Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Psalm 35:1-5

THE POWER OF GOD
The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. As holiness is the beauty of all God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the Divine Nature. How vain would be the eternal

counsels, if power did not step in to execute them. Without power His mercy would be but a feeble pity, His promises an empty sound, His threatening a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself: infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature. Stephen Charnock

THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
When the Apostle declares that he will only glory in THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, he does not refer to the actual cross of wood on which our Lord died nor to crosses which adorn church property and hang from ears and necks. He refers to all that our Lord (in His person and work) IS, DID, and DOES to redeem His elect. THE CROSS IS A WORD WHICH STANDS FOR MANY WORDS! It is the atonement, the honoring of the law, the satisfying of justice, the righteousness of God, the propitiation, substitution, satisfaction, salvation, eternal life, and the sure mercies of David.

The cross is DEATH, yet in it is life.
The cross is SHAME, yet God's greatest glory.
The cross is LOSS, yet infinite gain.
The cross is FOOLISHNESS, yet the wisdom of God.
The cross is CONDEMNATION, yet pardons in full.
The cross is JUSTICE, yet in it are mercy and love.
The cross is HUMILIATION, yet by it He is exalted.
The cross is HELL, yet the open door to heaven.
The cross is in the PAST, yet determines our great future.

Pastor Paul Mahan

IS IT ESSENTIAL?
How often have people made this statement after hearing some truth from the Word of God. Some doctrine or ordinance from the scripture is taught, like election, and some will say, "Yes, I see that; but is it essential?" That comment is nothing more than an excuse for disobedience. This is a question that should not be asked concerning anything that God reveals. If God reveals it in His word, it is essential. Pastor Todd Nibert

TRAGEDY IN UTAH, TRIUMPH IN CHRIST
These last few weeks I have been watching with great interest the tragic events unfold in the coal mining disaster in Carbon County Utah. I grew up in this area and still have family there. I also now live in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and have many friends that are coal miners. Here are six men trapped 2,000 feet under ground with no possible escape for them. I grieve with the families of those miners and I have prayed for a successful rescue. Many attempts have been made to save them. Drilling holes through solid rock to find them. Some even volunteered to go underground and dig them out. I applaud all these heroic attempts to rescue them. Recently, three men died trying to dig their way to the trapped miners. Sadly, their noble and valiant efforts failed in their rescue mission. What a compounded tragedy this has grown into, how frustrating all this must be to the families of all involved.

While I was thinking about the miners and their condition I also thought about the rescue mission of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to save His people from their sin (Matt. 1:21; Luke 19:10). Here we are trapped under the mountain of our sin, without any way of escape by our efforts. Digging our way out is not a remote possibility. In sovereign mercy, our Lord Jesus Christ volunteered to dig us out and save us by His marvelous grace. In doing so, He gave His life to save us (1Peter 3:18). His efforts to rescue us did not fail (Isa. 42:4; 53:11). He put away our sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:26). We give thanks to our most gracious God for such a sacrifice of infinite love (1John 4:9-10) irresistible and fetching grace (2Sam. 9:5). His death for His people was not a miserable tragedy but absolute victory and completely successful (John 6:37-40).

Consider these blessed words of our DELIVERER (Rom. 11:26).

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities (Isa. 53:11).

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (John 10:10-11).

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Gal. 1:3-5).

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Rev. 1:18).

August 26th, 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