I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1-6

OUR HIGH PRIEST
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4).
Our Lord Jesus is a Priest King by the ancient oath of Jehovah: "he glorified not himself to be made an high priest," but was ordained there unto from of old, and was called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. It must be a solemn and a sure matter which leads the Eternal to swear, and with him an oath fixes and settles the decree for ever; but in this case, as if to make assurance a thousand times sure, it is added," and will not repent." It is done, and done for ever and ever; Jesus is sworn in to be the priest of his people, and he must abide so even to the end, because his commission is sealed by the unchanging oath of the immutable Jehovah. If his priesthood could be revoked, and his authority removed, it would be the end of all hope and life for the people whom he loves; but this sure rock is the basis of our security -- the oath of God establishes our glorious Lord both in his priesthood and in his throne. It is the Lord who has constituted him a priest for ever, he has done it by oath, that oath is without repentance, is taking effect now, and will stand throughout all ages: hence our security in him is placed beyond all question. Charles Spurgeon

EFFECTS OF BELIEF IN ELECTION
When we truly realize that the Lord of heaven and earth CHOSE US in Christ to salvation, REDEEMED US by His blood, and CALLED US by His gospel, it will have a seven-fold effect on us.

It will cause us to REJOICE! "O blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causeth to approach unto Thee." Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.
It will promote HUMILITY! "Who maketh thee to differ?" Grace and pride are incompatible, impossible to exist together. We rejoice in Christ and have no confidence in this flesh (Phil. 3:3).
It will COMFORT us in hard trials! "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." Even these work together for our good and His glory. When we trust Him, we don’t have to understand.
It will SUPRESS self and sin! "We are not our own," we are bought with so great a price. Therefore, we desire to glorify our Lord in our souls and in our bodies.
It gives us ASSURANCE! If God foreknew us, predestinated us to be like Christ, justified us, called us by His Spirit, if Christ redeemed us,interceded for us and is for us, who can be against us?
It makes DYING easier! The eternal covenant of grace in Christ was David's pillow of rest and peace when he lay dying (2 Sam. 23:1-5). He sought no other source of comfort and hope than the sovereign love of God in Christ.
It will assure us that our PREACHING IS NEVER IN VAIN! "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isa. 55:11). This cannot be applied to all preaching, ONLY TO THE PREACHING OF HIS WORD! Pastor Henry Mahan

A WILLING PEOPLE
"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth" (Psalm 110:3).

ANY who suppose that God is sovereign in every area except over man's will, imply that man exercises some control that is outside the realm of God's power and authority. Were that true, then God would not be God! All creatures live, move, and have their being in Him (Acts 17:28). It also would mean that man is not completely lost, since he would still retain the power and possibility of believing on Christ. Such a teaching is contrary to all that the Scriptures witness of natural men. These fallen sinners are spiritually dead, unable, and unwilling to come to Christ, unless God first gives them the power and authority (John 1:11,12).

Nevertheless, it is just as wrong to assume that since God does the saving, that He saves against the sinner's will. The glorious truth of Psalm 110:3, and all of Scripture, is that no matter how strong the sinner's opposition to the Gospel of God's sovereign grace in Christ, God's will, purpose, and grace will conquer. Notice that the verse reads, "Thy people SHALL be willing..."

Who are these people? They are God's by His eternal distinguishing choice. He chose a people out of fallen humanity, that He might show them His mercy and unmerited favor in Christ (Eph. 1:3-5). They are God's by redemption. When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, He purchased or bought back unto the Father, that people whom God had chosen and given to Him. They are God's people by regeneration. In time, the Spirit of God does a special, supernatural work upon the heart of every elect sinner. He first produces life in them, by revealing in them Christ, who is the Life (John 14:6; 1 John 5:20). They willingly come to Him in faith, believing on Him alone, whose blood and righteousness cover them, and make them accepted in Christ (Ephesians 1:6-9).

Are you a willing sinner? Do you agreeably and uniquely trust Christ alone for your salvation, giving Him all the glory for His almighty, sovereign grace? Is Christ daily in your mind and heart? Do you serve Him in every ordinance of His Word? Do you graciously receive all of His doctrine? Are you generous in your giving and service, and gracious in attitude toward one another? This is the power and grace of God working in the hearts of the Lord's people, (Ezra 1:1-6). Copied

August 12th, 2007
Sunday Worship
Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M.
Kingsport service 3:00 P.M.
Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Radio (Sundays):
WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week