Contentment

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Paul wanted the people to know that he did not want for anything, though he possessed nothing materially. He had all things in Christ and found contentment and peace in whatever condition the providence of God put him, be it adversity or prosperity. He adds, “I know how to be treated with contempt by men, to live humbly, to work with my hands, to be hungry and cold; yet not to be depressed, cast down, nor murmur against God. I know how to be held in the esteem of men, to have an abundance; yet not to be lifted up with pride and forget that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I have learned of God how to behave toward these temporary things of earth, how to put them in their proper place and perspective.”

And now, lest he be thought to be proud of HIS GRACE and ascribe too much to himself, he attributes all grace to the power of Christ in him. “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” I can be happy in any state and condition when He is with me.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1989)

A LOOK

It has been my custom for several years to take a LOOK BACK as the year draws to a close. The year just passing, as every year leaves us with a sense of thanksgiving and joy, but also a sense of melancholy. As far as God and His purpose is concerned we have had a very good year. I can say that because: “And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”. (Rom 8:28).

God does all things well, he has never failed us, Christ our Lord continues to love us and keep us by His intercession for us. We may not have been as faithful as we should have been, our hearts no doubt many times were very cold and lifeless toward the things of God, towards the gospel, even as Christ has been preached how many times we were untouched and unmoved. But thank God he refuses to let those for whom He loves, those for whom Christ died, to remain in such sad condition. He quickens us and in that quickening he makes us mourn over not loving Him and honoring Him as worthily as He should be. Though we are more often than not unfaithful, he is never unfaithful; though we fail him, he never fails us. He is oftentimes not in our thoughts, but we are ever in His mind and heart.

We cannot see into the future, we cannot know what a day will bring forth. It may bring life or it may bring death, it may bring news that will either break our hearts or cause them to rejoice. But I do know this: I know Who holds the day, no matter what it brings forth. I know Who holds our very souls in His hand. (Job 12:10 Dan.5: 23).

As we LOOK forward to the New Year I also know this that I want to continue to worship God in spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in my flesh. I want to be faithful to My God, to Christ Jesus My Lord, to the gospel of free and sovereign grace in Christ, and I want to be faithful to you, faithful to love you, forgive you, encourage you, pray for you, and continually preach in such a way as to never let you or me find any hope for salvation or righteousness except only in the righteousness of Christ imputed.

Oh, God give us your grace to know you, to know your Son Jesus Christ in such a way that we find Him to be our ALL in ALL.

Pastor Donnie Bell

WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?

The religious and self-righteous Pharisees surrounded the Lord on this occasion with malice in their heart to destroy Him. We read in Matt. 22:15, “They took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.” The religious came at Him with many needless and unnecessary questions about religion and politics (Matt. 22:17), about future events (Matt. 22:25-28) and about the law of God (Matt. 22:36). The Lord Jesus Christ put them all to silence with this one heart searching and all important question, "What think ye of Christ?" I trust that every one of us will seriously ponder this question and ask our sovereign Lord to give us honest and scriptural thoughts of Him. So then, what do you really think of the Lord Jesus Christ? Consider these things about Him:

1). What do you think of the Lord Jesus Christ in His blessed person? Can you say with Thomas, “He is my Lord and my God” (John 20:28)? The believer trusts His soul salvation to the very one who is God Almighty manifested in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16). Our Lord had to become one with us in order to identify with our problem and provide the remedy (Heb. 2:14-17).

2). What do you think of the Lord Jesus Christ in His priestly work? Our Lord Jesus Christ was anointed and appointed as the only Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) and High Priest (Heb. 4:14) for all those that believe on Him. As the believers representative before God, He brought sufficient and eternal sacrifice unto God to make atonement for the sin of His people (Heb. 9:12). This was not an attempt to put away sin, His precious blood actually put away all the sin of His people and secured their salvation (Matt. 1:21).

3). What do you think of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ? While Paul was undergoing trials and burdens he was given this precious promise from the Lord that His grace was sufficient for us (2Cor. 12:9). His grace is sufficient to save and to justify (Rom. 3:24). His grace is sufficient to sustain and protect us during difficult times (Acts 4:33). His grace is sufficient to keep us from being lifted up with pride (Rom. 12:3). His grace is sufficient to call us from spiritual death to eternal life (1 Peter 5:10). His grace in and through Jesus Christ will meet all our need (Acts 15:11).