CALL TO WORSHIP

A Refuge for Sinners

(Tune: "How Firm A Foundation")

A refuge for sinners the Gospel makes known,

‘Tis found in the merits of Jesus alone;

The weary, the tempted, the burdened of sin

Are never excluded from entering in.

This refuge for sinners God's love did ordain

In Jesus, the Lamb, from eternity slain;

In Christ the Redeemer Who lived and Who died,

God's law and His justice are now satisfied.

Should conscience accuse us, as often it may,

The blood of our Saviour has put sin away;

In Jesus, our Surety, the sinner can view

A city of refuge and righteousness too.

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17)

Bible Study 10 AM. Video sermon by Pastor Bill Parker

Today's Speaker: Brother Jim Casey will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God's word.

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM -WISK

You can also hear the sermons on your computer. Just click on

http://www.americusradio.com/

Birthdays: Nicki Jones - May 18^th. , Melissa Riggins - May 22^nd.

His Sovereign Love

But who, O! Who are those who are the OBJECTS of God's love-the darlings of God's heart, whom He has loved and will delight to love, and to love as God from henceforth and forever? They are all those who are enabled to believe in Jesus- who look, who come, who bow to Christ as the anointed Savior for their own salvation; who desire Christ above all things for their portion, and to give up themselves to the Lord, to be saved in Him with an everlasting salvation, to the praise of the glory of His grace forever. For this everlasting love of God, this free, distinguishing, great, unchangeable and inseparable love of God is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him it was fixed upon the happy objects of it, and in Him it is and shall be enjoyed by them. Not a single one, who is in Christ by faith, who runs in Him, the city of refuge, for its deliverance from the wrath to come-but is an object of God's love, but has an entire and eternal saving interest in God's everlasting love, and shall have the present and everlasting enjoyment thereof, to his present spiritual life in grace, and to his eternal life in glory.

Anne Dutton - (1692-1765)

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another" (Col. 3:16). Paul exhorts us to a diligent study of God's word. This study of the word is not for information and doctrine alone, but that our Lord's word might become a part of us, such a part of us that it is said to DWELL IN US, as a member of the family lives in a home. The word of God is to be loved, respected, obeyed, and delighted in richly in an abundant manner. We are not to study just one part of the scriptures, but all of it, that we may benefit and grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and that we may teach others His word and be bold and able witnesses of His word. It is not only the duty of ministers and elders to teach and encourage others, but it is also the duty of all believers to be ready always to give to every man who asks us a reason for the hope that is in us, with knowledge, meekness, and fear. "Lord, give us a love for your word, an understanding of your word, and the wisdom to be good witnesses of your gospel and your glory." (copied)

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

We have these things blessedly set forth and traced out in the history of Joseph. He was a type of Christ. "Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him who was separated from his brethren." The spiritual Joseph is to be seen in it. When was it, my friends, that Joseph's brethren went to him, and made application for food? Not until they were in famine, when need and starvation stared them in the face. But why did they go to Joseph? Because all the supplies in Egypt were treasured up by him, and there was no getting them but through an application to Joseph. And when the sons of Jacob came to Joseph, they entered into his presence just like the poor sinner does into the presence of Jesus - they fell down before him. But Joseph knew his brethren; he remembered his dreams, and thought of the time when in the simplicity of his heart he told them how he dreamt they were all binding sheaves in the field, and how his sheaf arose and stood uppermost, while all the sheaves of his brethren fell down before him; and in consequence of revealing this dream to them, how they had envied him and conspired together to take away his life. But now he sees the fulfillment of it. In the time of their destitution and famine they come to him and fall down at his feet, entreating him to supply them with provision. And just so it is with the convinced sinner. He comes in his poor and needy circumstances and falls down before the Lord Jesus Christ, our spiritual Joseph. Now Joseph knew his brethren and felt for them; they were near his heart; and though he appeared to speak roughly at first, yet he could not long refrain from acknowledging them. He quickly turns aside to weep, for his affections of compassion were moved towards them. But, however strong the feeling of love and affection might have been that Joseph had towards his brethren, it was not one ten thousandth part so strong as Christ, our spiritual Joseph, has towards his people. Bless his precious name, he has made provision for them and treasured it up in himself. He brings the poor soul to his blessed feet, to fall down and supplicate for mercy. It is the hungry that are filled with good things, while the rich are sent empty away. And when the sinner is brought to feel his spiritual destitution, wretchedness, guilt and misery; when he finds that the world cannot afford him any help, and that he cannot help himself; when all creature refuge fails him; when all the streams of earthly comfort dry up, and they are proved to be broken cisterns that can hold no water, then it is that he comes and falls prostrate before the Lord at his blessed feet. The Lord draws him to himself, and says, "All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes" - in a destitute, lost, ruined and undone condition - "I will never cast out."