November 15, 2009 CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune: "Come Thou Fount")
Glory to the Holy Father,
Fountain of eternal love,
Who, His wand'ring sheep to gather,
Sent the Savior from above.
Glory to the Son be given,
Who with love unknown before,
Left the bright abode of heaven,
And our sins and sorrows bore.
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Let His praise our tongues employ,
Author of all saving graces,
Source of wisdom, peace, and joy.
Praise the God of our salvation,
Hosts on high His pow'r proclaim;
Heav'n and earth and all creation,
Laud and magnify His name!
Bible Study: "God's Intervention" 1 Samuel 29
Today's Speaker: Brother Robert Margeson will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God's word.
Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 9:30am on 98.7 FM -WISK. You can also hear the sermons on your computer. Just click on http://www.americusradio.com/
Birthdays: Michael Winston Lee - Nov. 20th.
OUR NAME IS "MEPHIBOSHETH"
Mephibosheth is a great picture of how God saves His covenant children for Christ's sake. Mephibosheth was the grandson of a fallen king, i.e. Saul, and so are we as we are by nature the fallen sons of Adam. (Romans 5:12) Mephibosheth "was lame on both his feet" (II Samuel 9:13), because of a fall, and so are we. We were all born dead in sin with no ability or desire to seek God (John 6:44; Ephesians 2:1-3). Mephibosheth was the object of a covenant made between David and Jonathan (I Samuel 20:11-17, II Samuel 9:1,7). WE who are saved by God's grace in Christ were and are the objects of an everlasting covenant made between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:1-13; Hebrews 13:20) Mephibosheth did not come to the king's house of his own free will. He was "fetched." (II Samuel 9:5) - "taken, laid hold of, seized, bought, and brought." (John 6:37; 12:32) King David did not ask Mephibosheth to come to him. He sent his servant to bring him to the palace. Christ saved us and brings us to Himself by the work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. (John 1:12-13) Mephibosheth feared the king's wrath until he heard the king's word. (II Samuel 9:6-7) We by nature fear God's wrath and seek to hide behind false refuges, but Christ speaks words of mercy and love in the Gospel. He draws us to Himself as He tells us of His great sacrifice for our sins, the satisfaction and righteousness he established for us. (Romans 3:21-26; I John 4:10) Mephibosheth expressed his own unworthiness - "And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" (II Samuel 9:8) When the Holy Spirit shows us our sin and brings us by faith to Christ, we, like Mephibosheth, whose name means "utterance of shame," express our unworthiness and proclaim Christ alone as worthy. (Revelations 5) Mephibosheth ate CONTINUALLY at the king's table as one of the king's sons. We who are saved by the blood of Christ are children of God, and we feast at His table forever even thought we are still lame on our feet. Even as saved sinners, born again by the Holy Spirit, we still have no power or ability of our own - "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13) We are already complete and perfect IN CHRIST, but not yet in ourselves. We will one day be perfect within ourselves when we are glorified together with Christ. (Titus 2:13; I John 3:2)
-- Pastor Bill Parker
"The Chief of Sinners Saved Through Christ"
The Exaltation of Christ, and the Glory which followed upon it, is a pregnant Proof of this Truth. When he had completed the Work of our Redemption on Earth, he ascended to Heaven, and took Possession of that Glory which was his due. And he is to be considered as our Fore-runner in his Entrance into the World above, and as the public Head and Representative of all those for whom he had offered himself as a Sacrifice to God, Hence, we are laid to fit together in heavenly Places in Christ. He is entered not into the holy Places made with Hands, which were the Figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:24). This Admission of Christ to Heaven, and his taking the Possession of Glory in the Name, and as the Forerunner of Sinners, is an undeniable Proof of his having obtained Salvation for them. For which Reason the Apostle Peter makes it a Ground of Christian Trust and Confidence. Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him Glory that your Faith and Hope might be in God (1 Peter 1:22). Consequent upon this Exaltation of our Saviour, an eminent Glory attended his Church below. The Holy Spirit was poured forth in an extraordinary Manner, both in his Graces and Gifts, which was a clear Proof, that he had done everything requisite to the Salvation of Sinners. And, that the Father highly approved of his executing his Will, in the Redemption of the Objects of his Favor from Misery. What an admirable Concurrence of the most cogent Proofs are given of this glorious Truth, that Jesus Christ came into the World to save the chief of Sinners? If therefore we disbelieve it, we must be exceedingly culpable, for we shall make God himself a Liar, who has in such a Variety of Ways given his Testimony in Confirmation of this most precious Truth.
John Brine - London, 1747
