I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 30:1-4

PASTOR’S NOTE

Pastor Henry Mahan is scheduled to be with us on July 27, 28, 29. Brother Mike Bartram will bring the special music for us during those meetings.

A Living Union with Christ

Our Lord said, “I am THE DOOR; by me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” There is no other door. He said, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO man cometh to the Father, but by me.” There is no other way, no other truth, and no other source of eternal life. Everything our God has spiritually and eternally for a sinner is in our Lord Jesus Christ, by our Lord Jesus, and through our Lord Jesus. Acceptance, forgiveness, and salvation are ours by that living union with Christ. He said, “I am the vine, the true vine, you are the branches; abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; NO MORE CAN YOU, except you abide in me.” Believers are true branches which have life, joy, grow and bear spiritual fruit only because of their union with the life-giving vine—Christ Jesus Pastor Henry Mahan

FAITH IS THE FRUIT OF THE NEW BIRTH

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1John 5:1).

All who are born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ. The title, "the Christ," signifies "anointed" and includes all the offices of the Son of God. To believe him to be the Christ is to believe him to be that Prophet Moses said should come, who has declared the whole mind and will of the Father. It is to believe he that Priest that should arise after the order of Melchizedek and make atonement for sin and intercession for transgressors. It is to believe that he is that King whom God hath set over all things.

This believing is not a mere assent to the fact nor merely acknowledging it as the devils have done (Luke 4:41). It is to believe with the heart (Rom. 10:9,10). It is to look to Christ, trust in him and receive him as our righteousness, to rest in his blood for cleansing, to lay hold of him as our only Saviour, Redeemer and Mediator.

Such faith is far above the reach of the human mind. It is the gift of God; it is the result of regeneration and a new birth, for we must be drawn to Christ by the Father (John 6:44,45).

Those who are born of God will love all who are born of God. Some understand this to be Christ, and it is true that Christ is the object of faith and love (John 8:42); but the apostle is saying, as in 1 John 4:7,12,20, that all who love God love one another! Pastor Henry Mahan

THE WORD OF GOD

“The Gospel (called the Word of God in Hebrews 4.12) is able to discern the hearts of men. All we need do is preach it and men shall know where they stand in relation to it.” Pastor Joe Terrell

CHRIST RECOVERED ALL WITHOUT FAIL

I Samuel 30:9

When David and his men returned from the battle, he found his family taken captive and his home burned to the ground. David and his army were so consumed with grief, they wept until they had no more power to weep. His soldiers even talked of stoning him. In this time of trial, David found his strength in the Lord, "David encouraged himself in the Lord" (l Sam. 30:6). Then he prayed to his God for instruction. God answered him with these glorious words, "Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." David did just as God commanded and recovered all his family and a great spoil besides. David did not fail to accomplish all that God had purposed. Whenever David acts as a man after God's own heart he is a glorious picture and an excellent type of Christ Jesus our Lord. When the Lord Jesus Christ wrought out our redemption, there was nothing left to fate, chance or luck, there was nothing left in the hand of the enemy (Gen.3:15). The Lord Jesus Christ at the command of God recovered all without fail. God says of Him in Isaiah 42:4 "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." When His elect were taken captive by sin, they were held fast in the bondage of their sin with absolutely no ability to recover and rid themselves of their captivity. Our Lord Jesus at the command of God, eagerly pursued His lost sheep and restored all that Adam had lost in the garden and much more "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom. 5:20; Psalm 69:4). Remember these three things.

1). Sin brings no guilt that Christ does not much more remove! "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). In Adam we stood guilty and condemned, but in Christ we are eternally justified by His grace. He has forever removed our sin from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12; Heb. 9:26).

2). Sin deforms no beauty that Christ does not much more renew! "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature" (2 Cor. 5:17). In the fall of man, sin totally deformed us all; but in Christ we are now holy, unblameable and accepted in the Beloved (Col. 1:22). He is the Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah. 23:6).

3). Sin destroys no hope that Christ does not much more restore! "In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him" (Col.2:9-10). Sin destroyed our state and standing before God, but in Christ we are restored to perfect and everlasting fellowship (l Jn.1:3).

June 24th, 2007
Sunday Worship
Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M.
Kingsport service 3:00 P.M.
Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Radio (Sundays):
WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week