August 21,

HYMN OF THE DAY
My Secret Place

God's people have a 'secret place'
To which they may resort.
Boldly come to that throne of grace.
There our God shall support.

Chorus:
In the Rock, O, Rock of Ages,
There be found in Him.
In the secret of His presence
Talk as friend with Friend.

He hides us under His shadow,
His providential care.
No matter what may come or go
We bow to Him in prayer.

The Cleft of the Rock, it shall be
Where He hides all His heirs.
In this 'secret place' He hides me.
The world can't touch me there.

Tune: “Only Trust Him” p. 252
By: Gary Spreacker

THREE ERRORS

There are three great errors of modern day religionists:

1. They talk much about Jesus as Savior, but don't mention His Lordship.

2. Much is made of His finished work on the cross, but rarely is His blessed person as God-Man mentioned.

3. Man's will is paramount in accepting or rejecting Jesus, and He is presented as one who is so sad because you won't LET HIM in your hearts.

The third error is a natural result of the first two errors. Jesus

Christ was Lord - Jehovah, before He came into this world. As

Lord He is the one with all power and authority in Heaven and in

Earth. It is His will that determines men's salvation. It is His will

That determines whether you ever hear the gospel, (Jn.6: 37, Jn.10:

27, Ps. 110:3).

The Holy Scriptures know nothing of a salvation that allows a soul to be saved without submitting to the will, the word, and the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ! You see, beloved, it is not the cross itself that enthralls believers and fills their hearts with wonder and thankfulness. No, it is WHO was on the cross, and WHY He was on that cross. It is because of who He is that salvation was accomplished. It wasn't the amount of time, the amount of blood, nor even the amount of suffering He endured that secured salvation and satisfaction to the holiness and justice of God. No, it was WHO HE WAS that gave worth to these things.

Any man who has his heart opened to see Him will never debate in his heart again whether they will accept or reject Jesus. Gone will be the proud thoughts of his heart as to his ability to accept or reject the Lord Jesus Christ! The apostles always presented their hearers first with the Person of Christ before the work of Christ, because they knew that His work of living, dying, and rising again, was absolutely worthless unless,.. He was the Lord of Glory, the great I Am (Acts 2:32-37).

Men humiliated him when He was here on earth in His flesh, but God has exalted Him to His right hand and given Him a Name above every name. Now it is bow the knee, confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11). - Pastor

"GOING TO CHURCH"

What is "Going to church?" That which I see on television and in most assemblies today is certainly repugnant to true worship. On one hand we have everything so beautiful: the robed choirs, the finery, and the splendid "minister" who looks as if he just came from the beauty salon; and he speaks in such soothing tones that everyone leaves with a good feeling about himself instead of the Lord of all grace. Then we have the "holy-ghosters" who yell and run and clap and stomp their feet to the point of utter pandemonium at the urging of the "cheerleader" who excites them to absurd frenzy. That's "Going to church!"

What is true worship? If we would worship GOD, we must worship Him in the knowledge of the truth (John 4:24). We must know something of ourselves, our depravity, sin, and inability (Matt. 15:19); something about God's holy, righteous, sovereign character (Is. 45:20-25); something about the person and work of Christ as our Surety, Substitute, Mediator and King (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 10:5-14); and something of the grace and power of God the Holy Spirit (John 6:63; Eph. 1:13,14).

True worship implies adoration, reverence, and solemnity (Ps. 89:7). If we would worship GOD, we must worship Him with "reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12:28). Anything that calls attention to ourselves is out of place in true worship, whether it be outbursts of emotionalism or showy forms of dress.

"Going to church" in a true sense is hearing from and worshiping God Almighty in all the splendor, beauty, and glory of His holy being, in the reverence of our hearts. It is to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and to see the blood that was shed on the behalf of vile sinners, and to continually sing of His great redemption. I love to "Go to church" when true worship is present. - Pastor Jack Shanks