Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Psalm 4:1-3
Our God Is Able
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21)
The Lord God is able to supply all the needs of all his people. Nothing is too hard for our God! He who sent manna from heaven to feed a hungry nation every day for forty years can feed you and me with ease. He who caused water to gush out of a Rock in the desert can refresh us. He who caused a pair of shoes to last a man forty years and remain new, and caused a coat to last for forty years without the least evidence of wear can clothe us. He who caused an axe to swim for the benefit of a laboring man can keep you and me afloat. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Pastor Don Fortner
Ecclesiastes 3:14
“I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever.”
The world with its temporary joys, trials, pleasures, and sorrows shall all pass away; but God will make a new heaven and a new earth which shall be forever (2 Peter 3:13).
The covenant of works has failed and is perished. Man is hopelessly dead in sin, failure, and condemnation. But our God has made an everlasting covenant of grace in Christ, ordered in all things and sure, by which He will bring many sons to eternal glory, which shall be forever (Heb. 2:10; Heb. 13:20).
This body of flesh will grow older, weaker, and die; but God has redeemed us body and soul; and, in Christ, our vile bodies shall be changed into His likeness, and we shall live forever. (Phil. 3:20-21).
This family of believers shall all be called away from the earth one by one; but God will one day gather us all together in Christ, and we will never again say goodbye! His kingdom is forever (John 14:1-4).
Even our faith, hope, and love are so imperfect and affected by all that is in us and around us; but God will give faith fulfillment, turn hope into reality, and make love perfect 1 Cor. 13:13)!
“Nothing can be put to it,” for it is all complete and finished in Christ (Col. 2:9-10).
“Nothing can be taken away from it;” for God is in it, and it is all in Him who is Almighty, who said, “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isa. 46:11).
“And God doeth it that men should fear, worship, and trust Him.” Why should we not fear, worship, and trust Him? To whom shall we go? He has the words of eternal life (John 6:66-69!
Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1991)
CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28).
What sweet comfort this precious promise of God gives to the heart of the believer. Our Lord shall return with glorious splendor to receive us to Himself forever (John 14:1-3). Now, and in that blessed day we shall have absolute and eternal confidence to stand before the holy throne of God totally justified and complete in Christ (Col. 2:9-10). True saving faith has all confidence in Christ, not in self (Heb. 12:2). We say with the Apostle, "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3).
Believers not only have all confidence in Christ, but we also shall never be ashamed of His gospel now, nor before Him at His glorious coming (1John 3:2: 4:17). Every believer can boldly say with the Apostle, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16).
Christ Jesus is not ashamed to love us (1John 4:10), to own us (Heb. 2:13), to die for us (Heb. 2:17) and to present us faultless before His holy throne (Jude 1:24). "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:11).
How could we ever be ashamed of Him? "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).
Therefore, those who rest in the Lord Jesus Christ shall have great confidence in Him and shall never be confounded, confused or ashamed to own Him as Lord and Saviour, now and forever. "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded" (1Peter 2:6; Rom.9:33; Isa. 28:16).