October 11, 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.

There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Deut. 33:26-27

His Will

To receive Christ as our Lord is to bow to His will. To walk with Christ is to walk with Him, “Who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will.” To plan my day is to say, “If the Lord will, we shall do this.” To pray is to ask anything according to His will.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan

The Gospel’s Effect

The Gospel, rightly understood and cordially embraced, will inspire the slothful with energy and the fearful with courage. It will make the miser generous, melt the grouch into kindness, tame the raging tiger in the beast, and in a word, expand the narrow, selfish heart and fill it with a spirit of love to God, cheerful unreserved obedience to His will, and benevolence to mankind.

John Newton (1725-1807)

CHRIST

A man’s acts are always the truest index of his desires and purposes. We must make Christ the paramount object of our soul’s pursuit or our spiritual life will decline. It was Christ yesterday, and it must be Christ today and Christ forever. It will not do to feed partly on Christ and partly on other things. As in the matter of life, it is Christ alone; so in the matter of living, it must be Christ alone.

Pastor Scott Richardson

A WORD ABOUT TRIALS

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice" (1Peter 4:12-13).

If God has given you the privilege and opportunity to go through difficult and heavy trials, then you ought to make the most of that privilege and opportunity to glorify Him by being in subjection to Him, because it might only happen once in a lifetime. We don't desire to have severe trials nor do we pray for them. I don’t know what I would do should a severe trial come my way. But I know what I ought to do! I ought to bless, thank, and worship God, because it came from God! And I ought to conduct myself in such a way under this difficulty that the people of God, who love me and who I love, would say, “This thing called grace really works!"

In my experience I have seen so many people that had the opportunity and privilege afforded them by the hand of God to react during trial in such a manner that would display what they say they have experienced, and they miss that opportunity. It's one thing to talk of Calvinism, it's one thing to talk of how sovereign God is, but it’s another thing to actually submit ourselves to the Lord of sovereignty.

Pastor Scott Richardson

THE MARVEL OF SOVEREIGN LOVE

She went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope” (Hosea 2:13-15).

This is a marvelous love story of Hosea (Saviour) and his rebellious wife, Gomer (failure). God told Hosea to go marry this woman, a harlot (Hosea 1:3) and provide for her (Hosea 2:8). Hosea, God's faithful prophet did as he was instructed. Gomer began to walk after the sinful ways of her heritage, leaving Hosea for others (Hosea 2:5). Soon her wicked ways overcame her, she was reduced to poverty and shame and was sold as a common slave on the auction block (Hosea. 3:1-3). When Gomer began to seek after her lovers and forget the goodness of Hosea, God instructed His prophet to love her, allure her, bring her, and speak comfortably to her (Hosea 2:13-15). One naturally would have thought to divorce her, condemn and find another wife. Hosea, faithful to his covenant with her, found her, bought her and received her back into his home. All of this is a glorious picture of God's saving, redeeming and sovereign grace to guilty sinners. Notice these few thoughts!

1). The marvel of grace, "Therefore, behold, I will allure her." God's thoughts and ways of mercy are infinitely above ours (Rom.5:6-9; Eph.2:1-4; 1 John 2:1). We justly should have been immediately and eternally condemned when we sinned against God (Rom.3:23; 6:23). But infinite and sovereign mercy intervened through Christ (Rom. 3:24; 9:12-16). The only reason for grace is found in the goodness of God (Ex. 33:19; John 1:17-18;).

2). The power of Grace, "I will allure her." God has purposed through the preaching of the true gospel to call out His sheep (1 Cor. 1:21). Through the gospel message God the Holy Spirit does "allure" or draw us lovingly, powerfully and irresistibly to Himself (Psalm 65:4; Psalm 110:3; John 6:44-45; Rom.1:16-17; 1 Thes. 1:4-5).

3). The work of grace, "bring her into the wilderness." Think of it, alone with God. Separated, chosen and made to differ by electing love (1 Cor.4:7; 2 Thes. 2:13); called out of the bondage and darkness of sin into His marvelous light (2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 1:12-13). Made a new creature in Christ Jesus by Almighty grace, (2 Cor. 5:17) and Christ our Righteousness exalted and enthroned in our heart (1 Cor.1:30; Phil. 2:5-11).