THE DOOR OF THE SHEEPFOLD

 

THE DOOR OF THE SHEEPFOLD Rev. Anees T. Baroody 1916 I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 In order to become thoroughly acquainted with the shepherd of the Syrian sheep, nothing could be better than spending a day with the flock on the Lebanese hillside, until our faithful shepherd returns home in the evening. His little village, nestling most restfully on the shoulders of a Lebanon hill, in the midst of a fascinating circle of ancient pines and oaks, looks from the adjacent sea-coast like a piece of a new paradise. The sheep, being tired, are led straight to the fold, where they are counted and left to rest. Then the shepherd goes home, washes his face and feet, and takes supper. Early in the evening our shepherd returns to his sheep, spreads his bed across the door of the fold, lays his heavy rod by his side, and sings himself quietly and happily to sleep. Doesn’t this remind us of the meaning of Christ when he said, “I am the door?” During the long silence of the Lebanon night the wolves may prowl around the fold, the thieves may peep over the wall, but the mere presence of the shepherd at the door is sufficient to hold all the enemies of the sheep at bay. Considering this parable, what shall I say to those nervous, fearful Christians — and America is full of nervous people — who keep running from one minister to another, from one church to another, from one lecture hall to another, searching diligently for a sure-as-daylight salvation, but without peace, without rest? As long as the Good Shepherd is at the door of their hearts, yes, rather in their hearts, they are safer than the stars in their courses - and need not worry at all about their salvation, or anything else for that matter, because we are not alone in this journey.

 

THE BOWLS OF WRATH

 

THE BOWLS OF WRATH  The 7 Bowls of Wrath are the final events of the Tribulation: Jesus Christ returns immediately afterward. This is a grim chapter to read, and the judgments are self-explanatory. The Bible predicts the day of God’s Wrath: no one will ever forget what happens when God finally unleashes his anger and fury on those who deserve it because of their sins, lies, greed and corruption. The day of Wrath is a necessary time; because a righteous and holy God cannot tolerate sin forever. Eventually He must act, because God has promised vengeance for the victims. ROMANS 12:19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but yield to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” REVELATION 15.1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.  15.6 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. 15.7 One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. 15.8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. REVELATION 16.1 I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!” 16.2 The first angel went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image. 16.3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. 16.4 The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 16.5 I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things. 16.6 For they poured out the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” 16.7 I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.” 16.8 The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. 16.9 People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn’t repent and give him glory. 16.10 The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, 16.11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works. 16.12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings that come from the sunrise. 16.13 I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; 16.14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. 16.16 He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo or Armageddon. 16.17 The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 16.18 There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. 16.19 The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. 16.20 Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 16.21 Great hailstones came down out of the sky on people. People blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for this plague is exceedingly severe.  -WEB Bible IMAGE CREDIT: The illustration of the Bowls of God’s Wrath was generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.   This study of Revelation continues next week with the Harlot Babylon.

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. Sip... I had an interesting conversation with Grandma the other day. I don’t know her name, to me she’s Grandma. My tenants who’ve lived at the same property half of forever call her Grandma. They call her when they have a minor problem at the house. If Grandma can’t fix it they call me. I was called in for an emergency awhile back. There was a snake in the house. That can happen here in Virginia. By the time I got there, Grandma had slapped that snake upside the head with her stick and killed it. She puffed on her cigarette and told me all about it. She’s rough and tough, she’s POOR poor. She gets by, and spends all her available resources helping others. More than once she has done without to pay her granddaughters rent. That’s just the way she is. Awhile back, she had been in an accident and the doctors and family didn’t expect her to live. Several times they thought she was passing over. I asked her how she was doing and she proceeded to tell me. She said while she was unconscious, she drifted off into a huge tunnel-like atmosphere, and was heading toward a beautiful light. She says she remembers walking towards the light. She felt a strong urge to go towards the being/person engulfed in the light. As she got closer, she noticed He was waving for her to stop and go back. He was waving both hands at her, go back, go back, He said. She didn’t want to go back but felt her self being pulled away from the person in the light. And then she woke to find herself in the hospital. I could see in her eyes she really did not want to come back; she really had wanted to go home to the One surrounded in light. But she could not. Another long draw on her cigarette. I still have a purpose here, but next time I’m going all the way, she said. We looked at each other, I studied her black wrinkled face, and marveled that this woman had just taken me to the gates of heaven. She had showed me that God is for us and not against us. Her trust and confidence in her maker, her Saviour, was felt as we stood there. We really are here for a short period of time. And it really is by God’s design. Thankyou Grandma, for being grandma to the world around you! Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. #coffeethoughts on Facebook Used with Permission

 

LIVING THE NEW LIFE

 

LIVING THE NEW LIFE Colossians 3:1-17 NLT 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:1-17 New Living Translation