ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, November 4th, 2007

"We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." 2 Corinthians 4:5

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalm 42:1-5

AND THEY SANG A NEW SONG
"And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood OUT OF every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5: 9-10).

This scripture does not tell us that Christ died, shed His blood, and redeemed everyone in every nation. It clearly states that He was slain and did redeem to God by His blood a people (His church) OUT OF every tongue and people. And when those whom the Father chose in Christ, for whom the Saviour died, hear that good news of free redemption proclaimed in the power of His Holy Spirit, THEY WILL BELIEVE! Acts 13:48 declares, "And when the Gentiles heard this, THEY WERE GLAD, and glorified the word of the Lord: AND AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED." Pastor Henry Mahan

"Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord..."
"Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead." (Rom. 1:3,4).

The most awesome truth to consider is God becoming a man. In condescension and humility, the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth, both as God and Man.

Imagine the distance between the Creator God and the creature man; yet, both were joined together in one. Immortal Spirit joined with dying flesh; the Highest joined with the lowest; Eternal blessedness with perpetual weakness; One who is Self sufficient and Independent joined to that which is totally dependent. It was the very Perfection of God taking on the imperfection of man, except without sin. It was the fullness of God, joined to the emptiness of man. Great is the mystery of Godliness. How real was this union of the two natures of God and Man in Jesus Christ? So much so that the very blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is called, "the blood of God," (Acts 20:28).

Salvation required the Substitute to be so much man as if He were not God, yet, as much God as if He were not man. God could not compromise His Holiness to save sinful creatures. Otherwise, He would have to vacate His throne, and that, He will never do. He killed His Son instead, to satisfy all His righteous requirements, that He might be just and justify ungodly sinners. Pastor Scott Richardson

REMEMBER THE PIT
The husks that the swine did eat (Luke 15:16). I realize that all who trust Christ in His precious shed blood have become a perfect, cleansed, holy child of God. But I cannot get away from the thought of "in time past" (Eph. 2:2). I believe it is healthy to remember the pit from whence the gracious Lord dug us. Do you not suppose that this prodigal went back in his thoughts to the hog-pen days? Certainly! This will tend to put down any good thoughts that we might have about self, and certainly it will cause praise to the God of all grace. It might even cause some holier-than-thou wretches to remember that they are nothing as well as the rest of the plain old sinners.

This one who just recently fed with the hogs must have been a wretched sight. When the thought came to him to go home to his father, he no doubt looked at his despicable condition and smelled the stench of himself. What to do? He surely couldn't buy new clothes and didn't have enough for a bar of soap. This is a good state for a sinner, for all he can do is go to God as a beggar.

He came with no rights. He did not say, "I have sinned, but I am still your child." NO! I am not worthy to be called thy son. Do you remember that? It's called "submitting to the sentence." God would be right to withhold mercy and put you in hell right then. Paul realized where the Lord found him. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious (1 Timothy 1:13). Then he added, but I obtained mercy. Thank our Lord He is merciful, for this mercy is our only hope.

Do you remember "in time past"? It helps me very greatly to praise Him for looking on me with pity and grace. We don't dwell on that misery, but sometimes it is necessary to bring us down off our high horse, and then we go back to the foot of that cross where we "arose and came to our Father." The cleansing blood of the Redeemer hath rescued us, and we have the kiss of sonship from the blessed Savior who is so gracious to such as we. I do remember the husks the swine did eat. Pastor Jack Shanks

November 4th, 2007
Sunday Worship
Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M.
Kingsport service 3:00 P.M. (Pastor Paul Mahan)
Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Radio (Sundays):
WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week