Dear River Reach Family,

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:20-21

We often refer to donkeys as the primary examples of stubbornness, but I think they get the bad reputation only because we as human beings are slow to acknowledge our own stubborn hearts. God created man with a free will to choose his own way in life, but He is accountable to God for his choices. God will use the Tribulation period as one last attempt to convince man to repent of his sins and to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from the guilt of their sins (Rev. 3:10). The Book of Revelation reveals two distinct responses of man toward his Creator. By God’s grace there will someday be a massive throng of sinners who turn from their sin and receive the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Rev. 7). But tragically the vast majority of earth dwellers will continue to harden their hearts toward God’s mercy and grace (Rev. 8-9). It is not God’s will that anyone should face the wrath of God but that everyone should repentant and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). The Sovereign Lord of all the earth will have a day against all of man’s pride (Isaiah 2:12). Our passage for this Sunday portrays the future intensification of God wrath on hardened sinners. The world will experience the judgment of God unlike anything they have ever faced before (Matthew 24:21-22). We would be wise to observe that pride and rebellion against God will not stand but will only bring us lower. Today is the day to humble ourselves under the authority of God and receive His mercy!

Sermon: “The Hardness of Man’s Heart” Revelation 8-9

Prayer Requests:

• Believers in Afghanistan and Haiti who may be suffering
• The Lord’s gracious relief from Covid
• Susan’s health and Bob’s strength to help
• God’s grace to help us fulfill our mission to make reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ
• Opportunities to share Christ in these uncertain times
• Spiritual growth and strength for each one in our church
• Our missionaries to be encouraged in the Lord
• Our nation to repent and turn to God
• Someone that the Lord can use you to lead to Christ
• Someone that the Lord can use you to lead to follow Christ

Blessed to be your Pastor!
Matthew Rowley