Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
Psalm 65:9-11
Free Indeed
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
(John 8:36)
Someone said, “We are most free when we are most His, and we never stand so straight as when we bow to Him.” The greatest freedom any person can enjoy is to be THE LORD’S SERVANT. To know and to submit to HIS SOVEREIGNTY, to love and to receive HIS COVENANT MERCIES, to believe and to rest in HIS BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, to have and to walk in HIS PRECIOUS PROMISES, to trust and to accept HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND HIS WILL FOR ME, to lay hold of and to rejoice in HIS GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE is to be FREE INDEED!
Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1992)
“HELP! I’VE FALLEN, AND I CAN’T GET UP!”
I suppose we all have heard this phrase in the television commercial for a medical alarm and protection company. It became part of popular culture.
But this phrase is also true in the spiritual realm. “I’ve fallen!” We all fell into sin, condemnation, and spiritual death in Adam, the head of our race, when he fell in the Garden of Eden by sinning against God (Romans 5:12ff).
“I can’t get up!” We cannot arise from our sin because we cannot quit sinning and begin righteousness (Ecclesiastes 7:20). We cannot arise from our condemnation because our sins increase it. We cannot rise from our spiritual death because the dead cannot quicken themselves. “Help!” This is the prayer to God from the helpless. God answers this prayer to all who believe in Jesus Christ. He raises the dead by quickening them (Colossians 2:13). He raises the condemned by justifying them (Romans 3:21-29). He raises the sinful by saving them (Matthew 1:21).
Therefore, if you see yourself as fallen, sinful, condemned, and dead, believe in Jesus Christ and cry: “Help! I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” Pastor Daniel E. Parks
Perilous Times
As we look and see that which is happening not only in this country but throughout the world, are we not grieved at these things? When the Scriptures reveal that just Lot was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked” in Sodom…can we not somewhat enter into that which he felt? But as we behold these things, are we not reminded of the promise given by the Holy Spirit through the hand of Paul the apostle, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Tim. 3:1).Brethren, as these things are being powerfully brought about by Him who is working all things after the counsel of His own will…as we view the unveiling of His mysterious providence before our eyes…let us never forget, ”In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess. 5:18). The trials are great, but they’re His will. Pastor Marvin Stalnaker
CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS?
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3).
Those who are not earnestly contending “for the faith” (the gospel of God’s sovereign and free grace in Christ) are only mere pretenders in a false refuge of lies (Isa. 28:15; Matt. 7:21-23). Those who are earnestly and eagerly contending “for the faith” are those that are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom.1:16-17). Those who fervently contend “for the faith” are those who publicly preach it (Acts 5:42; Phil. 1:27), faithfully support it (Cor. 9:7), zealously identify themselves where the gospel is preached (Heb. 10:25), ardently pray for God’s blessing upon it (2 Thes. 3:1), dogmatically defend it against all opposition (Gal. 5:1-5; Phil. 1:17; 1 Tim. 6:3-5), and aggressively insist that there is but one true gospel (Gal. 1:6-10; Eph. 4:4-6). Now the question for us is this, are we genuine and legitimate contenders or wretched and desolate pretenders?
LORD, MAKE US TO SEE OUR NEED
“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass” (Isa. 40:6-7).
Unless the Lord is pleased to teach us and reveal to us what we are by nature (Eph.2:1-3), we will never see our need for Christ and the gospel of His free grace (Rom.3:24). We will never understand our need of Jesus Christ and His great salvation, unless the Holy Spirit is pleased to move upon our heart (John 6:44-45). Only when He reveals unto us our sinful condition, will we seek His salvation in Christ Jesus the Lord (1 Tim.1:12). Only when He speaks to us about our righteousness as being filthy rags, will we seek His righteousness that is performed and provided freely by His grace (1 Cor. 1:30). Only when God reveals to us our total ruin, will we seek redemption through the spotless blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7). Only when God is pleased to show us how unworthy we are, will we seek Him who is Worthy (Rev. 5:12). Lord, make us to know and see what our need is, so by thy Spirit and grace we can seek thy mercy where it can be found (Phil 3:9; 4:19).
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