“Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent: God does as He pleases, only as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him.” A.W. Pink
Our God Forever Reigns — Don Fortner (Tune: #39 — This is My Father’s World — SMD)
1. Our God forever reigns Upon His sov’reign throne; In heaven, earth and hell, He reigns, And makes His wonders known! His holy, wise decrees, Firmer than mountains stand; Jehovah does whate’er He please, And none can stay His hand!
2. All worlds, our God controls, By His own sov’reign will; Has mercy on all chosen souls And hardens whom He will. Jacob by grace He saved, And gives no reason why; But Esau’s heart, He left depraved; — And who shall dare reply?
3. Sov’reign, the Potter takes Part of a lump of clay, And for Himself a vessel makes, And casts the rest away! Who shall resist His will? Or say “What doest Thou?” Jehovah is the sov’reign still, To Him we humbly bow.
DANVILLE CONFERENCE — SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2009
Worldliness
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)
What is worldliness? Religionists say that it is worldly to dress according to the fashion of the times, to wear your hair in a given way, to wear a beard, or to drink a glass of wine.
The Pharisee’s rule is, “Touch not, taste not, handle not.” These commandments and doctrines of men are satisfying to the flesh, and they make a show of humility; but Paul calls this “will worship” (Colossians 2:23) and “the doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1). And he warns us to shun these things.
The Lord Jesus dressed according to the fashion of the common man in his day. He wore a seamless robe and sandals, like all other men. Our Savior wore his hair much longer than modern styles, and he wore a beard, according to the custom of his day. Jesus of Nazareth drank wine with his disciples, and turned water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana. Was the Son of God worldly? Perish the thought!
Men look upon the outward appearance. They place great stock in a man’s outward dress and conduct. By these things they determine who are and who are not worldly, who are and who are not the people of God. But God has no regard for such things. Our Lord made it plain that it is not what a man wears, or eats, or drinks that reflects his relationship with God. Rather, it is his heart attitude.
What is worldliness? It is the love of the world. Be sure that you do not love the world. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Do not allow your heart to become fondly attached to this world, neither its people nor its pleasures, neither its fame nor its fortunes, neither its success nor its security. “Love not the world.” It is perishing. Everything in it is marked for destruction. But “Set your affection on things above,” even Jesus Christ and the riches of glory and grace in Him.
Worldliness is an undue attachment to this world. It is living for this world, its riches, its honor, its joys and its cares. It is living by the principles of this world: greed, covetousness, deceit and lasciviousness. Godliness is living for God. It is living as unto the Lord, for His honor and glory. It is living by love and faith toward God as He is revealed in Christ. Godliness is living in submission to the Lord our God.
Are you a worldly person, one who lives for this world? If so, you will surely perish with this world. Are you a godly person, one who lives by the grace of God and for the glory of God? If so, you will live for all eternity in the bliss of Christ’s heavenly kingdom.
The Environment of God
In Genesis 1:6-8, God creates the firmament. The firmament is the environment that separates the rest of the universe from this world. It provides a way for life to exist here while it cannot exist anywhere else. It is my understanding that only in our environment can sound be transmitted and heard. It is our environment that takes the blazing rays of the sun and refracts (softens) it so that it can be looked upon, felt and rejoiced in. Our environment prisms the light so that it is divided into colors and we can enjoy the glory of this light. The environment is that special place where God’s people can be given life and sustained both before and after the fall.
Surely this environment is a picture of God’s sovereign grace. Before ever a man was created or a world for him to walk in, God put a people in Christ. And being in Christ, they were put into an environment of grace that would not be affected by anything that would happen in time. Everything, including their acceptance in the beloved Son, was according to the riches of His grace. God trusted His Son to do all that He purposed to do (Ephesians1:12). Because of His confidence in Him, a world of lost sinners were saved by faith and taken into glory thousands of years before Christ was born into this world and accomplished the work.
That free and unmerited redemption whereby believers of the Old Testament were justified came by grace. (Romans 3: 24) “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past (Old Testament Saints) through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25). From the very conception of the covenant until the last believer is translated into the Kingdom it is all by Grace. “In Him, we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5: 1-2). Pastor Darvin Pruitt
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” (Proverbs 10:17) 1. Christ is the Way of Life (John 14:6): — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” 2. He who is in Christ keeps His instruction (John 14:15; 15:10): — Jesus continued, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments;” “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” 3. He who refuses Christ’s instruction is astray from the truth and in the way of death (8:34-36): — Christ the divine Wisdom says, “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Missionary Daniel E. Parks
GRACE BULLETIN
August 2, 2009
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of DANVILLE 2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438 Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor
Schedule of Regular Services
Sunday 10:00 A.M. Bible Classes 10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service 6:30 P.M. Evening Worship Service
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