November 29, 2009
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

Matthew 7: 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

MEETING LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service

WEB ADDRESSES
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www.freegraceradio.com

MAILING ADDRESS
7 Birch Street
Pennington, New Jersey, 08534
Phone: 615-513-4464
Email: clay@sovereign-grace.us

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HOW MUCH MORE SHALL
Matthew 7: 7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9: Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10: Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Our Lord tells us to ask in faith and we shall receive (Mt. 21: 22.) Even sinful, fallen, depraved sinners are naturally predisposed to give good things to their children, simply because they are our children, how much more your Father (v11.) Here the Lord gives his children three great reasons for us to ask, believing, that we shall receive.

Your Father
First, if you are a believer this great assurance comes because God is your Father. Without us asking, he choose us in Christ and gave his Son to lay down his life for us. If you are a believer it is because Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is your Everlasting Father. Consider the assurance this gives us, brethren. First, the father of the family is the legal representative. In our first father Adam, all whom he represented sinned in him, in our Everlasting Father all whom he represented are righteous. Secondly, the father of the family is the one of whom you are born. If Christ Jesus is our Everlasting Father it is because we have been born a second time of his incorruptible seed by the Word (1 Jn 3:9.) Thirdly, it is from our Everlasting Father that we receive the inheritance: it is his to give; he reserves it for his children. "Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ is faithful as a son over his own house." I am my earthly father's son and I am a son over my own house. I am the father of my children even as my earthly father is the father-grand of my children. So it is with God and his Son, Christ our Everlasting Father, "whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Heb 3: 5, 6.) Do you see how much assurance you have that God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus is your Father and shall give to his children?

Which is in Heaven
Secondly, our Father in heaven is all knowing. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him" (Mt. 6:8.) Our Father in heaven is all-powerful. He is able to give, able to raise up, even from the dead. Is it an erring brother for whom we pray? God is able to make him stand (Ro14:4.) Is it personal provisions and a willing heart to aid in the work of the gospel? "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor 9:8.)

Give Good Things
Thirdly, we can not pass this word "give." We do not earn gifts. We do not bargain for gifts. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Lk 12:32.) And notice that our heavenly Father gives good things. Spurgeon said, "He will give the good which we did not ask, and withhold the ill which we so unwisely requested...We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but he knows how to give as becometh his perfection, and he will do so."

The chief--good thing--that our Father gives is the Holy Spirit, the Oil of gladness (Lk 11: 13.) Our heavenly Father will provide our earthly needs but "things" may or may not give us gladness. We may or may not recover from "sickness" and if we do we will eventually die. But even if we do not recover from sickness, even if we do not receive earthly things, through the gift of the Holy Spirit we are comforted because he guides us into Christ the Truth. The Holy Spirit whispers into the soul of the believer the word of our heavenly Father and our Savior, saying, "All things are yours; your brethren, the world, life, death, things present, things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (I Cor 3: 21-23.) Then whatever the mountain that stands in our way, in our own hearts, it is cast into the sea. This is how God raises up, and is able to make us stand. "When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?...whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only" (Job 34:29.)

To Them That Ask Him
Now with these three reasons in mind, we end where we began--asking. Believer, do you see that you have no reason to doubt your heavenly Father? Believe him. "Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you, for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Mt 7: 7, 8.)

SERMONS
Word of the Watchman
It Shall Be Given
Judgment of Swine, Mercy of Brethren

ARTICLES FROM OTHERS
Do the Scriptures Teach That Believers Have Two Natures?
Simple, Silent, Unassuming Worship
Living in the Land of Nod
Snap in Your Step
Sin Lieth at the Door