He maketh the rebel a priest and a king
He hath bought us and taught us this new song to sing
“To Him who hath loved us and washed us from sin
To Him be the glory forever, Amen.”
Aloud in His praises our voices shall ring
So that others, believing, this new song shall sing
“To Him who hath loved us and washed us from sin
To Him be the glory forever, Amen.”
(Tune: “How Firm a Foundation”)
*****
There will be a Bible Conference this weekend at the Zebulon Baptist Church
in Pikeville, KY where Tom Harding is Pastor. Speakers are Paul Mahan and
Todd Nibert.
Birthdays
20th – Jonathan Carroll 23rd – James Johnson
24th – Brian DuFour 25th – Ellen Willis
“It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory
is not glory.” - Proverbs 25:27
DUE BENEVOLENCE
“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise
also the wife to the husband” (I Cor. 7:3). The word benevolence means
good will. We are to render to our spouses what is their due…..good
will. We will only be happy ourselves when we seek to make them happy. When
we concern ourselves with them giving us the due benevolence owed to us, we
will become unhappy. That is being focused on self. It we concern ourselves
over being happy, we w ill be unhappy. If we concern ourselves with doing
the right thing we will be happy. Another way of saying this is, if we seek
our own happiness, we will be unhappy. If we seek the others happiness, we
ourselves will be happy. In giving we get. In keeping we lose.
*****
We recognize that all we have materially and spiritually is what Christ has
given us. “What do you have that ye did not receive?” But it is
not what Christ gives us that gives us a hope of glory. It is what He is to
us. He Himself is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption
(I Cor. 1:30). Because we are united to Him, “As He is, so are we in
the world” (I John 4:17). We are very grateful for what He gives us.
But we glory in what He is to us.
*****
Someone said, “If I knew I were one of God’s elect, I would come
to Christ; but I fear I am not.” To you I answer: Nobody ever came to
Christ because he knew himself to be of the elect. It is quite true that God
has of His good pleasure elected some to everlasting life, but they never
knew it until they believed in Christ. Christ nowhere commands the elect to
come to Him. He commands all men everywhere to repent and believe the Gospel.
The question for you is not, 9 CAm I one of the elect?” But, “Am
I a sinner? Am I in need of the blood of Christ to wash away my sins? Am I
in need of His righteousness to clothe my nakedness? Is He my one and only
hope for salvation?” Christ came to save sinners. – R. M. McCheyne
“Go home to thy friends and tell them how great
things the Lord hath done for thee” - Mark 5:19
The Lord had shown great mercy to this poor sinner, setting him free from
demons and sin. Now He tells him to go home to his family and friends and
to be the Lord’s witness.
Do not go home and begin to preach. Do not go home and take up the great doctrines
of grace and expound them. Do not go home and strive to bring everyone to
your views and beliefs. Do not go home and condemn all who do not see what
you see. Go home and tell them “what great things the Lord hath done
for you!” Not what great things you have read, or heard, but what great
things you have experienced! This is the way to begin our witnessing.
There is never a more interesting story than the story a person has experienced,
lived, and felt. If you would really interest others and get their attention,
tell them what great things the Lord hath done in you and for you!
Notice the Lord said, “tell them what great thing the Lord hath done.”
It is a story of Free Grace. Not what we did, willed, or gave, but what He
did for us by His own free, sovereign, and undeserved love. We will not convince
them nor change them, anymore than another ma n could convert us. But the
Lord who did great things for us can do great things for them if He so pleases.
And He is pleased to use the faithful witness of those who go and tell “how
great things the Lord hath done for thee.” - Pastor Henry Mahan
*****
SAVING GRACE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY SAVING GRACES
The same Gospel of the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ, which saved
sinners, also sanctifies them and makes them obedient sons. A faith which
does not produce obedience to God’s word and godliness of character,
is not saving faith at all. – Pastor Henry Mahan