September 8, 2013

Call to Worship

Great Father of glory, how rich is thy grace!
What wonderful love is displayed in Thy face!
In Jesus Thy image, with brightness we view,
And hope to be formed in that likeness anew.

Oh wonder of wonders! Astonished I gaze,
To see in a manger, the Ancient of Days!
From sin to release us, that yoke so long worn,
My God, my Creator, of Mary was born!

For unworthy sinners, my Lord bowed His head,
For unworthy sinners, He suffered and bled;
My spirit rejoices; the work is all done!
My soul is redeemed, my salvation is won!

Great Father of glory, how rich is Thy grace!
What wonderful love is displayed in Thy face!
In Jesus, Beloved, we're washed in His blood,
And with confidence come to the throne of our God.

(Tune: ‘How Firm a Foundation’ #268)

God Is

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be... Unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone! He was bruised and brought healing! He was pierced and eased pain! He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought life! He is raised and brings power! He reigns and brings Peace! The world can't understand him, armies can't defeat Him, The schools can't explain Him, and the leaders can't ignore Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him, The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and the people couldn’t hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him, The New Age can't replace Him, and Donahue can't explain Him away! He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His word is eternal, and His will is unchanging. He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior, He is my guide, and He is my peace! He is my Joy, He is my comfort, He is my Lord, and He rules my life! I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His yoke is easy, in Him is abundant life. I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, The power of the powerful, The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, The leader of leaders, the overseer of the over comers, and The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come. He will never leave me, Never forsake me, Never mislead me, Never forget me, Never overlook me, and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book! When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I am blind, He leads me! When I am hungry, He feeds me, when I face trials, He is with me! When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts me! When I face loss, He provides for me! When I face Death, He carries me home! He is everything for His elect, everywhere, every time, and every way. He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine! So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this... He said it and that settles it. God is in control, “if He be for me who can be against me“? That means all is well with my soul.

- Pastor

A SALVATION OUTSIDE OF ME

Every time I look in a mirror, I get upset with myself. First of all, that I am so controlled by how others see me that I would spend that much time in front of a mirror and secondly, that what 1 am looking at is a big pile of disgusting, sinful flesh. But as a sinner saved by the grace of God, what I am looking at in the mirror is dead... "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed" (Rom. 6:6). That body of sin I am looking at was destroyed when Christ was crucified on the cross, and I was crucified in Him, and with Him. Faith simply believes that my salvation was totally accomplished outside of me that Christ finished my salvation. Faith simply believes inside that body of sin I see in the mirror dwells a new man, Christ in me, and I am complete in Him. I am completely righteous; for His is my righteousness I am completely sin-free, because He put away all my sin. Looking in the mirror at yourself is just a reflection of how we naturally approach salvation looking to self, and not to Christ. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

- Brian DuFour

~~~ O ~~~

Philip Henry, Matthew Henry’s father, wrote a little book on Christ is All. And he said, “The fact that Jesus Christ is our righteousness will do us well three times.” When we do something awful, how sweet it is to know that Jesus Christ is our righteousness. When we do something good, how necessary it is to know that Jesus Christ is our righteousness. And when we come down to die and we know that in moments we go out to face the most holy God, the thrice holy God, and the God before whom the stars and moon are not pure in his sight, the God whose eyes are too pure to behold evil. I will tell you what I want. I want Christ as my righteousness. And that righteousness is righteousness accounted to us imputed to us, based on the fact that God the Son glorified God the Father and gave us eternal life.