Central Grace Church

3596 Franklin Street Rocky Mount, Virginia

Website: www.centralgracechurch.com Email: [email protected]

November 24th 2019

9:30 am ---------------- Righteous As He is Righteous – 1 John 3:1-10

10:00 am -----------------------The Shepherd of the Sheep – Psalm 23

NO WEDNESDAY SERVICE THIS WEEK

Birthdays: December 1st – John Sheesley & Dan Parks, 9th – Andrew Polk

Cleaning: Polks, Next Week: Pendrys / / / Nursery: Vikki / Teresa

Listen to live audio of services on: www.mixlr.com/centralgracechurch

Taking Sides With God Against Ourselves – by David Eddmenson

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good” (Romans 7:15-16)

Paul says, “For what I would, that I do not.” That word “would” in this verse means to “choose and determine.” What Paul is saying is this, “What I want to do, desire to do, what I would choose, determine and prefer to do, I don’t do! Paul adds further, “But what I hate, that do I.” Paul is saying, “I want to do what’s right.” “I would prefer to do what’s right.” “In my mind, I choose and determine to do what’s right.” BUT I DON’T DO IT, and I HATE IT THAT I DON’T!

Paul continues and says, “If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.” It is here that Paul takes sides with the law of God. Paul condemns his evil. Paul mourns his transgressions. He consents that the law is good, and that God is right! Let me give you an illustration. If a man commits a crime and the law finds him guilty, he is judged by the law. He is found guilty according to the justice of the law. He is sentenced according to the parameters of the law. His condemnation, according to the law, results in him being put behind bars. Will that condemned man dare say that the law is the reason that he is incarcerated? It isn’t the law that put him there, it is his offence, his crime, and his sin that did.

The law of God is good. God is right and just. Aren’t you glad that Christ died the “JUST” for the “unjust,” to bring you to God? Do you see that it is YOUR sin that condemns you before God? It is then that the saved sinner will do as Paul did. He will take sides with God against himself and plead and beg for His mercy.

Four Things Comfort The Child Of God In Trials And Afflictions -- by Gabe Stalnaker

We can trust the God who appointsthem. (1 Thess. 3:3)

We can trust that He knows our frame. (Psalm 103:14)

We can trust that goodwill always be waiting at the end of the trial. (Romans 8:28)

We can trust that one day soon He will “…stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” (1 Thess. 3:13)

Desires of The Believer

Someone once said the believer has three strong desires:

Total Commitment - to the Lord Jesus Christ. Every saint wants to be sold-out, a student, disciple, follower and full-time worshipper of the Lord. Fact is, all truebelievers are!

Total Communion – with the Lord God. Every child of God knows the Lord . . . has a real relationship with Him; but desires to know Him more fully; desires to walk and talk with, hear from and feel the presence of His God. Enoch walked with God, Noah walked with God, and so do all of God’s people. But they long to do so more fully.

Total Conformity – to the Lord Jesus Christ. Every lover of Christ, longs to be like Christ. As David said . . . I’ll be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness. We see no beauty in ourselves, no comeliness, but we see Him as altogether lovely, and want to be and strive to be like Him. Are these the desires of your heart?

“Open Thy Mouth Wide, and I Will Fill It.” – Psalm 81:10