Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Dry Eyes” – Friday, 29 August 2014 - Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Dry Eyes” – Friday, 29 August 2014 - Scripture: Revelation 7: 9-12 I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:
Salvation to our God on his Throne!
Salvation to the Lamb!
All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals—fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:
Oh, Yes!
The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
The honor and power and strength,
To our God forever and ever and ever!
Oh, Yes!
13-14 Just then one of the Elders addressed me: “Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Taken aback, I said, “O Sir, I have no idea—but you must know.”
14-17 Then he told me, “These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they’ve washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. That’s why they’re standing before God’s Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.”
“Dry Eyes” by Patricia Kissell
My congregation has had 10 funerals in the last two months, and I just received a telephone call asking me to participate in an upcoming memorial service. We have almost come to the place during the week, when seeing anyone from the congregation, we ask, “Has anyone else died this week?”
Women of the church have prepared funeral dinners, florists have delivered large sprays of flowers, musicians have furnished the music, friends and neighbors have extended their sympathy, and pastors have prepared sermons of comfort for the families. In the end funeral hearses have taken the families to the cemetery for that final goodbye.

In verse 12, those worshiping the Lamb proclaim that praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength due to God forever and ever. He who sits on the throne provides shelter, food, water, and protection from the scorching heat. Our key verse today includes three promises: the Lamb will be their shepherd, He will lead to springs of living water, and He will wipe away every tear. What comfort to be shepherded by the Lamb. Just think. The tears will be gone. It makes me want to break out in songs of praise!

Hymn for Today:

"Come, We That Love The Lord" by Isaac Watts
1. Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.
Chorus:
We're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
2. Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heavenly King,
But children of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.
Chorus:
We're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
3. The hill of Zion yields 
A thousand sacred sweets 
Before we reach the heav'nly fields,
Before we reach the heav'nly fields
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.
Chorus:
We're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
4. Then let our songs abound,
And ev'ry tear be dry;
We're marching through Immanuel's ground,
We're marching through Immanuel's ground
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.
Chorus:
We're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

Thought for Today:

“The One Who Represents Mortals Before God
“O Earth, don’t cover up the wrong done to me!
    Don’t muffle my cry!
There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me,
    in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name—
My Champion, my Friend,
    while I’m weeping my eyes out before God.
I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God
    as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.
“Only a few years are left
    before I set out on the road of no return.””(Job 16:18-22).
Prayer Needs:
Many people in the Bahamas will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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