December 11^th 2022

9:30 am --------------------------------------------------------Zerrubabel & God’s House -- Haggai

10:00 am -------------------------------------------------------------The Son of God – John 10:30-42

Wednesday: 7:00 pm &hel lip;& helli p;&he llip; &hell ip;&h ellip ;&hel lip;& helli p;&he llip; &hell ip;&h ellip ;&hel lip;& helli p;&he llip; &hell ip;&h ellip ;

Dead To This World– by Henry Mahan

A young student asked his Bible teacher this question. “How is the believer dead to the world when he lives in the world, works a regular job, raises a family, and owns property in the world?” The teacher sent him out to the gravesite of a friend with instructions to criticize the dead friend, harass him, and find fault, and then praise him with glowing terms and brag on him to excess. Upon his return, the teacher asked, “What did your friend say when you criticized him?” “Nothing.” “How did he react when you praised him?” “It made no difference to him; he is dead!” “That is what it means to be dead to this world,” said the teacher. Its APPLAUSE means nothing and its HATRED means nothing. We neither ADMIRE the people of this world nor do we FEAR them. The riches of this world are but the fancy of fools, and the honors of this world mean little or nothing; for to be a child of God is the highest calling. The religious traditions and ceremonies of the world have no attraction nor meaning when CHRIST IS ALL! That which was once important to us we now consider loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, our Lord. This spiritual life in Christ cannot be explained; it must be experienced.

“Forgetting Those Things Behind” – Philippians 3:13-14

What is it that is best forgotten? . . .

1. 1. My days of rebellion and iniquity... best for me and for everyone else. Some people talk of their days of sin and evil with a certain pride; erecting ‘monuments to their meanness.’ If we must recall the past, let it be with shame.
2. 2. My profession in false religion and my attempts to produce a righteousness before God. When was I saved? Only when God revealed His Son in me.
3. 3. The so-called good works and deeds done in my days of false religion. Paul, even in the days of his present ministry said, “I am become a fool in glorying.”
4. 4. All misunderstandings and careless divisions among true brothers and sisters. If God remembers my sins no more, I would be an ingrate to remember yours! And forget the past; there is nothing in this flesh that is worth remembering! – author unknown

Last Words of Scottish Preacher, James Guthrie - June 1, 1661 (From the scaffold where he was beheaded for preaching the Gospel)

I am come hither to lay down my life this day, and I bless God, I die not as a fool; not that I have anything wherein to glory in myself: I acknowledge that I am a sin­ner, yea, one of the greatest and vilest that has owned a profession of religion, and one of the most unworthy that has preached the gospel. My corruptions have been strong and many, and have made me a sinner in all things, yea, even in following my duty; and therefore, righteousness have I none of my own, all is vile. But I do believe "that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, whereof 1 am chief;" through faith in his righteousness and blood have I obtained mercy; and through him, and in him alone, have I the hope of a blessed conquest and victory over sin and Satan, and hell and death, and that I shall attain unto the resurrection of the just, and be made partaker of eternal life. " I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” I have preached salvation through his name, and as I have preached, so do I believe, and do commend the riches of his free grace and faith in his name unto you all, as the only way whereby ye can be saved.

“A believer is to be known not only by his peace and joy, but by his warfare and distress.” – Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“Afflictions are in the covenant of grace, and therefore they are not meant for our hurt but are intended for our good.”

-- Matthew Henry