{"id":2950,"date":"2014-07-26T07:37:45","date_gmt":"2014-07-26T07:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2950"},"modified":"2014-07-26T07:37:45","modified_gmt":"2014-07-26T07:37:45","slug":"bulletin-edition-221-july-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2950","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #221 July 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

My grace is sufficient for you<\/strong><\/p>\n

(J. C. Philpot, “Strength Made Perfect in Weakness”)<\/p>\n

“My grace is sufficient for you<\/strong>, for My power is
\nmade perfect in your weakness.”\u00a0 2 Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n

Not your strength<\/em>,
\nnot your wisdom<\/em>,
\nnot your prayers<\/em>,
\nnot your experience<\/em>;
\nbut “My grace”<\/em>\u2014My free, My matchless grace,
\nindependent of all works and efforts, independent of
\neverything in the creature\u2014flowing wholly and solely,
\nfully and freely, out of the bosom of Jesus to . . .
\nthe needy,
\nthe guilty,
\nthe destitute,
\nthe undone.
\nYou who are tried in worldly circumstances,
\nwho have to endure the hard lot of poverty<\/strong>
\n\u2014”My grace is sufficient for you.”<\/p>\n

You who are tempted<\/strong>, day by day, to say
\nor do that which conscience testifies against
\n\u2014”My grace is sufficient for you.”<\/p>\n

You who are harassed with family troubles <\/strong>
\nand afflictions, and are often drawn aside into
\npeevishness and fretfulness\u2014”My grace is
\nsufficient for you.”<\/p>\n

Our weakness<\/strong>, helplessness<\/strong>, and inability <\/strong>
\nare the very things which draw forth the power,
\nthe strength, and the grace of Jesus!<\/p>\n

Believer, your case is never beyond the reach
\nof the words\u2014”My grace is sufficient for you!”<\/p>\n

The free, the matchless, sovereign grace of God,
\nis sufficient for all His people\u2014in whatever state,
\nor stage, or trouble, or difficulty they may be in!<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

“My grace is sufficient for you<\/strong>, for My power is
\nmade perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n

The Sufficiency of Grace<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Smith, 1842
\n“My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness!” 2 Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n

The grace of Jesus fixed on a sinner \u2014 is the cause of all His communications to that sinner. He gives grace to us, because we have found favor in His eyes. He who has once realized the power, sweetness, and glory of divine grace, is always desirous of enjoying more of it. Grace has supplied all the needs of the Lord’s family in every age.<\/p>\n

“What shall I do?” cries the distressed and bewildered soul. Do?<\/em> Look to Jesus. He has a fullness of grace, and His grace is sufficient for you \u2014 sufficient to enable you to bear your afflictions with patience; to rejoice in the midst of the furnace; and to cry out, “In all these things I am more than a conqueror, through Him that loved me.”<\/p>\n

Remember His marvelous works that He has done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth. He has ever been the strength of the poor, and the strength of the needy in his distress. His grace will . . .
\npardon your sins;
\nrectify your mistakes;
\ncontrol your enemies;
\njustify your person;
\nsanctify your soul, and
\nsupply all your needs.<\/p>\n

He is gracious. He has abundance <\/em>of grace. He will give <\/em>grace. Fear not, you may feel weak, unworthy, and question your right to the grace of Jesus; but remember, grace is always free. “Not for your sakes, do I this, O house of Israel \u2014 but for my holy name’s sake. I will not give my glory to another.” Jesus gets glory by . . .
\nrelieving the poor,
\nbefriending the unworthy,
\nfilling the empty,
\nstrengthening the weak, and
\nleading the lame to take the prey.<\/p>\n

He asserts His right, “May I not do as I will with my own?” He displays His authority, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.” He manifests His benevolence, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” He gets glory, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us \u2014 but unto your name give glory, for your mercy, and for your truth’s sake. Our God is in the heavens; he has done whatever He has pleased.”<\/p>\n

The grace of Jesus is for whoever will; if you have a willing mind \u2014 then you <\/em>are the very person for whom grace was treasured up in Jesus; and upon you it will be bestowed. This one scripture is enough to carry you safely through time, and to land you in eternal glory. It is for your consolation and salvation; claim it as God’s free gift; plead it as your warrant to expect a supply of every good thing; and trust it, with all possible confidence \u2014 for you cannot be deceived. You have a thorn <\/em>in your flesh as Paul had \u2014 and you have the same promise <\/em>from the same faithful God. The thorn <\/em>and the promise <\/em>go together in God’s dispensations; do not attempt to separate them; but go to the Lord as the Psalmist, “Remember the word unto your servant; upon which you have caused me to hope.”<\/p>\n

I hear my Lord, my Savior say,
\nStrength shall be equal to your day;
\nNow I rejoice in deep distress,
\nLeaning on all sufficient grace.<\/p>\n

I glory in infirmity,
\nThat Christ’s own power may rest on me;
\nWhen I am weak, then I am strong,
\nGrace is my shield, and Christ my song.<\/p>\n

I can do all things, or can bear
\nAll sufferings, if my Lord be there;
\nSweet pleasures mingle with the pains,
\nWhile His strong arm, my heart sustains.<\/p>\n

—-<\/p>\n

We need grace, free grace<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Philpot, “Precious Faith, with its Benefits and Blessings”)<\/p>\n

“May grace <\/strong>and peace be multiplied unto you<\/strong>.”
\n2 Peter 1:2<\/p>\n

When we see and feel how<\/strong> we need grace every
\nmoment in our lives<\/strong>, we at once perceive the beauty in
\nasking for an abundant, overflowing measure of grace.<\/p>\n

We cannot walk the length of the street without sin.<\/p>\n

Our carnal minds, our vain imaginations, are all on the
\nlookout for evil. Sin presents itself at every avenue, and
\nlurks like the prowling night-thief for every opportunity
\nof secret plunder. In fact, in ourselves, in our fallen nature,
\nexcept as restrained and influenced by grace<\/strong>, we sin with
\nwell near every breath that we draw. We need, therefore,
\ngrace upon grace, or, in the words of the text, grace to be
\n“multiplied” in proportion to our sins. Shall I say in
\nproportion? No! If sin abounds, as to our shame and sorrow
\nwe know it does, we need grace to much more abound!<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the ‘tide of sin’ flows in with its muck and mire,
\nwe need the ‘tide of grace’ to flow higher still, to carry
\nout the slime and filth into the depths of the ocean,
\nso that when sought for, they may be found no more.<\/p>\n

We need grace, free grace . . .<\/strong>
\ngrace today,
\ngrace tomorrow,
\ngrace this moment,
\ngrace the next,
\ngrace all the day long.<\/p>\n

We need grace, free grace . . .
\n<\/strong>healing grace,
\nreviving grace,
\nrestoring grace,
\nsaving grace,
\nsanctifying grace.<\/p>\n

And all this multiplied by all our . . .
\nwants and woes,
\nsins,
\nslips,
\nfalls, and
\nunceasing and aggravated backslidings.<\/p>\n

We need grace, free grace . . .<\/strong>
\ngrace to believe,
\ngrace to hope,
\ngrace to love,
\ngrace to fight,
\ngrace to conquer,
\ngrace to stand,
\ngrace to live,
\ngrace to die.<\/p>\n

Every moment of our lives we need . . .<\/strong>
\nkeeping grace,
\nsupporting grace,
\nupholding grace,
\nwithholding grace.<\/p>\n

“May grace <\/strong>and peace be multiplied unto you<\/strong>.”
\n2 Peter 1:2<\/p>\n

—-<\/p>\n

Free Grace<\/strong> Tommy Robbins
\n\u201cNow we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.\u201d 1Co 2:12<\/p>\n

\u201cFree Grace\u201d is a term we often use but I wonder how many understand its true meaning by experience. To really appreciate something it is of necessity we must experience it. To give an example; we may believe with all our being there is warmth by the fireside, yet if we remain bound outside in the subzero cold we will never experience and appreciate the warmth of the fire inside.<\/p>\n

So it is with the grace of God. It is only those who have been brought by God\u2019s omnipotent, sovereign, irresistible grace to Christ that bask in the enjoyment and comfort of the reality of the freeness of the same. There is nothing that we can do to merit or earn God\u2019s wondrous favor of grace. Salvation is solely owning to the pleasure and purpose of God. God, constrained only by His everlasting love for His children, freely sent His blessed Son into the world. The Lord Jesus Christ, God\u2019s dear Son, freely, gladly, joyfully, without reservation, suffered and gave His life a ransom for us. We had absolutely nothing to do with the great work of redemption.<\/p>\n

What God did in Christ for His people, He did freely. Then, thanks be unto God, in His time He sent His Word by the power of His Holy Spirit and brought us to Christ. This He did freely, giving us life, revealing Himself to us in the experience of grace. Now, having experienced the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, the believer\u2019s life is an experience of free grace.<\/p>\n

Some may conclude that I place too much emphasis upon experience. Judge my words however you must. I agree it is truth that we are not saved by experience. However, it is equally of a truth that where there is no experience there is no life. There is a vast difference of thoughts in our head and believing with our heart.<\/p>\n

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

—-<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

ALL-SUFFICIENT GRACE<\/strong><\/p>\n

(John MacDuff, “The Faithful Promiser”)<\/p>\n

“God is able to make all grace<\/strong> abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency <\/strong>in all things<\/strong> \u2014 may abound <\/em>to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
\n
\nAll-sufficiency in all things! <\/em>Believer! Surely you are “thoroughly equipped for every good work!”<\/p>\n

Grace is no scanty thing, doled out in pittances!
\nIt is a glorious treasury<\/em>, which the key of prayer<\/em> can always unlock \u2014 but can never empty!
\nIt is a fountain<\/em> \u2014 full, flowing, ever flowing, over flowing!<\/p>\n

Mark these three ALL’S <\/em>in this precious promise. It is a three-fold link in a golden chain<\/em>, let down from the throne of grace, by the God of grace. “All grace!” “all-sufficiency!” in “all things!” and these to “abound.”<\/p>\n

Oh! precious thought! My need cannot impoverish that inexhaustible treasury of grace! <\/em>Myriads are hourly hanging on it, drawing from it \u2014 and yet there is no diminution. Out of that fullness we, too, may all receive, “grace upon grace!”<\/p>\n

My soul, do you not love to dwell on that all-abounding grace!<\/em> Your own insufficiency<\/em> in everything, met with a divine “all-sufficiency<\/em> in all things!”
\nGrace in all circumstances and situations!
\nGrace in all vicissitudes and changes!
\nGrace in all the varied phases of the Christian’s being!
\nGrace in sunshine \u2014 and in storm!
\nGrace in health \u2014 and in sickness!
\nGrace in life \u2014 and in death!
\nGrace for the old believer \u2014 and the young believer.
\nGrace for the tried <\/em>believer, and the weak <\/em>believer, and the tempted <\/em>believer.
\nGrace for <\/em>duty \u2014 and grace in <\/em>duty.
\nGrace to carry the joyous <\/em>cup with a steady hand \u2014 and grace to drink the bitter <\/em>cup with an unmurmuring spirit!
\nGrace to have prosperity sanctified \u2014 and grace to say through tears, “May Your will be done!”
\n<\/em>
\n“God is able to make all grace<\/strong> abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency <\/strong>in all things<\/strong> \u2014 may abound <\/em>to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My grace is sufficient for you (J. C. Philpot, “Strength Made Perfect in Weakness”) “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.”\u00a0 2 Corinthians 12:9 Not your strength, not your wisdom, not your prayers, not your experience; but “My grace”\u2014My free, My matchless grace, independent of all works […]<\/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-2950","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\/2950","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=2950"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2951,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2950\/revisions\/2951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}