1. Praise the blessed Name of Jesus, Prophet, Priest and reigning King; Bow before the mighty Sovereign, Unto Him our praises bring. Hallelujah, He’s our Savior, Let our thanks to Him ascend; Trust Him only for salvation, Jesus Christ the sinner’s Friend.
2. Praise the blessed Name of Jesus, Who upon Mount Calvary; Shed His blood to save His people, Died to set the captives free. Let the ransomed sing His praises, Till we see Him face to face; Then throughout the endless ages, Praise Him for His love and grace.
Today’s Speaker: Brother Mark Pannell will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God’s word.
Television Broadcast: Our Reign of Grace Television program is being broadcast on WFXL Fox 31, Channel 4. The program will air every Sunday morning at 11 AM.
Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM –WISK.
Web Sites: Visit our web sites at: Reign of Grace: www.rofgrace.com
Before a sinner is born again by the Holy Spirit, he consists of nothing but fallen human nature and void of spiritual life. He is spiritually dead and nothing but sinful flesh with all the darkness, desires, aspirations, and motives of sin. He cannot bear or bring forth anything spiritual, for that which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6). There is nothing about him, in him, or from him that God accepts. However, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). When one of God’s elect is born again by the Spirit, he is given new, spiritual life, which he did not have before. Spiritual life is the work of God the Holy Spirit. It comes from the Lord Jesus Christ on the ground of HIS obedience unto death to redeem us from sin and produce righteousness for us. The sinner born again by the Spirit is literally resurrected from the dead. This new spiritual life consists of all the light, desires, aspirations, and motives of true godliness. The spiritual man can now bear and bring forth the fruit of God’s power and grace in Christ, all to the praise of the glory of God’s grace. He now has a warfare within himself because of the power, influence, and contamination of the sinful flesh, but he is now dominated in his tenor of life by the Holy Spirit and the spiritual life within through which Christ lives and works to bring forth fruit unto God. People seek to describe and define this great change in many different ways. Some do not go far enough and some go too far, but the fact is this – It is a change brought about, not by the sinner’s will or efforts, but by the will and power of Almighty God (John 1:11-13). It is known by its effects, mainly in driving the regenerated sinner to believe, rest in, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ as his only hope of salvation.
--- Pastor Bill Parker
“Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28
The time of Christ’s second coming approaches, and it befits His disciples to think of that event and diligently prepare for it. But if we do not witness the descent of our Lord in the clouds, death will soon come and usher us into His presence; and before that we may be exposed to many and painful troubles, so that the direction given by our Lord to us as His disciples may be just suitable, "Then look up!" We are entering upon a new year. We shall have new toils, new trials, new temptations, and new troubles. But whenever they come, let us "look up!" Look not upon or within ourselves, but upon Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Look not to others for wisdom, understanding, peace, and comfort, but to His Word, for all these blessings come in believing and resting in Him. LOOK UP! (Copied)
"IT IS THE LORD"
"And Samuel told him (Eli) every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good" (1 Samuel 3:18). Eli sought to know what the LORD had said to Samuel, and the young lad held nothing back in setting before him those things God had spoken. He did not change the message, soften it or water it down. The Lord had disclosed to Samuel that He would judge the house of Eli because of the vileness of his family. His sons taught the people contrary to the Word of the Lord and lived in willful rebellion against divine law, which behavior Eli was well aware of and allowed to continue.
Notice the attitude of Eli when Samuel spoke to him about the message he received. "It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good." Eli recognized the sovereign right of Jehovah to do all His pleasure. God will do that which pleases Him and opposition to His absolute authority is senseless and futile. The LORD is righteous and just in all His ways. When He punishes iniquity, it is in accordance with His justice; and when He is gracious, that must also be in accordance with His justice. All that He does for His people in salvation - forgiveness, acceptance, justification -must be in done a manner that is consistent with His holy character.
Do not think that the salvation of sinners required God to lower His standard of perfection and set aside the requirements of His law that demanded death for sin. Justice and truth are not compromised when He pours out His mercy upon the undeserving; they are honored and magnified in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, the Surety, Representative and Substitute of His people. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). "Propitiation" is literally, mercy seat, and sets before us the satisfaction or appeasement of divine justice. Christ Jesus, by giving His life a ransom for many, satisfied the demands of the law, put away the sins of His people and brought in everlasting righteousness. Yes, God is right when He saves and He is right when He condemns. "It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good."
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