Dec 15
6
DOES WORSHIP COST ANYTHING?
“Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (II Samuel 24:24).
These were the words of David to Araunah when he had attempted to give David what was necessary for the sacrifice. This statement has a wide variety of applications. I would like for us to consider one of these applications. There is an element of sacrifice involved in public worship. There are some things you forego, and some things you actually have to do to prepare yourself for public worship. There is an effort involved in preparing yourself both physically and spiritually. There is nothing casual about worshipping God. The idea of adapting any aspect of worship for convenience is an abomination. If worship costs us nothing, you can be sure it will not be true worship. We must say with David, “I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. Pastor Todd Nibert
PEACE WHICH PASSETH
Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
While the peace of God itself certainly is beyond our comprehension, this verse speaks of God’s peace excelling beyond our understanding in another sense. When we don’t understand our circumstances, when we don’t understand God’s providential workings in our lives, when we don’t understand our trials, when we don’t understand what to do, we have peace from God that is greater than our understanding.
It is better to have His peace, than to understand everything. We don’t need to understand, because knowing Him, we have peace that He doeth all things well. We have peace that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We have peace that He works all things together for our good. We have peace that in Christ, we are without blemish and without spot and are well-pleasing unto God. This peace is more excellent than understanding. I don’t need to know what, why, how, when or where, if I know Who. Pastor Chris Cunningham
My English dictionary defines a Surety as “One who is legally liable for the debt, default, or failure of another.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the Surety of the everlasting covenant of grace (Heb. 7:22; 13:20). Before the foundation of the world, He covenanted with the Father to be the Surety for the elect (Rev. 13:8). From that time the Father looked to Him to answer for those sinners, not as a mere co-signer, sponsor, or helper, to make up for their deficiencies, but to assume and fully discharge ALL of their debts and obligation, for they were (are) totally bankrupt! From the very moment that He, by covenant, agreed to be their Surety, the Father no longer looked to them but to Him, for all that they owed. He fully satisfied God in their behalf. Therefore, they MUST be set free and enter into the glories of Heaven. What a message of Hope this is to guilty sinners! Full, free, everlasting salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, their Surety, BY FAITH, TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN HIM. Pastor Maurice Montgomery
A God You Cannot Satisfy, A Law You Cannot Keep . . .
I have tried diligently to preach God as He really is, to sinners as
they really are, and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Mediator
between the holy God and sinful men, the all-glorious Redeemer who
accomplished, by Himself, the reconciliation of His people (II Cor.
5:18-21). I have tried, and shall continue to do so, to preach to you:
1. A God you cannot satisfy,
2.A law you cannot keep,
3.An obedience you cannot produce,
4.A righteousness you cannot produce,
5.A love you cannot give,
6.Sin you cannot get rid of,
7.A judgment you cannot endure,
8.A repentance you cannot produce,
9.A faith which God alone can give,
10.But … a Christ who fully satisfied God for sinners and who freely
saves the vilest of sinners. I urge you to look to Him, believe Him,
trust Him, and confidently commit your guilty soul unto Him. Simply hug
up to Him in childlike faith and trust, and all will be well with your
soul. In Him there is no condemnation.
Pastor Maurice Montgomery
“ Tell me, o thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon…”
(Song of Solomon 1: 7)
The study of the word of God is a most precious thing indeed; the private time in our prayer closet is to be highly valued. Yet I say as the writer of the Canticles…Tell me, oh tell me beloved Lord Jesus Christ, show me blessed Redeemer, cause me to seek and find to the eternal joy of my soul….the place where you have the bounty of the feast of the Atoning sacrifice of our Elder Brother on display. Oh to be heard and believed by every boy, girl and adult this morning. Please allow me to feed with your sheep this day, where I can truly, as in no other place on this earth, rest my weary and shell shocked soul at the noon season! TELL ME! I need to be here, I want to be here, I respect and reverence such a privilege as this; to one more time hear of my sins being taken away and the Saviour exalted and satisfying all things against me, and now is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Selah.
Drew Dietz