{"id":4105,"date":"2016-10-25T10:40:56","date_gmt":"2016-10-25T10:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=4105"},"modified":"2016-10-25T10:40:56","modified_gmt":"2016-10-25T10:40:56","slug":"bulletin-edition-322-october-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=4105","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #322 October 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

REJOICING IN WORSHIP<\/strong>
\nPsalm 122:1<\/p>\n

It is a miracle of God’s grace that any man would rejoice in coming to the place where the glorious gospel of Christ alone is proclaimed. It takes a heart made anew (by the Holy Ghost) to have a longing to continually meet with others who also find their spiritual need met in the preaching of a message that does nothing but honor the will, work, and accomplishment of the God of all peace. This gladness toward worship not only honors the God we love and serve, but it also encourages those that meet together in that worship. David said, “I was glad when THEY said unto me, let US go into the house of the LORD.” There is no better fellowship found than that fellowship based on meeting together in the hearing of the Word of God. With the beginning of this new year, let all His people be reminded of the grand privilege that has been bestowed upon all that He has everlastingly loved … the privilege to be glad to go into the house of the LORD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marvin Stalnaker.<\/p>\n

ONE LAWGIVER<\/strong>
\nJames 4: 11, 12
\nWe are dealing with the offense of usurping God’s office, and passing sentence upon brethren. Throughout the churches, weaker brethren who yet observed the law of Moses, presented a trial to those who knew the believer is no longer under the law. At the same time, the liberty in which the stronger brethren walked presented a trial to the weaker brethren.\u00a0 The result was that fleshly lust of using condemning speech one of another over things totally indifferent to the kingdom of God. Paul calls it \u201cdoubtful disputing” (Romans 14: 1-4). As God grows brethren in grace, he makes us to know more and more that we are no longer under the law, but under grace.\u00a0 But he does it in his time, not ours.\u00a0 As you wait on him, the word is straightforward and clear: whether true or false, whether behind their backs or to their faces, whether in private or in public, do not speak evil one of another, brethren (Proverbs 31:26).
\nYou Speak Evil of Christ<\/strong>
\nWould you speak evil of Christ?\u00a0 James said that it should never be that we use the same tongue to bless God and then curse men, because men are made after God\u2019s image (James 3:9, 10).\u00a0 Here, it is even worse because Christ said what you do unto the least of my brethren you have done unto me (Matthew 18:6; 25:40). Aaron and Miriam spoke evil of Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. The LORD said to them, \u201cWere you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses? (Numbers 12:8). Believers are one in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-6).\u00a0 What we speak of our brethren we speak of him who laid down his life for our brethren.
\nYou Speak Evil of the Law of Christ<\/strong>
\nThe believer is under the law of grace.\u00a0 Condemning our brethren is speaking evil of the law of our Lord.\u00a0 In his sermon on the mount the Lord Jesus taught brethren not to speak evil one of another (Mt. 7:1).\u00a0 If we do it anyway we judge our Lord\u2019s word of grace to be no good.\u00a0 Furthermore, we speak evil of the law when we count that holy which our Lord never made holy or condemn that which God never condemned.\u00a0 Nothing is unclean of itself, but if a brother esteems it to be so, to him it is.\u00a0 Let the stronger not make it a reason for condemning the weaker and let not the weaker make it a reason to condemn those who do not observe as he does.\u00a0 The word of the Lord is, “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink.”\u00a0\u00a0 Believers are made the righteousness of God by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ.\u00a0 Christ, our Peacemaker, has made peace for our brethren with our God.\u00a0 The kingdom of God is rejoicing over the great things Christ has done in making us accepted with God (Rom 14: 14-19.)\u00a0 Let us follow our Lord’s law of grace, not making things holy which he never made holy; else we speak evil of the Lord’s law of love.
\nThere Is One Lawgiver<\/strong>
\nJesus is King, Christ and Head over his church.\u00a0 The authority to fill all in all belongs to him.\u00a0 (Eph 1: 22, 23; Deut 32:39) God the Father has committed all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22).\u00a0 God in Christ is he who alone is able to give his law in the heart (Hebrews 8:10). But that means that our brethren are under the control of Christ our Head more effectually than the members of our own body are under the power of our head.\u00a0 When a brother stumbles, remember that he is Christ’s servant, “to his own master he standeth, to his own master he falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)\u00a0 If we walk after the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust to bite and devour but will rejoice that he whose law discovers the sin of our brethren is the Righteous One who also redeemed our brethren from its curse (Gal 3:13; 5:13-17). He says our brethren shall never be condemned, but have eternal life (John 5:24; Rom 6:10-14; 8:1, 2). O, brethren, rejoice that there is one who is able to give his law in the hearts of his people and constrain us with the law of life which the law of sin and death could never do.
\nNow Who Are You?<\/strong>
\nWe have seen Christ whose word we follow.\u00a0 We have seen that he alone is able to give his law in the heart. Now who are you again?\u00a0 What was it you had to say about the one for whom Christ died?
\n“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”\u00a0 One might say, “I understand that restoring my brother is to remind him of what great things Christ has done.\u00a0 But then what must I do about the sin my brother is yet in?”\u00a0 Charge that to your account; take your brother’s burden on yourself like Christ did yours.\u00a0 That is the only law your brother and you are under–it is called the law of grace, the law of love, the law of Christ!\u00a0 “Bear ye one another\u2019s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6: 1-3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clay Curtis.<\/p>\n

Walk in Love<\/strong>
\neph 5:2
\nHere we see the motive for the performance of all duties and responsibilities (which are really privileges and blessings) of believers in regard to Christ and each other. The child of God needs not a law or rules to direct him in his walk or govern his life. He has what he needs – Christ\u2019s love for him. With Christ and His love for us in view how could we not love Him and our brethren. The love of God manifest in Christ giving Himself for us \u201cis shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us\u201d Romans 5:5. This love in manifest in our conversation or, walk, not just lip service – \u201cMy little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth\u201d 1John 3:18. Our Lord, constrained by love, lived His life for His sheep and died for His sheep. Because He loves His own He now provides for us, He protects us, He comforts us, He forgives us, He intercedes for us, He blesses us with all Spiritual blessings and all temporal blessings. He walked in love here on this earth until His death, and now He reigns in love at the right hand of the Father. It is His desire (which shall be accomplished) that all whom He loves shall be with Him in Glory, eternally. Is this not the motive and attitude of those who know Him? To be like Him? My brethren, because He walked in love for us everything will be alright. As the body of Christ walks in love for Him, His gospel and for one another, everything will be alright. As we are mere mortals there will be difficulties, trials, and misunderstandings. However, as we walk in love, as Christ gave Himself for us and loves us, we will have peace and seek peace, we will give comfort be comforted, we will forgive and be forgiven.
\n\u201cSeeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently\u201d (1 Peter 1:22).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tommy Robbins.<\/p>\n

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
\nThe only way any sinner will understand our sin is for Christ to reveal to us that we are sin. This word \u201covertaken\u201d is the word \u201csurprised.\u201d\u00a0 By divine revelation in the new heart Christ makes his redeemed to know that we have been overtaken in a fault. Only when Christ reveals this will any of us heed spiritual teaching.\u00a0 Therefore, brethren, we must wait on the Lord Jesus our Head to bring a man to this point.<\/p>\n

What is the believer to do as we wait on Christ?\u00a0 We are to restore our overtaken brother.\u00a0 To restore is to re-stock them with the key of knowledge, Christ Jesus and his unsearchable riches.\u00a0 We are not to laden him down by condemning him, by exposing his sin to others, by constraining by fleshly force.<\/p>\n

Instead, we remind him that all who are chosen by God the Father, , redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit are complete in Christ. As Christ is in glory so are we in this present evil world. (Col 2: 10; 1 Jn 4: 17)\u00a0 We are to do as Paul did the Corinthians: remind them that the \u201cunrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God\u201d; remind them of the sin in which Christ found us; then remind them that now we washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 6: 9-11)\u00a0 It is the forgiveness of God by his sovereign and free grace that makes the believer walk in the fear of God. (Ps 130: 4)<\/p>\n

In what spirit do we do this?\u00a0 Not in a haughty, holier than thou spirit, but \u201cin the spirit of meekness.\u201d\u00a0 The spirit of meekness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, not of the flesh. A spirit of meekness considers \u201cthyself\u201d, that in our flesh we are just as sinful, or worse, as the brother overtaken in a fault.\u00a0 Without considering this about ourselves we will be tempted to exalt ourselves in self-righteousness and to vainly glorify ourselves.<\/p>\n

Gracious Father, strengthen our hearts to not be hard on our overtaken brethren.\u00a0 Make us to bear one another\u2019s burdens, waiting on Christ in faith, restoring our brethren in love, and so fulfill the law of Christ; make us to ever remember, \u201cWho shall lay any thing to the charge of God\u2019s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.\u201d (Rom 8: 33-34)
\nClay Curtis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

REJOICING IN WORSHIP Psalm 122:1 It is a miracle of God’s grace that any man would rejoice in coming to the place where the glorious gospel of Christ alone is proclaimed. It takes a heart made anew (by the Holy Ghost) to have a longing to continually meet with others who also find their spiritual […]<\/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-4105","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\/4105","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=4105"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4107,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4105\/revisions\/4107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}