{"id":3199,"date":"2015-01-31T12:57:12","date_gmt":"2015-01-31T12:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=3199"},"modified":"2015-01-31T12:57:12","modified_gmt":"2015-01-31T12:57:12","slug":"bulletin-edition-242-february-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=3199","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #242 February 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joseph Hart<\/p>\n

Flesh and Spirit. Rom. 7. 14-25; Gal. 5. 17-24
\n1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Though void of all that\u2019s good,
\nAnd very, very poor,
\nThrough Christ I hope to be renewed,
\nAnd live for evermore.<\/p>\n

2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I view my own bad heart,
\nAnd see such evils there,
\nThe sight with horror makes me start,
\nAnd tempts me to despair.<\/p>\n

3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Then with a single eye
\nI look to Christ alone;
\nAnd on his righteousness rely,
\nThough I myself have none.<\/p>\n

4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By virtue of his blood,
\nThe Lord declares me clean.
\nNow serves my mind the law of God,
\nMy flesh the law of sin.<\/p>\n

Think for a moment of the glory and majesty of Almighty God. If a believer ponders in his heart the wonder of God\u2019s grace, he soon realizes his own unworthiness and utter vileness. How could it ever be that He, before whom the moon and stars are not pure in His sight, accepts such sinners? Yet the infallible Word of God declares that He indeed has accepted some men in the Beloved.<\/p>\n

Who are they? How are they made accepted? According to Ephesians 1:3-14, they are those who have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. They are those who have been chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world. They are those who have been predestinated to the adoption of children by Christ. They are those who have been accepted in Christ. They are those who have been redeemed by Christ, forgiven their sins by Christ, illuminated in Christ, gathered in Christ, and given an inheritance in Christ. They are those who have been given faith after they heard the Gospel. They are those who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit in Christ.
\nThis was all done for them to the praise and the glory of God\u2019s grace. This was accomplished for them by Him Who doeth all things after the counsel of His own will. To the hopeless, and only the hopeless, this is good news! \u2013 Tim James<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes indeed, most will mention just how good they are, how religious and how they have done this or that for God. What a joke. \u2018There is none that doeth good no NOT one\u2019! The Pharisee stood with himself and proclaimed in the presence of God and in the sight of men just how he was so thankful that he was not like the poor man standing afar off from him. Jehu tells one man to come with him and see how much zeal he had for God then in the same chapter we learn that he sinned is so many ways similar to Jeroboam (2 Kings 10).<\/p>\n

Add your name and my name to those who far to often do things \u2018to be seen of men\u2019. But thanks be to God that the Lord Jesus Christ is that true and faithful witness and God has seen fit to accept His faithfulness for our unworthiness, His unchanging commitment towards all the elect for their unfaithfulness!<\/p>\n

We have no goodness to proclaim, He is the sum and substance of all Good and all Goodness! He is faithful that promised, therefore we can trust Him for everything we need both in this world and in the world to come. Let the potsherds strive with one another about who is better. Let us rather proclaim His infinite goodness and faithfulness to the likes of us who process neither, in and of ourselves.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew Dietz.<\/p>\n

reconciling truth and experience<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you have been at the business of preaching for a while, you hear certain questions come up in conversations now and again. Because of the nature and the exactness of the Word of God, it seems that many folks have difficulty reconciling Truth with their experience in religion. For example, once when I was preaching in a conference, a lady approached me after the message and asked me if it was necessary that a person attends services every time that the church met.<\/p>\n

Having just preached the Gospel and experienced the privilege of worshipping God, I wondered at the reason for such a question. Rather than answer the question, I asked her two questions. 1st “Why do you ask?” and 2nd “Do you not desire to worship at every opportunity?” The conversation experienced an abrupt subject change without any reply from her. I later discovered that this lady, while claiming to adore the Gospel of Grace, found numerous opportunities to absent herself from public worship. It would seem that she was not interested in an answer to her question but rather a means of justifying her derelict attitude and behavior toward meeting with God’s people to worship.<\/p>\n

Another question that I have often been asked is \u201cHow much does a person have to know about the Gospel to be saved?” This query is usually made after a clear declaration that belief in the Truth is the only evidence of salvation. This question is usually asked in the context of a rehearsal of that person’s experience in religion prior to hearing the Gospel of God’s Grace. I wonder what is really being asked. It seems to me that those who ask such a question are not really concerned with “how much’ one needs to know, but: “how little” one can get by with and still hold to a profession made before hearing the Gospel.<\/p>\n

Of course, the answer is not “how much?” or “how little?” The answer is “THE”! One must hear and believe THE Gospel, and further, one does not believe until he hears THE Gospel. (John 8:32, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 1:13).<\/p>\n

Our lord said, in John 6:45, that everyone that “\u2026hath heard and learned of the Father”, comes to Christ. What do you suppose it is that the Father teaches? He teaches THE Gospel! For someone to claim to have come to Christ prior to knowing the Gospel is to admit that he is not taught of God. Further, it is to hold up a religious experience above the clear declaration of Holy Writ.<\/p>\n

What does a person believe before he believes the truth? He believes the lie. What experience can a person have prior to experiencing the Grace of God that only comes by the hearing of the Gospel? Any experience prior to hearing and believing the Gospel is to be immediately and summarily discarded and disowned upon receiving the Gospel. What would be the possible benefit of the witness of Paul, the Apostle, if he had counted his vast and formidable religious experiences as anything but dung? (Philippians 3:4-9).Tim James<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

O Sing unto the Lord a New Song!<\/strong><\/p>\n

by James Smith, 1860
\nPraise<\/em> is lovely for the upright, and it befits the Lord’s people to be thankful. God loves to be praised. He loves to hear us praise him, as it indicates . . .
\nthat we have a due sense of our obligations,
\nthat we value our mercies, and
\nare happy in our souls.<\/p>\n

We have many psalms of praise written for us, and hymns of thanksgiving should constantly ascend from us. O for a heart to praise God! O for a warm, loving, grateful heart!<\/p>\n

And now let me see if I can awaken gratitude in my soul, and raise a song of thanksgiving to my gracious God. Let me listen to the Psalmist, and try and unite with him. “O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm has gotten him the victory.” Psalm 98:1.<\/p>\n

“He has done marvelous things,” <\/em>and marvelous things for me. <\/em><\/p>\n

He laid all my sins <\/em>on his own beloved Son, and punished him \u2014 that he might never punish me. How marvelous that the Son of God should take my place; and bear, expiate, and remove from the sight of God forever, all my sins! Jesus was treated as a sinner \u2014 that I may be treated as a righteous person. And in consequence of my sins being laid on Jesus, and his righteousness being imputed to me \u2014 I am justified, and declared righteous <\/em>by the God of justice and holiness.<\/p>\n

In addition to this, he entered the lists with Satan <\/em>on my behalf, and he defeated, condemned, and fastened a chain <\/em>on that monster \u2014 so that he can never condemn, or do me any lasting injury.<\/p>\n

He has also abolished death<\/em>, given me everlasting life, and placed immortality in a clear light before me; so that heaven is now presented to my faith, as open to receive me whenever I fall asleep in him.<\/p>\n

Not only so \u2014 but he is gone himself into heaven as my Advocate, to confute my accusers, carry my cause, and secure to me an honorable reception there.<\/p>\n

“With his right hand and holy arm,” <\/em>he . . .
\nrescued me from death, delivered me from Satan, brought me out of the world, subdued my stubborn will,
\nbroke my hard heart, and made me a new creature!<\/p>\n

In me, his omnipotent power and glorious majesty have been displayed. In me, Christ Jesus, as the Captain of salvation, has triumphed. In me, the Holy Spirit has displayed his sovereignty, and wrought wondrously, bringing me to know, love, and enjoy God as a covenant God in Christ. In me, the Lord has gotten himself the victory, every enemy has been subdued, and subdued by himself. Every power has been led captive, and brought into obedience unto Christ. He has gotten the victory, and it was glorious, triumphant, and complete. I shall grace his triumphs, share his honors, and eternally praise his name.<\/p>\n

Let me therefore join with the Psalmist, and sing a new song. <\/em>Sing, because he has done so much for <\/em>me, and so much in <\/em>me \u2014 and all by his own power, to the glory of his own grace! He did all, unsought by me, unexpected by me, of his own free mercy and love. He has recorded <\/em>his doings, put the record into my hands, and made the reading of it a blessing to my soul. O for a new <\/em>song for new mercies, for his mercies are new every morning! O for a daily <\/em>song, for the daily discovery and enjoyment of his mercies! O for an angel’s harp, a seraph’s fire \u2014 to sing aloud and sweetly unto the Lord! Let me sing, because I see that it is the Father’s <\/em>delight to bless me!<\/p>\n

Let me sing, for the Son <\/em>has displayed his love to me in every possible way! Let me sing, for the Holy Spirit <\/em>takes a pleasure in making me holy and happy, and will make me most blessed for evermore.<\/p>\n

O for grace to tune my heart, elevate my affections, and inspire my soul with gratitude and praise! Father <\/em>of mercies, I will praise you, for you have done marvelous things, and marvelous things for me! Son <\/em>of God, I will praise you, for you have done marvelous things, and marvelous things for me! Holy and ever blessed Spirit<\/em>, I will praise you, for you have done, and are doing marvelous things, and marvelous things for me! Yes, while I live, will I praise the Lord; when I die, will I praise the Lord! On earth, in time, will I praise the Lord; and in heaven, through eternity, will I praise the Lord.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joseph Hart Flesh and Spirit. Rom. 7. 14-25; Gal. 5. 17-24 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Though void of all that\u2019s good, And very, very poor, Through Christ I hope to be renewed, And live for evermore. 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I view my own bad heart, And see such evils there, The sight with horror makes me start, And tempts me […]<\/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-3199","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\/3199","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=3199"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3200,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3199\/revisions\/3200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}