For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Proverbs 8:7-11

Pray Without Ceasing

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

Prayer is the effect of a new heart given to a needy sinner. It is the expression of thankfulness and petition toward the God of all mercy and grace. The believer knows that the Lord is absolutely sovereign in creation, providence, and salvation and that the unchanging God, to whom he prays, shall do all His good pleasure. Therefore the sinner, who sees by faith that there is One who rules and reigns in heaven and earth, continually asks, seeks, and knocks at the Door of mercy Himself and then waits upon Him to do His good pleasure.

Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

"BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL"

Psalm 103

How does one bless the Lord? I would say that when we sincerely, in our hearts, gladly ascribe unto the Lord all glory, power, and dominion, we are bless­ing Him. When we wish others to love and believe on Him, faithfully preaching and witnessing of His sav­ing grace, we are blessing Him.

When we grieve over our dullness of spirit and desire to love Him with a perfect heart, we are blessing Him. When we sing, praise, and worship Him with a true heart, we are blessing Him. When we endure trials and burdens with a submissive and grateful attitude, not murmuring against His good providence, we are blessing Him. When we wait upon the Lord, ready to do His will, we are blessing Him. When we can truthfully think and say, "By the grace of God, I am what I am," we are blessing Him!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1982)

Regenerating Grace

Ephesians 2:1-10

In Ephesians 2:1-10 God the Holy Ghost inspired the apostle Paul to describe the regenerating grace by which we are saved. The new birth is a regeneration, a resurrection from the dead, a new creation. It takes something more than the choice and decision of your free-will to accomplish that! It takes the grace of God. The grace of God does not offer eternal life. It produces it. The grace of God does not advise sinners to be born again. The grace of God is that by which sinners are born again.

Pastor Don Fortner

CHRIST DIED ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (1Cor. 15:3).

The gospel is not just that Christ died. The gospel is how that He died for us according to God's eternal and immutable decree, "the scriptures" (Acts 2:23: Rev. 13:8).

The scriptures declare that His death was appointed by God (Gen. 3:15; 22:8; Psa.22; Psa. 69; Matt. 16:21; Gal. 4:4).

The scriptures declare that His death was voluntary, He willingly laid down His life for us (Isa. 53:7; John 10:17-18).

The scriptures declare that His death was substitutionary (Isa. 53:4-6; 2Cor. 5:21; 1Pet. 3:18 ).

The scriptures declare that His death was to accomplish a definite atonement of infinite value for His people (Isa. 53:8; Matt. 1:21; John 10:15; Heb. 2:17).

The scriptures declare that His death satisfied all the demands of God's holy Law (Isa. 42:21; 53:10-12; Dan. 9:24; Matt. 5:17).

The scriptures declare that His death was most effectual to put away all the sin of the covenant people (Psa. 103:12; Isa. 38:17; Micah 7:18-20; Heb.9:26; 10:17; 1John 1:7).

Every pledge of salvation has its accomplishment in the Lord Jesus Christ, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us (2Cor. 1:21). All that God has promised concerning salvation in Christ is certain and sure, "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:21)

John Gill said, "Every promise, type and prophecy recorded in the law, in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning His sufferings and death, had their fulfillment in Him; nothing was more clearly prefigured and foretold and nothing more punctually and fully answered."

Our Lord said, "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." (Matt. 26:54-56), "It is finished" (John 19:30).