How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7
The Lord’s Doing
My friends, when the Lord Jesus is truly seen, believed, and loved, there will be joy in the Lord with genuine peace of conscience. Yes, we are sinners; but Christ died for sinners (Rom. 5:6)! Yes, the law condemns; but Christ honored the law (Gal. 3:13)! Yes, justice has a claim; but Christ satisfied that claim (Rom.3:24-26)!
Yes, we are imperfect in faith, in commitment, in love; but "He knoweth our frame and remembereth that we are dust," (Psalm 103:14) and loves us all the same. We are in Him by HIS CHOICE (Eph. 1:3-6), redeemed by HIS BLOOD (1 Peter 1:18-20), called by HIS SPIRIT (John 16:8-13) and kept by HIS POWER through faith which HE GAVE US (1Peter1:5)! How can I entertain any doubts based on shortcomings found in me when the whole affair is THE LORD'S DOINGS? Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1994)
LORD KEEP OUR EYES AND HEARTS ON YOU
There is a song in our hymn book that says, “Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed - finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.” Oh, how true that is!
When our hearts are sincerely, fervently looking to Christ, we see a God who TRULY IS GOD. We see a purpose that is ordered and sure. We see a salvation that is forever settled in heaven. And we see an eternal home that is so much better than the pilgrimage we’re passing through now. We see a Husband who loves us and gave Himself for us. We see a Friend that will stick closer to us than a brother. We see a Shepherd who will watch over our every move, keeping His all-seeing eye on everything concerning us. We see safety. We see mercy. We see grace. We see help in our time of need. Every time we look to Christ, we see lasting joy. We see contentment. We see perfect peace and rest.
The great blessing that God’s people have on this earth is the God given ability to look to Christ. That will forever be our blessing. The more we can look to Him, the more joy we will have, the more contentment we will have, the more peace we will have, and the more rest we will have.
Lord, keep our eyes and our hearts on you!
Pastor Gabe Stalnaker
THE JOYFUL SOUND OF THE GOSPEL
“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound” (Psalm 89:15).
The gospel of God’s grace is the most joyful sound heard on earth, but the only people who hear the gospel as a joyful sound are sinners. Righteousness in Christ who obeyed the law for His people is only a joyful sound to sinners who cannot obey God’s law. Forgiveness of sin in the blood of Christ is only a joyful sound to guilty, hell-deserving sinners. Freedom from death because Christ died as the substitute for His people is only a joyful sound to dead sinners. Being told to look to Christ over and over again is only a joyful sound to sinners who have no other hope but Christ.
So the question is, are you a sinner. If you are a sinner, there is a joyful sound for you in the gospel of God’s grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Frank Tate
The Whole Scheme Of Creation
In the whole scheme of the creation of Adam it was for the purpose of the Son of God being partaking of human nature and putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh”** (1Timothy 3:16); so that men may be partakers of His divine nature; ***“***Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature”(2Peter 1:4); “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6) thus enabling true fellowship. Only God could devise such a marvelous union, two becoming one; **“**That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (John 17:21). This whole union is accomplished in the Godman Jesus Christ. Pastor John Chapman
COMPLETE RESTORATION IN CHRIST
“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away” (Psalm 69:4).
This Psalm along with Psalm 22 declares unto us the agonies of the cross of Christ, the redemption that was accomplished at Calvary and the glory that followed. In verse four our Lord declared, "I restored that which I took not away." In Christ and through His redemptive work He restored all that Adam had lost in the fall and ruin of all men and much more (Rom. 5:20). Adam lost the way, truth, and life unto God, Christ Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Christ Jesus satisfied divine justice which He had never offended (Isa. 42:21). He fulfilled the law for us and bore the penalty (Gal. 3:13) which He had never broken. He made complete atonement for sin for which He had never committed (Heb. 2:17). Christ Jesus also brought in everlasting righteousness for His church which He had not taken away (2 Cor. 5:21). He gave us a far better inheritance than that which was lost in Adam (1 Peter 1:3-4). Isn’t this complete restoration (Rom. 8:17; 8:32-35)?
