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.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:35-36
The story is told of a certain old pastor who was disturbed greatly because one of his dear brethren was getting too involved in other things and was absent from the worship services. One Sunday evening at the close of the service, the pastor went to his friend’s house and found him sitting before an open fire. Somewhat startled by the appearance of his pastor (who spoke not a word), the man pulled up another chair before the fire, waiting for words of rebuke from his visitor; but none came. The minister took his seat before the fire and silently took the tongs and lifted a glowing coal from the midst of its fellows and LAID IT BY ITSELF ON THE HEARTH. Remaining silent, both men watched the blaze die and the coal grow dark. Then the truant brother opened his mouth and said, “You need not say a word, pastor; I will be there Wednesday night.”
Pastor Henry T. Mahan
“He must increase, I must decrease.” John 3:30
As the years pass, I come to a greater and greater realization of how much I must depend upon the grace of God for my salvation. My righteousness appears less and less acceptable in my sight: and if it looks poor in my sight, how awful it must appear in God’s sight! My will and determination do not appear half so strong as they once did, and I feel a greater need to rely upon the unchangeable will of God if I am to persevere. This business of growing in grace is not at all what I once thought it would be. Rather than growing stronger, it seems I am growing weaker. Rather than growing more self-sufficient, it appears that I am growing more Christ – dependent. My utter dependence on Christ for all things is more evident to me now than before. I suppose this is why Peter united growing in grace with growing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. So, if your desire is to grow in grace, then prepare yourself to diminish; prepare yourself to reduce in the flesh, for growth in grace is a growth in “Christ being formed in you,” which always follows the old pattern “He must increase, I must decrease.”
Pastor Joe Terrell
CHRIST IS READY TO GIVE
For some of you, this is a time of great darkness; but in the gospel there is light for the present, yes, joy even for this moment in which you seem to be driven almost to despair. When I preach about the water of life so freely given by God, I mean just this – that all you need between here and heaven, Christ is ready to give you. All that your soul can possibly require to enable you to stand in the presence of God without fear and dwell in the bosom of God forever, made perfectly like Christ by His grace – all that is in the gospel for you; and we are bidden to invite you to partake of it in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Pastor Bruce Crabtree
PETER'S SIN AND REPENTANCE
“Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26:75).
There has been much written and said of Peter's failure and sin when he denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ, but not much of Peter's conviction and repentance that was granted and given of the LORD. Peter sinned, but he did not lose his salvation. His faith was weak, but not dead. He sinned and failed miserably, but he was not forsaken (Heb. 13:5). God brought Peter through this trial and granted him strength, recovery and a constant heart of repentance before God (Acts 5:11; 11:18). Here are four things we learn from Peter's trial and repentance.
1).It was the working of God's sovereign providence."Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew." God used a rooster to bring to Peter's mind what the Lord had said (Matt. 26:34). Often in the believers life God uses small insignificant things to bring us to the gospel of His glorious grace. Despise not the day of small things (Zech. 4:10; Rom. 11:36).
2).It was the working of the effectual word of God."Peter remembered the word of Jesus." It is the preaching of the Word that God uses to quicken us and to reveal Himself to us (1Peter 1:23; James 1:18). It is through the ministry of the Word, hearing and believing that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (1Thes. 2:13;1Peter 2:2).
3). It was the working of the powerful grace of God."The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter." (Luke 22:61). The Lord looked upon Peter in pity, love and pardon and I am sure that Peter also looked upon the Lord. Their eyes were fasted upon one another and Peter's heart melted within him. The reason of any sinner being put in a constant state of repentance is the eternal look of God to His people in irresistible grace (Jer. 31:3).
4). It was the working of Jesus Christ as our blessed Mediator. "The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31). Peter's faith was sorely tried, but it was not utterly destroyed (1Peter 1:5). Christ stood as his ever-living Mediator (Heb.7:25)! Peter was made stronger and when he returned to the resurrected Lord of glory and told to go preach the gospel everywhere, he was made an instrument of help to many (Matt. 28:18-20). We know the rest of the story of Peter's life. He stood at Pentecost and preached the gospel to thousands and the Lord added to His church daily such as should be saved (Acts. 2: 41-47).
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