ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, January 4, 2009

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Psalm 91:9-12

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR:

May the Lord bless you and lift up the light of His countenance upon you all and give you peace. May you, during this new year of grace, receive much grace; and may you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May we as a church, as pastor, elders, and brethren, mutually strive together to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, boldly proclaim the gospel of His free and sovereign grace, love, encourage, and support our missionaries and sister churches; and may the Lord save His sheep through the Gospel preached from this place. Whatever trials and sorrows by His divine providence may come our way, whatever mercies and blessings may fall upon us, may we be given the Grace to recognize His hand and purpose in THEM ALL and sing from the heart, "Unto Him who hath loved us and washed us from sin, unto HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER, AMEN!" Pastor Henry Mahan

NO OTHER SALVATION

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

There is no other SAVIOUR but Jesus Christ to look to for salvation (Isa. 45:21-22; Matt.11:25-28; John 14:6).

There is no other SACRIFICE but Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sin (1John1:7; 1Peter1:18-20).

There is no other SUBSTITUTE but Jesus Christ to redeem us from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13; 2Cor.5:21).

There is no other SERVANT but Jesus Christ to honor and establish righteousness for us (Isa. 42:21; Matt. 5:17; Phil. 3:7-9; Rom. 4:6),

There is no other SURETY but Jesus Christ to guarantee all the terms of the everlasting covenant of grace (Heb. 7:22; Heb. 9:12; Heb. 13:20).

There is no other SHEPHERD but Jesus Christ that can effectually justify and bring the lost sheep home ( Psalm 23; John 6: 37-39; 10:11; Matt. 1:21 1Peter 3:18).

There is no other SURE FOUNDATION but Jesus Christ where weary sinners can find safety, salvation and secure refuge (Psalm 46:1; Isa. 28:16; 1Cor. 3:11; 1Peter 2:6).

There is no other SCEPTRE but Jesus Christ to rule and reign for the good of the elect and the glory of God (Ro. 8:28; Acts 2:36; Phil. 2:7-9).

There is no other SEED OF WOMAN but Jesus Christ to bruise the serpent's head and crush the dominion of evil (Gen. 3:15; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14-17). PastorTom Harding

BEAUTY AND BANDS OF THE GOSPEL

I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. (Zech. 11:7).

In this chapter the Lord gives us a contrast between the idol, foolish and false shepherds (Zech.11:15-17) and the Great (Heb. 13:20), Good (John 10:14) and Chief Shepherd (1Peter 5:4) of the flock, the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the charge given to the true Shepherd of Israel in verse 4, "Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter." Here we see the Lord Jesus Christ as our Surety and Mediator of the covenant of grace ready to undertake and carry out all the responsibility given to Him by the Father, to redeem His elect and secure their salvation (Matt. 1:21; Heb. 7:22). Now in verse 7 we see the Lord Jesus answer back with firm resolve, "I will feed the flock of slaughter," that is He will care, provide, shelter, lead and instruct the poor of the flock, into green pastures of truth and righteousness (Psalm 23:1-4). The Lord Jesus describes the two staffs that He employees to feed and redeem the flock, "the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands." Lets consider the Beauty and Bands of the gospel.

1). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the very Beauty (splendor, delight and grace) revealed in the Word of truth (Zech. 9:17). How beautiful, pleasant and powerful are all the doctrines of the gospel as they are revealed and made known in Christ (2Cor. 4:6; Rom. 1:16-17). His blessed person, "Altogether lovely" (Song of Sol. 5:16), to you who believe He is most Precious (1Peter 2:7). His blessed redeeming and effectual high priestly work, He gave Himself for our sin, as substitute and sacrifice according to the scriptures, the revealed will of God (Eph. 1:7; 5:2, 25-27; Heb. 9:11-12; 10:14-17; 1John 4:10).

2). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the very Bands (binder, pledge, token and uniting force) of the gospel of grace (John 6:44-45; 2Tim. 1:9). The gospel when revealed to our heart, in the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit binds and unites our soul and heart affection unto the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1-3). David put it this way, "thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth" (Psalm 110:3). That is how the Lord effectually and irresistibly draws us to Himself, our regenerated heart is drawn to His Loveliness and Beauty. We are made to see our own righteousness as filthy rags and count it as dung (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:7-9). And we are made to see His glorious sacrifice, His redeeming blood as the only ground of our justification before God (Rom 4:6-8; 5:6-10; 10:1-4; 2Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:6). Pastor Tom Harding