Aches and Praise Five Hundred & Four

Posted on 2021-05-07 in English |

May 7, 2021
 
 

Dear friends,

                                                                                                                                                           
Last week I wrote that one of the elders in our church preached on Psalm 88 and I doubted that anyone had written music to accompany this psalm. I stand corrected: friends (a retired pastor and his wife) sent me an email with sheet music for Psalm 88. Lesson learned: “My first thought is not always right.”
           
When I think about Psalm 8, the powerful voice of Sandy Patty fills my mind with these words: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.” A video of this stirring song is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K85vE3CxH2c. While looking at the Internet this morning, I found a message that Dr. Billy Graham preached in 1990 on the return of Jesus Christ. Dr. Graham’s earthly journey ended in 2018, but thanks to the Internet, his voice can still be heard.

Here is an outline of Dr. Graham’s message for those who don’t have access to the Internet: It will be a day of revelation – Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “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.” See also Acts 1:9-11.

It will be a day of condemnation and judgment. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 – “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

It will be a day of salvation and glorification. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 – “and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.” See also Luke 16:19-31.

The day and the hour of Christ’s return is a secret. The disciples asked for a sign (Matthew 24:3) and Jesus answered that only the Father knows the date (verse 36). Jesus gave the following signs: (1) there will be wars and rumours of war (v. 6); (2) many will claim to be Christ (v. 11); (3) people will be living like in the days of Noah (verses 37-39); (4) there will be famines and pestilences in various places (v. 7); (5) iniquity will abound; and (6) there will be earthquakes (v. 7).

Dr. Graham ended his message by asking his listeners if they were prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You can view this message at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_47JL0sLoFE. If you are not sure that you would go to be with the Lord in heaven when you die, you can make sure today. Turn from your sin and ask God to forgive you, trusting in Christ, the sinless Son of God.

In the past week, Karen and I learned of the recent passing of a pastor, a teacher and an administrator. Our lives were enriched by Pat Dearling and Ron Bales, who gave so much of their time and energy to help students at Emmanuel Christian School in the West Island of Montreal. On the website of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa, there are many tributes from people who were impacted by Pastor Randy Jost. Whenever we visited the Met, Karen and I were blessed by the worship music led by Pastor Randy. I wonder if he is teaching young people to play the guitar in heaven. For sure, he is singing praise to the Lord Jesus, along with countless numbers of people (Revelation 5:13).      

Scripture for the weekend: “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:11-12 (NKJV)

Thought for the weekend: “The glory of Christ is in those who through Him have learned to endure and to suffer and to conquer, and to shine like lights in a dark place.” – William Barclay

 

By His grace,
 

Steve

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