ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, May 3, 2009

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. Psalm 103: 19-22

ETERNAL LIFE

Eternal life is not to get religion. Eternal life is to know the only true God and the Redeemer. Eternal life is not just to reform a person's life or life style; it is to know the true and living God. Eternal life is not just to attend church and adopt some traditions and doctrines. It is not to do what some preacher or church says that you are supposed to do; it is to know God. Eternal life is to know God, to love God, to trust God and to believe God. This is life eternal, "That they might know thee." Pastor Henry Mahan

"THE CHURCH HAS LOST ITS FOCUS"

Recently I heard a message on making disciples from Matt. 28:19. The preacher who brought this sermon said "the church had lost its focus," which to him was making disciples. He chided folks for failing to take the "Great Commission" seriously, that we needed to regain our focus.

This sermon brought a thought to my mind: What is the focus of the church which Christ bought with His blood? This led to another question which is this: If we would know what our focus should be, we must know what God's focus is?

It is to glorify His Son in the redemption of those given to Him in the eternal covenant of grace. God spoke "this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased" and again "hear ye Him."

What is the focus of the scriptures? The first promise in the word was concerning "the seed of the woman," which found its fulfillment when Christ came "made of a woman."

When Isaiah saw Christ's glory he spoke of Him. Again, "to him all the prophets bear witness"(Acts 10:43).

When the Lord Jesus was walking on the Emmaus road with two disciples, He rebuked them for failing "to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures concerning himself" (Luke 24:25-27).

What does the Holy Spirit focus on? "He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, He shall glorify me: he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (Jn. 13:13-15). The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the heart and regenerates the dead sinner and gives him life.

Two things I know. One, that only Christ can make a disciple. Secondly, God glorifies His Son. The scriptures speak of Him, and the Holy Spirit makes Him known. Then the church's one and only focus is to glorify Christ in the preaching of the gospel of God's grace, to glory in nothing but the cross of Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14). Pastor Don Bell

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged (John 16:8-11).

When God's preachers go forth with the Word of truth they go with great confidence that the Holy Spirit will bless and honor the gospel of Jesus Christ to the conversion and comfort of the elect (Isa. 55:11). Here are several things taught in the word about the Holy Spirit's ministry.

1). He will reprove (convict, convince) the world of sin!
There is no way the preacher can convict the sinner. While he may be able to expose the truth to your head, he is unable to reach your heart. The Holy Spirit through the Word not only spells out our problem (sin), but also reveals and proves it to our heart and causes us to humbly own it before the Holy God. The Holy Spirit convinces in relation to, fact of sin (Rom. 3:23), the filth of sin (Isa. 64:6), the fountain of sin (Matt. 5:19), the fruit of sin (Rom. 6:23). Then He centers in on the target of the problem "unbelief;" this is the great reigning and ruining sin that will condemn our soul (John 3:36). If God has taught and convinced you of what you are rejoice, only sinners will come before God as mercy beggars (Luke 18:13-14).

2). He will reprove the world of Righteousness!
The Holy Spirit will also reveal unto the sinner the absolute righteousness and purity of Jesus Christ. He truly is "Jesus Christ the Righteous." Our Lord had no sin, did no sin and knew no sin (Heb. 7:26). Then He also reveals and teaches us our need of righteousness and shows us that this is freely imputed and fully provided in Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works" (Rom. 4:5). He is the Lord our Righteousness, Who ever lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25)!

3). He will reprove the world of judgment!
The Holy Spirit will reveal unto the sinner what happened at Calvary. The prince of the world (Satan), all principalities and powers have been judged, spoiled, conquered and disarmed by Jesus Christ crucified (Col. 2:15). Christ Jesus also by His glorious sacrifice made an end of our sin. In Christ there is no condemnation to those that are in Him. Because our sins have been eternally judged in our Substitute (2 Cor. 5:21), the believer has been fully acquitted, justified and made righteous before God (Rom.8:1).

Thank God for this vital work of the Holy Spirit! Pastor Tom Harding