January 17, 2010
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

James 1: 16: Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

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

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

WEB ADDRESSES
Be sure to bookmark our website for daily articles, sermon notes and audio messages
http://www.sovereign-grace.us/
http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=sgbcpnj
http://www.freegraceradio.com/

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

DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday, January 24, 4 pm: Your pastor is preaching in PA.

Sunday, January 31: Scott Keller will bring one message to you at 11 am. I will be preaching to our brethren in Rocky Mount, VA where Brother Paul Mahan is pastor.

Friday, February 5, 7 pm: Young People's Bible Study at pastor's home.

COUNT IT ALL JOY
James 1: 1-12

Why rejoice in trial? One, God grows us in patience through trials (James 1: 3.) Two, as God hedges up our way so that we turn from ourselves to ask wisdom of him, he makes us to behold his faithfulness to give in abundance to those who ask him in faith (James 1: 5.) Next, James gives two more reasons for rejoicing in trial: all brethren in Christ are kept where we need to be and the end of the trial is the crown of life.

The Earthly and the Heavenly (James 1: 9-11.)

The believer's life consists of the earthly, temporal blessings of life, and the heavenly, spiritual blessings we have in Christ. We become too fond of these earthly trinkets far too easily. The Lord is faithful to take away those things if need be so that nothing comes between the inner man and Christ. Whether he removes the temporal things or we have little of this world's goods, each believer has great reason to rejoice as God keeps us beholding the unsearchable riches he has freely given us in Christ. We have an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled that shall never fade away. Therefore, though our outward man perishes, the believer rejoices that God renews the inward man day by day. (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18.)

The Old and the New

Whether possessing much or little in temporal things, every believer has the inner man created in newness by the Spirit of God by the Everlasting Father, as well as the old sinful man of our first birth, from the first Adam (John 3: 5, 6.) The old man is rich in self-conceit. These are the problems James addresses throughout this letter (James 1: 14, 26; 2: 1; 3: 1; 4: 1; Romans 7: 22-25.) Through trial the rich man of our flesh is brought low, subdued, bridled by God as the inner man is grown in grace (James 5: 7.)

So as we are kept from trusting in temporal things and as the rich man of our sinful flesh is bridled by God through trials, let us rejoice because the rich man shall fade away in his ways (Isaiah 40: 6-8; James 1: 10, 11; Ephesians 4: 22-24.)

Happy is the man who endures the trial to the end (James 1: 12.)

At the end of the trial God promises the crown of life to those who continue believing on him. At the end of these lesser trials we face as we go through life this crown is the peaceable fruit of righteousness God gives in the heart as we behold our security in Christ. After this trial called life, the crown will be eternal life with our Redeemer in glory. This crown is given by promise, the free gift of God, the reward of grace, and not of debt.

Wait on the Lord. Draw near in faith asking for wisdom. Rejoice that the man of low degree is exalted and the rich brought low. Remember that the crown of life is sure to those who endure to the end (James 1: 19-22.) By his grace, brethren, count it all joy.

Humility of Mind: Humility of mind is created by a God-given reverence at the greatness and honor of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ (Proverbs 15: 33.) Humility does not desire to put self forth to stand in the presence of God and men in the place where only Christ Jesus the Great stands. The humble will hear it said to them, "Come up and stand here." The proud will be put low in that day when they hear God declare Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings (Proverbs 25: 6; 29: 23; Philippians 2: 10, 11.)

Pride and Humility: Those proud in spirit imagine that man has power to stand before God. There is no ability in man therefore pride is the very cause for God rejecting the proud. The humble in spirit depend upon Christ Jesus, the Honorable. Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit (Proverbs 29: 23.)

The Tie that Binds

The tie which binds the hearts of brethren in love is Christ himself. In Christ we rest in unbreakable unity between God the Father and his people. Through both the gospel of Christ and His daily faithfulness toward us, God makes our hope a reality in our hearts as He provides us the grace of joy, means, and security to meet the needs of one another.

SERMONS

Clicking on the titles of the sermons below will take you to our website. You will arrive at a page with the written notes for these sermons. When you get to the website simply click on "listen" at the top of the page for the audio. We have provided options for your download capabilities such as 32 bites per second or 128 (CD quality.)

Count It All Joy
All Hail the Power
Prayer for Wisdom & Power

ARTICLES & DEFINITIONS
Ransom
Redeem
Sanctuary
Strange Doctrines
Taught by the Voice
One Message

ARTICLES FROM OTHERS
The Weapons of Our Warfare
History Repeats It's Self