“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:13-14) *****
Learning the Three “R’s Every message should contain the three R’s: ruined by the fall, redeemed by the blood and regenerated by the Spirit. If these three truths are properly learned we will be well-grounded in the doctrine of salvation by sovereign grace. There is good reason that redeemed by the blood is in the middle. “Redemption that is in Christ Jesus” is the only remedy for ruined by the fall. The cross-death of Christ is the answer to “How then can man be justified with God? Or, how can he be clean that is born of a woman? (Job 25:4). And, regenerated by the Spirit is the result of the redemptive work of Christ. Those bought “with the precious blood of Christ” will be quickened and effectually called to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” –Pastor Jim Byrd *****
The Poorer for it After the Lord’s resurrection He appeared to His disciples and Thomas was not present. He did not hear the Savior say, “Peace be unto you.” His heart was not made glad in seeing the Lord, as were the others. Why did he miss out on these blessings? It is written, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.” I do not know why he was absent that day, but he was the poorer for it. And when we miss a worship service, where Christ has promised to be present, we are the poorer for it. The peace that His word affords to His troubled children, we do not receive. The gladness of seeing Christ in the Scriptures as being our “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption” is not seen. O how many blessings we deprive ourselves of when we are absent from the worship of the Lord! –Pastor Jim Byrd
****** Nothing Talking about Everything!When it comes to preaching Christ, I am in way over my head! I am a finite creature talking about the Infinite Creator. I am a sinner talking about holiness. I am ignorance talking about knowledge. I am error talking about truth, darkness talking about Light, and unrighteousness talking about Righteousness. I am a tea cup measuring the boundless sea of God’s grace. I am a yardstick measuring eternity. I am a weak voice talking about the Word. I am weakness talking about the mighty God. I am a fallen will talking about His sovereign will. I am an obscure subject on earth talking about the King of kings and Lord of lords. I am water talking about wine, the undeserving talking about mercy and grace and ugliness talking about Divine beauty. I am stupidity talking about Wisdom. I am a wretch talking about Him who is ALL! I am a fallen man talking about THE Man Christ Jesus. I am sickness talking about the Health of men’s souls. I am an undesirable talking about the Desire of the nations. I am nothing talking about the I AM. I am a sinner saved by grace talking about the Savior who saves by grace. I am a miserable creature talking about mercy and a vile prisoner talking about the Deliverer. I am a slave talking about the Redeemer. I am a clay pot filled with the Treasure of all treasures, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is for a number of reasons but I’ll give you two. First, who better to tell of Christ than one He’s shown mercy to and been gracious to? Who better than the chief of sinners such as myself? Secondly, this is so there will be no doubt to any that all the glory goes to HIM! “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7). I am less than nothing talking about more than everything. Look to Christ and not at me. Hear Him and not me! “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). –Pastor Gary Shepard *****
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