CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune – Take My Life – p. 393)

(Words by Pastor Jim Byrd)

Come Jehovah with us meet,

As we worship at Thy feet;

Here we are assembled now,

Prostrate Lord we humbly bow. (C)

Thou art God and Thou alone,

Reigning on Thy sovereign throne;

Thou the Potter, we the clay,

Grant salvation, Lord we pray. (C)

Show us mercy is our plea,

By the blood of Calvary;

Speak the Word that we may live,

All our sinfulness forgive. (C)

May Thy glory fill this place,

Grant to us Thy saving grace;

Thine the praise shall ever be,

Now and for eternity. (C)

TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –

The Righteous Judgment of God (1) – Romans 2:1-16

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• OPENING – Revelation 1:4-6

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – All Hail the Power – p. 42

• READING – Revelation 5

• MESSAGE – The Preeminence of Christ – Colossians 1:15-18

• CLOSING HYMN – Grace Greater Than Our Sin – p. 209

Birthdays: Lisa McMillan – May 14^th | Mason Flynn- May 16^th
Nicki Jones – May 18^th

The Lord willing, Debbie and I will be traveling to Ruston, LA, this week where I will be preaching at Grace Baptist Church where Brother Richard Warmack is pastor. After the meeting we will spend a few days of vacation in Destin, FL. Brothers Jim Casey and Mark Pannell will be preaching here in my absence on Sunday, May 20. Please pray for Debbie and me as we travel, and for me as I preach to our brethren in Ruston. Pray also for Jim and Mark as the prepare and preach here next Sunday.

THE INFLUENCE OF ATONING BLOOD

Has atoning blood so influenced our eyes that we see no true beauty apart from Christ crucified? Has atoning blood influenced our ears so that we can listen to no sound so sweet as that of Jesus’ precious name? Has atoning blood so influenced our hands that we are willing to labor for His sake? Has atoning blood so influenced our feet that we cannot safely take a single step without Him? If this is the case with us, then we are the servants of Jesus Christ, bought with His blood, born into His house and blessed with His bounty. —Thomas Bradbury

The following article is a great example of what it means for a believer to walk by faith and not by sight –

“It is true that I have sin in me, but it is pardoned. God has forgiven me all trespasses. I stand before Him in my Redeemer, Who undertook for me, and I am perfect in Him. The Father chose me in His Son. He looks upon the face of His beloved, and sees me in Him. In Christ He is well pleased, so He is with me! As He loves Christ, He loves me! This is the glorious privilege which by faith I now enjoy. I deny sight and sense, and I believe the Word of God! I adhere strictly to the Word of God concerning me, believing myself to be dead indeed unto sin in Christ, and in Him absolutely freed from guilt and condemnation. The Father is at peace with me, and He loves me in His Son with the same love with which He loves Christ – His Father and my Father. With this persuasion I go to war with my corruptions. They are fighting against everything that is dear and precious to my soul. But having the promised grace of the almighty Savior for my help, I desire to set upon them in His name. I am at war with sin but at peace in Christ!” —William Romaine (1714-1795)

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

I heard people address religious men who hold high office in their so-called religious organizations as “his eminence” or “your eminence.” This is blasphemy. The only one who can rightfully be addressed this way is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and He alone has the PREEMINENCE in all things. The preeminence of Christ refers to His excellency and superiority over all things because of Who He is and what He accomplished to save His people from their sins. He is God manifests in the flesh (God the Son incarnate). By His death as Surety and Substitute of His people, He purged all of their sins and brought forth the very righteousness of God (His righteousness) which is imputed to all of them and insures their new birth and final glory. No mere man, no matter how high the office, should ever be called “eminence” in light of the preeminence of Christ. John the Baptist had the right attitude about this matter –

John 1 – (23) He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

John 1 – (26) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; (27) He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

John 1 – (36) And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (37) And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

John 3 – (28) Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. (29) He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (30) He must increase, but I must decrease. (31) He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.