Psalm 143:7-9

Exalting the Saviour

“…that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

This is the unchanging purpose and decree of our heavenly Father; and it shall be! The question with which I am faced is: “Am I in tune with, and totally submitted to, this divine arrangement?”

To accomplish His purpose and exalt the Saviour, God may be pleased to smash my plans, bring me great sorrow, humiliate and embarrass me to the delight of my enemies, and prove me right or wrong depending upon His will. But, “The servant is not greater than his master,” and the flesh and master CANNOT BOTH BE LIFTED UP!

Too often eyes are focused upon us, lips speak our names, men trust our judgement, and confidence is placed in the flesh. When this happens, without fail the man has to be brought down that the Lord may be exalted. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1989)

The Gospel of God or Another Gospel?

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”

We read numerous times in Scripture of “The Gospel of God.” Is my gospel the Gospel of God? The Gospel of God is the Gospel that lines up with the Old Testament Scriptures, gives God all the glory in salvation, gives the pre-eminence to Jesus Christ in all things, does not violate or contradict any of the attributes of God, actually honors the law’s demand for perfect obedience and punishment for disobedience, meets the sinner where he is…dead in sins…and gives him life, saves the very chief of sinners, provides all God requires, keeps a man saved, enables a man to face death and judgment with perfect peace, conforms a sinner to perfect likeness to Christ, and enables him to rest in Christ’s finished work. If it fails to do any of those things, it is not the Gospel of God, but another gospel that will not save! Pastor Todd Nibert

Brethren, pray for us” 1 Thess. 5:25

Of all the requests that could be made by a believer in the Lord Jesus unto those who are of like faith and have also been made to see something of their own spiritual weakness and are struggling daily with the trials and temptations from within and without, there’s no request greater than “brethren, pray for us.” Howhonoring unto the Lord and comforting to the believer that a brother or sister would pray unto Him, who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,” on our behalf. Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

GIVING TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE LORD

And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, this is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass” (Exodus 35: 4-5).

When Moses had received all the instruction from God for the building of the tabernacle, he told the people to give willingly to support the work of the Lord. In the reading of this chapter it is revealed to us that many people were made willing, "As many as were willing hearted brought" (Exodus 35:21, 22, 29). This scheme of giving was so successful that Moses had to command the people to stop giving because of the excess (Exodus 36:5-7).

This should be the pattern of giving for every believer. God has given to us the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1-3, 16-17). He has also made us willing in the day of His power to believe and lovingly embrace Christ as all of our salvation (Psalm 110:3; Eph. 1:19). We have freely received all spiritual blessings because of Christ crucified and exalted to the throne of God (Rom.3:24; 8:32; Eph. 1:3). How can we who have been blessed so abundantly, not also generously and willingly give to support the ministry of Jesus Christ? Our Lord said, "Freely have you received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8), "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

What a privilege it is to hear the gospel, to believe and to support it in every way by prayer, presence and pocket book. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2Cor. 9:7-9).