The Greatest Mystery

What is the greatest mystery and miracle of all time? That is easy to answer! "And without contro­versy great is the mystery of godliness; GOD WAS MANI­FEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Wonder of won­ders! GOD BECAME THE SON OF MAN (I Tim. 3:16).

What is the second greatest mystery and miracle of all time? That is easy to answer also. (I Sam. 2:8). "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory." MEN BECOME THE SONS OF GOD! Oh, wonder of wonders!

Can you imagine a flame rising up in the middle of the ocean? Or a stone hanging in mid-air? Or a snow white swan swimming out of a cesspool? Or a beautiful maiden rising up from a dusty, decayed corpse? Impossible! With men it is impossible, but with God even justifying sinners like you and me is not only possible but CERTAIN in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Matt.19:26).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

This is the fruit of the good ground hearer brought forth. It is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of our works. The fruit of the Spirit comes by being born of the Spirit. The moment one is born of the Spirit he or she possesses the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit is one of God’s great ends in election. “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16).

Some have said this fruit refers to people who would be saved through their preaching. That may be included, but I do not believe it to be the primary meaning. Many of God’s elect may never be used of God to bring another to the saving knowledge of Christ. But all, without exception, have the fruit of the Spirit. The Lord said, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit” (John 15:8). This fruit, by grace, grows through the pruning grace of God, that we bare more fruit (John 15:2). It is only as we abide in Christ that we bare this fruit; the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

Truly, “Against such there is no law!” Pastor Todd Nibert

“Ask and ye shall receive” . . . “Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.”

This day will be a good day for all who can say from the heart: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of the Lord.” The gospel will be good news indeed to those who need to hear it. For those who ask the Lord for a blessing from His preached Word, will most definitely receive a blessing today. All who hunger and thirst after righteousness will go away full today. All who have need of healing will have the balm of Gilead applied to their sin-sick soul today. Yes, we have God’s promise on it. May the Lord grant that there be two or three gathered together in His Name, for most assuredly, the Lord Himself will be with us today!

Pastor Paul Mahan

A Sure Cure For Fretting

David, a man after God's own heart gives us some very inspired instruction and direction in Psalm 37:1; when he says, "fret not." Surely, David writes to us with the experience of his own heart trouble, for he had much to fret about. Now, I will be the first to admit that our fallen, sinful nature is prone to fretting and worrying about most everything. Most of us have a worry-wart nature! Fretfulness and worrying are sins of their own punishment. How dreadful it is to lay awake all night worrying. But, David also gives us a sure cure for fretting in the following verses. He gives us a sevenfold cure!

1). TRUST IN THE LORD (Psalm 37:3). Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will cure fretting! When we trust Him to provide all our physical and spiritual needs (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19), we find comfort. We don't look to the deeds or strength of the flesh to find our comfort, but to Him alone. We are to trust Him at all times (Psa. 62:8).

2). DELIGHT THYSELF ALSO IN THE LORD (Psa. 37:4). Rejoicing in the Lord also is a sure cure for fretting (Phil. 3:3)! When we are taken up with the glory of His person, the power of His atonement, the freeness of His grace and sureness of His mercy, it leaves no room for fretting.

3). COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD (Psa. 37:5). The marginal reading is, "Roll the whole burden of life upon Him." Peter put it this way, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" (I Peter 1:5). When we realize that our Heavenly Father does all things well, surely we can commit our way to His wise providence and stop our fretting (Rom. 8:28).

4). REST IN THE LORD (Psa. 37:7). Our Lord Jesus Christ having accomplished salvation for His elect, entered into His rest (Heb. 1:3). Let us learn by His grace to cease from going about to establish a righteousness (Rom. 10:4) and make haste to enter into Him by faith and rest (Heb. 4: 10). When we are busy resting we have no time for fretting.

5). CEASE FROM ANGER (Psa. 37:8). When we try to take the matters into our own hands, we are bound to create a sure mess of things. Remember, that the wrath of man will never work the righteousness of God (James 1:18). God will take care of the sheep and subdue all our enemies under our feet (Col. 2:14).

6). DEPART FROM EVIL (Psalm 37:27). We are exhorted in the scripture to put off the old man with his deeds (Col. 3:8-15). By God's grace and power He does restrain the believer from living for self and to strive to live for the glory of God (Jer. 9:23-24).