Psalm 39:4-5

Lord willing, Pastor Don Fortner will be with us on Thursday, Sept. 12. He will also be in Dingess on Sept. 13, 14.

In Christ

“No man knoweth the Father, save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him” (Matthew11:27).

Men may believe in God, but there is no way that they can know the living God except in Christ. They may know of His existence, but His essence and glory are only revealed in Christ. They may know of His works, but His will and wisdom are only seen in Christ. They may know of His power, but His purpose and decrees are only revealed in Christ. They may be acquainted with His miracles, but His mercy and grace are only received in Christ. They may behold His judgments, but His justice satisfied and honored is only revealed in Christ.

If we miss a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus, we may talk of God all our lives and never really know Him.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1985)

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

It sometimes shocks me how much the world has changed since I was a boy. Our country has departed from many of the values that used to be the bedrock of society. Some of those changes have been good but many have not.

However, there are some things that have not changed and never will change. Men still refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because men still think they can be good enough to please God. Men still think they know a better way of salvation than God has set forth in His Word. Men still think they know a better way of worship than God has set forth in His Word. Men still think they know a better way to govern their lives and govern society than God has set forth in His Word. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Rom 1:22) Men are as lost and dead in sin as ever.

It is obvious to me that man’s greatest need hasn’t changed either. It is of the utmost importance that the church be focused on preaching Christ. We cannot believe on Christ until we have heard of Him. (Rom 10:14) We cannot see Christ until He is revealed through preaching. We cannot follow Christ until He calls us to Himself.

The world certainly has changed but the truth that Christ is our greatest need has never, and will never change. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9)

Pastor Frank Tate

Believing On the Lord Jesus

This is what I am hearing. Accept Jesus as your personal Savior, but nowhere in the New Testament do we find any apostle, prophet, or preacher ever telling a sinner to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. What we hear them saying is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The command to sinners was bow and be subject to the Lordship of Christ. That is, lay down your weapons, surrender, worship, and adore Him. You come to Him in your true character as a beggar; a lost undone sinner or you don't come at all.

Pastor Scott Richardson

The Providence of God

As a wise, skilled pharmacist mixes medicine, so our heavenly Father wisely mixes exactly the right measure of bitter things and sweet, to do us good. Too much joy would intoxicate us. Too much misery would drive us to despair. Too much sorrow would crush us. Too much suffering would break our spirits. Too much pleasure would ruin us. Too much defeat would discourage us. Too much success would puff us up. Too much failure would keep us from doing anything. Too much criticism would harden us. Too much praise would make us proud. Our great God knows exactly what we need. By His grace, if we are His, we will bow to His Providence, accept it, and give thanks for it. God’s Providence is always executed in the “wisest manner” possible. We are often unable to see and understand the reasons and causes for specific events in our lives, in the lives of others, or in the history of the world. But our lack of understanding does not prevent us from believing God. We bow to His will, which is evident in His works of Providence, and say, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

The God of Providence rules all things well. How we ought to trust Him! Ever remember, our heavenly Father is God all wise, good, and omnipotent. He is…Too wise to err, too good to do wrong, and too strong to fail! Pastor Don Fortner

Romans 11:33-36