Psalm 138:1-3

We welcome Brother Eric Floyd to our service today. He will bring the good news of the gospel for us this morning. Also, no midweek service Oct. 26. Remember we will be observing the Lord’s Table on Nov. 6 and having lunch together.

Wisdom

James bids us to ask the Lord to give us wisdom (James 1:5). The term “wisdom” means more than just knowledge, information, or learning. We can have vast stores of knowledge and be fools. Knowledge is the horse; wisdom is the driver who steers him in the proper direction.

Wisdom is the proper combination of truth and Spirit, of faith and conduct, of mind and heart, of knowing the will of God and yielding to it. WISDOM IS DISCERNMENT OF HEART AND DISCIPLINE OF MOUTH. Wisdom is seeing the mind and providence of God and yielding to it in the face of opposition from within and without, regardless of the frowns and flatteries which Satan uses to turn us aside.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1989)

HE LOVED HER

“And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (Genesis 24:67).

In Genesis 24:67 we read that “He loved her” this is written concerning Isaac’s affection for his bride Rebekah, but the same statement applies to Christ and His church - HE LOVED HER.

• HE loves HIS church with an everlasting love - “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3)
• HE loves HIS church with a sacrificial love - Who loved me and gave HIMSELF for me (Galatians 2:20)
• HE loves us with a particular love. Isaac’s love was not for all women, it was for Rebekah (He loved her). HE loved us. (Ephesians 2:4)
• HE presents his bride to HIMSELF “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27)
• HIS love is an eternal love in which we are eternally secure. Nothing shall separate us from the love of GOD which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

Elder Eric Floyd

In happy moments, praise God. In difficult moments, seek God. In quiet moments, worship God. In every moment, thank God.

Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

SUFFICIENT GRACE

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

When Paul was given a special messenger of Satan to buffet and beat him down in the flesh he asked the Lord Jesus Christ for immediate relief (2 Cor. 12:8)). Instead of removing the thorn in the flesh, the Lord in His infinite wisdom instructed and encouraged Paul that His grace was sufficient or enough to sustain him in the time of trial.

Surely, this is true for all of the Lord's people, although we often think in our time of despair and doubt that there is no way we can survive our trouble, heartache, grief and pain. Yet, the answer of the Lord is always the same, "My grace is sufficient." His grace is sufficient to choose us unto salvation (Eph. 1:3-6). His grace is sufficient to save us by His mighty power (Acts 15:11; 2 Tim. 1:9). His grace is sufficient to keep us from falling (1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24). Surely, His grace is sufficient to sustain, comfort and bless us in the time of trial (Isa. 41:10; 43:1-7; John 16:33; Rom. 8:28).

The essence of this is that the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient, He is enough, "Christ is all and in all" (Col. 3:11). The Lord's salvation and strength is perfect and complete at all times but especially in and for our time of need and weakness (Psalm 46:1; Phil. 4:19). He instructs us to come boldly unto His throne of grace. Why? The Lord's grace is sufficient. Read this precious promise found in Heb. 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."