CALL TO WORSHIP

A REFUGE FOR SINNERS

(Tune: "How Firm A Foundation")

A refuge for sinners the Gospel makes known,

‘Tis found in the merits of Jesus alone;

The weary, the tempted, the burdened of sin

Are never excluded from entering in.

This refuge for sinners God's love did ordain

In Jesus, the Lamb, from eternity slain;

In Christ the Redeemer Who lived and Who died,

God's law and His justice are now satisfied.

Should conscience accuse us, as often it may,

The blood of our Saviour has put sin away;

In Jesus, our Surety, the sinner can view

A city of refuge and righteousness too.

Isaiah 42:8

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Bible Study 10 AM. Video sermon by Bill Parker

Today's Speaker: Brother Winston Pannell will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God's word.

Today's Message: Jehovah's Servant - "Isaiah 42"

Birthdays: Sue Parker - Nov. 10^th.

THANK GOD - THERE IS A RIVER!

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High." (Psalm 46:4)

These words are to be understood in a figurative sense, as applicable to Gospel times. This river designs the Gospel, the streams of which are its doctrines, which are living waters that went out from Jerusalem, and which publish glad tidings of great joy to all sensible sinners. It is the Spirit and His graces, which are compared to a well, and rivers of living water, in the exercise of which the saints have much joy and peace. It is also the Lord Himself, who is a place of broad rivers and streams to His people, and is both their refreshment and protection. It is His everlasting love to them here intended (Psa. 36:8; Eze. 47:5; Rev. 22:1).

The head of this river is the heart of God, His sovereign goodwill and pleasure. The channel through which it runs is Christ Jesus. The rise of it was in eternity, when, like a river that runs underground, it flowed secretly, as it does before the effectual calling, when it breaks up, and appears in large streams, and flows, and so it proceeds running on to all eternity. It is a river that is unfathomable and cannot be passed over. It has heights and depths, lengths and breadths, which cannot be fully comprehended. As for the quality of it, it is a pure river, clear as crystal, free of all dissimulation in the heart of God, and clear of all motives and conditions in the creature. Its water is living water, which quickens dead sinners, revives despairing saints, secures from the second death, and gives eternal life. This river makes all fruitful about it or that are planted beside it. -John Gill

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (I Cor. 15:3) The awful and solemn death of Jesus, His crucifixion and blood-shedding, is the pillar of the Christian religion, and the grand foundation of the church of God. The sinner who is awakened to see and feel his lost, ruined, and undone state; to behold the inflexible holiness and justice of God, and brought at the same time to feel himself sinking within under the terrors of God in a broken law - that poor guilty, sin-condemned wretch, has nowhere else to look for peace, comfort, or rest, but to the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins. He "was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification."

John Kershaw - April 30, 1848

TRUE HUMILITY

True humility in its greatest demonstration was evidenced by the subordination of God the Son in his offices to God the Father for the purpose of redemption. When he "thought it not robbery to be equal with God," he willingly set aside the glory he had with his Father, but he did not cease to be God. When he "made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant," he took into union with his divine person, true sinless humanity, body and soul as God-Man. When he "humbled himself and became obedient unto death," he was made to be sin by imputation only, in order to satisfy all the conditions for the sins of his people as God-Man Mediator. When "he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross," he became a curse to put away sin for all those he represented, for it is written;" cursed is every one who hangs on a tree." And through all this he remained holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." What humility.

The second demonstration of true humility is that sinner who is submitted to Christ and his righteousness imputed as his only means of salvation and acceptance before God. He has seen that God would be just to condemn him based on his best efforts to serve God and that nothing short of Christ's righteousness imputed could ever recommend him to God. He has seen that Christ's righteousness imputed is his one and only means of standing complete before a holy God, and he is glad to stand there. "Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner" is his only plea.