Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
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 si nner 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
"Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever" (Psalm 28:9).
David in this last verse of this Psalm closes with a sincere and fervent prayer for the Lord's people. He prays for vital things that we as sinners desperately and constantly need. Let us make this our prayer!
1).Save thy people….Who are these people? They belong to Christ by electing love (John 6:37; Eph. 1:3-6). They are His by redeeming blood, He bought them (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-20). They are His by an effectual call of grace (2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Peter 2:9). What do Christ's people need? Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, for "All we like sheep have gone astray." Our Lord came to seek out and to save His lost sheep (Luke 19:10).
2).Bless thine inheritance…those who are the heirs of salvation, (Rom. 8:17). In Christ we have a blessed and eternal inheritance; "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3). Lord, bless your inheritance; the sheep of your hand and the people of thy pasture (Psalm 95:7). Bless your people with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3-6). Bless your people with greater zeal and passion for the gospel of the free and sovereign grace (Phil. 1:27). Bless your people with greater confidence and assurance of complete salvation in Christ alone, grace alone (Phil. 3:7-9; Col. 2:9-10).
3). Feed them…what do the sheep desire to eat, sheep food? Christ is the Bread of life, (John 6:35). The Scripture is all about Christ, we feed on Him through the Word of life (John 5:39). God's servants are charged to, "Feed the church of God, that he purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; 1 Peter 5:1-3).
4). Lift them up for ever…. Lord, lift them up from the dungeon of sin (Psalm 40:2), lift them up from the curse of the law, lift them up from the dunghill of works, lift them and make them one with Christ and lift them up to glory with Christ forever. "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:5-6).