June 15, 2008
Sunday 10:00am WLEX TV Channel 18
It is requested that children under the age of five stay in our nursery
so there will be no distractions during the preaching of the Gospel.
HYMN FOR THE DAY
Look upon me, Lord I pray Thee
Let Thy Spirit dwell in mine
Thou hast sought me, Thou hast bought me
Take my heart, and make it Thine.
Nought I ask for, nought I strive for
But Thy grace so rich and free
This Thou givest by the Saviour
He hath all things who hath Thee.
Precious is the name of Jesus
Who can half its worth unfold?
Far beyond angelic praises
Sweetly sung to harps of gold.
Guide me, Oh Thou great Jehovah
Pilgrim through this barren land
I am weak, but Thou art mighty
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
(Tune: “Jesus Calls Us” p. 374)
*****
Everyone is invited to stay for lunch after the service this morning. Please
remember to supervise your children and go through the line with them. There
will be no evening service tonight.
Vacation Bible School will be June 24 – 26 from 10:30 – 1:30.
We will go to Gattitown at 11:30 on Thursday.
Birthdays
15th – Silas Benton 16th – Andrea Bryan 16th – Monica Bryan
16th – Sean Weinstock 21st – Stan Verenich
“It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will
be meddling.” – Proverbs 20:3
*****
YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE
“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service.” - Romans 12:1
Paul is making an appeal that will only reach the heart of a true believer.
“I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God….”
The mercies He has bestowed upon you in the Gospel. His mercies are enough
to motivate us to “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable
to God.” Our bodies represent our complete self; no reservations. All
that we are is to be presented to God as a living sacrifice, unlike the dead
sacrifices presented under the law. The presentation of our bodies to God
is holy, the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and well pleasing to God - “which
is your reasonable service.” Anything short of this is unreasonable
and illogical. The only reasonable thing to do is to present ourselves to
Him like Isaiah did. “Here am I, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)
*****
TAKE HEED HOW YOU HEAR
Let me give you some simple directions for hearing the word preached.
1. Hear with A HUNGRY, NEEDY HEART! If a person goes to the drug store seeking
relief, he should have some idea of his problem. Does his head hurt or his
feet? We hear the word as men with a heart problem – sin.
2. Hear THE WORD OF GOD, not just the words of men! “When you received
the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of
men, but as it is in truth the word of God which worketh effectually also
in you that believe” (I Thess. 2:13). 3. Hear THE WORD FOR YOURSELF,
not others! When Nathan told David the story of the stolen lamb, David was
angry and said, “Who is the man, I will deal with him.” Nathan
replied, “David, thou art the man.” The word takes on a different
sense when this is realized. 4. Hear the word IN FAITH! What did God say of
Israel? “They heard the gospel preached, but it did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 4:2). –
Pastor Henry Mahan
A SALVATION OUTSIDE OF ME
Every time I look in a mirror, I get upset with myself. First of all, that
I am so controlled by how others see me that I would spend that much time
in front of a mirror….and secondly, that what I am looking at is a big
pile of disgusting, sinful flesh. But as a sinner saved by the grace of God,
what I am looking at in the mirror is dead… “Knowing this, that
our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed”
(Rom. 6:6). That body of sin I am looking at was destroyed when Christ was
crucified on the cross, and I was crucified in Him, and with Him. Faith simply
believes that…that my salvation was totally accomplished outside of
me…that Christ finished my salvation. Faith simply believes inside that
body of sin I see in the mirror dwells a new man, Christ in me, and I am complete
in Him. I am completely righteous, for His is my righteousness….I am
completely sin-free, because He put away all my sin.
Looking in the mirror at yourself is just a reflection of how we naturally
approach salvation….looking to self, and not to Christ. Turn your eyes
upon Jesus. – Brian DuFour
*****
Let us not lose heart, grow tired or discouraged, nor become careless and
indifferent in our labor of love and works of faith; for it is required of
God’s servants that they be faithful at all times and under every condition.
God has a due season or an appointed time for His harvest and His judgments.
This “well-doing” includes the bold preaching of His gospel of
grace, faithfulness in worship and witness, persevering prayer for our friends
and family, dependable support of our pastors and missionaries, endeavoring
to keep the unity and fellowship of the church sweet, and aiding those who
are sick and in need. Disappointment and failure should never discourage us;
for this, too, is a part of God’s purpose. – Pastor Henry Mahan
*****
Instead of shrinking back in horror from the doctrine of predestination, the
believer, when he sees this blessed truth as it is unfolded in the Word, discovers
a solid ground for gratitude and thanksgiving such as nothing else affords,
save the unspeakable gift of the Redeemer Himself. - A. W. Pink