ODM Daily Devotional March 17th 2025
TOPIC: A PSYCHIATRIST’S BOMBSHELL ON THE BIBLE – 2
CLICK HERE FOR BASIC SCRIPTURE 17th MARCH 2025 PRAYER & DECLARATION
Yesterday’s devotional contained what a popular psychiatrist said about the Bible – “If people would absorb its message, a lot of psychiatrists would go out of business.” It also contains this as I was led to write: Let your 2025 MOTTO be – “NO BIBLE, NO FOOD!” I remember Wendy Speake: “The Word tells us how to live, and then, with the indwelling help of the Holy Spirit, enables us to live it out. Dear friend, do not settle for being somewhat informed and a little reformed but never transformed.” I like what the great D. L Moody said: “In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.” Did you get that? Let God Do Most Of The Talking This Year! Today’s scripture vs. 2 says: “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name…for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.” Wow! GOD HAS EXALTED HIS WORD ABOVE HIS NAME! Oh, I feel like jumping and shouting a million halleluiahs now! If God has placed His WORD ABOVE HIS NAME, THEN WHO ARE YOU TO KEEP USING HIS NAME IN PRAYER ABOVE HIS NAME? Millions are prayer warriors but not WORD warriors! “Do not look for the church nearest to your house! Look for the church closest to the Bible” (Paul Washer). In this year 2025, LET GOD DO MOST OF THE TALKING! Peace! EASTER IS APRIL 25TH!
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PRAYER POINTS: Take Song 2: When the roll…
- In your own words, pray about today’s word as led.
- In this year 2025, I shall allow God to do most of the
talking! I shall stay with the WORD! I shall not be LAZY!
I shall read the WORD more than just praying prayers in
Jesus name (Pray it seriously and declare a 3-day
program of reading the WORD and listening to
God. Write down the things He will tell you). - Pray in Tongues as you are led now!
- Pray concerning today. Loose open heavens and divine
FAVOUR NOW!
Hymn: “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder”
Lyrics
Here are the full lyrics of the hymn, as commonly found in hymnals and referenced in the web results from Hymnary.org and EnjoyingtheJourney.org:
Verse 1
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.
Verse 2
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.
Verse 3
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.
History and Background
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Author: James M. Black (1856–1938), an American Methodist Sunday school teacher, composer, and evangelist, wrote both the lyrics and music for this hymn in 1893.
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Inspiration: According to the story shared on EnjoyingtheJourney.org, Black was inspired to write the hymn after a young girl named Bessie, a member of his Sunday school class, died suddenly from pneumonia shortly after being diagnosed. During a class roll call, her absence prompted Black to reflect on the “roll call” in heaven, leading to the creation of this hymn. It was first sung at Bessie’s funeral by the young people of the church.
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Biblical Foundation: The hymn draws from biblical imagery, particularly from 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, which describes the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” It also echoes Revelation 20:12, mentioning the “books” being opened and the judgment of the saved.
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Publication and Popularity: The hymn was published in various hymnals and became widely popular in evangelical and Pentecostal circles, especially in the United States and later globally, due to its uplifting message of hope, resurrection, and eternal life. By 2025, it remains a staple in many Christian worship services and gatherings, including those inspired by ministries like Koinonia (ENI), which emphasize prophetic and spiritual themes.
Musical Details
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Tune: The hymn is set to the tune ROLL CALL, composed by James M. Black himself. It’s a simple, memorable melody often sung in a lively, joyful manner, reflecting its eschatological hope.
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Structure: The hymn follows a standard verse-refrain format, with three verses and a repeating refrain, making it easy for congregations to sing and engage with its message of assurance.
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Audio and Resources: As noted in the Hymnary.org results, the hymn is available in printable scores (PDF, MusicXML), playable presentations (lyrics only or with music), and audio files (MIDI, recordings). It’s included in over 453 hymnals, showcasing its enduring popularity.
Theological and Spiritual Significance
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Eschatological Hope: The hymn focuses on the Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection of believers, and the final gathering of the saved in heaven. It emphasizes the certainty of being present when God calls the “roll” in eternity, offering comfort and assurance to Christians facing life’s challenges.
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Personal Commitment: The refrain, “I’ll be there,” reflects a personal declaration of faith and readiness for eternal life, aligning with the prophetic declarations often made in Apostle Joshua Selman’s ministry, as seen in the Koinonia post you referenced.
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Connection to Koinonia’s Context: While not directly mentioned in the Koinonia post, the hymn’s themes of divine calling, resurrection, and eternal victory resonate with Selman’s teachings on spiritual breakthroughs, divine appointments, and the power of declaring God’s promises, as seen in his February 2025 Miracle Service declarations.
Cultural and Modern Relevance (March 2025)
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By March 2025, this hymn remains relevant in Christian communities, especially in Nigeria, where Pentecostal and charismatic movements like Koinonia thrive. Its message of hope and eternal assurance could resonate deeply amid Nigeria’s economic and social challenges, as noted in your earlier posts, offering spiritual comfort and motivation.
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In the context of Koinonia’s digital outreach on X, with over 1 million followers by early 2025, this hymn could be shared or referenced during services or online engagements, reinforcing Selman’s prophetic declarations about divine favor, protection, and victory.
Additional Notes from Web Results
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Hymnary.org: The hymn is cataloged with its first line, “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,” and includes details about its author, tune, and publication history. It’s described as a song of assurance and heaven, fitting for worship and revival settings.
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EnjoyingtheJourney.org: The story of Bessie’s death and Black’s inspiration highlights the hymn’s origin as a personal and communal expression of faith, sung at her funeral, which aligns with the emotional and spiritual depth often found in Koinonia’s gatherings.
How to Use This Hymn Today
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In Worship: Sing or play it during church services, personal devotions, or Koinonia Miracle Services in March 2025 to inspire hope and faith.
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In Prayer: Use its themes to pray for readiness for Christ’s return, as Apostle Selman might encourage, aligning with declarations like “I’ll be there” when God calls.
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In Sharing: Share the hymn’s story and lyrics on platforms like X to connect with Koinonia’s audience, reinforcing spiritual themes of victory and eternity.
If you’d like me to expand on any specific aspect—such as a deeper theological analysis, musical arrangement details, or its relevance to Koinonia’s ministry—let me know, and I’ll refine or extend this response further! How does this hymn resonate with you in the context of March 2025?
