CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune: He Leadeth Me)

Hark! How the Gospel trumpet sounds!

Christ and free grace therein abounds;

Free grace to such as sinners be,

And if free grace why not for me?

The Saviour died and by His blood

Brought rebel sinners near to God;

He died to set the captives free,

And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Thus Jesus came the poor to bless,

To clothe them with His righteousness;

That robe is spotless, full and free,

And why, my soul, why not for thee?

Eternal life by Christ is giv'n,

And sinful men are raised to heav'n;

Then sing of grace so rich and free,

And say, my soul, why not for thee?

Today’s Speaker: Brother Mark Pannell will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God’s word.

Television Broadcast: Our Reign of Grace Television program is being broadcast on WFXL Fox 31, Channel 4. The program will air every Sunday morning at 11 AM. Pray that God will use it for His glory.

Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM –WISK. To hear sermons on your computer click on www.americusradio.com

Web Sites: Visit our newly designed web site at: www.rofgrace.com

Also visit us at: www.Sermonaudio.com\reignofgrace

Condolences: Our prayers are with Marsha Sharp and her family during this time of grieving with the passing away of her husband, Allen, this past Thursday afternoon in Dallas.

Birthdays: Robert Margeson – Nov. 30^th

“COME UNTO ME”

There are neither appeals, offers or invitations given in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some try to make them be such but that simply works to strengthen the natural man’s thinking that what is said is his to accept or reject. But there are gracious commands given by the King of glory which He directs to certain individuals. We find such a command in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” There are at least five things here: 1. The One who speaks is none other that the Sovereign King of glory. He says, “Come.” Not do, not go but “come.” 2. Where He says come to. “Come unto ME.” To the One who is set forth in the true Gospel. Everyone that is “taught of God” and who “learns of the Father” comes “unto ME” Christ said. 3. Those commanded: “all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” Those who for so long have worked to please God and gone about to establish a righteousness but failed. All who have been brought to know and feel the weight of their sins before God. Those weighted down with guilt and a Spirit-wrought conviction over sin. 4. His promise. “and I will give you rest.” This is rest for your souls. Rest from your works to save yourself. Rest in Christ who is the true Sabbath. Rest in His finished work. Rest by His shed blood. 5. Grace. His gift and call are all of grace! “I will GIVE you rest.” Freely given rest because freely justified through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus! The gift of righteousness, the gift of faith and the gift of eternal life all freely given.

Men can make appeals and offer invitations and it will avail nothing. Oh, but if “in the day of His power” we can hear this KING OF KINGS speak these words to our hearts through His gospel… We will come to Him. We will find that we have needlessly tried to carry our burden when He had already born it in His own body on the tree. We will find out what He has freely given us and we will find true rest. The command for Noah to come into the ark came from the ark. The command from a gracious Savior to come unto Him is far greater than all the appeals of men! Listen to HIM speaking…..

Gary Shepard

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet. (2 Sam. 9:13)

Mephibosheth was the orphaned son of Jonathan, who was Saul’s son and David’s bosom friend. We read that he was continuously provided for at the king’s table his whole life. He is typical of those who eat at the LORD’s table, even as David’s actions are typical of the mercies of our Heavenly FATHER.

David’s love for Mephibosheth is the only reason that he was fed while others went hungry. As Paul said, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1Cor 4:7) None of those who have the privilege of feasting upon that meat which HE has provided can find any reason they should be included at this feast except the grace and mercy of GOD. As Watts wrote, “Why was I made to hear THY voice and enter while there’s room, when thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve than come.?”

Mephibosheth could do nothing to gain favor with the king, since he was destitute and lame on both his feet. We often hear the workmongers and conditionalists tell us that the children of GOD can gain blessings and favor with the LORD by their obedience and efforts. Such men have evidently never been aquainted with their own wretched condition even as those spoken of by John, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Rev 3:17) The LORD will continually teach HIS own of their innate weakness and they will confess that they have no righteousness but HIS..

David’s love for Mephibosheth was primarily demonstrated because of his love for Jonathan. The benefits which flow to the children of GOD come to them because of the eternal love which the Heavenly FATHER has for HIS SON. Because the elect sons of GOD are hidden in CHRIST then all of the benefits of HIS eternal SONSHIP accrue to them. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom 8:16-17)

Mephibosheth did “continually” eat at the King’s table because the King did “continually” provide such sustenance as Mephibosheth needed. The King determined the menu and the portion size without consulting Mephibosheth. The LORD does feed HIS people with exactly what they need. Though sometimes the menu may contain foods we would not choose if left to ourselves even as Paul testified of his “thorn in the flesh”. By eating this diet, however, he learned that the grace of GOD was sufficient in all things. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb 12:6) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8:28-29)

The greatest pleasures that Mephibosheth received by being at the King’s table was those times when the King was pleased to sit down with him and sup with him. Is this not true for all of those who are the LORD’s little children as HE says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20) Can you hear HIM? “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. “ (Mark 4:23)