THANK GOD FOR HIS WORD

Luke 2:12

The angel said to the shepherds, "And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, LYING IN A MANGER" (a manger is a box or trough to hold hay for cattle to eat).

If the angel had not given these specific instruc­tions, the shepherds would never have thought to look for the King of Israel, the Messiah, in such a lowly place. They might have looked for Him in the temple of religion, or the palace of the king, or in the halls of learning, but never in a stable. And (without the words of God's servants) if the only babe born that night was found in a manger, they would not have believed him to be the Messiah!

THANK GOD FOR HIS WORD which reveals the glory of our Redeemer AND HIS HUMILITY in becoming poor, that we, through His poverty, might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9)! Don't try to seek Christ except "according to the scriptures."

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)

GRACE IS NOT OFFERED BUT GIVEN

Anytime a preacher presents the grace of God as an offer on God’s part to anybody who is willing to receive it, he has not preached grace as the Bible does. The Bible does not say, “But God, who is rich in mercy for His great love where with He loved us, even when we were dead in sins has offered us His grace”.....it says; “God hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved.” Grace is not offered; grace is given! And when grace is given, it always saves and is always received! We do not have a choice as to whether or not we will accept God’s offer of grace. Grace saves! Grace is not something we use to aid in our salvation- Grace saves us!

Pastor Todd Nibert

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11: 36).

Speaking of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul writes of three things that should cause every child of God to continually rejoice in HIM!

OF Him Christ is the CAUSE of all things.

THROUGH Him Christ is the MEANS of all things.

TO Him Christ is the END of all things.

The Lord Jesus Christ is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Rev 22:13) Christ is all, and in all. (Col 3:11) We don’t make HIM Lord of our life, He already is Lord. My only hope of redemption is that God might make Him Lord of my life. All things, especially salvation, are OF HIM, as the cause, THROUGH HIM, as the means, and TO HIM, in the end. Truly God saves His elect for His own name’s sake. (Is 48:11) Has God shown you that? If He has then you will proclaim as Paul did, “to HIM be glory for ever. Amen.” Pastor David Eddmenson

ADDICTED TO THE GOSPEL

“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints)” (1 Cor. 16:15).

The word addicted means; to surrender one’s self habitually, or to become dependent upon, or to be very enthusiastic about. We usually use this word in a negative way, but here in reference to the believer it is very positive, "they have addicted themselves to the ministry." Believers have surrendered to Christ, submitted to Him, His rule and reign (Psalm 110:3; Acts 2:36; Phil. 2:9-10). Believers are totally dependent upon Christ for all of their salvation (1Cor. 1:30; Phil. 4:19). Believers are very enthusiastic about the good news of God's mercy to sinners in Christ (Luke 18:14; 1 Tim. 1:15). Their confession of faith is, "He has done all things well" (Mark 7:37), in creation (Gen.1:31), in providence (Rom. 11:36) and in salvation (John 17:2-4; 19:30).

The Lord Jesus Christ has performed all things for us and freely, fully and eternally gives all spiritual blessings to His people (Eph. 1:3-6; Psalm 57:2). Believers have faith like that of Abraham and are fully persuaded that all God promised He is able to perform (Rom. 4:20-22).

JOHN NEWTON

John Newton was one of England's greatest preachers. He is probably best known for his hymn, "Amazing Grace," and for many other songs he wrote. He preached his last sermon on Dec. 21, 1807, at the age of 82.