Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. Psalm 68:34-35

Ministers Of The Gospel

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12).

The reason Christ gave us ministers of the gospel is for, “the perfecting of all believers” for even the best of believers are imperfect. Our faith, love, knowledge, and obedience all need growth and maturity.

He gave ministers for, “the work of the ministry,” to preach the gospel to the lost, to oversee the church, and to teach the things of Christ.

He gave ministers for, “the edifying of the body of Christ.” We preach and teach to strengthen, build up, comfort and give assurance to the people of God.

We preach and teach until all the elect come to saving faith and are united in their sentiments concerning Christ Jesus, the source and object of faith. We preach until all the elect come to a spiritual knowledge of Christ, behold His glory, and trust in Him. We are ambassadors of Christ on the trail of His sheep with the good news of deliverance. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

FREELY
Hosea 14:4 “I will Love them freely.”

Do you understand “freely?” This is the message of salvation in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. Love flows from heaven in this way. If God did not love us “freely” then He would not love us at all. We did not deserve His love, we did not purchase His love, and we did not even seek after His love.

What does “freely” mean? We use it for that which is given without money and without price. There is no bargaining in it. A man gives “freely” when he gives hoping for nothing in return. This is how God gave. He said, “I will not accept their works in exchange for my love; I will not receive their love as recompense for mine; I will love them all unworthy and sinful though they be.”

Men give, but no man ever gives freely. There is always some return or honor or recognition attached to men’s giving. But God gives to those who can confer no honor and have no position to cause the giving. They are destitute paupers with nothing in their pockets and no pockets to put anything in.

The Lord gives that which is unsought. He does not give grace to those who seek it, because none ever seek grace until grace has already come. Sovereign grace does not wait for man. Religion says that man is running after God. We say that man is running after all manner of sin and evil, and they do not seek God until His love comes upon them. As the effect of God’s love, men begin to seek Him. We do not entreat the Lord, because we hate Him. His love comes “freely.”

Have you ever asked the sun to shine? No, the sun shines its rays on the earth “freely.” It comes on the blasphemer as well as the child of God. It falls on the farm of the wicked as well as the righteous. The rain falls upon the rock as well as upon the field. Such is the grace of God. It does not come because we ask it, much less because we deserve it. His love is always first. He does not love because Christ died, but Christ died because the Father loved. It comes from His own infinite heart of goodness, simply because He chose to do so. Thank God, He loves me FREELY. I can live with that.

Pastor Donnie Bell

WHICH WAY ARE YOU GOING?
Genesis 4:1-5

We live in a most religious world. In every county, country and culture; among all people, without exception there is some form of religion. Did you know that all religions can be summed into two groups; the way of Cain or the way of Abel?

Cain represents the way that seems right unto men (Prov. 14:12), the way of the flesh, works, self-righteousness and self-glory; do the best you can and God will be satisfied. Cain approached God with the best efforts of all his labors, "the fruit of the ground" and God had no respect unto him or his offering. It is recorded in the scriptures, “Woe unto them that have gone the way of Cain” (Jude 1:11).

Abel represents the way that God has established throughout scripture to show mercy to undeserving sinners. It is the way of free grace (Rom. 3:24), the way of effectual substitution by a blood offering (2 Cor. 5:21), the way of faith (Heb. 11:1-4). Clearly, Abel and his offering is a picture of the only way of salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The Lord called Abel a righteous man (Matt. 23:35).

Now, which way are you going? I know that all of us by nature are going the way of Cain, because that is what comes to us naturally. It seems rather logical and reasonable to approach God on the basis of our works. However, our best efforts will never satisfy God’s offended justice (Psalm 39:5; Luke 16:15). God has singled out these two brothers to teach us the way of God’s salvation through faith alone (Heb. 12:2), Christ alone (John 14:6), through grace alone (2 Tim 1:9), through the blood alone (1 Peter 1:18-20), and to plainly condemn the way of salvation by works (Rom. 9:13-15; Titus 3:5).