O, God, my heart is fixed on Thee, to sing and give Thee praise;
I'll praise Thee, Lord, among Thy saints, as we our anthems raise.
As we our anthems raise; as we our anthems raise.
I'll praise Thee, Lord, among Thy saints, as we our anthems raise.
I'll praise Thee for Thy mercy great, that reaches down to me
In Christ my Savior, I am blessed with all salvation free.
With all salvation free; with all salvation free.
In Christ my Savior, I am blessed with all salvation free.
I'll praise Thee for Thy righteousness as sent from Thee above;
Thy law and justice satisfied in union with Thy love.
In union with Thy love; in union with Thy love;
Thy law and justice satisfied in union with Thy love.
I'll praise Thee for Thy cleansing Word that sanctifies my soul;
As in my heart Thou art glorified in Christ who makes me whole;
In Christ who makes me whole; in Christ who makes me whole;
As in my Thou art glorified in Christ who makes me whole.
Bible Study: "Vengeance Belongs to God" 1 Samuel 24:1-8
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/
The Covenant of Grace
The Father proposed to Christ to take the care and charge of the elect. Those who were the objects of God's special Love and free choice, He gave into Christ's Hands. Hence He says unto the Father, Thine they were, and thou gavest them Me (John 17:6). With what view this was done, it is easy to collect from these words of our Lord; I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but raise it up at the last day (John 6:38,39). That is to say, it is the pleasure and fixed determination of my Father, that none of those should perish, whom He has made My care and charge. Christ, with the utmost freedom promised to redeem and preserve them safe; wherefore when He shall have collected all these persons together, he will present them to the Father, with saying, Behold, I and the children whom thou hast given me. As Christ consented to fulfill the whole will of the Father, concerning our redemption, the Father promised several things to him, some of which respect Himself, personally considered; such as,
1. That He would suitably furnish and qualify Him for the work of mediation, to the discharge of which an extraordinary unction of the Holy Ghost, in His graces and gifts were necessary, as well on account of the greatness and difficulty of the undertaking, as for that He was to be an Head of life and influence to all the elect; for of His fulness they were to receive, and grace for grace (John 1:16). Such an uncommon measure of the Spirit He received from the Father, is evident from these words, thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Psalm 45:7), the same is affirmed by the Evangelist; for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him (John 3:34).
2. Assistance and support in it, of such a nature is this promise; He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the Earth, and the isles shall wait for his law (Isaiah 42); which federal engagement on the Father's part, animated and encouraged Him in the most difficult branch of His Work, at the time of His dolorous sufferings; when, He gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, and hid not his face from shame and spitting (Isaiah 1:6); for then He said, The Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed (Isaiah 1:7).
John Brine - London 1734
HOW AM I TO WORSHIP GOD?
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
We thank God for the freedom we have to worship God. Every man and woman has this right, but this does not make everyone's worship right in God's eyes. God receives only those who "worship the Father in spirit and in truth," which is to worship God:
(1) AS HE REVEALS HIMSELF IN CHRIST BY HIS WORD, not as we think or imagine Him to be. Many have their own thoughts about God, but only God Himself by the Holy Spirit can reveal Himself to us. He reveals Himself as the only true God who justifies sinners by His grace through the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 11:27). Christ is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Any sinner who seeks to worship and serve God apart from the shed blood and imputed righteousness of Christ worships an idol of his own imagination, not the true Father.
(2) IN HEART AND SPIRIT - Religion without truth and heart is an abomination unto God. The Lord rejected such worship - "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Mark 7:6); "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness" (Mt. 23:27). Set your heart to worship God by setting your heart on Christ - "And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb. 10:21-22).
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