Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 145:13-16

True Worship

Spurgeon once said, “Depend on it, the nearer we get back to THE NAKEDNESS OF WORSHIP, the nearer we get to its truth and worship; and it is because man has fallen that his body wants clothing, so he is always dressing up his religion.”

Why the special garb for the preacher, the robes for the choir, the crosses, the candles, the processions and special effects when God looks only on the heart? I’m sure the answer will return from some quarters, “We know God is spirit and is worshipped only in spirit and truth. We do not use these visual aids for God but for men, that they may be influenced to FEEL MORE RELIGIOUS AND REVERENT.”

My friend, what a solemn and serious charge to bring against your congregation! That you can, with carnal means, do what the Spirit of God cannot do for them; namely, to give them a heart to love, adore, worship, and thank God! Mr. Spurgeon is quite right in saying, “The nearer we get back to THE NAKEDNESS OF WORSHIP, the nearer we get to its truth and worship.” Pastor Henry T. Mahan

God’s Purpose

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8: 28-30).

It is impossible to mistake the meaning of this scripture. It is useless to argue about it. Men are saved according to God's purpose and nothing else. “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15; 18). “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15; 11). We may ignore a fact, but we cannot contradict a fact with any degree of success. By the grace of God we are born white or black, red or brown. By the grace of God we are born now instead of some other time in the world's history. By the grace of God we are born rich or poor, high or low, better or worse. It is by the grace of God that we are born at all. It is by the grace of God that we continue to live. “My times are in Thy hand” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). “The LORD killeth and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up” (1 Samuel 2; 6-9).

Pastor Scott Richardson

WANT TO BE PRETTY?

“Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.” (Psalm 33:1).

What a command and declaration! Only those made righteous can rejoice in the LORD. And they must! It is the instinct of the new creation in them. When that sinner, saved by God’s Grace, praises the Lord - rejoicing in Him - no matter if it’s for peace or trial, sorrow or joy, but “in every thing giving thanks” (1 Thes 5:18), in every thing giving praise to their LORD, who rules an reigns in all things – that is comely. That is beautiful and appropriate! Pastor Kevin Thacker

“Man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Psalm 39:5)

This describes the best person we know. The best of men are men at best. Solomon was the wisest man to ever live and often acted as the most foolish man to ever live. All of us without exception have feet of clay. Who is man at his best state? The Lord Jesus Christ – the sinless One! Perfect manhood! But, He made Himself of no reputation when He was made sin and was made to cry, “I am a worm, and no man.” He was made vanity that we might be made like His perfect humanity. Oh that we might spend eternity in perfect conformity to His perfect manhood. Pastor Todd Nibert

WAITING ON THE LORD

“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning” (Psalm 130: 5-6).

Waiting on the Lord does not imply idleness on the part of the believer. His people are active in the kingdom of God; zealous of good works (Titus 2:14); diligent about their Father's business (Luke 2:49); vigorous in spreading the gospel by whatever means the Lord supplies (Acts 5:41- 42).