\u201cYea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, even Thine altars,
O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.\u201d \u2013Psalm 84:3<\/p>\n
FOR several years now I have watched a bird, a swallow, build a nest in the vine that clings to the church-house wall. Every year, in the same place, that bird builds her nest on that wall. And every time I see her I think of this scripture: \u201cthe sparrow hath found a house \u2026\u201d The saints are like that bird.
By God\u2019s grace, we have \u201cfound a house.\u201d We have found a place \u201cwhich God hath chosen to cause His Name to dwell there\u201d (Deut.12:11). By God\u2019s grace, we have found the house of God, the church of God, the assembly of the saints, the temple of God, where Christ and His people dwell together; where we behold the beauty of the Lord and inquire in His temple. In our Lord\u2019s sovereign providence and mercy we have found \u201ca nest for ourselves.\u201d The church of the living God, where Christ is worshipped, preached, and dwells in the midst of His people, is a nest: a place of comfort and safety, a haven of rest for the weary and heavy laden sinner.
After that bird labors to build that nest, she herself rests in that nest. Are we not \u2018laborers together,\u2019 \u2018building up one another on this most holy faith\u2019 (which is Christ!)? And do not we, ourselves, rest in that very faith, that very One, Whom we want our young to rest in? Yes, we have found a good place to rest, where Christ, our Altar, our Refuge, our Bread and Water of life is found. And this is a good place to lay our young.\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\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\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 \u2013Paul Mahan
Matthew 2: 1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2: Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3: When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
In these three verses we have three people mentioned. They make up the only three persons that exist.
First, there is Christ the King.\u00a0 He has always been the King.\u00a0 Christ was born King. He is King of his people, true Jews, spiritual Israel. (Rom 2: 28) Our Savior was born to die that he might put away the sin of his people, justify his people and declare God just in doing so.\u00a0 He accomplished it by bearing the sin and judgment of his people on the cross.\u00a0 Now, Christ is seated on his throne in glory with all power in heaven and earth as the GodMan.
Secondly, there are would-be kings.\u00a0 Herod was a would-be king.\u00a0 Like Herod, when would-be kings hear that Christ is King, they are troubled and all those with them are troubled.\u00a0 All would-be kings seek to take Christ off his throne.\u00a0 God laughs at would-be kings. (Ps 2: 1-9)\u00a0 The word of the LORD to would-be kings is, \u201cBe wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.\u201d (Ps 2:10-12 )
Lastly, there are wise men.\u00a0 God saves wise men from depravity, \u201cthere came wise men from the east.\u201d Adam was cast out of the garden east of Eden and so were all God\u2019s wise men in Adam. (Gen 3: 24) But God draws his wise men from the east to Christ. By grace, the Lord turns his wise men from vain religion to the house of Bread. They came to Jerusalem to a vain form with no ark, no mercy seat, and no shekinah glory. The wise men were turned away from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, \u201chouse of bread\u201d, so they came to Christ, the Bread from heaven.\u00a0 God\u2019s wise men come because of Christ the Light, they came \u201csaying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east.\u201d\u00a0 Christ\u2019s preachers are his stars which declare the Light of Christ. (Rev 1: 16, 20; 2: 1; Jn 5: 32, 35; Nu 24: 17) God\u2019s wise men come \u201cto worship him.\u201d Sinner there is one Christ the King.\u00a0 Now, are you a wise man or a would-be king?
Clay Curtis.
FAITH COMES BY HEARING
\u201cSo then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God\u201d (Romans 10:17).
The preaching of the gospel of Christ is the soul-saving ordinance. It is not through the eye but rather through the ear that salvation comes to men. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”.
In every age God has raised up men to faithfully pro\u00adclaim His gospel of grace. Elijah may ascend but his mantle fell to Elisha. Paul may die but not until Timothy is trained and on the field.
The true preacher of God\u2019s gospel has a rightful claim on your attention. If God has sent him, men should – and must – hear him for he who preaches Christ crucified has life flowing from his lips. And he who hears will find life flowing in his heart and soul. “God hath chosen by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21).\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\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\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\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\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 Pastor Henry Mahan
O! what acclamations of joy will there be, when all the children of God shall meet together, without fear of being disturbed by the antichristian and Cainish brood!\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
John Bunyan
Continually leaving off hearing the good news of the God of all Life and Provision in an effort to make provision for self in this life is like skipping the worship of the God who rules the storm in an effort to beat the storm home.\u00a0 God may permit it.\u00a0 But have we truly been bettered or have we really missed out?\u00a0 Don\u2019t\u00a0 forget the God of first cause for fear of causes.
THE LOCAL CHURCH
The most blessed privilege we have in this world is the privilege of public worship. This gathered assembly, this local church is described in the Book of God as \u201cThe House of God,\u201d \u201cThe Temple of God,\u201d and \u201cAn Habitation of God through the Spirit\u201d.\u00a0 We recognize the universality of God\u2019s Church and Kingdom. The Church, the body of Christ, his Bride is made up of all God\u2019s elect in heaven and on earth. But that does not, in any way or to any degree, diminish the importance of the local Church. Nothing is more blessed, and nothing is more needful to our souls than the gathering of God\u2019s saints to worship him.\u00a0 This is the only place on earth where we are assured of the presence of our Redeemer (Mt 18:20). When we come together as a local Church, in the name of Christ, God the Holy Spirit comes with us and the gathered assembly of God\u2019s saints is the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16-17). God sends out his Word through Gospel churches. God gathers his elect by the preaching of the gospel in Gospel churches. God instructs, comforts, edifies, and establishes his people by the ministry of Gospel churches. And God is worshipped by his people in divinely ordained ordinances of public worship maintained in Gospel churches, by reading the Word, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, gospel preaching, baptism and the Lord\u2019s Supper. Perhaps it is the very fact that the local Church is so vital to the welfare of our souls that makes it a huge target for our adversary the devil. He constantly stirs up confusion about the local Church, its proper place and usefulness, and its ordinances. Therefore the Holy Spirit gives us crystal clear instruction concerning these things in Holy Scripture.\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\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\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\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don Fortner
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
“. . . An House for the Name of the Lord God of Israel . . . a place for the Ark” — I Kings 8:20-21
This was Solomon’s declaration concerning the temple he built, which is the purpose of the church. The church (people of God) is the temple of God, wherein the Name of the Lord is proclaimed, worshipped and honored.\u00a0 And it is the place where you will hear the gospel of Christ . . . Whom the Ark of the covenant represents.\u00a0 This is the sole purpose of the church, the pillar and ground of the truth; to honor God and preach Christ and Him crucified.\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\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul Mahan, Pastor of Central Grace Church, Rocky Mount, VA
IT IS A MIRACLE!
Matthew 11: 2: Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3: And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4: Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Now our Lord was certainly telling John that He was indeed the one foretold in Isaiah\u2019s narrative, that He was The Christ. However, I believe Christ was also saying something perhaps as wonderful and glorious as that; look with me again at our text, here we have an enumeration of miracles and right along with the list is \u201cthe gospel preached!\u201d\u00a0 My, oh my, this is telling us that the preaching of our gospel, the one and only true gospel of the grace of God is considered by Christ as a miracle. Do you see it this way? Every time a Gospel ambassador gets up to proclaim the free and sovereign grace of God in the person of our dearest Lord Jesus Christ, It Is a Miracle! What a wonder it is to the soul of one who has been made aware of his corruptions and the glory of the Redeemer in the saving of his or her soul! Do we treasure it by our frequent attendance? Do we honor it by humbly listening to the message morning after morning? Do we love its melodies, phrases and content? Oh, to the child of God, each time he or she gathers together with the saints, they are in amazement and adoration at this miracle of God towards sinners! Now we know that the Miracle is truly Christ in the Gospel, yet listen to me friends; the fact that we now understand The Gospel regarding The Son is a Miracle of Grace, do not ever think it is not. It has been said by the ancient preachers that the first sign of apostasy is the forsaking of the assembly of the saints, and I believe that can be seen by how highly we esteem the message of Christ as He is proclaimed in that assembly.\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\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
Drew Dietz, pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Jackson, MO
In the mind of God, and as chosen in Christ, the Church is a perfect body. It is, therefore, the fulness of Christ. Just as our head and members, in their union with each other, form one perfect harmonious body, so it is with Christ and the Church. As the natural head would be incomplete without the body, as the body would be incomplete without the head, so it is with Christ mystical, and his body, the Church. Each lacks the other, and the union of both makes the whole complete. The Son of God, by becoming incarnate, needed a body of which he should be the Head. Without it, he would be as a bridegroom without the bride, a shepherd without the sheep, a foundation without the building, a vine without the branches. He did not need the Church as the Son of God, but he needed her as the Son of man. In her all his love is complete, his work complete, his grace complete, his glory complete; and when she is brought home to be forever with him in glory, then all the purposes of God, all his eternal counsels of wisdom and grace, will be complete. In this sense we may understand the expression, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” What a wonderful thought it is that he who, as the Son of God, filleth all in all\u2014filleth all places with his omnipresence\u2014should yet deign to have a relative fulness in his body the Church!\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 JC Philpot
That precious saving faith which unites the sinner to Christ, also unites the sinner to all of those who belong to Christ.\u00a0 To be one with him is to be one with them.\u00a0 Loving and serving Him has something to do with loving and serving them; likewise, loving and serving them has something to do with loving and serving Him (Matthew 25:31-46).\u00a0 Saving faith says that there is one Savior.\u00a0 Saving faith also says that there is only one household, one family, one body, one vine tree, etc.\u00a0 \u201cI (Christ) am the vine, ye are the branches\u201d\u2026(John 15:5). Maurice Montgomery
When we assemble together, we have the promise from Jesus Christ that He is in our midst.\u00a0\u00a0 Our Sovereign Lord and Saviour has reserved special blessings for His saints who assemble together in His name to worship Him.\u00a0 When we absent ourselves from the gathering of the saints, we rob ourselves of those special blessings reserved for His enlightened children who assemble together for public worship.\u00a0 I can\u2019t imagine why any saint of God would deliberately and willfully forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.\u2013Gene Harmon
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\u201cYea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.\u201d \u2013Psalm 84:3 FOR several years now I have watched a bird, a swallow, build a nest in the vine that clings to the […]<\/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-4045","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\/4045","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=4045"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4046,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4045\/revisions\/4046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}