Bible Study: "Unity Only Under Christ" - II Samuel 2:1-11
Today's Speaker: Brother Mark Pannell 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/
Treasure in earthen vessels
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels." 2 Corinthians 4:7
Do not be surprised if you feel that in yourself you are but an earthen vessel-if you are made deeply and daily sensible of your frail body. Do not be surprised . . . if your clay house is often tottering; if sickness sometimes assails your mortal tabernacle; if in your flesh there dwells no good thing; if your soul often cleaves to the dust; and if you are unable to retain a sweet sense of God's goodness and love. Do not be surprised nor startled at the corruptions of your depraved nature; at the depth of sin in your carnal mind; at the vile abominations which lurk and work in your deceitful and desperately wicked heart. Bear in mind that it is the will of God that this heavenly treasure which makes you rich for eternity, should be lodged in an earthen vessel. We have ever to feel our native weakness, and that without Christ we can do nothing, that we maybe clothed with humility, and feel ourselves the chief of sinners, and less than the least of all saints. We thus learn to prize the heights, breadths, lengths, and depths of the love of Christ, who stooped so low to raise us up so high!
J.C. Philpot (1802-1869)
What man does cannot change what God has done. What man thinks cannot change what God knows. What man says cannot change what God has said. What man determines cannot change what God has decreed. What man wills cannot change what God has wrought. "The Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?"
Pastor Gary Shepard
A RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT DEMANDS LIFE
The Scriptures represent believers as possessing a title to eternal life in consequence of their justification in the righteousness of Christ. Now this could not be the case if they were not constituted righteous. If God merely treated them as though they were righteous, they could possess no title to life, nor could it be demanded on the footing of justice (John 17:24). Yet we find the Lord Jesus claiming eternal life for His people, not merely on the ground of His Father's promise, but on the ground of His own righteousness. Indeed, this is the foundation of all His intercession for them (Romans 8:34). He appears in the holiest of all, as a lamb slain, and every request founded upon His righteousness is irresistible. The power which the Father hath given Him to bestow eternal life upon His chosen is nothing but the reward of His righteousness. "I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (John 17:4). And as He who sanctifies, and they who are sanctified, are both one in the eye of the law, His title to eternal life becomes theirs also. Accordingly He uses the language of confidence, when asking for their salvation - "Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory."
-William Rushton (1831)
First, souls look to Christ, by faith, for pardon through His blood; and then they mourn for sins pardoned; and never do they mourn better and more kindly, or are more ashamed and confounded because of their sins, than when they are most satisfied that God is pacified towards them for all that they have done.
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