ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, March 8, 2009

For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 97:9-12

CHRIST WENT GENTLY TO THE CROSS
Genesis 7:18 "And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters."

Another reading of this passage, "...and the ark went [gently floating] upon the surface of the waters." This made me think of how gently Christ went to the cross to suffer the wrath of God for the sins of His Elect. Christ did not fight, argue, or threaten; He went gently to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). I am sure that those soldiers who nailed Him to the cross were amazed how willingly he lay down to have His hands and feet nailed to the cross. Our Lord willingly (gently) laid down His life for us. I stand amazed. Pastor John Chapman

WHOM SHALL I BE LIKE?
The moment I try to imitate or copy the life of another human, I lose that which is an honor to me and glory to God - my individuality! I become a copy, and a copy is always inferior. The moment I try to mold my life after another person, I lose that which is a power to me - and that is my personality. God made me as I am to serve in His body, to accomplish His purpose, and to glorify His name. There is not in all the history of our race a single person whom I would bid you to mold your life in his image. There is not a single biography I would have you read and say, "I will relive this man's life." To imitate other men is weakness and will forfeit God's purpose for you. There is but one model. There is but one whom you can imitate, copy, and strive to be like in every jot and tittle - that is our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

1. THIS IS GOD'S PURPOSE FOR YOU. "Whom He did foreknow, He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29).

2. THIS IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU. "We are changed into the same image from glory to glory even by the Sprit of the Lord" (II Cor. 3:18).

3. THIS IS THE DESIRE OF EVERY BELIEVER. "I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness" (Psalm 17:15).

4. THIS IS AN INWARD WORK. "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:5). Changing my mode of dress, my speech to say "thee" and "thou", my living quarters, or my place of worship will not make me like Christ. I must be given a new heart and mind by God's Spirit. Let us get our texts, our messages and our words from God. It is not great talent, great oratory, or great programs that God blesses - BUT HIS WORD. A word spoken by you in the power of the Lord - is worth ten thousand words spoken in the energy of our flesh and the wisdom of the flesh. Oh, for a message from God in these days. Pastor Henry Mahan

They Shall Never Perish - John 10:28
The Lord Jesus Christ in talking about His sheep says: "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." However, He did not say . . .

. . .They shall not sin, only not unto death. He did not say, They shall not fall, only not fall away completely. He did not say, They shall not wander, only not forever, and not too far that He can't find them. He did not say, They shall not feel guilty, only they shall not be not condemned.

He did not say, They shall never be persecuted, only they shall not be forsaken. He did not say They shall never be cast down, only they shall not be destroyed. He did not say They shall never be accused, only they shall not be charged. He did not say, They shall never be tried, only they shall never be sentenced.

He did not say the sheep shall never be mauled by a bear, a lion, or a man, and found wounded, bruised, bleeding and hurt . . . . only They shall never PERISH!!! WHY? . . .

Because the Lord is their Shepherd.

Because they are His sheep and He goes and finds them.

Because He gave His life for them and gives life to them (and never takes back what He gives).

Because He calls them and they will come (and keep coming, though they wander).

Because they are in His hand and the Father's hand.

Because HE SAID SO!! Pastor Paul Mahan