EARTH'S FINAL HOUR

 

EARTH'S FINAL HOUR Here is a summary of the ground we've covered so far in Revelation: Instructions for 7 Churches, given by Jesus Christ himself. Christ will open the 7 Seals on the Scroll, with their corresponding disasters. With the 7th Seal, seven Archangels will sound their trumpets for seven more disasters. Only the 7th Trumpet remains in this story: which means that the return of Jesus Christ will happen when the last and final trumpet is sounded. Earth's final hour will indeed be a "grand finale" but not in any way that suggests a joyous event. The 7th Trumpet includes vengeance against fallen angels as well as for mankind who continue to resist God. Even in this dire hour, as God will pour out the full measure of his wrath upon the earth, God will send two powerful Witnesses to preach, and to show great signs and wonders. God continues to offer mercy for those who will repent, even while the earth shakes and trembles under the wrath of God. There are many reasons for the dramatic events of the end times, but first and foremost is God’s desire to push people to repentance and faith, if at all possible. This study of Revelation will continue next Thursday. IMAGE CREDIT: Old Man Time, is generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.

 

TOO MUCH NOISE

 

TOO MUCH NOISE By Frank Mceleny And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. 1 Kings 6:7 The silence spoke of reverence. The temple was set apart for the presence of God, and even its construction was free from the clamor of tools. Everything was prepared beforehand, so that the place where God would dwell remained undisturbed, fitting for a house of worship. In the same way, we should ready ourselves before we come together as a people. As our hearts cry out for His presence, there ought to be a holy hush among us. With heads bowed low and trembling hands lifted to heaven, there should scarcely be a whisper as the Lord visits His people, perhaps only the quiet sob of a heart pierced to its very depths. Brothers and sisters, there is a deep longing in many hearts for a return to reverence. There is indeed a time and a season for loud and joyful worship, but I would suggest that we are not in that season. We have a desperate need for His manifest presence. What is life without the presence of the Lord? What is the state of our collective heart without the true and unmistakable awareness that God has come down among us? Yes, the living waters flow through His people. Yet when was the last time your heart was flooded to overflowing by the God who cannot be contained? Our world is drowning in noise. The clamor is relentless. There must be a sanctuary that is reverently quiet. It begins within each of us individually, but it must also be expressed collectively. Only then can we truly hear the still… small… voice of the Lord. He will not compete with the noise of the world, nor with the manufactured noise within our churches. Used with permission of Frank Mceleny on Facebook CLICK HERE

 

ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

 

ST. PATRICK’S DAY! St. Patrick was born in 402 A.D. in Scotland, and grew up on a modest farm near the town of Banna Venta Berniae. When he was 16, Irish raiders burned down the family villa and took young Patrick to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. Although Patrick had been raised in church, he discovered his own spiritual poverty while he was in Ireland. Patrick came to saving faith during that time, and prayed to God constantly as he watched over his flock of sheep. Other shepherds called him "holy boy." Eventually Patrick escaped and, at age 22, he returned home to Scotland. But God began to speak to Patrick about going back to Ireland with the Gospel. Patrick even had a vision of an Irishman calling for him to come help them. Patrick did go back, despite the distress of his family who didn't want him to go. Even though his ministry had a rough beginning and much resistance, Patrick eventually established more than 300 churches and baptized 120,000 converts during his lifetime. He lived to be 95 years old. During those years, Patrick endured fierce opposition from the occult Druids, including imprisonment. Nothing deterred him, however, and the Druids lost the tight control they had over Ireland, as the good news of the Gospel spread. The Celtic Cross that we are familiar with is a cross superimposed over the sun: Patrick designed this cross, and turned the Irish people from "sun" worship to "Son" worship instead. Legend says that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock as an illustration of the Trinity.  If St. Patrick were here today, I’m sure he’d be happy to share a glass of green beer with you. But he would also make sure that you had an opportunity to know Jesus as your Savior. Patrick was a devout, godly man whose passion was to save souls for Christ.

 

TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE

 

TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE Frances Ridley Havergal (1874) Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise, let them flow in endless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee, swift and beautiful for thee. Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee, filled with messages from thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose, every power as thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne, it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee, ever, only, all for thee.   You can listen to a lovely updated version of this hymn: On YouTube CLICK HERE

 

PSALM 34:11-19

 

PSALM 34:11-19 New Living Translation Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.