Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.

What a great song, reminding us to be alert, focus on Christ’s coming as the ultimate Judge of all the earth and our joyful union with our Lord and Savior bearing the holy scars.

In God’s providence, He has exposed me to the final days and the celebration of life afterwards for both believers and unbelievers.

I’m happy to note that the final days of home coming preparation and the celebration of life for the believers are the same in both eastern and western hemisphere.

Their homecoming is being consistently marked by three things in my observation: Joy, Hope, and Praises to their Savior.

On the other hand, I have not come across a single unbeliever and their families full of hope during this time. Only one word is needed to describe what marked their end days: Fear.

As I meditated through the lyrics of this song and thus these thoughts, it made me long as an exile for Christ’s second coming.

So, this morning I’d like to lead us in prayer looking unto Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the Son of God, the God incarnate who suffered, died, rose from the dead, ascended back to heaven, seated at the right hand of God interceding for our sake;

We thank you that Christ’s ascension is marked more by His pledge of return than by the physical separation;

We thank you, Lord Jesus, that upon your coming, you will raise our lowly bodies from the dust and bless us with glorious bodies to be that of yours.

These corruptible beings shall put on incorruption, as we cast aside mortality for immortality in your holy presence.

Thank you for this great hope that we as Christians have that, beyond the grave is resurrection, judgment, acquittal, and dominion with our Savior.

Perfect Father, please keep us in this faith, enduring till the end, and ever looking for Christ’s return.

I pray for those who have not trusted in the provision that you provided for them in Christ Jesus, those for whom the day of the Lord would be a horror that they can never avoid, please have mercy on their souls, on this side of eternity.

Please empower your servants to faithfully share and live out the good news of your Saving grace.

We pray this in the name of our Savior who will not leave us as orphans but will come and take us to be with Him forever. Amen.