ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, January 17, 2009

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. Psalm 119:105-109

Our sincere sympathy is extended to Valerie Robinette in the recent death of her mother, Vivian Wood.

TRUE FAITH
True faith is built upon the strongest evidence possible the WORD OF GOD! True faith is a total dependence upon THE LORD JESUS CHRIST for all our needs; such as forgiveness, sanctification, peace, and eternal life. The true believer renounces all confidence in the flesh, rejoices only in Christ Jesus, and worships God in the Spirit. He feeds upon Christ as the bread of life, embraces Christ as his wedding garment, derives all strength and comfort from Christ, and trusts himself to the care of Christ as his shepherd, teacher, priest and king. This is the life of faith. Pastor Henry T. Mahan

If We Confess Our Sins
Our sins can never come into God's presence, inasmuch as Christ, who bore them all and put them away is there instead. But if we sin, conscience will feel it, must feel it. Even the Holy Spirit will make us feel it. He will not allow so much as a single light thought to pass unjudged. What then? Has our sin made its way into the presence of God? No, the Advocate is there, "Jesus Christ the Righteous," to maintain an unbroken integrity and relationship in which we stand. Though sin cannot affect God's thoughts in reference to us, it can and does affect our thoughts in reference to Him. What are we to do? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:7-9). By confession, we get our conscience cleared and the sweet sense of fellowship restored. The black cloud is dispersed and removed, and our thoughts of God set straight. This is the Divine method! Pastor Scott Richardson

SALVATION ALL OF GRACE
We should be in a bad condition indeed if our salvation we suspended on conditions of our performing. God's everlasting love, His decree of election, and eternal covenant of redemption, are the three hinges on which the door of man's salvation turns. When man fell from God, infinite justice put a lock upon the door, a lock which nothing but the golden key of Christ's blood and righteousness can open. The Holy Ghost is, as it were, the omniscient keeper of the door; and He lets no souls in but such as He Himself has washed and justified and sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by His own efficacious grace. I should as soon expect to be saved by my sins as to be saved by my good works. Augustus Toplady

WHY DOES GOD EXPOSE THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE?
The Word of God is filled with story after story of the sins of His chosen people. The Lord does not cover, but rather exposes some of the worst sins of the best of men; men like Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Samson, David, Solomon, and others. Why? Why did the Lord write down their sins for all to read for all time?

The Lord certainly did not expose the sins of His people in order for us to say: "Aha, aha...they're getting what they deserve." That is what the enemy says. He certainly did not expose them for us to censure them, or look down upon them, or even think less of them. Let me give several biblical reasons why the Lord made public some of the terrible sins of His people.

1. To show His great mercy. - Forgiving all manner of sin and iniquity. The Lord is of such great mercy that He forgives the greatest of sins. The cross of Christ is ultimate proof.

2. To show that the best of men are men at best. - Vanity of vanities, all flesh is vanity. That was penned by Solomon, the wisest man to live, yet he himself (even in his old age), committed terrible sins against the Lord. We should not think more highly of men that we ought, but should at least esteem them better than ourselves.

3. To show us what we are capable of. - If great men such as Abraham, David, Solomon and Peter, did what they did, where does that leave me? Same place it left them ...in the hands of God. Even the best of men are liable to do the worst, but for the restraining grace and power of God. When the Lord left Simon Peter to himself, in just a few hours he went from a bold and courageous defender of the Lord, to a cursing coward. What about us?

4. To teach us to take heed lest we fall. - The things that were written afore were written for our learning...We should carefully and prayerfully read and heed the lesson to be learned from the sins of others; the terrible consequences their sins brought upon them and us, if we repeat their sins.

5. To show us how God brings about great good, even out of great evil. The greatest sin of all is a sin committed by all; "You with wicked hands have taken and crucified the Lord of glory." Our greatest sin revealed God's greatest goodness...His mercy, love and grace to such vile and evil creatures.

Thank God for His Word which, though it exposes men's sins, yet it reveals His great goodness, grace and glory. Pastor Paul Mahan