CALL TO WORSHIP (Tune – Immortal Invisible – p. 34) (Words by Gary Shepard)
Sweet mercies of Jesus, I find my delight. My hope in the morning, my song in the night. Whatever He sends me, I know it’s from Him. Both sorrow and joy, till this life shall end.
Sweet grace of the Savior, I find my delight. The grace of the Sovereign, to give is His right. The grace that now reigneth, in righteousness true. The grace everlasting, the covenant new.
Sweet peace of the GodMan, whose blood has prevailed; And reconciled fully, when to the cross nailed. Sin now made an end of, salvation so free. Sweet blessings, sweet prospect, sweet gospel to me.
TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker
BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. – This Book – Revelation 22:18-21
MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –
OPENING – Revelation 21:1-3
CALL TO WORSHIP (above)
HYMN – Look Ye Saints! – p. 141
READING – Hebrews 12
MESSAGE – A Better Heavenly Country – Heb. 11:13-16
CLOSING HYMN – Near the Cross – p. 350
MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY – WEDNESDAY – 6:30 P.M. God’s Election of Grace – Romans 9 – 11
Next Sunday (4/30), we will serve the LORD’S SUPPER. We will serve lunch in our dining hall after all the worship services.
Believer, God has in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you. – Thomas Brooks
Is it your desire to worship the true and living God instead of an idol of your own imagination? If your answer is “yes,” then know the following: (1) The true and living God must sovereignly and powerfully reveal Himself to you, for you will never find Him or have knowledge of Him on your own (Matt. 11:25-27). (2) The true and living God reveals Himself as He really is (not as we think Him to be) by the Holy Spirit through the Word (the Bible) (2 Tim. 3:15-17). (3) The true and living God reveals Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ as the one and only Surety and Substitute of His people, as the One who died, was buried, and arose again because He established righteousness for His people by which God is both a just God and a Savior and which insures the complete salvation of all for whom He died (Isa. 45:21-25; John 17:1-5; 1 John 5:10-13). Remember – “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
–Pastor Bill Parker
“He setteth the poor on high” — Psalm 107:41
How high? Above the reach of the curse, which shall never touch him — above the power of Satan, which shall never ruin him — above the reigning influence of sin, which "shall not have dominion over him" — above the possibility of being banished from His presence, for "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation." –Joseph Irons
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Because men cannot explain the truths of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, they will reason, “If God is sovereign and has ordained all things to come to pass, and if we cannot change God’s mind and will, why pray?” The answer comes from God’s Word. First, God commands His children to pray – “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Php. 4:6). Secondly, prayer is an act of faith, humility, and expression of our total dependence upon God (Matt. 6:9-13). Thirdly, prayer is a God-given means to accomplish His sovereign will in the lives of His people – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Wherein lies the power of prayer? It is not in our sincerity or repetition. It is not in the power of the number of people who pray. It is not in any merit in the prayer. THE POWER OF PRAYER IS IN OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOSE MERITS WE APPROACH GOD’S THRONE OF GRACE FOR MERCY AND HELP IN OUR TIME OF NEED. Our prayers do not make us righteous before God. CHRIST IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Our prayers express our wills and desires, but must always bow to God’s will and desires – THY WILL BE DONE! Our prayers can only be accepted with God based on the merits of Christ’s righteousness imputed and received by God-given faith. Consider – “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14). –Pastor Bill Parker
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