Deus Misereatur

{You can listen to the audio file while following the manuscript. Mike} --- Heaven Pt. 3: “This Hope” 1 John 2.28-3.3 Mighty Conqueror, who has triumphed over death and the devil, who reigns magnificently, and will come again one day to save those who are eagerly waiting for you: As we hear this evening, prosper our hearing. As we learn tonight, enrich our learning. And may hope blossom into full flower, and be blown into full flame by your Spirit. Amen. In 165 A.D., a terrible plague slashed through the Roman world. It was so bad that somewhere between 1/4 th to 1/3 rd of the Roman world died. Think of Oklahoma City suddenly missing 1/3 rd of the population (roughly 200,000 inside the city alone); so what would the economy look like, the housing, the businesses? But this was disease. Everyone who had money, power and position fled. Who stayed behind? The poor, those too sick to leave – and the Christians. From this incident, both William McNeill, Plagues and Peoples...

Thank you, Lord God, that you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Therefore, O LORD, help us in all of our erratic perplexities, faithless fears, worldly anxieties, stormy struggles, and headstrong certainties to trust in you forever, for you, LORD GOD, are an everlasting rock (Isaiah 26.3-4). O Lord, hear our prayer. Father, we supplicate your mercies on behalf of those whose lives are a mess…; whose bodies are damaged…; whose minds feel like they are crumbling…; whose hopes are shattered…; whose families are in unrest…; whose vocational circumstances are risky…; and others in serious need of help…; bring them to sing of your strength; to sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. Be their fortress and refuge in the day of their distress (Psalm 59.16). O Lord, hear our prayer. Lord God, we pray for your church in all places – including Rhema Bible Church; River of Life Church; Rosh Pinah Messianic Congregation; Christ PCA-Clarem...