August 8, 2010

God the Father chose me. God the Son redeemed me. God the Holy Spirit has sanctified me. Why should I fear closing my eyes in death to awake forever in the presence of the Triune Jehovah?

• I am scheduled to preach Monday-Wednesday for the Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Booneville, North Carolina, where Bro. Linwood Campbell is pastor. —— On Thursday and Friday I am scheduled to preach for Covenant of Grace Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, where Bro. Mike Walker is pastor.
• Bro. Todd Nibert, pastor of Todds Road Grace Church in Lexington, will be here to preach the gospel to you Tuesday night.

Our Savior Rules the Universe – Don Fortner

(Tune: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! #42CM)

Behold the throne in heaven set,

The throne of our great God,

Upon the throne our Savior reigns

By virtue of His blood!

The Lamb who was for sinners slain

Ascended up on high;

Exalted Lord over all things,

Salvation to apply!

Christ Jesus reigns over all flesh

In majesty supreme,

That He might give eternal life

To all that God gave Him!

Our Savior rules the universe

To do His people good,

To bring His ransomed, chosen ones

All safely home to God!

“He commanded us to preach.”

Acts 10:42

Recently, I read an article in a religious periodical which suggested that one of the greatest problems in our churches is that we spend too much time preaching. What nonsense!

Our Lord’s last great command was this: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel.” This was Paul’s dying charge to Timothy: “Preach the Word.” And preaching was the one business of the great apostle’s life. He wrote, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” God never called anyone to discuss the gospel, to debate the gospel, to refine the gospel, or even to share the gospel. But he does call men, whom he has gifted and qualified for the work, to preach the gospel. And he sends them forth into the world for that one purpose. And he gives but one reason for doing so: “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

This is the one business of God’s servants. And it is not only the primary purpose for our assemblies, it is the only purpose for our assemblies. The local church is to be a sounding board for the gospel of Christ, nothing more and nothing less. Not all of God’s saints are gifted for preaching, but they all are engaged in the work. By their love, their prayers, and their generosity, they hold up the hands of God’s servants.

I say this is the one purpose of the church with good reason: gospel preaching is the means of salvation. — “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Gospel preaching is the means of edification. God gives his church pastors according to his own heart, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”. And gospel preaching is the means of sanctification. — “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Well is it written: “How beautiful (greatly desired) are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” God save us from those who would turn aside his church from this great work. Let us press on, as the Lord enables us, preaching the gospel to every creature.

Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,

And publish abroad His wonderful Name;

The Name all-victorious of Jesus extol,

His kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

God ruleth on high, almighty to save;

And still He is nigh -- His presence we have;

The great congregation His triumph shall sing,

Ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.

How should God’s people treat their pastors?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

The tendency among men is either to treat God’s servants with contempt, as the Judaizers at Galatia did Paul (Galatians 4:16), or regard them with an adoring, worshipful reverence, as Cornelius did Peter (Acts 10:25). Both of these attitudes are wrong. The faithful gospel preacher is only a man; therefore he must not be placed on a pedestal to be worshipped and followed blindly. But he is God’s man, God’s messenger to men; therefore he must not be despised, ignored, and treated with contempt. Paul tells us plainly how the people of God should treat faithful preachers (pastors, evangelists, missionaries).

A faithful pastor is one who labors among God’s people. He is not a lazy sluggard, but a diligent laborer. His time, energy and attention are consumed by the ministry of the gospel. He studies, prays, and preaches, watching over the souls of God’s elect as one who must give account. He has little time for anything other than the work of the gospel. Such a man, a man who spends his life serving the interest of men’s souls, should be highly honored by those for whom he labors (2 Thessalonians 3: 1, Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Corinthians 9:9-14).

“Know them which labour among you.” — God’s people should make it their business to become personally, even intimately, acquainted with faithful gospel preachers, especially their own pastors. Get to know the man who ministers to you. Try to know what his personal needs are, so that you can supply those needs. Try to find ways to assist him and relieve him of unnecessary burdens, so that he may more fully give himself to the work of the gospel.

“Esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” — Every faithful gospel preacher deserves and should have the high esteem and sincere love of God’s people, because of the work which he performs. He is God’s spokesman and representative to you, and he should be treated as such. The Holy Spirit tells us that those faithful pastors who “labor in the Word and doctrine” of God are to be “counted worthy of double honor” (1 Timothy 5:17).

“And be at peace among yourselves.” — Find me a local church where men and women refuse to hear and follow their God given pastor, and I will show you a church in constant turmoil. Find me a church where men and women honor the Word of God, pray for and follow their pastor, and I will show you a church that enjoys peace in the sweet fellowship of the gospel. Debates about doctrine, strife over words and endless questions about things of no importance, while sounding pious and appear to be a desire to learn in the eyes of the ignorant, are only constant snares of Satan by which he seeks to divide God’s people. The only way a local church can enjoy and keep the blessed “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) so vital to our spiritual well-being and usefulness in this world is by giving heed to the Holy Spirit’s instructions here in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

Grace Bulletin

August 8, 2010

Grace Baptist Church of Danville

2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

Schedule of Regular Services

Sunday

10:00 A.M. Bible Classes

10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service

6:30 P.M. Evening Worship Service

Tuesday

7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service

Television Broadcasts in Danville

Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.

Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.

Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

Web Pages

http://www.DonFortner.com

http://www.FreegraceRadio.com