The Blessed Formula of Spiritual Maturity

How can we expect God to honor and bless our words or deeds until we learn in our hearts the blessed formula of spiritual maturity, “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17), and “Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:30)?

My gifts, my witness, my prayers, my conversation, my writings, my preaching, and my singing are all so much flesh, froth, and foolishness unless my motive is His glory and my claim for approval is, “In His name.” It has been proven countless times that success in religion requires only a DOCTRINE, a MOUTH, and some NATURAL TALENTS. But the power and presence of God is only IN THE NAME OF and for THE GLORY OF HIS DEAR SON!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1988)

Love

“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).

“Love beareth all things.” It bears its own burdens of everyday life. It bears the burdens of other believers, and so fulfills the law of Christ. It patiently bears the reproaches from the world. Love bears it all – “All things.”

“Love believeth all things,” that God has said in his written word. All the promises, prophecies, and even the threatens and warnings. If God has said it, love believes it -'All things'.

“Love hopeth all things.” God has purposed amazing things for his redeemed people. That they will be with Christ, and like Christ and all that that entails etc., and love lives in the hope of it all -'All things.'

“Love endureth all things.” Love will never give up. It will never let go, or go back. Love will keep believing and cleaving till the end. Love endures everything - 'All things.' Thank God for love.

Pastor Bruce Crabtree

“He Careth For You!” - 1 Peter 5:7

For that child of God who is laboring under some present distress, there are no words sweeter than these — “He careth for you!” He cares for your soul. He cares so much that he gave his only begotten Son to redeem you from sin and supply you with every spiritual need. Surely, if Jesus Christ died to redeem your soul from death, you must know his great care. Not only is that so, the Lord God tenderly cares for the bodies and the concerns of the lives of his people. Do you believe that He cares? Then cast your care upon the Lord! Are you troubled about your sin? Cast it upon the Lord. Are you troubled about some personal trial? Cast it upon the Lord. He was tempted in all points like as we are. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He is able to help them that believe. Go, therefore, with your heavy burden to the throne of your merciful High Priest, cast your burden there and find grace and mercy to help in your time of need. Pastor Don Fortner

NEW MERCIES EVERY MORNING

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam 3:21-23). When I think of the Lord’s mercies and compassions being new every morning, I must confess that I leave none of them unused each day. There is never a carryover of unused mercies and compassions. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”

Pastor John Chapman

GOD SPARED NOT

In 2 Peter 2:4-7; several times the word of the Lord says, “God spared not;” the righteous and holy judgment of God fell without any mixture of mercy on many. The angels that fell were judged and cast out. The rebels in Noah’s day were judged and with the flood of God’s wrath. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes for their sinful wickedness. But we also read of God’s mercy to some, Noah and his family were spared. The Lord delivered Lot.

The Lord knows how to justly deliver His people from the wrath to come without compromising His righteous character (2 Peter 2:9; 1 Thes. 1:9-10). The Lord our God justly delivers His elect from the wrath to come because He spared not the Lord Jesus Christ from the holy wrath of His anger against our sin (Isa. 53:10; Lam. 1:12; Zech. 13:7).

Read this verse slowly; “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:32-22).

What amazing love the Lord God commends to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us;(Rom. 5:6-10; 1John 4:10).Were it not for His sovereign love, His fetching grace, and the sacrifice of Christ for our sin, we too would eternally suffer the wrath of God.