Sept. 27, 2015

Sunday Worship

Radio WXCC 96.5 fm (internet wxccfm.com) 8:30 A.M.

Radio 98.1 fm; SuddenLink TV (channel 9) 10:30 A.M.

Bible Study 10:30 A.M.

Morning Service 11:15 A.M.

Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 1:5-6

CHRIST WILL KEEP THE SHEEP

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one”(John 10:27-30).

I do not panic nor despair in this world of religious paganism and corruption. The Lord knows how to deliver them that love Him and worship Him out of all trial and tribulation. Evil may abound, false teachers increase, the true worship of the Lord may all but perish from the earth; but our God has a people who are chosen by Him, redeemed by His dear Son, and called by His Spirit. He will keep them from falling and He will keep them “Til the river rolls its waters at their feet. Then He will safely bear them over, where their Saviour they shall meet.”

Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Man-made Stone

“For their rock is not as our ROCK . . .” – Deuteronomy 32:31

MAN has come up with all sorts of inventions over the years of what he thinks are ‘improvements’ over what God hath made. All such inventions eventually prove to be far inferior to God’s creation. One such modern invention is man-made stone. I have had a hand in laying both natural stone and this new ‘stone’ (which is not stone at all). There is no comparison between the two. God’s natural stone is solid stone, through and through. Man-made ‘stone’ merely looks like stone on the surface (only beautiful on the outside) and is a mixture of cement and sand. God’s natural stone is hard and difficult to break, while man-made ‘stone’ is very brittle and easily broken. God’s natural stone is suitable for a foundation (the only sure foundation), while man-made stone has no structural integrity at all, but is only for looks. God’s natural stone is able to support anything that adheres to it, such as vines and climbing plants; while man-made ‘stone’ will not support anything but will eventually come down with the vine that lays hold of it. And the greatest difference of all, that which proves to be the real difference is . . . the test of time.

This man-made stuff hasn’t been around too long, nor do I think it shall be. But that which the Lord hath made has endured for millenniums. In all this we see how that God’s ‘Stone’, which is Christ the Lord, is far superior to the man-made ‘jesus’ and religion of today. Christ is true Stone, solid Stone, tried Stone, substantial Stone, eternal Stone, beautiful, unbreakable, unmovable... a solid and eternal foundation for the soul that rests upon Him; the One upon which the church has been built and will forever stand. The man-made ‘jesus’ of today bears the name only, and is no real savior or foundation at all. Truly “their rock is NOT AS OUR ROCK!” (Deut.32:31).

Pastor Paul Mahan

THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE SAVED THEM

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” (Isa. 63:9).

Who is the angel of God’s presence spoken of here in this verse quoted? It is none other than the same person who speaks in verse 1 of this same chapter; “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” It is none other than our blessed God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. This angel is not a created angel but rather the Mediator and messenger of the everlasting covenant of grace (Mal. 3:1).

Who else could it be said, “in all their affliction he was afflicted?” Indeed, Christ was afflicted for our transgression, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isa. 53:4).

Who else but the Lord Jesus Christ could it be said, “in his love and pity he redeemed them?” None but Christ! “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1John 4:10). We are indeed redeemed with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18; Heb. 9:12).

The Lord Jesus Christ has always appeared before God as our Intercessor (Heb. 7:25). He is the Surety and sacrifice of the everlasting gospel (Heb. 7:22; 13:20). He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). The very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ before the throne of God as our Representative, Substitute and Mediator is the guarantee of our salvation (Eph. 2:4-6: Rom. 8:34).