September 18, 2016

Mike Walker will preach for us on Sunday, September 25th

HYMN OF THE DAY

Father of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!
Forever be thy name adored
For these celestial lines.

Here, may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;
Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

Here, the Redeemer’s welcome voice
Spreads heav’nly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

O may these heav’nly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be Thou forever near;
Teach me to love Thy sacred word
And view my Savior there.

Tune: Amazing Grace, #236

LOVE FOR CHRIST

“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ...” I Cor. 16:22

I say it with sorrow in my voice, but there are multitudes that have religious feelings and do not love Christ. Salvation is in a Person, who He is, and what He did and why He did what He did. When will you know you are saved? When you love Christ. Who cares about the past or future? It is the present that is crucial-my position in Christ.

Why do we boast of our persons, our positions, our possessions, our gifts, our talents and call attention to these things, when we could be talking about the Christ of God? Paul said, “I am determined to know nothing among you but a hated, despised, redeemer who died on a cross. Christ is my message. If He ever ceases to be my message, I’ve quit preaching.” He said that he determined. Why was he so determined? Because he loved the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’ve never found anything to talk about that would even approach HIM. I can’t find anything more delightful than the love of Christ, and I can’t find any place where that love is expressed more fully than at Calvary. His suffering, dying sacrifice is the utmost in thought. Preaching Christ is not our duty but our JOY. Natural men and women get excited and zealous about the doctrines of sovereign grace. But after awhile the luster and beauty of grace grows dim in their eyes, and the glory of substitution is lost. They must seek something new and more profound, something mysterious. Love to Christ never needs more.

What shall be our theme? The doctrine of election? NO, the Christ of election! Whose banner shall we march under? Christ is my banner. Christ is my righteousness. Christ is my Shepherd. Christ is my peace. Christ is my provider. Christ is my shield and buckler. I have found Him whom my soul LOVETH. If I could finish my ministry and depart this world and leave something, it would be CHRIST, CHRIST, CHRIST. Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? - Pastor Jack Shanks

BE OF GOOD CHEER
Acts 27:22-25

There is nothing righteous about a gloomy, despondent, pessimistic attitude in a believer. In fact, these things are the opposite of righteousness. Those who honor God the most are those who walk before Him with a cheerful heart, full of joy, believing His precious word and rejoicing in His glorious gospel.

Paul was in the most perplexing of circumstances, so far as outward evidence was concerned, all hope of being delivered from the raging sea was gone. Yet, he found cause to rejoice and reason to hope; "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (v. 25). Let me encourage you to be of "good cheer." No matter what the day may hold, no matter how bleak the outcome may seem, no matter how severe the pain may be, no matter how hopeless the situation appears to be, "Be of good cheer." If you belong to Him in the eternal covenant of mercy, if you are purchased by His blood redemption, if you are called by His effectual grace, you have every reason to "be of good cheer." Search the scripture and see if this is not true!