August 10, 2008

Sunday 10:00am WLEX TV Channel 18

It is requested that all children under the age of five stay in our nursery
so there will be no distractions during the preaching of the Gospel.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Thought Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live
If Jordan above me shall roll
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait
The sky, not the grave, is our goal
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul.

(Refrain after last verse only: It is well, With my Soul, It is well, It is well, With my soul.)

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Birthdays
10th – Eric Wilson 13th – Megan Davis 15th – Jan Carver
15th – Delphus Grubb 15th – Anna Grace Meek

“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” - Proverbs 23:4

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ECLIPSING THE GLORY
From our perspective, it generally looks as though the moon has a light of its own. But during an eclipse – when the moon comes between the earth and the sun – the moon is shown for what it is: a dark and dead body. Rather than adding light to the sun, it actually diminishes the sunlight that reaches us.
So it is with doctrine. While in its proper position, it shines with a brilliant light or glory. But, just as with the moon, the glory of doctrine is not its own, it is Christ. The proof of this is simple. Let any doctrine occupy a place between Christ and us, and it will “eclipse” the glory of Christ and become a dead and darkening thing to our souls. Election is a glorious and wonderful doctrine. But its glory is wholly borrowed from Christ. There is no glory in election apart from the fact that “we are chosen in Him…” Predestination has no glory apart from the fact that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Redemption viewed by itself becomes nothing more than a point of contention and pride. Arguments arise over its extent and scope. But, when we understand that we have redemption in Christ, even more, Christ IS our redemption, than all arguments over its extent and scope are silenced and a glorious, God-honoring, soul-comforting truth appears: that every blood-bought sinner IS redeemed by a redemption that cannot be undone. And so the principle applies to every truth: until truth is seen in its proper relation to Christ, it is a dead and dark thing. But when it is viewed in its proper relation to Christ, it shines with His glory and reveals His glory to us. – Pastor Joe Terrell


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Be truthful and God will honor you!
Be honest and He will provide for you!
Be humble and He will exalt you!
Be patient and He will stablish and strengthen you!
Be gentle to all and He will reward you!
- Pastor Henry Mahan

When you hear contemporary preachers talking about what God is “trying to do,” or what He “wants to do” and “would do” if people would but cooperate; often accompanied with a plea to men and women: “Won’t you let God” do this or that, it is important that you understand that they are not talking about the God of the Bible, the true and living God. They are talking about a different god, a god of their own imagination, a god of their own making. They are idolators! The God of the Bible is described and set forth as One who does what He pleases, only what He pleases, and always what He pleases (Psalm 15:2-3; 135:5-6). HE IS GOD! “What His soul desireth, even that He doeth” (Job 23:13). From Genesis 1:1 throughout the whole of the Inspired Volume, the Holy Bible, GOD is set forth as the only true and living God, the Almighty One, absolutely sovereign, independent and free. “Working ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11). “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36) “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” - Revelation 19:6
- Pastor Maurice Montgomery



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Today’s gospel calls on men to stand up for God; the gospel commands men to bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The two-fold message of evangelism is (1) all flesh is grass, and (2) behold your God! It is the message which strips man of all glory and gives all the glory to Christ. The result of preaching the Gospel of God’s glory will be a sense of the awful presence of God, breaking the hearts of sinners and bringing them to the feet of Christ for cleansing. Gone will be the voice of the proud sinner who stands in the church, beset on every side by soul winners, debating whether or not he will recognize the Lord and let God save him. Gone will be the voice of the self-righteous sinner who debates whether or not he will let Jesus come into his heart. Instead we will hear broken hearts and contrite spirits cry:
“Depths of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?”
- Rolfe Barnard