CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune – Majestic Sweetness – p. 52)
(Words by Pastor Gary Shepard)

O God into whose presence now,
We come as sinners low,
And trace all blessings to your throne,
Received by us below. (R)

O precious Christ whose blood alone,
Did put away our sin,
Whose righteous death there in our place,
Did our redemption win. (R)

Stir now our hearts to praise your Name,
And glory to you give.
Be this our purpose and our goal,
In all the days you give. (R)

Then raise us up when death has come,
To live with you above;
And with the people of your choice,
There sing your matchless love. (R)

Today: Bible Classes – 10:00 a.m.; Morning Worship – 11:00 a.m.
Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

Television Broadcast: Reign of Grace Television
Sunday morning on WALB-TV @ 9 AM.

Live Streaming – 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. – Sermon Audio web site

Web Sites: Reign of Grace: www.rofgrace.com
Sermon Audio: www.Sermonaudio.com\reignofgrace

Birthdays: Kelley Sparks – Nov. 6^th | Alison Wages – Nov. 7^th
Sue Parker Nov. 10^th

Hymns for service: Hail, Thou Once-Despised Jesus! – p. 145
Look Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious – p. 141

GRACE = God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). Even as sinners saved by grace and true believers, while in this world we are subject to much trouble, pain, and sorrow. Unlike the false preachers of the false “health and wealth gospel,” our Lord was honest with us. He said, “in the world you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Where then is joy and peace of which He speaks? It is not in the experiences of the flesh and in this world. IT IS “IN BELIEVING,” and this believing is not merely believing something or anything. It is not wishful thinking, or even the “power of positive thinking.” It is, by the grace and power of God, believing God’s Word beginning with His Word of salvation by His grace in and by the Lord Jesus Christ! When Christ told His disciples of the trouble they would have in this world, He concluded with this – “but be of good cheer; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” Our hope and joy is not in our power or ability to win the victory over sin (the flesh), Satan, or the world. Our hope and joy is Christ’s power and ability – “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). –Pastor Bill Parker

Due to Adam’s disobedience, I was judicially constituted by God to be a sinner. I became a sinner without doing anything myself, it was through the action of the representative of the human race (Romans 5:12). Due to Christ’s obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, I was judicially constituted by God to be righteous. He was the Representative of a chosen race. I was made unrighteous in the one, and I was made righteous in the Other. I am a sinner due to the disobedience of Adam; I am a saint due to the obedience of the last Adam. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). —Pastor Jim Byrd

THE PASSING OF A BROTHER IN CHRIST

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”(Psalm 116:13-15)

About two week ago, I received some shocking news. One of my best friends and dearest brothers in Christ, Joe Brison, died suddenly. Joe was relatively a young man (59 years old). He was very active and athletic in his life. He played football in high school and for Marshall University. Although he was plagued with heart problems for the past several years, he was adamant and proactive about taking care of himself. He was what we would call a picture of health. But Joe died of a heart attack while he was running. We all say, “When it’s our time, we will leave this world,” and this is very true. From our view we might call Joe’s death “untimely,” but in God’s view it was right on time. We know in Joe’s case that it was the Lord’s appointed time to call one of His dear children home to be with Him. God Almighty has appointed the day and the means of our death (Heb. 9:27). Job said, “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).

It was by the grace of God that Joe was a blessing to others. He was a faithful member and Bible class teacher at Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, KY. He also preached there many times when their pastor, Brother Jim Byrd, was away. Many of you may remember him as he preached here in our pulpit several years ago. Though we mourn Joe’s passing, and we will miss him, we do recognize that it is his gain as he is now in the presence of his (and our) Lord and Savior – “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13). We must always remember that in life, in death, at Judgment, and in eternity, if we stand in the Lord Jesus Christ (washed in His blood and clothed in His righteousness imputed) we have nothing to fear and have nothing to expect but the blessed of final glory with Christ our Lord.