Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. Psalm 36:5-8

PASTOR’S NOTE
Bridgett and I will be on vacation for a few days this week, there will be no mid-week service. Pastor Henry Mahan will be preaching at Dingess on this Sat. evening, the 15th at 6:30 and on Sunday the 16th. Bro. Dan Culver will be preaching for us here next Sunday, Sept.16th and in Kingsport. Pastor Don Fortner will be with us on Thursday Sept. 27th.

REPENTANCE AND FAITH
Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are both sovereign gifts of God (Eph.2:8-9; 1John 5:1; Acts 5:31; 11:18). These gifts do not bloom in our depraved hearts naturally, they are planted by Almighty God. Repentance and faith also have this same characteristic, they both acknowledge the truth in salvation (2Tim. 2:25; Titus 1:1). Salvation is dependant, determined and accomplished by the eternal purpose and grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ (2Tim.1:9; Titus 3:5).

I COMMEND YOU TO GOD
Acts 20:32
While Paul made haste to be at Jerusalem during Pentecost (Acts 20:16), he took special time to call for the Elders of Ephesus when he stopped at Miletus. This would be the Apostles last time to visit with his dear friends and to encourage them in the gospel. He reminded them what he had preached to them in public and private, "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Acts 20:21). He also charged them to take heed to their own ministry and to be careful to feed the church of God with a steady diet of nothing but the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, "Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). He also warned them of false preachers who would rise up from within them and preach a perverted gospel of works to draw followers after them, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). But, before he takes his leave from them he commends them to God, "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). Notice several important lessons from these parting words.

1). He tells these dear believers to keep looking to God, "I commend you to God." What better instruction could any minister give to his congregation. Don’t look to the Law, it will only serve to condemn you. Don’t look to religious ceremony; it will only serve to befuddle you. Don’t look to yourself; it will only serve to make you self-righteous. Don’t even look to the preacher, he is a sinner and needs grace just like you. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ to provide all things in salvation. He is made to the believer wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor.1:30) Keep looking always to Him (Heb. 12:1-2; Isa. 45:22).

2). He also tells us how to look, "To the word of his grace." God has been pleased to give unto us His inspired word to teach us the gospel (Jn.20:31) The message of the Bible is Jesus Christ. The code of the Bible is Jesus Christ. The doctrine of the Bible is Jesus Christ. Salvation as it is taught in the Bible reveals that God’s salvation is in a person, Jesus Christ.

3). Then, the Word of His grace is, "able to build you up." Not puff you up with pride and vain glory, but rather build you up and settle you upon the solid foundation, Jesus Christ (Isa. 28:18); and to give you an everlasting incorruptible inheritance in Christ alone (1 Peter 1:3-5).

FOR US AND IN US
Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Psalm 85:1-4

When we read the Holy Scriptures and all the precious words therein, we see all the mighty works God has wrought out to glorify His matchless name and to save His people in perfect righteousness and everlasting salvation. We know beyond any questionable doubt that God has done a mighty and glorious work of redemption for His people (Matt.1:21). The declaration of this Pslam is, salvation is of the Lord, notice all that, "thou hast done." God has been; "favourable, brought back, forgiven iniquity, covered all sin, taken away all wrath, turned from the fierceness of thine anger." God has done a glorious work for us, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other," that took place at Calvary. God in Christ crucified is both a Just God and glorious Saviour (Isa. 45:21; Rom. 3:26).

Now the cry of our heart should be, Lord do a mighty work in us, "Turn us, O God of our Salvation" (Ps. 85:4). This is His gracious work of regeneration. God in sovereign grace must make application to the sinner's heart (Eph. 2:1; Phil.1:6). This work is carried out through the proclamation of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:21; James 1:18) and the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ to the heart by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:9-10; John 16:13-15). We preach not what the sinner must do, but rather, we proclaim what God has done for us and must do in us, "Salvation is of the Lord" (Ps. 37:39; Jonah 2:9). God has purposed this for His glory and our eternal good!

GRACE AND MERCY
What is the difference between the grace of God and the mercy of God? Someone has defined it this way. Grace, is God giving to us what we do not deserve; righteousness, peace and pardon (Rom. 3:24; 6:23). Mercy, is God not giving to us what we do deserve; wrath, death and eternal punishment (Titus 3:5). Thank God for His eternal, sovereign grace and mercy; revealed and experienced in the heart of the sinner in Christ Jesus the Lord (2Cor. 4:6)!

September 9th, 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