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Church Sunday 1st August 2021
Sunday Service Time 10am
Service in Community Building
SOAP Readings for August - The Rapture
The rapture is a Biblical event in which is generally avoided by most pastors and teachers. It is not avoided due to a lack of Biblical evidence, but rather due to a lack of understanding. When The Rapture happens Jesus Christ will appear in the air, the trumpet will sound, and all believers in Christ will leave this planet. Those who have died since the resurrection of Christ, receive their resurrected bodies. Those that are alive will also be changed in the twinkling of an eye and depart this world.
It is important to understand that this is not the second coming of Christ. The second coming of Christ is an entirely different event. The rapture is the moment that Jesus, The Groom, returns for His bride.
Please find below some verses for our SOAP studies this month that will help you gain some understanding of this massive Biblical event.
1. John 14: 1-3
2. 1 Corinthians 15: 1-25
3. 1 Corinthians 15: 3 – 9
4. 1 Corinthians 15:9-11
5. 1 Corinthians 15: 12-19
6. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
7. 1 Corinthians 15: 27-28
8. 1 Corinthians 15: 29-34
9. 1 Corinthians 15: 35-39
10. 1 Corinthians 15: 40-44
11. 1 Corinthians 15: 45 - 58
12. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13. Romans 8: 19
14. 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
15. 1 Corinthians 15:21-23
16. Philippians 3:20-21
17. Colossians 3:4
18. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
19. 1 Thessalonians 2: 19
20. 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10
21. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23
22. 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-3
23. 1 Timothy 6: 14
24. Hebrews 9: 28
25. James 5: 7-9
26. 1 Peter 1:7-13
27. 1 John 2: 28 - 1 John 3: 2
28. Jude 1: 20-21
29. Jude 1: 22-23
30. Revelation 2: 25
31. Revelation 3: 10
Life isn’t always lollypops and Rainbows!
In fact, John 16:33 warns us that: “In this world you will have trouble”
The type of trouble we are facing right now is new to us all. Before 2019 no one had ever faced life with the Corona Virus. None of us would ever have dreamed that we would be locked down in our homes and forced to be physically isolated from one another for weeks at a time. The thought of rations in supermarkets and most local businesses being forced to close would have seemed ludicrous. But here we are in the thick of it!
However, whilst the news from around the world seems all doom and gloom and we are being told to live with a respectful fear of this new global threat, I want to remind you that God is still on the throne!
Do you ever feel that God is only interested in the bigger picture of global politics and the fulfillment of end time prophecies? Do you sometimes feel that He is far too busy to be bothered with the things that are stressing you out and wearing you down in your life right now? Well, if you do sometimes feel this way, then it is my pleasure to explain to you that you couldn’t be further from the truth. God is a wonderful Father who never forgets or dismisses His children. He loves you with a never-failing love!
Take a moment now to slow your mind and soften your heart. Breath in deeply and let these verses wash over your soul: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:2-3 It is God who makes us lie down in green pastures, who refreshes our souls and guides us on the right path. We may at times feel as though we are lost and way of course but God knows exactly where we are and He will make sure the path is right.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4
God will not spare us from the darkest of valleys, but He will walk with us all the way through them. “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” – Psalm 9:10 The Lord is faithful all of the time!
It is true, bad things do happen and yes they are a part of life. But remember that the refining takes place in the fire. God is sovereign over and in control of ALL things — good things, bad things, all of it. You will not go through anything — good or bad — unless God has first said that it was okay for you to go through it. Just consider what these Bible verses have to say:
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” – John 19:10-11a
Even the most powerful people on Earth have NO power, except that which God gives them (and could easily take away).
“Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” – Lamentations 3:37-38
God isn’t responsible for just the good things; He’s in charge of it all – good and bad.
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” – Proverbs 21:30
What God says goes. We aren’t powerful enough to mess up His plans, even if we wanted too. So…..is He really a good God? He absolutely is! God is good, God loves us, and He wants the best for us. Just consider what these Bible verses have to say:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16
God loves us so much He handed over His one and only Son to die for us. Perhaps you need to be a parent to fully understand the power and sacrificial love of this statement? I know it rocks me to my very core! “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39
Wow…. Just wow! “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”–Zephaniah 3:17
He rejoices over you with singing! And I bet He has an amazing voice
From beginning to end, the Bible makes it very clear — God is absolutely crazy about us! Yes, we can frustrate Him. Yes, we can displease Him, but just like a long-suffering parent, He’s always watching out for us with our best interests in mind.
So, if God is intentionally involved, God is sovereign over all, and God loves us very much, why Is God allowing all of this chaos, isolation and fear? The answer is: Because God has a plan. God doesn’t just allow us to go through tough times and hard trials for no reason. Instead, He allows some negative things in our lives now because He knows that,
through them, He can ultimately bring about greater good in our lives and in the lives of others. Just consider what these verses have to say about God’s plan:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
While this verse was written to a specific nation years ago, the same God who took care of the Israelites way back then is the same God who takes care of us today. And we can have full confidence that He will take care of us with the same love and devotion.
“The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.” –Proverbs 16:4
God has had a plan from the very beginning of time. It is not complete yet, but He is certainly setting the scene and dimming the lights for His grand finale!
In His service,
Adam
Coming Soon
Guest Speaker !!!!
This Sunday at RVC we have the honour of hosting guest speaker Paul Moore who heads up the Churches of Christ ministry ‘Friends of Dismas’.
‘Friends of Dismas’ is a Church which caters primarily for post-release prisoners as they attempt to reintegrate into society, to seek an authentic relationship with their creator and to grasp an understanding of how wide, long, high and deep The Lords love is for each and every one of us, who calls upon His name.
I can guarantee you that this Sunday you will be challenged by the things that you hear. You will gain a new appreciation for the reach of God’s grasp, and you will probably even feel convicted as Paul reminds us that ultimately there is only one judge, and we need to climb back down out of His throne.
I hope you can join us!
In His Service,
Pastor Adam Killeen.
RIVER VALLEY CHURCH OFFICE
We are located behind the Millwarra Primary School
Turn left into Moore Crescent and you will find us opposite the Footy Oval
Office hours are Tuesday/Thursday's 10am - 2pm
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