As we start this New Year 2021 together let us always be mindful of our one great need, that need is the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 10:42; Phil. 3:7-9); everything else is secondary, everything else must take a backseat to Him that is our all and in all (Col. 3:11). May God be pleased to keep us by His power (1 Peter 1:5), enrich us by His grace (Eph. 2:4), cause to seek the will of the Lord (Acts 21:14) and to trust Him at all times, God is a refuge for us (Psa. 62:5-8).

Perfect in Him

There is nothing that will make a NEEDY SINNER look to Christ alone or a BELIEVER cling to, and rest in, Christ alone more than to realize that everything God is, everything that God requires, and everything that a sinner needs or will ever need is IN JESUS CHRIST (1 Cor. 1:30). We are perfect in Him (Col. 1:21-22; Jude 1:24)!

He is perfect, and our being in Him makes us perfect (John 1:16-17; Col. 2:9-10). This is not speaking of what we shall be, but what we are right now in Christ before God.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

True Worship

Much of what is called worship today has to do with touching stories, stirring appeals, or a thrilling oratory of a religious character. Beautiful anthems by a well-trained choir, rendered in such a way as to move to tears or to great joy—now this may stir the outward man, but it will not and cannot affect the inner man.

“To worship in spirit and truth stands opposed to worshipping God with the senses.” We can’t worship God by looking at stained glass windows, by listening to the music of a costly organ by smelling of sweet incense or “telling of beads.” We cannot worship God with our eyes and ears, or nose and hands for they are all flesh. “God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24). “Must worship in spirit and truth” excludes everything that is of the natural man. True worship is the adoration of a saved person occupied with God Himself.

The fact of the matter is that the greatest enemy and hindrance of true worship is religion. People think that if they go to church and are reverent in their conduct, join in the singing of the Hymns, and give as the collection plate is passed, they have really worshipped.

What is worship…praise? Yes, but more it's adoration coming forth from a heart that has been touched by God Himself. It's a response to His Love. It's an expressing of gratitude for His unspeakable gift. It's the making of melody in our heart singing “Worthy is the Lamb.” What is it? It's loving Him who alone is worthy. It's a sinner saved by free grace, washed in the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ shouting in his heart, blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for His so great salvation. May the Spirit of the Living God bring our hearts to true worship.

Pastor Scott Richardson

THE EFFECTUAL WORKING OF THE WORD

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe”(1Thes.2:13).

God works by and with His Word to the salvation of sinners (Psa. 19:7-8). When the gospel comes to the heart of the sinner with the Almighty hands of God it will effectually accomplish His sovereign purpose in our soul (Isa. 55:11; 1Thes.1:5). The Word effectually works to the:

1). Quickening of dead sinners to life in Christ Jesus.

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).

2). Enlightening of the darkened and depraved mind.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor.4:6).

3). Softening of hard hearts.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezk.36:26).

4). Granting and giving faith.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

5). Delivering from the bondage of sin.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32; Gal. 5:1).

6). Establishing the believer in time of trial.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”(1Peter 1:6-7; Rom.8:28).

7). Comforting of the heart of the believer.