Nov 18
19
The greatest pressure for me as a pastor is, one, knowing that I speak
on behalf of God and am accountable to God for what I declare concerning
Christ; two, it is knowing that I speak to sinners who will spend
eternity somewhere. This pressure is due to fear God has put in my
heart. I really do tremble for those who are quick to speak the word of
God to eternity bound sinners, especially if they speak not according to
God’s word. It will be especially terrible for those who divide brethren
and lead men away from the gospel of Christ. God says, “of whom hast
thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered
me, nor laid it to thy heart?” (Isa 57:11) It takes God creating a new
heart to make a sinner truly fear and reverence God, resting entirely in
Christ alone. He makes us come out from the wicked (2Co 7:1; Pr 9:10).
The fear of God makes us submit to one another rather than sow discord
(Eph 5: 21).
Clay Curtis.
THE LOVE OF GOD
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).
There is a great deal said in religious circles about the love of God,
but few have a real scriptural concept of the truth of God’s love as it
is manifested in the scriptures. The general idea most people have is,
“that God loves everybody without exception and is trying his best to
save everybody, but the sinner will not cooperate.”
The truth of God’s character revealed in the word is that God is Holy,
Just and His love is always in harmony with His Holy character as a Just
God and a Saviour (Isa. 45:21). Those for whom He loves in Christ
(Rev.1:5), elected in Christ (John 6:37), redeemed in Christ (Eph.1:7)
must be justified in Christ (Rom. 8:28-30) and will be called out of
bondage into Light (Col. 1:12-13).
Here are some scriptures that describe this true love of God to His
covenant people:
1). The love of God is manifested and revealed in Jesus Christ
(Rom.8:32-39; Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Cor.4:6).
2). The love of God is sovereign and given to whom the Lord pleases
(Rom.9:12-16; Eph. 5:25). Outside of Christ, God is a consuming fire
(Heb. 12:29).
3). The love of God is eternal and will never be discontinued (Jer.
31:3). God Himself is eternal, therefore His great love must be eternal
(Eph. 2:4).
4). The love of God is sacrificial love and will redeem all His people
from all their sins (1 John 4:10; 3:16; Eph.5:2, 25; Matt.1:21; John 10:15).
5). The love of God is permanent love and will always abide in the
believer (John 13:1; Mal.3:6; Heb. 13:8).
6). The love of God is electing love that unconditionally chose us in
Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Thes. 2:13;
John 15:15-16; 17:2).
7). The love of God is unmerited love, we have never done anything to
deserve His favor or mercy (Titus 3:3-7; Rom 5:6-9). The only reason for
His love to us is found in Himself, not in us (Deut.7:7-8).
8). The love of God is constraining love and motivates everyone who
believes the gospel, to obedience to Him as a willing, loving bond slave
of Christ (2 Cor. 5:14; Psa. 65:4; 110:3).
9). The love of God is Holy love, God in Christ is both a Just God and
Saviour (Isa. 45:20-22). His love is regulated by His holy character
(Rom. 5:21).
The more we meditate upon His great love to us, its character, its
fullness, its blessedness; the more our hearts will be drawn out in love
to Him. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19; 3:16).
Pastor Tom Harding
Have you ever lived out of this country? We lived in a foreign country
for over 25 years. We lived there. Paid bills there. Had friends there.
Had our children there. But all that time, our citizenship was here in
this country. We knew that though we went through heartaches, trials,
troubles, and conflicts, we were going to leave and come back to this
country. It was not our home. Not legally nor emotionally.
We were bound by the laws of that country. But there were so many things
that made us different. It was not hard to tell that we did not belong
there. We were foreigners. We were in that country, but we were not of
that country.
When it rained on that country, we got wet. When the sun shined, it
shined on us. But we lived in a way that did not bring reproach on our
home country. We lived there during the administrations of Presidents
Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush, but we never talked
against our president.
We did what we could to keep a low profile. When we went to town, we
tried to dress in such a way that we did not stand out. We did not mix
in the politics of the country. We did not try to persuade people to our
way of thinking. We did what we thought was right, and left the rest
alone. We left Mexico to the Mexicans.
So in this world believers are subject to the ups and downs of this
world. We are sick just like the people of this world. We have
tribulation just like all the rest. When there is no food we get hungry
like the rest. In this world we submit to those in authority. We lead
orderly and peaceable lives. We are simply passing through. Bless it in
your travel, but do not yoke yourself with its affairs. You may wish all
things were different, but remember you are in a foreign country. When
possible we help those among whom we lived. We do what we can to point
them to Christ – to point them to eternal life. You cannot make the
world like Heaven, so do not make it a dwelling place for your soul.
Pastor Milton Howard
YOU CAN’T MAKE WATER WET—I am always frustrated to hear “soul winners”
tell people, “Let God be Lord of your life.” My friend, you can’t make
God the Lord of your life anymore than you can make water wet. Water is
wet because that is the nature of water. God is King of kings. He is
Lord of all because that is His nature. The only thing sinners like us
can do is beg God the King to save us by His grace. Pastor Frank Tate
The Most Important Question
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). There are other
important questions. Who is God? What is He like? What is my state
before Him? But none are more important than the question of the
Philippian jailor: “What must I do to be saved?” Notice what he did not
ask: what must I do to save myself? But, “What must I do to be saved?”
Paul answered his question, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved.” Then he went on to speak unto him, “The Word of the
Lord.” He told him who the Lord Jesus Christ is, what He did, and where
He is now! I recently heard a preacher say to his congregation (and I
have heard this many times), turn from your sins and trust Christ. While
we ought to turn from our sins and never sin again – has there ever been
a man that has stopped sinning? That message in reality is adding
something to faith in Christ. Paul did not say, ‘Turn from your sins and
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.’ That is putting a step before faith
in Christ. That addition is a denial of faith alone. Preachers that
preach that way are afraid to preach the naked Gospel. Could it be it is
because they do not believe the naked Gospel? Most believe faith and….
Few believe faith alone. ~Todd Nibert
“Grace Gospel Church”
Twenty-two years ago today, the Lord called us out and separated us to
the gospel of His free and sovereign grace in Christ. We did not choose
to come out. We were not looking to “start a church”. The Lord shut us
up to Himself and gave us a need to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
The beginning of this work was all of grace and all to His glory. Since
then, the Lord has been gracious to add to the church such as should be
saved. He has been merciful to keep us faithful to the gospel. Had He
not kept us, we would all have fallen away. If we have grown in His
grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (and I believe we
have) that too is a testimony to His grace. “He which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6.
However long we have in the days to come, we will become more and more
aware of our dependence on our Great God for His mercy and grace.
Grace: A free and sovereign act of demerited favor.
Gospel: The Good News that ALL the work of Salvation is accomplished
once and for all in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Church: The called-out ones. God’s elect, faithful in Christ Jesus. ~Greg
By Grace Alone
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians
2:8-9
“By grace are ye saved.” There is no present salvation except that which
begins and ends with grace! No man can preach or possess a present
salvation except those who preach and believe that we are saved by grace
alone! The work is finished! Any other way of salvation is dependent on
the sinner and it will fail. ~Henry Mahan
Continue In Prayer
Tom Harding
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal
praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to
speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may
make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Col. 4:2).
Our Lord said in Luke 18:1, “that men ought always to pray and not to
faint.” Prayer is not a mechanical performance to be seen of men; the
Pharisees prayed that way and were not heard before God (Matt. 6:5).
Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude of the heart, and a
dependence of the soul upon Almighty God. It is also seeking to spread
out our heart’s desire before God and asking it to be granted according
to His sovereign purpose. Real prayer is communion with God through the
only Mediator, Jesus Christ the Lord; who is sitting at God’s right hand
making intercession for us (Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim 2:5). Prayer is never
intended to change the purpose of God, but rather to make us know and
realize what the purpose of God is. I have often heard people say, “that
prayer changes things.” I hope it changes our wrong attitudes, our
sinful desires and our ungodly conduct, but prayer never changes the
purpose of the eternal God (Isa. 46:9-12). He said, “I am the Lord I
change not” (Mal. 3:6).
Well then, since God is sovereign and has decreed all things, then why
are we instructed to pray? God has decreed all things, but all He has
decreed come to pass through the means He has ordained (Acts 4:27-28).
God has elected a people unto salvation (2 Thes. 2:13), but He has also
decreed that His people shall be saved from their sin by the appointed
means, Jesus Christ (Gal. 4:4); His grace and sacrifice (Rom. 3:24). The
gospel then is one of the appointed means to accomplish His eternal
purpose and prayer is another. Even the prayers of His people are
included in His eternal purpose. Therefore, instead of prayer being
useless and vain; they are part of the decrees by which God exercises
His eternal purpose.
What distinct privilege the Lord has given unto to His covenant people
to call upon our great God and Father in prayer. “For we have received
the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15).
Samuel declared, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin
against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1Sam. 12:23).
Paul declared, “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thes. 5:17-18).
I hope we can all say, “Lord teach us to pray” (Matt.6:9-15).