Psalm 77:11-15

Beware of Giving Comfort Before its Time

It is one of the most unwise things under heaven to comfort people who have not yet closed with Christ in heart faith. When people manifest an interest in the gospel and give an ear to our message, we must not allow our love for them and our zeal for their conversion to lead us to offer them rest when they need strong words to shut them up to Christ.

Any friendship with the pastor and church people which gives an unbeliever cheer, fellowship, and ease short of a union with Christ is dangerous. A sinner’s main business is to come to CHRIST HIMSELF, to love Christ, to rest in Christ. Then come to church fellowship, rest, and the joys of the body.

There is no half-way house before believing in Him!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

The World by Wisdom Knew Not God

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21).

What did the philosophy of Greece do for its disciples? It made them ignorant worshipers of an "unknown God" (Acts 17:23). The inscription on their altar published to the universe their ignorance and shame.

How can I know God? Where can I find Him? Can science and philosophy tell me? Have they ever told anyone? No, never. "The world by wisdom knew not God." The schools of ancient philosophy could only plunge the human mind into darkness and hopeless bewilderment, and the schools of modern philosophy are not one bit better. They give no certainty, no safe anchorage, no solid ground of confidence, only hopeless speculation, torturing doubt, wild and baseless theory. That's all human philosophy in any age or of any nation has to offer an earnest seeker of truth.

How then are we to know God? If such a stupendous result hangs on this knowledge; if to know God is life eternal, and Jesus says it is (John 17:3), then how is He to be known? "No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:18). Here we have the answer.

Christ reveals God to the soul and reveals the Father to the heart. We are not sent to creation to learn who God is, though we see His power, wisdom and goodness there. We are not sent to the law, though we see His holiness and justice there. No, if we want to know Whom and What God is, we are to look into the face of Jesus Christ, Who dwelt in His bosom before all worlds, Who was His eternal delight, the object of His affections (2 Cor. 4:6). Pastor Scott Richardson

CHRIST IN TYPE AS THE SUN

“In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof” (Psalm 19:4-6).

These verses paint a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in His redemptive character as “the Sun of Righteous with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2).

As the sun is the center and glory of our solar system, even so in the gospel the Lord Jesus Christ is the center and glory of the Gospel, everything revolves around Him, He is the center and glory of redemption (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12), righteousness (Jer. 23:5;1 Cor. 1:30) , regeneration (Col. 1:27; 1 Peter 1:23-25) and resurrection (John 11:25-26; 1 Cor. 15: 20-23).

1). “As the Bridegroom coming forth.” The Lord Jesus is the Bridegroom that John the Baptist rejoiced in (John 3:29). He sovereignly chose His bride from all eternity (Eph. 1:3-6). In time He came to purchase her with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He came to seek and save His bride (Luke 19:10).

2). “Rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.” The Lord Jesus as the God-man Mediator is not weak or frustrated. He is the strong Man, who rejoices in the work the Father gave Him to do and delights in finishing that work (John 4:43; 17:3-4; Heb. 12:2). He is the victorious strong man who has run the race for us and has won the victory for us (1 Cor. 15:57).

3). “His going forth is from the end of the heaven.” The Lord Jesus did not have His beginning in Bethlehem; “His goings forth have been of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). He is the Surety of the everlasting covenant of grace (Heb. 13:20). He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth (Rev. 13:8).

4). “His circuit unto the ends of it…” His covenant mercies are far reaching (Lam. 3:22). His blessings are wide spread. He has redeemed a people out of all nations on the earth and will call them with the gospel (Isa. 43:5-7; Rev. 5:9-12).