February 14, 2016

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.

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. Proverbs 2:6-9

Next Sunday, Feb. 21, we plan to observe the Lord’s Table and have lunch together.

My Satisfaction

If the speaker knows his heart at all, there are two things with which he is eminently and forever satisfied. One is that he is satisfied with his salvation, which he has through faith in Christ. He is satisfied with what Jesus Christ did at Calvary when he put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He is so satisfied that he would not add so much as the lift of his finger to what Jesus Christ did at Calvary as the ground of his acceptance with God. The second thing with what he is satisfied is the providence of God in his life. The way has not always been plain, nor has it always been pleasant; but we believe that God’s way with us has been profitable to us and to His glory.

C.D. Cole (1885-1968)

I can imagine the Day of Judgment

All are gathered before the Throne of God. Those who are robed in the perfect robe of Christ’s righteousness are gathered at His right hand. The rest wait to hear His voice of condemnation, “Depart from Me!” Does anyone have anything to say? If there is one who has no sin, let him step forth and say so! Come forth, my friend, and state your case! What about the righteousness and holiness in which you boasted while on earth? Come forward and tell about your works, your gifts, your denomination – you found much comfort in these things once.

You who scoffed at substitution, who laughed at free grace, imputed righteousness, and covenant mercies – you are not laughing now!

Why is your face so pale? Why do you tremble so? You never trembled before, but always had so much confidence in your decision, and boasted of being as sure for Heaven as if you were already there! Why do you not tell God what you did for Him on earth? It is quite evident that He did nothing for you!

But I remember that you said, “God has done all that He could do, and salvation is up to you.” What a terrible time to discover what you should have known – SALVATION IS OF THE LORD! Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us! Why do you not speak? Is it because of the awesome, infinite holiness of His presence?

You clutch your righteous garments about you and they are nothing but filthy rags now, and you know it! You think of your prayers, your religious activities, your debates over doctrine; and they are all so much rubbish in the light of His Presence.

And now you are praying? And what is it that you cry? “O rocks and mountains, fall on me, and hide me from the face of Him who sits upon the Throne!” I wish that you had cried as fervently for Christ to hide you, cleanse you, and cover you – HE WOULD HAVE!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan

ALL THINGS ARE YOURS (1 Cor. 3:21-23).
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.”

God's apostle gives to every believer great reason to have assurance and confidence resting in the Lord Jesus Christ, "All things are for your sake" (2 Cor. 4:15; Rom 8:32). This cannot be said of those who refuse to trust Christ and rest in their own righteousness, the only thing that belongs to them is the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23). But to those who by sovereign grace rest in Christ, our great God and Saviour has supplied all our need abundantly, eternally and freely (Phil. 4:19). Notice some of the spiritual blessings of grace mentioned in these verses.

1). All ministers of the gospel are for your sake, "whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas." God has chosen them by His grace, taught them by His Spirit and sent them by His power (Eph. 3:7-8; Eph. 4:12). God has ordained the preaching of the gospel as the means to call out His elect (1 Cor. 18-20), to build them up in the faith and to refresh and feed their soul with the Bread of life (John 21:15-18; Acts 20:28).

2). The creation of all things is ours, "or the world." The whole creation belongs to God (Psa. 24:1). He made it for His covenant people to enjoy and it only exists because of them. As the heirs of His grace (Rom.8:17) and adopted into His family (1John 3:1); "all things are yours," not only in this world now, but also in the world to come (2 Pet. 3:13).

3). Salvation in Christ is ours, "or life." By the decree of Almighty God, we have spiritual and eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 John 5:11-13). We believe by the power of God (Eph.1:19; Acts 13:48).

4). The death of Christ is ours, "or death." Christ died the appointed death at the appointed time for the appointed people (Acts 2:23). By His death and blood sacrifice our sin is put away (Heb. 10:17). Because of Christ dying in our room and stead the sting of death has been removed for the believer (1 Cor. 15:54-57; Psalm 116:15).

5). The providence of God works for our eternal good, "or things present, or things to come." God has arranged and ordered all things in the life of the believer to work together for their eternal salvation and great design of God's glory (Rom. 8:28-35; 2 Cor.5:18).