We plan to observe the Lord’s Table today and have lunch together afterwards.

Our sign out front has been changed to Zebulon Grace Church. This change was made to reflect the doctrine we preach, salvation by grace alone and in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (1 Cor. 2:2; 2 Tim. 1:9) and our association with other Grace Churches. By the Lord’s almighty power and grace we continue as a church family, seeking His glory (Gal. 6:14), preaching His gospel (Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-4) and the good of His people ( Rom. 8:28; Col. 3:17). Seeking to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18); seeking to take the yoke of Christ upon us and learn of Him (Matt. 11:28-30); seeking to love one another and forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32). May the Lord be pleased to continue to bless us for Christ sake (Num.6:22-27).

The Lord’s Table

Why do we as believers observe the Lord’s Table? Because it is the command of the Lord Jesus Christ; believers delight in obeying His commands (1 John 3:23; 5:2-3). The Word of the Lord is never a burden to His people but rather always pleasure to hear and follow. The Lord says to every believer, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19-20).

We don’t observe and partake of the Lord’s Table because we are worthy, righteous or holy but rather because the Lord Jesus Christ is! He is the only worthy and holy Lamb of God (Rev. 5:9-12). When we observe and partake of the Lord’s Table we remember how the Lord Jesus Christ by His blood atonement; His broken body, His shed blood and His death and His resurrection made us worthy, righteous and holy before the very throne of God by taking away our sin (Rom. 4:25; Heb. 9:26) and giving to us and imputing to us His perfect and justifying righteousness before God (Rom. 4:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 1:19-22).

The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to be remembered and worshipped!

Trials: 1 Peter 1:6-7

Believers are a happy people. They rejoice that they are the elect of God, that they have been regenerated by the Spirit of God; they rejoice in the redemption of Christ, for their sins are forgiven; they rejoice in the resurrection of Christ; and they rejoice in their inheritance, which is reserved in heaven.

God has a reason for every trial and affliction that He brings into our lives. Faith is tried TO REVEAL THE GENUINENESS OF IT. Your faith is more precious than gold (which will finally perish), and gold must be tested by fire. When gold comes through the fire, it is purged of its dross and shines the brighter. So faith that comes through real trial is purged of pride, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness; only that which rests in Christ is left.

Faith is tried in order TO STRENGTHEN IT AND INCREASE IT. The more my faith is used, the stronger it becomes. Trials do not PRODUCE faith; they REVEAL faith!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (take from his Bible Class Commentary)

ALMIGHTY GOD BUILDS, KEEPS AND FILLS HIS HOUSE

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

Psalm 127

‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ Man’s efforts could be compared to those of the men who would have built the tower of Babel along with the same results. This is true of all our efforts to obtain salvation by works, they are vain, evil and useless. Paul writing to the Hebrews said, “Every house is builded by some man, but He that built all things is God” (Heb. 3:4).

‘Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain.’ Whether it’s the things of this world we hold precious or even our own souls, our efforts to keep them are vain. He keeps our physical bodies, but above all He keeps our souls. We are kept by the power of God. (I Peter 1:5).

‘As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.’ May we be faithful in raising our children to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, continually looking to Christ. O that God may be pleased to save them, to put them in His quiver where they are safe and secure as all His children are; as arrows in the hand of a mighty man to point them and direct them as He is pleased.

HE who is MIGHTY TO SAVE (Isaiah 63:1).

HE builds, HE keeps, and HE fills his house. THANKS BE UNTO GOD, SALVATION IS OF THE LORD!