April 22^nd . 2018

9:30 am Bible Study

10:00 am Message ---------------------------------------------------------------------Brother Cody Henson Preaching

Perfecting Holiness in The Fear of God -- 2 Corinthians 7:1

v. 1. ‘Dearly beloved, since we have the great promises of God in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20) adoption, God is our Father and we are his children; justification, we are righteous, redeemed and sanctified (1 Cor. 1:30); glorification, we shall be like Christ and reign with him for ever (Rom. 8:16-18), let us cleanse ourselves from everything that would defile body and spirit.’ By the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10), through the word of God (Ps. 119:9-11), with the aid of God's Spirit, let us keep ourselves clean, not only from fleshly corruption such as intemperance, drunkenness, profanity, dishonesty, sexual impurity and idolatry, but also from error of spirit such as pride, envy, covetousness, malice, evil thoughts and self-righteousness. ‘Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.’ By holiness is not meant the work of perfect sanctification of the believer before God, for that is wholly the work of Christ, who is our sanctification and righteousness (Heb. 10:14; Rom. 3:19-22; 10:3, 4). But this is holiness of life, walk, conduct and conversation to which we are called and which is the mark and evidence of a true believer (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:21-24). This walk of obedience is motivated not only by God's love for us and our love for him (2 Cor. 5:14, 15), but ‘in the fear of the Lord’ (Prov. 3:7; 16:6). The fear of the Lord for a believer is not slavish fear, or a fear of wrath and hell, but a reverential affection as a child for a father. The fear of the Lord arises from awe, trust, respect and dependence upon him, and a view to his glory and approval (2 Cor. 5:9). – Henry Mahan’s commentaries

How Do You Hear?

Many hear the gospel carelessly, caring nothing for their souls, the glory of God, or the will of God. Others hear the preached Word critically, only listening for the preacher to say something they can differ with and criticize. Multitudes hear the preaching of the gospel selectively, hearing only what they want to hear. Saved sinners hear the Word profitably, saying as they hear, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth Thee.” -- Don Fortner

“Shut Up and Mind Your Own Business”

That is a rude translation of a portion of 1 Thessalonians 4:11 which says, “And that ye study to be quiet (shut up), and to do (mind) your own business.” That man who has learned anything about his tongue realizes what an unruly evil it is. “The tongue can no man tame”, James says. If we are going to be quiet, it will take a lot of study.

Most people could never become a medical doctor for the simple reason it takes too much study. But studying for a degree in the medical field is nothing compared with getting a degree in quietness. The hours required discourages most from even thinking about it. And it always requires refresher courses.

Some people think they have no business to mind. They have run their own business into the ground, so they try to mind someone else’s. If they ever had a “pray without ceasing business’, they have so neglected it they have all but shut the door. At one time they ran that very profitable ‘give attendance to reading’ business but that business is doing nothing but collecting dust. If they ever had the business of ‘pure religion’, they have no heart or time for it any more. And there is that business, if minded, will take up so much of one’s day light he’ll not have the time or energy to poke around in another man’s business – I mean the business of ‘self-denial.’

O, my! How many wars have been started? How much affection has been lost? How many churches have split? How many poor pastors have been discouraged half to death? How much good work has been brought to nothing? All because someone stopped minding their own business and was poking their nose into someone else’s.

If we insist on running another man’s shop for him, don’t be surprised if he quotes this verse to us, and maybe gives us the rude translation too. -- Bruce Crabtree