weep, *My father! My father!! The chariots and horsemen of Israel (2 Kings 2:12)* *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #*

*26/07/2026* *ANOINTING HEALING AND COMMUNION SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elisha  2 Kings 2-6; 13:14-21 Introduction III  This was a gift that Elijah could not give, because it was dependent on God (2 Kings 2:10; also Jesus’ answer to the sons of Zebedee - Matthew 20:20-23). Yet he could say that this request would be granted if Elisha could still see him while he was being taken up.  *It would appear that he is making the point that a man of God must be able to see the whole picture, both physically and spiritually, if he is to benefit from heavenly gifts* *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #*

*22/07/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elisha  2 Kings 2-6; 13:14-21 Introduction II Finally, Elijah himself spoke of what was about to happen: *Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken up from you?* (2 Kings 2:9). The man of God had no material property to be inherited, but Elisha could have requested a special prayer for himself or for the nation of Israel, with the prophet laying hands on him to confer some final blessing. But what Elisha asked for was *a double portion of your spirit*. He may have been asking that he would become twice as great as Elijah, or that the spirit that would rest on him would be two times greater in power and quantity than it had been for Elijah. But it is also possible that he was simply requesting that the spirit at work in Elijah’s life and generation would continue in his own life for anoth...

 *19/07/2026* *THIRD SUNDAY SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elisha 2 Kings 2-6;13:14-21 Introduction  As Elijah and his successor Elisha set out on their final journey together, Elijah makes three attempts, at Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho, to persuade Elisha to leave him (2 kings 2:1-2,4,6). In the past, he had left another servant at Beersheba when he hoped to die (1 Kings 19:3-4). But Elisha refused to leave him, eah time swearing an oath to that effect. Three attempts were enough and Elijah did not try to stop Elisha from accompanying him again. The companies of prophets whom they met as they journeyed warned Elisha of what was coming, but he already knew it (2 Kings 2:3,5). *He was a faithful servant to his master and stayed with him to the very end.* *Those who continue to the end enjoy greater privileges and blessings* *©️2026* *Ecumenican...

*15/07/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 Ahaziah then sent a third group, but the captain of this group was more careful. He realized that he was dealing with the Lord’s powerful representative, and he begged that their lives be spared according to 2 Kings 1:13-14. The angel of the Lord reassured Elijah that it would be safe to go and meet the King (2 Kings 1:15). *When the Lord sents a person, he is sure to be with them if they obey. Characteristically, Elijah fearlessly obeys the Lord’s command* *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

*12/07/2026* *SECOND SUNDAY SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 Still the King did not repent, but sent another squad who suffered the same fate as the first one (2 Kings 1:11-12). We do not know whether Elijah took this action because of his own fear or whether he was directed to do it by God. But God responded to his call for fire, supporting him in his action. Many hundreds of years later, Jesus’ disciples wanted to do the same thing after they had merely been refused lodging. They had the power that Elijah had and could have done this, but the Lord rebuked them and led them to another town where they were received. Luke 9:51-55 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powe...

*08/07/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 Ahaziah’s response to this message was not repentance but confrontation. He sent a captain and a squad of fifty men to arrest Elijah (2 Kings 1:9). The King was declaring his opposition to God, not just to Elijah. If Elijah had obeyed the captain’s command, he would probably have suffered the same fate as the many prophets of the Lord who were killed during the days of Ahab. After all, Jezebel was still alive. So Elijah called down fire that consumed the captain and his men. 2 Kings 1:10 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* Instagram: *@ecumenicanchurch* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

*05/07/226* *THANKSGIVING SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 The angel of the Lord sent Elijah to meet the messengers sent to Baal-Zebub (2 Kings 1:3). It is worth noting that Elijah did not usually take action without the Lord or an angel sending him. Elijah’s message was one of judgment: because the King was consulting Baal-Zebub instead of the God of Israel, he could expect death, not healing (2 Kings 1:4). The messengers do not seem to have recognised Elijah, but they must have believed that he was a man of God and quickly returned to their master with his message (2 Kings 1:5-8). *Tithes & Offering* Genesis 14:18-20 Account name:  *The Ecumenican Church* Account number: 2280020397 Banker: *Eco Bank Nig. Ltd* *This church is not funded or sponsored by any state, private or public organization.* *We rely on...

*01/07/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 The events of Ahaziah’s reign was presented in 2 Kings 1:1-18. He was faced with a rebellion by Moab, which we know from other sources had been conquered by Omri, Ahab’s father. The Moabites hoped to take advantage of the confusion resulting from a change in the ruler and the installation of a young king. Ahaziah was unable to take action to stop the rebellion because he had suffered serious injuries in a fall from the top of his house (2 King 1:1-2a). Ahaziah must have heard of the events on Mount Carmel where the Lord had proved himself superior to Baal. 1 Kings 18:16-45 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

*28/06/2026* *ANOINTING HEALING AND COMMUNION SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL X 1 Kings 18:16-46 Elijah did not head off into the wilderness after this victory, but accompanied the King to Jezreel as a loyal subject. Like Elijah, ministers must leave no doubt that they love the political leaders they criticize. We must hate the evil that they do, but not the person who does it. Despite the heavy rain, Elijah was able to run to the city ahead of Ahab’s chariot. He got the strength for this gruelling marathon after a dramatic day from the power of the Lord. 1 Kings 18:45-46 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

*24/06/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL IX 1 Kings 18:16-46 While the battle on Carmel had been won, there still remained the problem of the drought. But Elijah had faith that God would hear his prayers again. So he put his face between his knees and requested rain on the land to prove conclusively that it was God and not Baal who controlled the rain and that it was not Asherah who was in charge of the fertility of the land. His prayer of faith was heard and granted by the Lord according to 1 Kings 18:41-44. The death of the prophets meant that those who taught sinful ways had been removed and the Lord could now withdraw his judgment and bring rain. In fact, Ahab was told to hurry back to the city of Jezreel some eighteen miles (thirty kilometres) away before heavy rain brought ...

*21/06/2026* *THIRD SUNDAY SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL VIII 1 Kings 18:16-46 This miracle led the people to believe in the covenant Lord of Israel. They all fell down, shouting, The Lord-he is God! The Lord-he is God! (1 Kings 18:39). It is not clear whether the prophets of Baal also fell down to confess the Lord of Israel as God. Elijah then gave orders for all the prophets of Baal to be killed in the Kishron Valley as part of a religious cleansing (1 Kings 18:40). Those who witnessed the occasion saw for themselves how the Lord God of Israel showed himself powerful and Baal powerless. Ahab, too, saw for himself and could not speak against Elijah. *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#EC...

*17/06/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL VII 1 Kings 18:16-46 In his prayer to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Elijah did not draw any attention to himself. The purpose for which he prayed was *so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again* (1 Kings 18:36-37). He did not need to shout, dance or gash himself to please the Lord and so persuade him to act. The fire of the Lord came and burnt the sacrifice, the altar stones and the water. 1 Kings 18:38 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

 *14/06/2026* *SECOND SUNDAY SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL VI 1 Kings 18:16-46 Elijah then called all the people to come to him. Because of neglect, the altar of the Lord has fallen into ruin and needed to be repaired (1 Kings 18:30). He used twelve stones to rebuild the altar and to remind the people of Israel of how the nation had begun with the twelve tribes. It would remind them that the God they were now praying to was the God who had made a covenant with Jacob, the father of all Israel. The altar was built in the name of the Lord (1 Kings 18:32) to show that he depended on the Lord. To allow God to show his power, he asked that water be poured on the sacrifice and the altar (1 Kings 18:33-35). The odds against Elijah were that he was only one against 450 prophets of Baal backed by...

*10/06/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah  1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL V 1 Kings 18:16-46 Elijah would allow the prophets of Baal to start (1 Kings 18:25). They shouted their prayers, O Baal answer us! and danced around the altar. They went on shouting and dancing their prayers till noon, and even slashed themselves to let blood flow. Elijah mockingly asked them to shout louder but he knew very well that no answer was coming: Baal had failed to provide fire for his followers. 1 Kings 18:26-29 *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

*07/06/2026* *THANKSGIVING SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah 1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL IV 1 Kings 18:16-46 Elijah pointed out that he is the only one of the Lord’s prophets left (1 Kings 18:22). He did not reveal that there were other prophets of the Lord who had survived in hiding (1 King 18:4). Certainly, he was the only one prophet who took a public stand. The unequal contest between 450 prophets and one prophet would involve two bulls. The prophets of Baal were to select one bull, and the other bull would belong to Elijah, who was representing the Lord God of Israel. Each party would offer their bull as a burnt offering, but neither could light the fire themselves. The god being worshipped would have to prove himself by providing fire for the offering (1 Kings 18:23-24). *Tithes & Offering* Genesis 14:18-20 Account nam...

*03/06/2026* *MID WEEK SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah 1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL III 1 Kings 18:16-46 When the large crowd had assembled, Elijah addressed them: *How long will you waver between two opinions* (1 Kings 18:21a). The root of the problem was that the people were wanting to have things both ways. They wanted to serve both God and Baal. But God requires absolute devotion, not partial worship (Exodus 20:3-4), the same sin condemned as being neither cold or hot (Revelation 3:15-16). The people were not able to respond, probably because the King was present (1 Kings 18:21b). *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*

*31/05/2026* *ANOINTING HEALING AND COMMUNION SERVICE* TOPIC: *WHAT DOES GOD DO?* CONTINUING PROVISION AND PRESENCE  - God will sometimes overrule the natural order by the miraculous  True Miracles  Elijah 1 Kings 17-18; 2 Kings 1 ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL II 1 Kings 18:16-46 Elijah told Ahab to bring people from all over Israel as well as the prophets of Baal and of Asherah to a meeting on Mount Carmel, a high mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea (1 Kings 18:20). The King may have been angry with the prophet, but he respected the power the Lord had given him and obeyed the prophet’s instructions and summoned the prophets and the people. *©️2026* *Ecumenican Church Nigeria ™️* WhatsApp/Telegram: *+2348052366039* Email: *johnifesanya@gmail.com* *www.johnifesanya.blogspot.com* *#ECN Ibadan #* Powered by *JDIS*