ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, December 9th, 2007

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Psalm 46:1-5

LET US NOT BE DISCOURAGED
We preach the gospel of God's sovereign, free grace in Christ Jesus the Lord; that salvation is in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, according to the word alone. For the most part, the message is rejected, but do not be discouraged, it has ever been so! Elijah thought he was the only one left who believed God; Isaiah wrote, "Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" When the Lord Himself preached in His hometown of Nazareth, the people marveled at His gracious words when He spoke of the blessings, but when He spoke of sovereign mercy, they tried to kill Him! The Apostle Paul was accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, the ringleader of a sect and was imprisoned for preaching the gospel. But remember, it is written; "the word of God is not bound," "my word shall not fail" and "this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." Pastor Charles Pennington

WORSHIP
Paul wrote in Heb. 10:25, "Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." It is the duty of all believers to meet together for worship, praise, study, and fellowship.

1). BECAUSE OF GOD, Who has appointed worship, Who approves of it, Who is glorified in it, and Who should be worshipped.

2). BECAUSE OF OURSELVES. We need to "draw nigh to God," to "seek His face," to praise, pray, and be refreshed and comforted - with other believers.

3). BECAUSE OF OTHERS--our families, friends, and neighbors who may, by our example and encouragement, be brought to seek the Lord.

But worship is not only a duty and commandment, worship is a BLESSED PRIVILEGE. David wrote, "Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts." We are blessed to have the DESIRE to worship God and hear His word. We are blessed to have the FREEDOM to go to the place of worship. We are blessed to have a FAMILY OF BELIEVERS with whom to meet and worship. We are blessed to have ELDERS AND PREACHERS called of God to preach to us and teach us the word. We are blessed to have the PHYSICAL STRENGTH to go to the house of the Lord and worship. "Blessed INDEED is the man whom Thou choosest and causest to approach unto Thee." Pastor Henry Mahan

LOOK TO CHRIST
Faith is necessary for salvation. But we do not look to our faith to save us; rather, in faith, we look to Christ. Repentance is necessary for salvation. But we do not look to our repentance to save us; rather, in repentance, we turn to Christ. There are graces, which God works in us as He saves us. But these graces are never to be the object of our trust, confidence or hopeful gaze. All the graces God gives us in salvation are to be used to look to, turn to, appreciate, and lay hold of Christ, who is our Salvation! Pastor Joe Terrell

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH AND REPENTANCE
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21).

Paul, when giving his farewell words to the faithful elders of Ephesus reminded them of his ministry when he first came among them. He said, "serving the Lord with humility of mind, keeping back nothing that was profitable, preaching to the Jew and to the Gentile repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:20-21).

Consider for a moment how important faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance toward God is. Our Lord said, "except that you repent you shall perish" (Mark 13:1-5). Again He said, "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). What does the scripture teach us about faith and repentance? Here are seven things to remember.

1). Both faith and repentance are sovereign gifts of God given to the sinner (Acts 5:29-31; 11:18; Eph. 2:8-9; Phi. 1:29).

2). Both faith and repentance are the commands of God (Acts 17:3-29-31; 1John 3:23).

3). Both faith and repentance own, bow, believe and submit to the true Lord Jesus Christ, the true and living God and His gospel (2Tim. 2:25; Titus 1:1).

4). Both faith and repentance are not isolated experiences of the believer, but rather a life-long state of being that is both powerful, permanent and perpetual. (John 5:24; Heb. 12:2; 1Pet. 2:4).

5). Both faith and repentance are not the ground or cause of our salvation but rather the fruit of life in Christ Jesus ( Gal. 5:22; 1John 5:1).

6). Both faith and repentance come together at the same time not apart from each other. Where you find a broken and repentant heart you find a believing heart. Read these testimonies from the word (Psa. 51: 1-10; Rom. 7:18-24; Phil. 3:7-9)

7). As repentance grows so does faith. As faith grows so does repentance. The deeper our conviction of sin, the greater our esteem of Christ, who put away our sin (Heb. 9:26). The deeper our faith grows in Christ, as we see more of His beauty (S. Sol. 5:26), the more we see the repulsiveness of our own depravity ( Isa. 6:5; Job 42:5-6; 1Tim. 1:15).

One preacher of the past said, "When we have grown too big for repentance, we have also grown too proud for faith." "When faith is tempted to climb to presumption, repentance brings us back to sit at the Master's feet as little children."

Now, do I have real and true repentance that leads to genuine faith? Do I have real faith that leads to true and valid repentance (2Cor. 13:5)?

December 9th, 2007
Sunday Worship
Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M.
Kingsport service 3:00 P.M.
Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Radio (Sundays):
WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week