Jude 1:20-21 gives us a four-fold defense against error, indifference, and falling away.

1. "Building up yourselves on your most holy faith." This growth, strength, and help comes through GOD'S WORD! Search it, study it; for in it is life.

2. "Praying in the Holy Ghost." The spiritual man can no more live without prayer and fellowship with God than a natural man can live without breath­ing.

3. "Keeping yourselves in the love of God." Do not allow any root of bitterness to spring up and take us from our FIRST LOVE--His love for us, our love for Him, and our love for one another.

4. "Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ." Don't ever shift your gaze from Him to any­one nor anything. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)

Happy Birthday

"Thus saith the Lord"

All that a man of faith needs is to know that God has spoken. This gives certainty to his soul. "Thus saith the Lord" settles everything. A single line of scripture is an abundant answer to all reasoning and all the imaginations of the human mind. When one has the Word of God as the basis of his convictions, he can stand against the full brunt of human opinion. Remember, it was the Word of God which sustained the heart of Noah during his long course of service. How could Noah have "Preached righteousness" for 120 years if he had not the Word of God as the ground of his preaching. You see, when God spoke to Noah of judgment coming, there was no sign of it. It was not seen as yet. But the Word of God made it a present reality to the heart of Noah. Faith does not wait to see a thing before it believes, "For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Pastor Scott Richardson

FOR CHRIST’S SAKE

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

Why would God show mercy, grace and forgiveness to one like me? There is only one reason. It is for Christ’s sake. By nature my heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things and the thoughts of my heart are only evil continually. (Jeremiah 17:9, Genesis 6:5) My carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. (Romans 8:7) “Why would God forgive any of us?” Only “for Christ’s sake.” When I consider how little my love is for Him, and how great my love is for myself, I cannot help but to think, “Why does God continue to be so patient and long suffering to such a one as I?” There is only one reason, “It is for Christ’s sake.”

May we continue to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us.

Pastor David Eddmenson

I COMMEND YOU TO GOD

While Paul made haste to be at Jerusalem during Pentecost (Acts 20:16), he took special time to call for the Elders of Ephesus when he stopped at Miletus. This would be the Apostles last time to visit with his dear friends and to encourage them in the gospel. He reminded them what he had preached to them in public and private, "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). He also charged them to take heed to their own ministry and to be careful to feed the church of God with a steady diet of nothing but the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, "Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). He also warned them of false preachers who would rise up from within them and preach a perverted gospel of works to draw followers after them, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). But, before he takes his leave from them he commends them to God, "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). Notice several important lessons from these parting words.

1). He tells these dear believers to keep looking to God, "I commend you to God." What better instruction could any minister give to his congregation. Don’t look to the law, it will only serve to condemn you. Don’t look to religious ceremony, it will only serve to befuddle you. Don’t look to yourself, it will only serve to make you self-righteous. Don’t even look to the preacher, he is a sinner and needs grace just like you. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ to provide all things in salvation. He is made to the believer wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor.1:30) Keep looking always to Him (Heb. 12:1-2; Isa. 45:22).

2). He also tells us where to look, "To the word of his grace." God has been pleased to give unto us His inspired word to teach us the gospel (John. 20:31). The message of the Bible is Jesus Christ. The code of the Bible is Jesus Christ. The doctrine of the Bible is Jesus Christ. Salvation as it is taught in the Bible reveals that God’s salvation is in a person Jesus Christ (Acts 10:43).