On Sunday, Nov. 6 we will plan to observe the Lord’s Table and enjoy fellowship dinner after the morning service.

"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 (1982 bulletin)

“Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)!

Before this man believed, he was not aware of his unbelief. It was not until he believed that he saw the power of his unbelief. This is the continued cry of the believer, “Lord, I believe.” The new man believes. He cannot not believe and it is the new man that is painfully aware of the unbelief of the old man, “Help thou mine unbelief.” I cannot do anything about it, and I am asking you to help me!” The new man always believes and the old man never does. But there will be no unbelief in heaven because the old man will not be there. He was condemned and put away on the cross, and in heaven the believer will never have to deal with him again. Pastor Todd Nibert

What is a Successful Ministry?

In this day of big business religion, when churches are measured not by their orthodoxy, but by the opinions of men, when a preacher's success is measured not by his faithfulness, but by the number of names added to the church roll, it might be wise to consider what a successful ministry is according to the measure of Holy Scripture.

According to the word of God, those preachers and churches are successful who are faithful to the work to which God has called them. Never in the Old Testament or in the New was a prophet, apostle, or preacher measured by the opinions of men. God's servants never courted the favor of men, and were never favored by the majority of the people. The church of God has always been out of step with society. The servants of God have always been looked upon as peculiar, bigoted dogmatists, intolerant and incapable of compromise. But they were faithful, faithful to God, faithful to his truth, and faithful to the souls of men.

Do not be so foolish as to measure God's work by man's yardstick. Do not measure the success or failure of preachers and churches by men, by numbers, or by popular opinion. The only measure of success for churches and preachers is faithfulness (I Cor. 4:2). Those who faithfully seek and promote the glory of God, who faithfully proclaim the truth of God, and who faithfully serve the eternal interests of immortal souls are successful. Those who are not are failures. The one will stand the fire of judgment. The other will not (I Cor. 3:11-15).

Pastor Don Fortner

THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS SURE

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Tim.2:19).

What great encouragement this promise is to every sinner who finds the only hope of salvation upon this firm and immoveable foundation. Make no mistake, this unshakeable foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Isa. 28:16; 1Cor. 3:11). The Lord pronounced unto Peter, "Upon this Rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Notwithstanding all the attacks of the enemies against believers, in spite of all the doctrine of false preachers (2Tim. 2:17-18), regardless of all the doubts and fears in the believers own heart (2Tim. 2:13), this foundation of salvation is certain and sure because it is all based upon Christ Himself, His magnificent person (1Tim. 3:16), His perfect-priestly work (Heb. 4:14-16), and the glorious atonement for the sin of His people (Heb. 2:17; 9:26). He cannot fail (Isa. 42:4)!

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure." Oh, what completeness of eternal salvation (Col. 2:9-10) and eternal security we have in Christ alone (John 10:27-30; 1Peter 1:3-5). If this foundation could be removed, what could we do? However, it stands firm, unchanging and sure as the very throne of God upon which the Lord Jesus Christ is enthroned in total victory over all the opposition (Psa. 110:1; Heb. 1:3; 8:1). We know it to be eternally true (Rom. 3:4; 2 Peter 1:19-21), rejoice in it as our only hope of all salvation (Phil. 3:3; 2 Thes. 2:16) and proclaim it as God's truth to all that will hear it (Mark 16:15; 2 Tim. 4:1-2).