May 23, 2010

CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: “Sweet Hour of Prayer”)

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness

My beauty are my glorious dress;

Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed,

With joy shall I lift up my head.

This spotless robe the same appears

When ruined nature sinks in years;

No age can change its glorious hue,

The robe of Christ is ever new.

When from the dust of death I rise,

To join the ransomed in the skies,

E’en then shall this be all my plea,

That Christ has lived and died for me.

O let the dead now hear Thy voice,

Now bid Thy people to rejoice;

Our beauty this, our glorious dress,

Jesus, the Lord our righteousness.

Bible Study: “The Whole Truth & Nothing but the Truth” – II Samuel 18

Today’s Speaker: Brother Mark Pannell will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God’s word.

Television Broadcast: Our Reign of Grace Television program is being broadcast on WFXL Fox 31, Channel 4. The program will air every Sunday morning at 11 AM. Pray that God will use it for His glory.

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM –WISK. You can also hear the sermons on your computer. Just click on 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)

There is nothing that will make a needy sinner look to Christ alone or a believer cling to and rest in Christ alone more than to realize that everything God is, everything that God requires, and everything that a sinner needs or will ever need is in Jesus Christ. We are perfect in HIM! He is perfect, and our being in Him makes us perfect (Col. 2:9-10). This is not speaking of what we shall be, but what we are right now in Christ before God. —Copied

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

REDEMPTION

The affair of redemption by Christ is no new thing. The scheme of it was drawn up in eternity. The persons to be redeemed were fixed on. The Redeemer was appointed in the counsel and covenant of peace. And even the very gospel which proclaims it was ordained before the world for our glory. A Savior was provided before sin was committed, and the method of man's recovery was settled before his ruin took place. This was done without any regard to the works and merits of men, but is wholly owing to the free and sovereign grace of God and to His everlasting love.

John Gill

There never was, nor is, nor ever will be the least particle of holiness in the world, but what flowing from Jesus Christ, is communicated by the Spirit, according to the truth and promise of the gospel.