Come in Sackcloth With a Rope About Your Neck

Ahab may have sinned against God in sparing the wicked Benhadad, whom God had appointed to destruction, but the faith of these enemies in the mercy of the King of Israel and the way that they came before him (in sackcloth with ropes around their necks) is still a good lesson for all guilty sinners who seek the mercy of God (1 Ki. 20:31-32).

Come, sinner, come to God in the sackcloth of repentance, with a rope about your neck, justifying God’s right to destroy you, and owning your just condemnation (Luke. 23:39-43). God is plenteous in mercy to those who seek mercy, but the proud He will send away empty. Death, the wages of sin, we have justly earned and deserve; but THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23). Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

“Without Me ye can do nothing”

“Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13).
What a blessing it would be for us to learn these two things, “Without Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:15). Without Christ, I can do nothing. I cannot think a right thought; I cannot muster up a right motive. I cannot perform a good deed. I cannot repent, believe, or love without Him enabling me to. I cannot turn myself toward Him. I cannot even hear the Gospel! It is a blessing to realize this because it causes us to go to Him for these things. I may not be able to come to Christ with faith, but I come to Him for faith!

The second verse is equally true. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). The man with the withered hand could not stretch it forth. But when Christ commanded him to, he could. The impotent man could not get himself into the pool. But when Christ commanded him to rise and walk, he could. With men all things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. There is nothing we cannot do with Christ strengthening us. Oh that we would simply believe these two things. AMEN! Pastor Todd Nibert

No Need

“They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).

What brought that pitiful leper to the Lord Jesus Christ? What caused that poor woman with the issue of blood to crawl through that throng of people so that she might touch the hem of Christ’s garment? What caused Bartimaeus to “cry the more a great deal” when he was told to be quiet? What did all these folks have in common? NEED! What will cause a woman to come to a well? THIRST! What will cause a man to come to the dinner table? HUNGER! What will cause men and women to go to a doctor? SICKNESS! What will cause a sinner to come to the Savior? SIN! Why do so many refuse to come to Christ that they might have life? THEY HAVE NO NEED! May the Lord be pleased to show you your need. Pastor David Eddmenson

PRAYER

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:15-18).

When the apostle prayed for the believers at Ephesus, he prayed that they might be strengthened inwardly in the heart. He prays that they would continue to grow in faith and love toward Christ; to know more of His love toward His elect (1 John 3:1-2). I pray that God would teach us to pray this way for each other. Often we just pray for temporary and natural things instead of spiritual things and eternal things.

Oh to know more of His love for us (Rev. 1:5-6)!

• The breadth or scope of His love to His elect, far reaching to the lowest (John 3:16; John 13:1; Rom. 8:35-39; 1John 4:10).
• The length of His love, to all eternity, the love of God to His own is as eternal as God is; no beginning and no end (Jer. 31:3; Jn. 13:1; 17:23).
• The depth of His love, to the lowest sinner, Christ came to save sinners, the lost and the ungodly (Rom. 5:6-8; 1Tim. 1:15).
• The height of His love, to the throne of grace now and all glory forever (Eph. 2:4-6; Rom. 8:28-39; Heb. 4:12; 7:25).