Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes… I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” (Psalm 119:71, 75).

Many years ago, Martin Luther was going through a great and heavy trial for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. He read these verses and cried out, “Strike on Oh Lord, strike on! For I know, now, that thou lovest me!”

What a terrible thing to miss the faithfulness of our Lord by shunning and murmuring at the afflictions He has sent - in His infinite Love and Grace to His child! In doing so, we avoid the blessing. Lord, give us the faith to trust and believe you! To cry out, “Strike on Lord, Strike on!” That we might see your love, faithfulness, and righteousness once more! Pastor Kevin B. Thacker

A Friend of Sinners

“The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children” (Matt. 11:19).

When you feel like saying, “There is no hope for me; I am too great a sinner; I am too weak and unworthy,” let me remind you of a few things:

YOU WOMEN, have you read of the women who were in the lineage of our Lord (Mt. 1:3-6)? What did they have to recommend them to God? Have you read of Mary Magdalene or the harlot who kissed His feet? It seems to me that the only thing they all had in common was their sin and their need of Him.

YOU MEN, pick out any of the true followers of our Lord – Peter, the man in the tombs, Zacchaeus, the thief on the cross, Saul of Tarsus – and tell me what good you can find in them.

Dear sinner friend, my Master always goes where He is MOST NEEDED and MOST WANTED – among the chief of sinners! Let others preach to the self-righteous; my gospel is designed for those who labor and are heavy-laden, for those who have nothing, are nothing, and can do nothing but cast themselves on His loving mercy!

Let me say, your sins can never keep you from Christ, but your righteousness will.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1988)

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, having been given a new heart in regenerating grace, now worships God as He is revealed by the Holy Spirit. He rejoices in Christ Jesus Who has eternally stood as his Surety, has established the righteousness of God in which he’s robed, has purged his sins before God being made sin for His people at Calvary and now everliveth to make intercession for him. And now, by the grace of God, that redeemed and regenerated sinner has no confidence in the flesh…all his confidence is in Him Who loved him and gave Himself for His sheep. Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

No Lie Is The Truth

“I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth” (1 John 2:21).

A local radio preacher recently said, “Your destiny is determined by how you live.” When I first heard that I was not surprised because this man preaches and believes that salvation is determined by the sinner’s works. But what a sad and horrible lie this is. It is totally contrary to the word of God. The scriptures teach that salvation is of the Lord, not by our works. Salvation is always determined, dependent, and accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ; His will (Romans 9:12-16), His blood (1 Peter 1:18-20) and His righteousness (Romans 3:19-24).

Consider these scriptures that teach us that salvation is by God’s grace alone, not our works:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5)

These scriptures teach and the whole message of the Bible teaches salvation from first to last and from Alpha to Omega is of the Lord; His doing and His dying. Man has no part in the accomplishment of our salvation. It is the truth that sets sinners free, “no lie is of the truth.” The Lord said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32).