{"id":2774,"date":"2014-03-01T07:47:36","date_gmt":"2014-03-01T07:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2774"},"modified":"2014-03-01T07:47:36","modified_gmt":"2014-03-01T07:47:36","slug":"bulletin-edition-201-march-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2774","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #201 March 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

My beloved<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Octavius Winslow, “None Like Christ” 1866)<\/p>\n

“How is your beloved better than others?<\/strong>”
\nSong of Solomon 5:9<\/p>\n

Does the world challenge\u2013 “How is your beloved
\nbetter than others?” Your answer is at hand\u2013
\n“My beloved<\/strong> bore my sins, and opened in His heart
\na fountain in which I am washed whiter than snow!
\nMy beloved<\/strong> . . .
\nsustains my burdens,
\ncounsels my perplexities,
\nheals my wounds,
\ndries my tears,
\nsupplies my needs,
\nbears with my infirmities,
\nupholds my steps, and
\ncheers my pathway to the tomb.
\nMy beloved<\/strong> will be with me in the valley of
\nthe shadow of death, and with His presence
\nI shall fear no evil.
\nMy beloved<\/strong> has gone to prepare a place for me
\nin the many-mansioned house of my Father, and
\nwill come again and receive me to Himself, that
\nwhere He is, I may be also.
\nMy beloved<\/strong> will walk with me in the gold-paved
\nstreets of the new Jerusalem. He will lead me to
\nfountains of living waters, and will wipe every
\ntear from my eyes! He is altogether lovely!<\/strong>
\nThis is my beloved<\/strong>, and this is my Friend!”<\/p>\n

*******<\/p>\n

I saw where someone wrote recently, \u201cthere\u2019s a lot more in the word of God, than Christ.\u201d\u00a0 That is a sad and horrible statement.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I tell you that I grew up in Deer Park TX, my first car was a Plymouth Duster and I worked at Houston Independent School District, this is not a treatise on cities, cars or companies.\u00a0 It is all about me.\u00a0 The scriptures have some things to say about Heaven, Hell, Bethlehem and even heresy, but we need to understand that the word of God concerns His Son Jesus Christ, all Him, only Him, always Him.\u00a0 Every other person, place, thing and subject are included, only as they relate to, reveal and glorify Him.<\/p>\n

When it comes right down to it, He is all there is.\u00a0 Anyone who does not, by God\u2019s grace, know this, has no business saying or writing anything about God or His word.\u00a0 If God will ever reveal anything to you, it will begin right there; Christ is all. If God is ever going to use you for His glory, in His ministry, in any capacity, He will cause you to determine to know nothing, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Chris Cunningham
\n*******<\/p>\n

Christ is All<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colossians 3: 11<\/strong><\/p>\n

The apostle Paul writes to believers who \u201chave put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man.\u201d\u00a0 By the \u201cold man\u201d is meant the corrupt nature of our first birth; by the “new man” is meant the new nature of the new birth created of God in God\u2019s image and renewed in the knowledge of God.<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s objective in writing the letter to the Colossians is mine to you.\u00a0 He wanted them to ignore will-worshippers and philosophers who claimed Christ is not all that they might make themselves to differ by something in or by them. All fleshly, carnal distinctions by which men think they are righteous in themselves and despise others mean nothing in Christ.<\/p>\n

There is \u201cneither Greek nor Jew.\u201d Those born of God are taught of God that man\u2019s race by his first birth has nothing whatsoever to do with his salvation. There is \u201cneither circumcision nor uncircumcision.\u201d Those recreated after the image of God are taught of God that true righteousness and true holiness is not in the externals of religion. (2 Cor 5: 17-18) There is \u201cneither Barbarian or Scythian.\u201d In the new man we are taught of God that we are no better than the unwise, unlearned, uneducated, crude and uncivilized for Christ is our Wisdom. There is \u201cneither bond nor free.\u201d In Christ, the believer\u2019s standing is not based on civil law. If he is bound under civil law then spiritually he is Christ\u2019s free man; if he is free under civil law then spiritually he is Christ\u2019s willing bond servant.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Christ is All and in All.\u201d\u00a0 I have had men say to me, \u201cChrist is not all.\u201d\u00a0 Can you imagine saying, \u201cGod is not all?\u201d\u00a0 What ignorance, arrogance and shame!\u00a0 Let it be settled here and now, God the Holy Spirit says through the apostle Paul, \u201cChrist is All!\u201d<\/p>\n

Note how many times throughout this letter the Holy Spirit repeatedly connects the word \u201call\u201d with Christ.\u00a0 He begins declaring Christ is God, the Head of Creation, the Head of the Church and by him are ALL things. (Col 1: 15-19) Then declares Christ is the salvation of God\u2019s elect: who reconciled ALL to himself, who has ALL riches, in whom are ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who is ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily, who has forgiven us ALL trespasses. (Col 1: 20-23, 27; 2: 2-3; 8-13)<\/p>\n

Scripture declare God our Savior Jesus Christ is the believers: High Priest & Lamb (Heb 2: 17; 4: 14), Advocate & Propitiation (1 Jn 2: 1-2); Way, Truth & Life (Jn 14: 6), Bread (Jn 6: 35), Door (Jn 10: 7-9), Shepherd (Jn 10: 11), Resurrection (Jn 11: 25), Master & Lord (Jn 13: 13), Vine (Jn 15: 5), Light (Jn 8: 12), Foundation (1 Cor 3: 11), Root & Ensign (Is 11: 10), Raiment (Rev 3: 18) Head (Eph 4: 15), Hope (1 Ti 1: 1), Refuge (Ps 46: 1), Peace (Eph 2: 14), Passover (1 Cor 5: 7), Portion (Ps 16: 5), Freedom (Jn 8: 36), Fountain (Jer 17: 13), Example (1 Pet 2: 21), Dew (Ho 14: 5), Sun & Shield (Ps 84: 11), Strength & Song (Is 12: 2), Rock, Shield, Horn, High Tower, Refuge & Savior (2 Sa 22: 3), Supply (Php 4: 19), Ladder (Gen 28: 12) Treasure (2 Cor 4: 7), Temple (Rev 21: 22), Ark (Heb 9: 4; Ps 40: 8; Rev 11: 19), Altar (Heb 13: 10), Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, & Redemption. (1 Cor 1: 30)<\/p>\n

Reader, ignore every man who insists that except a believer add to Christ we cannot be saved.\u00a0 That is the old man and his deeds that God makes the believer put off. Carnal distinctions are nothing. Christ is the one thing needful! (Lu 10: 41-42) We are commanded to seek him, come to him, believe him, rest in him, abide in him, follow him, let nothing turn us from him, watch and be ready for his return, and in the last day be found in him.\u00a0 \u201cAnd this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.\u00a0 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.\u201d (1 Jn 5: 11)<\/p>\n

Since Christ is All and in All the loss of anything in this world is really no loss at all!<\/p>\n

Clay Curtis.<\/p>\n

A friend whose door is always open!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(John MacDuff, “Brief Thoughts for the Followers of Jesus<\/em>” 1855)<\/p>\n

“Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!” <\/em>Song of Songs 5:16<\/p>\n

A Friend!<\/em> How endearing the title! There is music in the very sound. But if there is something so sweet and precious in having an earthly <\/em>friend \u2014 then what is it to have a Heavenly <\/em>one! It is of such, that the spouse is here speaking, even of Him who is the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely one! O my soul, let me think of the Lord Jesus as my friend \u2014
\nmy true friend,
\nmy loving friend,
\nmy faithful friend,
\nmy powerful friend,
\nmy seasonable friend,
\nmy unchanging friend,
\nmy friend who sticks closer than a brother,
\nmy friend who loves me at all times, and on all occasions!<\/p>\n

In the enjoyment of the Savior’s friendship, there are many precious privileges <\/em>involved. One is, freedom of access to Him<\/em> at all seasons, and under all circumstances. In our fellowship with strangers, it is proper that some degree of reserve <\/em>should be maintained. But it is not so with a well-known and thoroughly tested friend \u2014 his heart and home are always open! Just so, Jesus is always ready to receive us, just as we are \u2014 guilty, polluted, and wretched!<\/p>\n

Christian, the Lord Jesus is a friend whose door is always open!<\/strong> Knock whenever you will \u2014 you are sure to be welcome. It is true \u2014 He sits upon a throne<\/em> \u2014 but it is the throne of grace<\/em>; and you are called upon to approach it, not in a spirit of fear and trembling \u2014 but with filial confidence, that you may receive from His fullness, and find grace to help in time of need.<\/p>\n

O my soul, what a friend have you in Christ!
\n
\n“I have called you friends!” <\/em>John 15:15<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your Almighty Friend!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(From Octavius Winslow’s, “Christ, the Mighty God”)
\n<\/em>
\nBecause Jesus is the Almighty God, His
\npeople have an Almighty Burden Bearer.<\/p>\n

We are a burdened people.<\/p>\n

Every believer carries a burden peculiar to himself.<\/p>\n

What is your burden, O believer?
\nIs it indwelling sin?
\nIs it some natural infirmity of the flesh?
\nIs it a constitutional weakness?
\nIs it some domestic trial?
\nIs it a personal or relative trial?
\nIs it the loss of property?
\nIs it the decay of health?
\nIs it soul anxiety?
\nIs it mental despondency?<\/p>\n

Come, oppressed and burdened believer,
\nready to give up all and sink! Behold Jesus,
\nthe Almighty God, omnipotent to transfer
\nyour burden to Himself, and give you rest!<\/p>\n

It is well that you are sensible of the pressure,
\nthat you feel your weakness and insufficiency,
\nand that you are brought to the end of all your
\nown power.<\/p>\n

Now turn to your Almighty Friend<\/strong>, who is
\nthe Creator of the ends of the earth, even
\nthe everlasting God, who does not faint,
\nneither is weary.<\/p>\n

How precious is the promise addressed to you!
\n“He gives power to those who are tired and worn
\nout; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths
\nwill become exhausted, and young men will give up.
\nBut those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
\nThey will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run
\nand not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”<\/p>\n

Oh, what strength there is in Jesus for the
\nweak, and faint, and drooping of His flock!<\/p>\n

You are ready to succumb to your foes,
\nand you think the battle of faith is lost.<\/p>\n

Cheer up! Jesus, your Savior, friend, and brother,
\nis “the Almighty God,” and will perfect His strength
\nin your weakness. The battle is not yours but His!<\/p>\n

Jesus sustains our infirmities, bears our
\nburdens, supplies our needs, and encircles
\nus with the shield of His Almightiness!<\/p>\n

What a Divine spring of consolation and strength
\nto the tired and afflicted saint is the Almightiness
\nof Jesus. Your sorrow is too deep, your affliction
\ntoo heavy, your difficulty too great for any human
\nto resolve. It distances in its intensity and magnitude
\nthe sympathy and the power of man.<\/p>\n

Come, you tossed with tempest and not comforted;
\ncome, you whose spirit is wounded, whose heart is
\nbroken, whose mind is bowed down to the dust, and
\nhide for a little while within Christ’s sheltering
\nAlmightiness!<\/p>\n

Jesus is equal to your condition.<\/p>\n

His strength is almighty!
\nHis love is almighty!
\nHis grace is almighty!
\nHis sympathy is almighty!
\nHis arm is almighty!
\nHis resources are infinite, fathomless, measureless!<\/p>\n

And all this Almightiness is on your side, and will
\nbring you through the fire and through the water.<\/p>\n

Almighty to rescue, He is also your Brother and Friend
\nto sympathize. And while His Divine arm encircles,
\nupholds, and keeps you; His human soul, touched
\nwith the feeling of your infirmities, yearns over
\nyou with all the deep intensity of its compassionate
\ntenderness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My beloved (Octavius Winslow, “None Like Christ” 1866) “How is your beloved better than others?” Song of Solomon 5:9 Does the world challenge\u2013 “How is your beloved better than others?” Your answer is at hand\u2013 “My beloved bore my sins, and opened in His heart a fountain in which I am washed whiter than snow! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2774"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2776,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2774\/revisions\/2776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}