The Return of the Lord

In 56 days, members and friends of the Church of God of Prophecy in Tennessee will be converging on the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for the biennial State Convention.

As I've pondered the theme for the convention, there was one thing that continually came to my heart and mind...the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

While considering this topic, I came to a conclusion that was a bit startling to my heart and mind. In some senses, this topic has become a forgotten doctrine of the church. This topic piqued my interest and caused me to research the topic more than I had in quite a while. Of course, I began to look at my own notes of ministry and found this to be a subject that I had not preached in quite a while. Something I found more intriguing was the following:

1. Jesus Christ's existence is a fact of history.
2. There were more than 100 prophecies of His birth, life and death.
3. There are more than eight times as many prophecies regarding His second coming than His
first coming.
4. Salvation is the only subject spoken of more in the New Testament than the second coming.
5. His coming is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament alone.
6. Nine authors in the New Testament mention it.
7. The Apostle Paul mentioned baptism 13 times, communion twice, but he spoke of the second
coming of the Lord 50 times.
8. In the first letter he wrote (1 Thessalonians), Paul referred to the second coming in every
chapter.
9. Maranatha a greek word used by Paul means, "The Lord is coming," and was a common
greeting in the early church.

With such emphasis in the New Testament, don't you agree that this is a subject that needs to be studied? Don't you believe it to be something of great importance when New Testament prophecies of the last days read like today's newspapers? I do.

I am hoping you will join us for anointed preaching, teaching and worship as we gather for a whole weekend, focused on and centered around the return of our Lord. Maranatha!

Comments

Come Down From That Ivory Tower

Hebrews 11 has become known as the "Hall of Faith." The reason is quite simple. The writer spends a great deal of time giving a role call of the heroes of the faith. After all, this chapter is about faith, and what better way to teach faith than to illustrate with some real-life examples. Mos of the people in this chapter are well-known, at least by anyone who spent time squirming in a Sunday School class as a small child, or who watched the late-night movies on the local channels featuring their stories. Who were they? Abel, Enoch and Noah. Abel pleased God with his excellent offering, Enoch was so close to God that he actually walked with God to the point that one evening, while walking God said to Enoch, "we are closer to my house than we are yours, so why don't you just go home with me?" Of course, Noah built an ark (according to God's instructions) that saved mankind from total destruction. Then there was Abraham...the father of the faithful. He...

A question about your church...

This last few days I have been in the State of Kentucky. I came here with my wife, whose father was having medical tests as of the results of a probable heart attack. He seems to be doing well (as of tonight) and is scheduled for one more test, then hopefully he will be released and further treatments to bring him to health. While this is a scary moment for my wife's family it has also been a time to step away from the daily work and observe others around us. Since Debra's father is a pastor (Church of God of Prophecy, Central City, KY) there have been visits from the State Presiding Bishop, Scott Gillum, area pastors and of course some of his church members. It is heartening to watch the love and concern that is show by those visiting. There has also been quite a few of Debra's extended family here, along with her younger brother and his family. I've watch the nurses and technicians at the Owensboro Medical Center demonstrate concern and what seems to be good care...

On my way to a resurrection

Someone asked, "Are you on your way to another funeral?" My answer was, "No, I am on my way to a resurrection." Tonight, after having preached my sister's funeral, two church members funerals and visiting a friend whose brother had passed away, I had a little quiet time in my home office. As I often do, I reach for an old book I've found that some books written long ago can speak to my heart. This time, it was a book published in 1946. This passage from J.B. Chapman touched my heart, hope it does yours too. Victor Hugo exclaimed, "The frosts of seventy winters are on my head, but the springtime of eternal youth is in my heart." "Sometimes we look at the gray hair of a ripening saint, and say, "Old man, the frosts of many winters are on your head." But he answers, "That is not frost. I am getting ready to wear the crown of life, and my hair is taking on tint agreeable to the color scheme." We say, "Ol...

Voice of Hope

Search This Blog