ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, November 15, 2009

PASTOR'S NOTE
Our sincere sympathy is extended to Dessie Yates and family in the recent death of her sister-in-law, Dianne Ooten.

RELIGION AND ENTENAL LIFE - THE DIFFERENCE
Romans 8:38-39

Religion is to know biblical facts; life is to know God! (I John 5:20).
Religion is to know what I believe; life is to know Whom I believe (2 Timothy 1:12).
Religion is to be baptized into the church; life is to be baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3).
Religion is to be reformed; life is to be regenerated (John 3:3).
Religion is to be a new convert; life is to be a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

A man was asked, "And what is your religious persuasion?" He replied, "I am persuaded that nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Pastor Henry Mahan

Service Is Not Condescenion
“After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:5).

When we think of how the Lord of Glory stooped down to wash the dirty feet of those men, we think of His amazing condescension; how One so high could stoop so low. But to Him it was not condescension. All that He did was for the glory of God and the good of those He loved. Nothing was too low for Him, or beneath Him in service to His Father and His brethren. His Father’s business required much dirty work and menial tasks, but all were done by Him with desire, joy and pleasure. And whatsoever His hand found to do, He did it with all His might unto His God, be it ever so lowly and humble a task. No, it was not condescension to Him but LOVE! Besides, there was nothing unclean of itself to Him. The feet of the disciples were as important and needed washing same as their faces. The feet, though considered ugly by most, were not so to Him. (Nor is there a member of His body, the church, that is ugly and unnecessary to Him).

But Think of it; how the Lord labored in His Father’s field, sweating and getting dirty, yet it was not dirt in the sense that we think of it; it was not ‘dirt’ at all but beauty . . . a badge of honor. Dirt was not dirt to Him, but the soil of His Father’s making, which He delighted to get His hands into. And His hands, though covered with dirt, were clean and pure.

Tell me, you mothers, is it condescension for you to wipe the dirty parts of your children? Do you consider it beneath you or do you consider it a necessary thing and your delight? How much more did Christ do what He did out of love to His children. Though our Lord washing feet is great condescension to us, it was love to Him. And didn’t He say that the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven is the servant? That means that the lower one stoops the higher he is to God. It means condescension is not condescension at all, but ascension. May this mind be in us which was in Christ Jesus our Lord. Pastor Paul Mahan

THE PROMISES OF GOD
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts(2 Cor. 1:20-22).

Paul is reminding the believers and Corinth and us today that all that God has promised us in His word is as certain and sure as His own name and character (2 Tim2:19). These promises were all made according to His own will and purpose (Eph. 1:11). The scriptures teach what God has promised he is able to perform (Rom. 4:20-21). All these precious promises display the qualities of God who gave them (2 Peter 1:3). Notice several particulars that the apostle points out.

1). The range and scope of these promises, "All the promises of God." There is not a need any guilty sinner has that the promises of God does not meet (Phil. 4:19). This ought to give every sinner great encouragement to look to the Lord Jesus Christ to supply our every need (Eph. 1:3). We are ungodly, Christ died for the ungodly (Rom.5:6). We stand naked before God's holiness, Christ provides a perfect robe of righteousness for us (Jer. 23:5; Isa. 61:10). We are hard hearted, God promises in the covenant of grace to give us a new heart (Ezk. 11:19). Are you weary and heavy laden with sin? Christ says, "come unto me, I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Are you thirsty for spiritual life? Christ says, "He is the fountain of the water of life" (John 4:14). Are you hungry for salvation? Christ says, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35).

2). These promises are certain and sure because they are in Christ Jesus. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen." Is there pardon for sin in Christ? Yes, "thou art a God ready to pardon (Neh. 9:17). Is there hope of salvation in Christ? Yes, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12). Is there forgiveness of sin in Christ? Yes, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7). Is there justification in Christ? Yes, "Being justified freely through His grace" (Rom. 3:24). Every promise of God in Christ is sure to all who believe (Rom. 4:16).

3). All these promises serve and work to one glorious end, "unto the glory of God by us." God has so designed and purposed his salvation so as to prevent any sinner making any boast in the flesh, (1 Cor. 1:30-31;Titus 3:5). Redeemed sinners give all the praise and glory to God alone in the promise of salvation totally in and through Jesus Christ the Lord (Psalm 115:1; Gal. 6:14; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Heb 9:12-14). Pastor Tom Harding