January 4, 2009

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

Isaiah 9: 7: The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

MEETING LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Worship
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service
(The first Sunday of each month we meet at 10 AM for morning worship then observe the Lord's Table. After services we have lunch together.)

WEB ADDRESSES AND MAILING ADDRESS
www.sovereign-grace.us/
www.sermonaudio.com/sgbcpnj
www.freegraceradio.com

Clay Curtis, Pastor
7 Birch Street
Pennington, New Jersey, 08534
Phone: 615-513-4464
Email: clay@sovereign-grace.us

Entertain Strangers
Hebrews 13: 2: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

If anyone knows the heart of a stranger a believer does. The LORD God said, "Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Ex 23:9.) All believers were once strangers and foreigners to God while friends with this unbelieving Egypt. After conversion, having been delivered through sanctification of the Spirit to trust Christ the Lamb of God, all believers have become strangers to this unbelieving Egypt longing to be with our Lord in glory.

Do you remember the anguish of your heart when God revealed to you that you had been a stranger, dead in trespasses and in sins? Rachael and Leah said that Laban, their father, treated them as strangers when he sold them and spent all their inheritance (Gen 31: 14.) You and I, who now believe on Christ, painfully discovered that was the case with us in our father Adam. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus...11: Wherefore remember,...12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ...19: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21: In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Indeed, believers know the heart of a stranger. If we be not forgetful of what we were, and of what we now are by the grace and power of the Son of God our Redeemer, then we will not be forgetful to have compassion toward strangers.

What about angels unawares? What does this mean? In each case, where the saints of old entertained strangers, if it was not the Lord himself to whom they showed hospitality then it was a messenger the Lord sent to their door. If you read the following passages then you will find that in each case the Lord used the stranger to edify the one who entertained them (See Gen 18: 1-10; 19: 1-3, 15, 16; I Kings 17: 8-24; Luke 24: 28-35.) The one who was doing the entertaining endeavored to help the stranger, but the stranger always edified them. Whether God's children are entertaining or they are the stranger being entertained they seek the edification of the other. Such is the fruit of the indwelling Spirit of grace and love with those who believe.

Therefore, remembering that Christ has freely taken us home with him, freely clothed us in the garment of his righteousness, continually feeding us the Bread of Life and comforting us in the household of God, let us be not forgetful to give the greatest hospitality we can to those he brings our way (Heb 6: 10-12.)

Quote From Todd Nibert
We resemble Christ the most when we freely and unconditionally forgive others.

Are You Gathered In His Name?
Charles Pennington
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20.
To most in religion today, these words are commonly taken to mean that; "if some people assemble together and mention the name 'Jesus' that He is bound to honor their gathering with His presence"- that is ignorance and presumption! Even those who truly gather in 'that Name which is above every name,' most often think of these words of our Lord as being a gracious promise that He will attend the gathering of His people who assemble in His name. Surely this is so, for our Lord Jesus is ever present with His people, in His Word, by His Spirit and through the preaching of His gospel.

However, these words of the Master have a far greater meaning. The words speak of those who are gathered, indicating not what they do, but what is done to them, for them, and with them. Also, the words, gathered together in my name, literally means: "to lead together, (to collect or convene) by my authority."

The promise of His presence then is not to all who assemble and make mention of His name, but to those whom He has gathered, collected and led together by His authority. Without doubt He will be in the midst of these, for THEY ARE GATHERED UNTO HIM: The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered unto Him (Isa. 56:8). HE GATHERS THEM HIMSELF: He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young (Isa 40:11).

All those who are gathered, know Who gathered them, from where they were gathered, to Whom they were gathered and for what purpose. Save us O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise (Psa. 106:47). All those who are gathered shall forever be in the presence of the Gatherer.