A gift is as a precious stone (a stone of grace) in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Proverbs 17:8-9

Lord, What Will You Have Me To Do?

"Lord, what will you have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). This is Paul's question on the road where he met the sovereign Christ. It was not, what do I think is best for me? Or what will afford me the most pleasure and comfort? Or even what do other people do? But "Lord, what will YOU have me to do?"

In every case enable me, by Thy grace, to do what is pleasing in Thy sight and that which will bring glory to Thy name. Where we get in trouble is putting our wills and ways be­fore His! It is not I but Christ, His gospel, His church, His kingdom, His glory, which must be con­sidered. When this is settled "I" will fall in the right place and though the way may not be easy; in the end it will be pleasant. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:6).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1982)

Pastor Henry T. Mahan’s TV programs are being played (audio only) each Sunday morning by a radio station near Pound, Va. The program is from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. on WDXC 102.3 FM. This is being sponsored by Pastor Danny Baker and the church in Birchfield, Va.

LOOKING TO CHRIST

The believer walks through this world below looking to Christ by faith. The only way we can finish our course is by looking to Christ by faith, for we have no place else to look. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The believer will never be finished with looking to Christ by faith until the Lord calls us home. Then we will be finished with faith because we will see by sight not by faith. We will be finished with faith, but the believer will never be finished with looking to Christ. Here we see Christ by faith. In glory we will still be looking at Christ. The only difference is it will be face to face with nothing between. Pastor Frank Tate

A Gospel Preacher

You can always tell a Gospel preacher because that’s what he’ll do. He won’t tell people how to live. He won’t correct everybody and their brother. He won’t entertain, threaten people with Hell or bribe them with Heaven. He won’t go around convincing people he knows more than them. He preaches the Gospel. Christ is the Gospel. The Gospel is all of the motivation, guidance and comfort that any believer needs. Pastor Chris Cunningham

True Repentance

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! (2 Cor. 7:11).

Now Paul gives us seven evidences of true, sincere and genuine Godly repentance; that is the gift of God (Acts 5:31; 2 Tim. 2:25).

1). What carefulness (eagerness, diligence and haste) it wrought in you; to correct our behavior before God and to avoid future offences, diligence and carefulness; as opposed to our past negligence in the gospel and in spiritual matters. (1Thes. 1:4-9).

2). What clearing of yourself; not by denying our sin, (what we are before God) and our guilt (because of our transgressions against God), but rather by confessing and owning them and seeking forgiveness for them only through Christ; (1John 1:7-9).

3). What indignation, (righteous anger), not against God's holy law, nor against God's servant for declaring the truth, but rather against our own selves, because of our own sin and foolishness. For true repentance is taking God's side against ourselves because of our own folly and sin. (Job 42:5-6; Isa. 6:5; Rom. 7:24-25).

4). What fear; (alarm) not of eternal condemnation; (Rom. 8:1); no condemnation to them that are in Christ, but rather of the Father's disapproval and chastisement, and the fear of bringing reproach on the gospel of Christ (Prov. 16:6). "By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." What fear and reverence the Lord does give us when He grants unto us repentance; (Psalm 111:9).

5). What a vehement desire; (longing for) to honor God and to live for His glory in the present evil world. When God gives repentance He changes our desires, of self-glory, self-centeredness, self- righteousness to seeking His glory; (Gal. 6:14; Phil. 3:7-14).

6). What zeal; to promote God's gospel; (Jude 1:3). To stand for the true gospel of grace in Christ, having nothing to do with those who promote salvation by deeds of the law; (Gal. 1:7-10; 2:16).

7). What revenge; not against any person in a private way, for vengeance belongs unto God, but rather against anything contrary to the gospel of Christ; "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104).