<TITLE>06. Par 12-13</TITLE>L-12 Now, just before we approach the Word, let's approach the Author first in a little word of prayer while we bow our heads.
Our gracious heavenly Father, we are approaching Thy holiness this morning in the all-sufficient name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, because we've been taught by Him in the Word that if we ask the Father anything in His name it will be granted. We have no other name that we can rest assured that He will hear us, only by that all-sufficient name of the Lord Jesus.
We thank Thee first, Father, for what You already have done for us--the many blessing, the manifold grace that Thou hast bestowed upon us. Then we thank Thee for the grace that we have this morning to stand in this new church, that's a memorial built here in the city, erected here for the glory of God, that wayward sinners might come in and be saved; that the sick that's past the doctor's position of the earth, past their understanding, that still can come to the higher powers, the Almighty, and be healed. Oh, how we ever love Thee, Father. How we thank Thee for these.
And we are privileged people to... thinking of the Russians this morning with the big Sputnik up in the skies with a man setting in it, and hear his heart beat all the way to the earth. How close the end-time is here! It... come right over the nation and it's "Surrender or perish!" O God! Think what it would be if they'd ever go to throwing those atomic missiles. The old earth would rock out into space, and time should be no more.
But we're taught in the blessed Word, before this ever happens the church is going home to be with her Lord. Oh, how Noah got in the ark before the rain fell, Lot was called out of Sodom before the fire fell. Lord, we believe the church will be caught up out of the earth before the great destruction comes. We're so happy to know that we're nearing that time.
And, Father, as we look this morning and know that it could happen before night, this nation, or world, could be blowed to bits. Some little nation or some fanatic let one of those missiles loose--and they're all aimed at one another--here it would go. But before it happens, God, the rapture, the trumpet will sound and we'll be summoned into the skies to meet our Lord. What type of people should we be this morning? Happy, lifting up our heads as we see the fig tree budding, and the great signs, and the science saying it's three minutes before midnight. Most any time it could strike.

L-13 Oh God, strike the church this morning, Lord, with Thy power and with Thy manifold wisdom. Strike it today, and let Thy great wings spread out up over this little building today; and take the children under there like a hen does her brood, and nourish the sick back to health, physically and spiritually. Grant it, Lord. Bless this church. Bless the purpose that it stands here, the cause that it represents: the pastor, the elders, the deacons, the trustees, and the laity, and all the strangers in our gates.
Not only to this church, but we pray that You'll bless every church throughout the land. And because of this little gathering today, may there start an old fashioned revival that'll sweep this Arizona from side to side. Grant it, Lord. We'll humbly bow our heads in Thy presence to give thanks, for we ask it in Jesus' name, Thy dear Son, our Saviour. Amen.


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