Articles

Bulletin - October 25, 2020

October 25, 2020

Hymn of the Day

(tune: Higher Ground, p. 308)

 

I wandered long in my own way,

New depths I reached from day to day,

But by the Shepherd I was found,

And planted safely on high ground.

 

Chorus

He's lifted up to God's right hand,

And by God's grace, with Him I stand,

No higher plane can ere be found,

I'm satisfied with this high ground.

 

My Savior came my soul to save, For me, His precious life He gave;

So, I'm no more by Satan bound, For Christ has set me on high ground.

 

They crucified the Savior, Then, when three days passed, He rose again,

In Joseph's tomb He was not found, He'd risen up to higher ground.

 

The day will come when He'll return, The world, with God's own wrath, will burn.

But I'll be safe, for I'll be found, In Jesus Christ – the Highest Ground!

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Today's Hymns:   We Would See Jesus #311,

Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty #13, His Matchless Worth #48

 

Special Dates: Oliver Van Beek – 25

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If there be for him a messenger, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is upright [or honest], and he is merciful to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom.' Job 33.23-28

There is only one who is a messenger from God to us and a mediator between us and God – our blessed Lord Jesus! He, alone, will tell us what is honest; the very uprightness and integrity of His own heart compels Him to. And He alone has the standing before God to speak in our behalf as the one mediator between God and man. And wondrous gospel mystery – He tells us and God the same thing. His intercession for us in the presence of God is His message to us. He says to God, "Spare him!" and we hear, "You are spared." He says to God, "I have found a ransom," and we hear, "I gave myself a ransom for you."

Was there ever such a messenger? Was there ever such a mediator? Our souls are renewed at the sound of His mediating message. We are emboldened to pray at the sound of His voice, and we find mercy. Blessed Mediator, speak to us your word of mediation! -Joe

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The life of sin and love of sin is in our nature; the law of sin is in our members and we are daily exposed to sin in our practice. Moreover, Satan attacks the peace of our souls. What can we do? If we deny his charge, and "we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). Acknowledge his accusations we must. All in nature, reason and conscience unite to witness against us.

But shall this destroy the comfort of our minds, the hope of our souls and the peace of our hearts? If so, how small our knowledge!  How feeble our faith!  How weak our hearts in the grace which is in Christ Jesus!  All the powers of darkness, all the curses of the law, all the accusations of sin, - blessed forever, blessed be the grace of our God, -- cannot, shall not overthrow this soul-comforting, Christ-exalting, love exciting truth; this Man, even Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem and died at Calvary, He is our peace!

He hath made peace by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). The everlasting gospel proclaims it; the eternal law of love confirms it; by faith we receive the joyful news of it; by the Spirit our souls are made to enjoy it; by the word, the blessed Spirit stirs up our pure minds, by exhortations and examples, to look unto Jesus. Look away from every other hope. Turn from every other object. His name, His nature, His offices, His work, all speak peace to poor, guilty, self-condemned souls, whose only hope is Jesus. "The work of (Jesus') righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of (His) righteousness quietness and assurance forever" (Isaiah 32:17) -William Mason

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Dark times may deafen us to Christ's word of mercy, but they never deafen God to Christ's word of intercession! Our spiritual comfort comes from what we hear, therefore, our sense of comfort has its ups and downs as our ability to hear changes with the seasons of our lives. But our safety is found in what God hears and He is never deaf to the voice of His Son. When we have no ear to hear the sweet gospel of grace nor mouth to call for God's mercy, Christ's voice to His father is still strong and our Father's ear is still receptive to His pleas for us. -Joe

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My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee . . . then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1, 5)

Search the word; study the word; weigh the words of all preachers by the Word of God. We must make a difference between God's word and the words of men. "Man's words are a sound which flies into the air and soon vanishes." But the word of God is eternal; it is greater than heaven and earth; it is greater than life or death; for it is the power and wisdom of God! It is "with the word of truth" that He begets us. It is "through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that God has chosen us to salvation" (II Thess. 2:13). It is "by hearing the word" that faith comes. "comfort one another with these words," saith the Lord. If there is any one thing that would please God's true preachers, it is that our hearers would "receive the word of God with all readiness of mind and search the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Honor the words of God and honor the Lord's Spirit, who gave them, by trusting Him to give you light and understanding. We preach and teach, but only our Lord can enlighten the hearts of men. -Henry Mahan

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For some of you, this is a time of great darkness; but in the gospel there is light for the present, yes, joy even for this moment in which you seem to be driven almost to despair.  When I preach about the water of life so freely given by God, I mean just this – that all you need between here and heaven, Christ is ready to give you.  All that your soul can possibly require to enable you to stand in the presence of God without fear and dwell in the bosom of God forever, made perfectly like Christ by His grace – all that is in the gospel for you; and we are bidden to invite you to partake of it in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord -Bruce Crabtree