January 13, 2008
Sunday 10:00am WLEX TV Channel 18

Thy mercy, My God, is the theme of my song
The joy of my heart, the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last
Hath won my affection and bound my heart fast.

For unworthy sinners my Lord bowed His head
For unworthy sinners He suffered and bled
My spirit rejoices, the work it is done
My soul is redeemed, and salvation is won!

Great God of mercies, Thy goodness I own
And the covenant of love of Thy glorified Son
All praise to the Saviour whose blood so divine
Sealed pardon and mercy and righteousness mine.

Great God of glory, how rich is Thy grace!
What wonderful love is revealed in Thy face!
Lord Jesus, Beloved, we’re washed in Thy blood
With hope we shall stand at the throne of our God.

(Tune: “How Firm a Foundation” p. 268)

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Please remember to proof your information and make any corrections in the church directory and check your name off afterwards.

Lauren Culver confessed Christ in Believer’s Baptism this past Wednesday evening. We rejoice with her upon her confession.

Birthdays
13th – Keith Bailey 13th – Wilma Warta 15th – Mike Rigsby
16th – Kelli Harries 17th – Bernita Singleton 19th – Amanda DuFour



“Be thou not envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.” - Proverb 24:1


A CONFERENCE TO BE AVOIDED
When God revealed Christ in Paul, he said, “Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (Gal. 1:16) [I did not consult with human beings for the support of what God taught me]. Of this I am sure. When God speaks to us from His Word; when we see clearly that it is what the Word teaches, we do not need human affirmation to support it. It matters not if some well respected preacher from the past did not believe this way. It does not even matter if nobody else believes it. If God teaches you something, you are willing to stand for it even if you have to stand alone. If I need human affirmation to believe, I have not been taught of God.
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MY TRANSGRESSIONS
I am a sinner, I sin 24/7. Nothing to be proud of, and everything to be ashamed of. That is why the Gospel of grace and free salvation in Christ is such good news to this sinner. He freely gives me a righteousness that He worked out, and freely takes the punishment of the sin that I worked out. Christ was made sin – how all of that actually happened, I don’t know. Ours is not to know why, but to believe.
This transference of sin is spoken of throughout the Scriptures, but I believe it is very plainly spoken of in this verse – “Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions” (Lam. 1:22). Christ lays claim to the sins of the elect, and calls them, “My transgressions…” and what was done unto him…death…was done unto me. Union with Christ is a beautiful truth. The apostle Paul puts it this way – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). May God give us grace to love and give ourselves for Him, as He did for us. – Brian DuFour

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If I did not believe the Scriptural teaching of election unto salvation, I would not bother to ever preach again. But since God has a people chosen unto salvation and redeemed by Christ, I am encouraged to preach “Christ and Him crucified.” I am assured that the Holy Spirit will cause His people to hear the gospel and believe on the Son.
- Copied


BALAAM’S ASS SPOKE THE TRUTH
BUT HE WAS STILL AN ASS!
I assume that you are Calvanistic in creed, fundamental in faith, and moral in manners or you would not be identified with this people. But has the grace you profess made you gracious? Has the love of God you claim made you a loving, tender, and kind person? Has the forgiveness of your sins taught you how to forgive? Has your friendship with “THAT GREAT FRIEND” taught you how to be a true and loyal friend? Having received the heavenly gifts freely from God’s merciful hand, have you learned to give to others freely and generously? You have studied the person and work of Jesus Christ, but HAVE YOU LEARNED CHRIST? The only true evidence that you or anyone else has of the fact that you know Christ and have truly been with Christ, is that you demonstrate in attitude and action the ways and will of Christ. Is this not what Paul is saying in I Corinthians 13? One may have the orthodoxy and knowledge, and gifts of religion; but if he does not have LOVE, he is NOTHING! Don’t just tell men about the grace of God; show them what His grace has done for you. Don’t just preach the love of God; demonstrate it! My friends, a contentious, unloving, ungracious person is a stranger to the grace of God; for the grace of God makes men and women gracious and loving in all areas. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Balaam’s ass spoke the truth, but he was STILL AN ASS! SPEAKING the truth does not necessarily change one; LEARNING THE TRUTH DOES!
- Pastor Henry Mahan


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WHAT IS MEANT BY SOVEREIGN GRACE?
Sovereign Grace is God’s grace. And God’s grace is Sovereign Grace. If it is not Sovereign Grace, it is not saving grace. Sovereign Grace is the Truth. Sovereign Grace is the message that declares the electing love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the invincible love of the Holy Spirit. Sovereign Grace is the content of all true evangelism. Sovereign Grace is the Gospel. Any message that does not declare the Sovereign Grace of God in Christ Jesus is “another gospel”. Sovereign Grace is saving grace