December 22, 2013

No Wednesday service this week. We will have a Fellowship Dinner on January 5th, the first Sunday of the New Year. May God richly bless you all and may you have a good Christmas with
your families.

Our David

David, our Prince, has prevailed;
He alone has never failed.
Giants loom up from man's vale.
In our own strength we will fail.
That Great Shepherd of the sheep
Promises His own to keep.

Let the giants of this world
All their fiery darts to hurl
To defy the Living God;
Yet, without they are but dogs.
That great sin that was our shame
Our Lord conquered for His name.

Satan buffets on each side.
Christ, the Way, he doth deride.
Our Lord bruised the serpent's head.
Where's the enemy we dread?
Our Deliv'rer took our place;
Has prevailed, O matchless grace.

Be strong and of good courage,
Fear ye not, nor be afraid,
For the Lord thy God is He
That doth go ever with thee.
Our David will not fail thee,
And He'll never forsake thee.

By Gary Spreacker, Tune "Rock of Ages" p126
All Days - His Days

At this time of year when the name of Christ our Lord is used and abused by religion and the world, we who profess that blessed and glorious name rejoice in the fact that everyday is His day, that every season is His season. Though, indeed, He was laid in a manger because there was no room for Him in the Inn, the most important point of our Lord's coming was the announcement of the Angel, "thou shalt call His name Jesus (Jehovah Saves) for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:2 1).

Also at this time of year, people get sentimental, put on plays, dress up like fools, sing special songs, yet - they do not know "He came to save His people ", they do not know, that He is not in the manger that it is not his birth we are to celebrate but we are to worship His glorious person as the God-Man.

Bless the Lord 0 my soul, that our Savior Sits now at God's right hand, ever-living, making intercession for us. Bless the Lord O my soul, that He made an end of sins by the sacrifice of Himself. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.

- Pastor

~~~ O ~~~

If God has called "not many wise," why does it seem that so many preachers design their messages to appeal to the wise? Is it not the height of foolishness to preach with such "wisdom" that those for whom the gospel was intended cannot understand it? But note how God explains His gospel. While men write volumes to explain salvation, God says, "Look unto Me." While men seek to expound the gospel with high-sounding words and phrases, God speaks with one-syllable words like "come," "seek," and "flee." The most complicated word that God uses in telling us how to gain salvation is "believe." One of the greatest glories of the gospel is its simplicity. Therefore, let us always seek to declare the gospel in simple words and simple sentences.

- Pastor Joseph Terrell

THE PRINCIPLE CHARACTER OF GRACE

There are three principle characteristics of Divine grace.

First, IT IS ETERNAL. Grace was planned before it was exercised, purposed before it was imparted. “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE the world began,” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Secondly, IT IS FREE, for none did ever purchase it. “Being justified FREELY by His grace,” (Romans 3:24).

Thirdly, IT IS SOVEREIGN, because God exercises it toward and bestows it upon whom He pleases. “Even so might grace REIGN,” (Romans 5:21). If grace REIGNS, then it is on the throne, and the occupant of the throne is Sovereign. Hence, “the THRONE of grace,” (Heb. 4:16).

"But thou, BETHLEHEM Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).

[1]. In BETHLEHEM Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and died. Before she died, she called the name of her infant son BENONI, "The son of sorrow." But his father, Jacob, called him BENJAMIN, "The son of the right hand." Christ was truly "the man of sorrows" and "the Son of the Father's right hand" (Gen. 35:18).

[2]. In BETHLEHEM Ruth met Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer, who redeemed her from poverty! Our Kinsman-Redeemer came to earth at Bethlehem to redeem us.

[3]. In BETHLEHEM David was born, chosen of God to be king over Israel. Our King of kings and Lord of lords is born in Bethlehem. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, Christ the Lord."

[4]. BETHLEHEM means "House of Bread." What a fitting name for the birthplace of "The Bread of Life." "He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (Jn. 6:35).

[5]. BETHLEHEM is "little among the thousands of Judah," Our Lord always comes to the "little ones," not to Hebron's high hills nor to Jerusalem's royal palaces, but to the little villages to be the Saviour of the poor and needy.