ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, December 13, 2009

Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Psalm 119: 68-72

DECLARING GOD AND HIS SON
Modern gospel preaching (so-called) consists of what they call "sharing God's love." Like all the blasphemous things I hear today, this sickens me. Preaching the Gospel is not "sharing God's love," but DECLARING GOD AND HIS SON! The message of the gospel begins with a call to repentance toward a Holy God; a God to be feared. The message of God's love is only given to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Besides, we cannot share with others what does not belong to us. If it is God's love, then it is only God's to bestow and "shed abroad" in the heart. Pastor Paul Mahan

PREACH THE GOSPEL
You don't have to teach a drowning man what to say. We preach the Gospel and the Holy Ghost will be left to work in men's hearts. There's no pressure, no persuasion, and no psychology to get professions or joiners by decisions. The preacher will preach the Gospel; he will preach the Word of God and will leave people alone. They will leave them in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Henry Mahan

THEY WERE OFFENDED
Matthew 15:12 "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"
The truth will always offend the offenders of truth. A Gospel that does not offend is not the gospel of God. I would much rather offend men with the truth, than to offend God with a lie. Pastor John Chapman

GRACE REIGNS THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness is the result of obedience; true obedience is perfect compliance to the will of God, not merely in deed, but with a pure heart (no stain of sin), a perfect motive (the glory of God), and true love (total commitment). It allows no deviation, but requires obedience unto death. This is the righteousness which was wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ; which He gives to His people as the free gift of grace through faith, (also His gift), and is the means by which, "Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5:21). Pastor Charles Pennington

"HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECEASE"
Look at a candle and how it burns. The more the light shines, the more the candle diminishes. What a beautiful illustration of the believer in Christ! The more he learns the gospel of Christ, the more precious Christ becomes and the less he thinks of himself. One who is truly the Lord's, shines forth the light of HIS righteousness, grace, goodness, mercy, forgiveness, and truth. In so shining, self does not get bigger and more noticeable--the CHRIST does! The glory is not to self but to HIM. John the Baptist said, "He must increase, I must decrease" (John 3:30). Copied

THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience (2 Cor. 10: 3-6).
The weapons of our life and ministry are not carnal or fleshly, they are spiritual weapons provided and ordained of God to accomplish His purpose. Preaching the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation, it will be used of God to reveal Christ and to expose and destroy falsehoods. Therefore, they are mighty through God. Notice how effective these weapons of God are.

1). "Pulling down strongholds." The strongholds of sin, pride, self-righteousness, refuge of lies and unbelief. The gospel will strip a sinner and lay him in the dust to cry out for mercy. Saul of Tarsus certainly knew something about that (Acts. 9: 6); "Lord what would you have me to do."

2). "Casting down imaginations" (reasonings), wrong thoughts about God, salvation, sin, Christ. Dashing to pieces of every proud and lofty thought and argument against the true knowledge of God; (John 17:3; Phil. 3:7-9; 2Tim. 1:15).

3). "Bringing into captivity every thought to obedience unto Christ," bringing us into life and salvation in Christ Jesus; bringing the believer in heart, mind, and attitude into complete dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone for all of salvation; (Col. 1:12-13; Col. 2:9-10; 1Peter 2:9).

4). "Having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience." This gospel that is the power of God unto salvation also brings within the believers a "readiness," a willingness to stand and contend for the gospel once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3-4). A readiness to strongly oppose those who are in opposition to the gospel of His grace in Christ Jesus, a ready willingness to use the weapons provided by God to preach Christ and Him crucified. We can be assured the Lord will bless the means He has ordained; (Isa. 55:11; Rom. 1:15-17; Eph. 6:10-18; James 1:18). Pastor Tom Harding