Articles

Bulletin - January 24, 2021

Hymn of the Day

(tune: "Only Trust Him"p.252)

 

What sacred Fountain yonder springs, Up from the throne of God,

And all new cov'nant blessings brings? 'Tis Jesus' precious blood!

 

Only blood can, Only blood can, Wretched sinners cleanse;

On the Lord's blood, On the Lord's blood, My poor soul depends.

 

What mighty sum paid all my debt, When I a bondman stood,

And has my soul at freedom set? 'Tis Jesus' precious blood!

 

What stream is that which sweeps away, My sins just like a flood,

Nor lets one guilty blemish stay? 'Tis Jesus' precious blood!

 

What voice is that which speaks for me, In heav'n's high court for good,

And from the curse has set me free? 'Tis Jesus' precious blood!

 

What theme, my soul, shall best employ, Thy harp before thy God,

And make all heav'n to ring with joy? 'Tis Jesus' precious blood.

 

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Today's Hymns

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed? - #110

Brethren, We Have Met to Worship - #15,

My Savior - #226

 

Special Dates: Albert Bakker – 25

 

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Whose mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3.19

 

I believe it is safe to say that anyone whose godliness or piety can be spotted at twenty yard's distance is likely earthly-minded! True godliness is an inward disposition of the heart, not an outward display of religious conduct. The moment an individual or a church turns its eyes from what cannot be seen to what can be seen - the moment it begins to focus its attention on outward righteousness and godliness, the moment it becomes enamored of outward displays of piety, the moment it turns its eyes from Calvary to Sinai – at that moment it starts down a path of earthly-mindedness that will produce all manner of shameful conduct as the enemies of the cross gain a standing among them and hide the light of the truth in order that they may appear righteous in the shadows.  -Joe

 

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Blessed are the poor in spirit … they that mourn …  the meek … they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness … the merciful … the pure in heart … the peacemakers … they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake…  

-Matthew 5.3-10

 

I have always read these verses selfishly (if I may use that term), because I have always wanted what was mentioned in the last half of each verse more than what was mentioned in the first half. I was much more interested in being filled than being made to hunger and thirst after righteousness; I was much more interested in obtaining mercy than being merciful to others; I was much more interested in being called a son of God than being a peacemaker.

 

While being filled and obtaining mercy are both wonderful things--and for them God is worthy of our everlasting praise--so also is the conforming of the state of our hearts to goodness. To put it another way, we should be glad that God has made us meek instead of proud, peacemakers instead of instigators, and mourners instead of over-confident or ignorant.

 

For if we (believers) were not meek, we would not put our trust wholly on God. If we were not made to hunger and thirst after righteousness, we would not seek God. If we were not persecuted for righteousness' sake, we would certainly be guilty of worshipping in a manmade religion and not one that preached the true God of scripture.

 

Be glad and rejoice that God has supplied for your weaknesses, but also be thankful that God has made you weak, so that you would seek His strength.    -Nathan Terrell

 

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There is no such thing as chance, luck, or accident in the Christian's journey through this world. Everything is arranged and appointed by God. All things are working together for the believer's good.  -J C Ryle

 

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It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

-Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Each Christian may find in his own case, some peculiar token of God's providential kindness to him. It is in the details of each man's personal history that we find the most touching manifestations of God's providential care. None of us can refuse to acknowledge that we have been the objects of a watchfulness which has never slumbered, and of a benevolence which has never been weary in doing us good.               

 

Were we to attempt an enumeration of all the . . .  blessings which we have received at God's hand, deliverance's which He has wrought out for us, snares from which He has preserved us, manifestations of His long-suffering patience, and tender mercy, of which we ourselves have been the objects — were we to begin with the years of infancy and helplessness, and to trace our progress through the slippery paths of youth, until we reached our present state — we would soon find how impossible it is to reckon up the sum of our innumerable obligations to "the loving-kindness of the Lord."

 

For not only has God spared us in life, and upheld us from day to day, by His almighty power; not only has He given us our daily bread, and made our cup to run over — and that, too, notwithstanding all the ingratitude which we have displayed, and the manifold provocations which we have offered; but, in peculiar seasons, in seasons of difficulty and trial — He has often delivered . . .  our eyes from tears, and our feet from falling, and our souls from death!

 

And as often as we have cried to the Lord in our trouble, He has delivered us from our distresses — or supported and comforted us under them. So that each of His redeemed people, on a review of God's dealings with Him, will be forced to exclaim:

 

"The Lord has been my Shepherd!" "I have not lacked any good thing!" "Hitherto has the Lord helped me!" "The Lord has done all things well!" "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life!" -James Buchanan