ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, July 19, 2009

He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. Psalm 111:6-9

PASTOR'S NOTE
Our summer meeting will begin on Friday night at 7:00. Pastors Todd Nibert and Paul Mahan will bring the gospel message for us. Saturday evening service will begin at 6:00. We plan to serve refreshments after the Friday night service and dinner on Sunday.

Special thanks to all those who have given so generously to make the necessary repairs and updates on our building, we thank God for you all.

GROWTH IN GRACE
Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

Growth in grace is utterly unique. When anything else grows it gets bigger. When a Christian grows, he becomes smaller! Like John the Baptist said, "He must increase, I must decrease." In a dark room, if a candle is but a flicker, it is all you see in the room. But if it is a strong flame, it lights up the room and you actually see less of the candle. As we grow, Christ will be seen more clearly and self will more and more take the background. Pastor Todd Nibert

THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF
He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

When the Spirit of God is pleased to enlighten our understanding our self-righteousness melts away like the morning frost before the burning rays of the sun. We become painfully aware of our sins: "O the exceeding sinfulness of sin; my sins are ever before me," we cry with the fathers. What is to be done about my sins? It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. It is evident that no man is justified by the law. The waters of baptism left Simon Magus in the gall of bitterness. Judas' confession that he had betrayed innocent blood only led him to suicide. The wonderful works professed in Matthew 7 were called "works of iniquity" by Christ. "How can he be clean that is born of a woman?" Here is the answer: "He (the Lord of Glory) appeared (came to earth in the flesh) to put away sin (all sin-past, present, and future) by the sacrifice of Himself."

"For Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (Peter 3:18). Pastor Henry Mahan

"Forsake Not The Assembling"
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb. 10: 24-25)

By God's all-wise appointment, our assemblies are the food and the nourishment of our souls. It is the main way whereby we publicly identify with Christ and His Gospel. We evidence our love for Christ by our loyalty and support of one another in opposition to all false worship. Many things will rise up in competition to the diligent attendance of our assemblies. We must recognize and refuse to give into anything that is opposed to what Christ commands. The total falling away of a graceless professor always begins with this neglect, this disassociation with God's people. John Owen

FOR US AND IN US
Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Psalm 85:1-4

When we read the Holy Scriptures and all the precious words therein, we see all the mighty works God has wrought out to glorify His matchless name and to save His people in perfect righteousness and everlasting salvation. We know beyond any questionable doubt that God has done a mighty and glorious work of redemption for His people (Matt.1:21). The declaration of this Pslam is, salvation is of the Lord, notice all that, "thou hast done." God has been; "favourable, brought back, forgiven iniquity, covered all sin, taken away all wrath, turned from the fierceness of thine anger." God has done a glorious work for us, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other," that took place at Calvary. God in Christ crucified is both a Just God and glorious Saviour (Isa. 45:21; Rom. 3:26).

Now the cry of our heart should be, Lord do a mighty work in us, "Turn us, O God of our Salvation" (Ps. 85:4). This is His gracious work of regeneration. God in sovereign grace must make application to the sinner's heart (Eph. 2:1; Phil.1:6). This work is carried out through the proclamation of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:21; James 1:18) and the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ to the heart by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:9-10; John 16:13-15). We preach not what the sinner must do, but rather, we proclaim what God has done for us and must do in us, "Salvation is of the Lord" (Ps. 37:39; Jonah 2:9). God has purposed this for His glory and our eternal good!

REPENTANCE AND FAITH
Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are both sovereign gifts of God (Eph.2:8-9; 1John 5:1; Acts 5:31; 11:18). These gifts do not bloom in our depraved hearts naturally, they are planted by Almighty God. Repentance and faith also have this same characteristic, they both acknowledge the truth in salvation (2Tim. 2:25; Titus 1:1). Salvation is dependant, determined and accomplished by the eternal purpose and grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ (2Tim.1:9; Titus 3:5).