May 30, 2010
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

2 Sa 23:5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

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
www.freegracemedia.com/
www.freegraceradio.com/

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

For those who access this bulletin via internet, if you would like to receive this bulletin sent weekly to your email then send a note to the email address above.

A BRIDE FOR CHRIST
Genesis 24

In this passage we have a picture of the grace of God saving his elect through his faithful gospel preachers. Abraham represents God the Father. Isaac represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Abraham's servant represents the preacher and witnesses of Christ. Rebekah represents the believer, converted and brought to Christ in faith by the power and grace of God through the preaching of the gospel.

The Servant of God Has a Specific Purpose (vv1-4)
Abraham was a wealthy man, blessed of God. His son, Isaac, was the heir of Abraham. The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the Heir of all things (Jn 3: 35; Jn 5: 23.) Abraham sent his trusted servant to find a bride for Isaac from among his kindred who would share with Isaac the riches and glory of his father's kingdom. There are a people in this world, chosen out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue to be the bride of Christ (Isa 54:5; Eph 5: 25-32) Christ's bride is a joint heir with Christ of all that he possesses (Romans 8: 17.) Just as Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac, God calls and sends his servants out into the world to find his chosen bride for his Son, by the preaching of the gospel (I Corinthians 1: 17, 18; 2 Corinthians 5: 18-20.)

The Servant of God Must Not Compromise (v5-9.)
The servant asks, "What if the woman is not willing? Shall I bring your son down to the woman?" Abraham says not once but twice, "No!" (v6, v8) To bring Isaac down to Rebekah would make Rebekah more important than Isaac. Rebekah must be willing to forsake all for Isaac or she is not a fit bride for Isaac. As much as we would like to see sinners saved, the glory of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ is more important. We are forbidden to bring Christ down to the sinner's level. God the Father choosing his bride for his Son exalts God in choosing whom he will and abases those he saves. Christ coming in sinless flesh declares all men dead in sins, in need of the Just One. The declaration of Christ satisfying God for each and every individual sinner for whom he died declares Christ victorious. The declaration of the necessity of the new birth by the power of the Holy Spirit exalts God's power, and abases the sinner. Abraham says twice, "Bring not my son thither again." Paul said, "That is to bring Christ down!" By personal experience of God's grace, Abraham knew what God is able to do. She will have to leave her father's house, her land and her kindred. Abraham says "the Lord God, who took ME FROM MY FATHER'S house, from my land, from my kindred..."; the LORD God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham saying, "Unto thy seed will I give this land", that is how Abraham was made willing. Abraham says, "He shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence." As witnesses of our Lord, you and I have no power to make sinner's willing. The Spirit of God goes before the messengers of God. He prepares our way before us. He quickens whom he will, gives sinners ears to hear the gospel, eyes to see Christ, and a heart to love him. (Ephesians 2: 1-10; 2 Cor 4: 7.) Our God does not speak "maybe" but "shalt" (v7.) The bride has already been chosen (2 Thess. 2:13, 14.) The bride will hear the voice of her Beloved through the gospel (John 10:23-30). The bride will come to her Husband (Jn 6: 37.) Every provision is provided by God (v10.) Our success is not in how many people are called out--success is doing what God has given us to do. We are not responsible for the salvation of sinners; we are responsible to proclaim salvation in Christ.

The Servant Must Ask God and Wait (vv11-14.)
The servant is found bowing, praying and worshipping three times in this chapter. Seek God's will, God's direction, and God's blessing. Only God the Holy Spirit can reveal Christ in the hearts of men (Jn 16:13-15). Only the living God can effectually instruct the heart (John 6:44-45). All who come to Christ and receive him must be born again by God's almighty grace (Jn 1:10-13; 3:5-8). True repentance and saving faith are the gifts of God alone (Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:24-25: Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 1:29). We ask God and wait. Though Rebekah seemed to be the one, the servant waited on the Lord. (v 21.)

The Servant Must Stay the Course (vv 32-33)
The servant would not sit down to eat until he had told his errand. We must never let anything hinder us in this work, not money, not honor, not the business of the world, not the cares of this world. The servant was eager and spoke only of the excellence, the riches and the glory of Abraham and Isaac (vv. 34-37.) He did not seek to attract her to himself but told them he was a servant sent to tell her about his master. The bride must be attracted to the bridegroom, not to the bridegroom's friend. We have one message--Christ and him crucified and we must not be side-tracked in proclaiming our message.

The Servant Must Seek a Verdict (vv49-58)
The servant said, "If you will, tell me; if not, tell me" (v49.) When Rebekeh's family wanted her to stay longer, the servant was direct, "Hinder me not" (v58.) Salvation is a matter between you and God. Earthly kinship does not determine your salvation. Parents can not sprinkle or dedicate you into favor with God. You can not work or educate your way into the kingdom of God (Galatians 1: 15, 16.) God always causes his messengers to triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2: 14-17.) The servant came home with Rebekah. When she saw Isaac, it was love at first sight! (vv61-67.) Will you go or will you not?

REMEMBER

Friday, June 4 at 7pm the young people's monthly bible class in our home.
Friday-Sunday, July 16-18, Free Grace Conference in Pennington, New Jersey. Guest speakers will be: Bruce Crabtree, Don Fortner, and Joe Terrell. Conference is free but you may register online at: www.FreeGraceMedia.com.

SERMONS
After clicking on the following links you will go to sermon notes where you will find an option at the top of the page for the audio.

A Bride For Christ
All My Assurance
And There Was Peace

ARTICLES
Salvation is in a Choice
Imagine