Revelation 6: The Four Horsemen

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr David MacLeod from Emmaus Bible College. It is always a pleasure to have Mr MacLeod  visit our congregation.  His message was based on Revelation 6:1-8:

¹And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
 ²And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
 ³And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
 ⁴And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
 ⁵And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
 ⁶And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
 ⁷And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
 ⁸And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Conclusion:
(A) The passage above teaches us about  the absolute sovereignty of God.  He is using the Antichrist to bring judgement to the world
(B) The Antichrist is the ultimate picture of modern man, totally wrapped-up in himself. Sadly, the self-defeating character of sin is revealed
(C) Let us never forget that the work of the Lord Jesus Christ is not only about redemption, but also about judgement.  The Cross is divine wrath revealed.  The one who does not believe is condemned already (John 3:18)
(D) God reveals what this vain, guilty, proud world is coming to.  The end is destruction.  Flee from the wrath to come. Flee to the arms of Jesus Christ through whom we have forgiveness for our sins.

Mr MacLeod's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Psalm 73: The prosperity of the wicked

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Charlie Fizer.  He is shown in the picture with his wife, Darlene, and Helen's granddaughter, Celeste. Mr Fizer's message was based on Psalm 73:

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
 ²But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
 ³For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
 ⁴For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
 ⁵They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
 ⁶Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
 ⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
 ⁸They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
 ⁹They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
 ¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
 ¹¹And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
 ¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
 ¹³Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
 ¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
 ¹⁵If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
 ¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
 ¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
 ¹⁸Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
 ¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
 ²⁰As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
 ²¹Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
 ²²So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
 ²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
 ²⁴Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
 ²⁵Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
 ²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
 ²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
 ²⁸But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Mr Fizer's message answers the ageless question of why the wicked prosper.  His message is available on DVD. 
Please see Romy.

Our special guests, Don and Betty Mullins

Hosea 1, 2, and 3

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Greg Carlson, Professor at Trinity International University. His message was based on chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Hosea.  Here is an excerpt:

Hosea 1: The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

 ²The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

 ³So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

 ⁴And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

 ⁵And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.

 ⁶And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

 ⁷But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

 ⁸Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

 ⁹Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

 ¹⁰Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

 ¹¹Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel... 

Background: It was a time of economic prosperity and stability in the Northern Kingdom. However, they were ruled by an evil king (Jeroboam); and the people were worshiping false gods.  The chapters show how God deals with His people.  It is also teaches us how to deal with difficult  family relationships.

Observations: godly people can have stressful homes; love is a choice, not just a feeling; faith can persist in the toughest situations; hope is based on God's promises and work.

Mr Carlson's excellent message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.