The prophet Jeremiah once said, \u201cObey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.\u201d <\/p>\n
Yesterday a friend wrote to me of the death of her brother. He had just let his wife off at the airport to go and celebrate her birthday with friends. As he drove home he took ill. His car crossed the road and collided with a truck. He was killed. As his wife waited for her flight her husband\u2019s soul was entering eternity.
\n Brothers and sisters in Christ, none of us can boast of tomorrow. We cannot tell what a day will bring. Soon it will be us who are going to meet the Lord. What a comfort belongs to us who can say with good hope, \u201cIn Christ Jesus, it is well with my soul\u201d. Peter Meney<\/p>\n
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:<\/p>\n
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have been taught by God the Holy Spirit that all our assurance, hope and confidence of eternal life is founded upon the promises of God the Father, and the work of our blessed Saviour. We neither look to ourselves and what we have done, nor to any imagined righteousness we possess in our flesh. The ground of our hope is Another, both for our justification before the Father, and our sanctification in the Spirit. For Christ has been made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
\n_Peter Meney________________________________________________<\/p>\n
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.<\/p>\n
Our physical body, is likened in scripture to a house. Houses are fitted for a purpose and our bodies are fitted as the dwelling place of our souls. This shows us immediately that our soul is more important than our body. Last week, I read on a shop board in Sydney, \u201cYour body is the most important thing you possess. Take care of it.\u201d I beg to differ. On the authority of God\u2019s Word, your soul is the most important thing you possess. Take care if it!
\n Notice, also, if, or rather when and though, this body of flesh be dissolved, those who trust and believe in the accomplished work of Christ have a hope beyond this poor, wasting house. \u201cWe have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.\u201d
\nThis house is also designed for purpose but a greater and more glorious purpose than ever we can imagine. It is constructed by God for the eternal comfort of His people. If David could say of this body of flesh \u201cI will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:\u201d (Psalm 139:14), how much more shall we declare in the eternal realm of heavenly mansions, \u201cmarvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.\u201d
\n Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a promise of God, who cannot lie, a promise to have as our personal assurance, to hold and trust every day of our lives. It is this: By the grace of God we have everything needful for our everlasting habitation; all justification, all holiness, all riches of grace and glory. It is already set up and secured for us in heaven. It is only a matter of time until this present shall be dissolved and the eternal realities shall break upon us.
\n The Lord God Himself has prepared this for them that love Him. It is a building not made with hands, not of the creature\u2019s efforts, not of works or human righteousness.
\n And saints have a present interest in it; they have it already built and prepared for them; they have an indubitable right and title to it in and through the righteousness of God in Christ; they have it secured to them by Divine unconditional promise.
\n And we have the earnest of it, the Spirit of God in our hearts; of all which we have sure and certain knowledge: \u201cfor we know\u201d says Paul; we know because God has declared it in the Gospel, we know because we have the testimony of the Spirit, and we know because there is a close and inseparable connection between the grace we have already received, and the glory that shall be hereafter.
\nPeter Meney <\/p>\n
Many treasure things associated with Christ, more than the Christ of
\nthose things; few treasure Christ more than things associated with Him.<\/p>\n
Many celebrate the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ; few
\ncelebrate the Christ who was born, crucified, and resurrected. Many
\ncherish the cross of Christ; few cherish the Christ of the cross.
\nMany boast of being in the church of Christ; few know what it is to be
\nin the Christ of the church. Many debate the gospel of Christ; few
\nbelieve in the Christ who is the gospel.
\nMany profess what is called the finished work of Christ; few profess the
\nChrist who finished His work.
\nMany declare justification and sanctification to be through Christ; few
\ndeclare Christ to be their only righteousness and holiness.
\nMany partake of bread and wine in what is called the Lord\u2019s Supper; few
\npartake of the Christ represented by those elements.
\nMany speak of the return of Christ; few speak of the Christ who is
\nreturning.
\nMany look for the coming kingdom of Christ; few acknowledge the Christ
\nwho is presently King.<\/p>\n
Many hope to go to the heaven of Christ; few want to go to the Christ of
\nheaven.<\/p>\n
Many claim to believe in all the things associated with Christ; few
\nconfess \u201cChrist is all, and in all\u201d (Colossians 3:11) \u2013 and everything
\napart from Christ is nothing. — Daniel Parks<\/p>\n
AN OUTLINE WORTH REPEATING
\nPsalm 23
\nHenry Mahan
\nThe Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want\u2013<\/p>\n
1. For REST \u2013 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”
\n2. For PEACE \u2013 “He leadeth me beside still waters.”
\n3. For FORGIVENESS \u2013 “He restoreth my soul.”
\n4. For HOLINESS \u2013”He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His
\nname’s sake.”
\n5. For FELLOWSHIP \u2013 “For Thou art with me.”
\n6. For COMFORT \u2013 “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
\n7. For PROVISIONS \u2013 “Thou preparest a table before me.”
\n8. For ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD \u2013”Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
\nme all the days of my life.”
\n9. For IN THE WORLD TO COME \u2013 “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
\nforever.”<\/p>\n
There is forgiveness
\n\u2026.But there is FORGIVENESS with thee that thou mayest be feared (Psalms
\n130: 3,4)<\/p>\n
What a wonderful, soul stirring and heart warming word this is:
\nForgiveness! Just ask those down trodden, weary captive servants in
\nLeviticus 25 when they heard the most melodious, charming and amazing
\nsound ever heard among sinful men: the trumpets of Jubilee! You are
\nreleased; you can go free, your debt is gone. I\u2019m almost beside myself
\nwhen I think of myself as one of those wretches, one of those poor
\nmiserable folk! Yet, through the sweet sound of the gospel of peace I
\nhear forgiveness, I see in Christ my complete forgiveness, and I
\nexperience the cleansing flow of the free grace of God upon such as is
\nthe least of all those in the kingdom.<\/p>\n
Such a word is always good news to the thirsty, needy sinner. When we
\nhear Forgiveness: we are constrained to love, follow and worship Him
\nwhom our hearts adore. Look at the pit from which you where brought,
\nlook at the daily struggles you still have. Look at that thief upon the
\ncross and rejoice, weep and reverence your God: Forgiveness! At any time
\nand at any season, this word still has the same effect upon every sinner
\never chosen in the Son\u2026.wonder, amazement and extreme thankfulness which
\nalways shows itself in love and obedience unto our Great God.
\nForgiveness; I think I have a word for you my fellow outcasts of this
\nworld, but brethren beloved of the Lord.
\nDrew Dietz<\/p>\n
withering in self-righteousness
\nI\u2019ve never met a Christian who desired too much of himself; but I have
\nmet some who, for some reason or another, expected too much of
\nthemselves. I mean this: they look at themselves, at the old Adamic
\nnature, and expect to see it improving, getting better or more holy, but
\nthat shall never be! If, indeed, one looks at himself and feels
\nprogressively cleaner, purer, and holier, he isn\u2019t \u201cgrowing in grace\u201d
\nbut \u201cwithering in self-righteousness!\u201d Even a casual examination of self
\nwill reveal that such a person\u2019s need of Christ is diminishing rather
\nthan increasing , and that is not grace!
\nMaurice Montgomery<\/p>\n
Labor, therefore to enter into that rest. ~Hebrews 4.11<\/p>\n
The rest spoken of is the rest of simply believing. Often, you may find
\nbelieving a very difficult thing to do. Persecution, trial, failure, the
\nworld, flesh and sin all provide strong resistance to simple faith. In
\nsuch a state, one may wonder if he believes at all: \u201cIf I were really a
\nbeliever, I would not have such a hard time believing.\u201d But, the
\napostle\u2019s exhortation arises from the very fact that it is often quite
\nhard to believe; we must labor to believe. Salvation is had without
\nworks, but not without work. No works \u2013 no meritorious acts \u2013 are
\nrequired for salvation, but such is the nature of believing the gospel
\nthat much spiritual labor is expended in the process.<\/p>\n
Does it seem to you that now it is a time of great labor to believe?
\nThen rejoice that you can believe at all and give your whole heart to
\nthe task. Look to Christ with a single eye, and do not be discouraged as
\nthough the difficulty of the way indicates that you are on the wrong
\nway. Press on, knowing that there is great reward to him that overcomes!<\/p>\n
Joe Terrell<\/p>\n
Those with need of healing
\nThe Lord Jesus Christ went about healing everyone that had need of
\nhealing. He was and is Jehovah Rapha: the Lord that healeth thee. He
\nhealed all manner of diseases. He came to save and He came to heal. And
\nHe sent out His disciples with the same mission, saying: \u201cGo, preach,
\nsaying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the
\nlepers, raise the dead, cast out devils\u201d (Matt.10:7-8). What a word this
\nis to every preacher of the gospel.<\/p>\n
In every congregation we face there is someone who \u2018has need of
\nhealing.\u2019 In every service there is someone who is sick and dying with
\nthe leprosy of sin; someone who is blind, halt, and lame; someone who is
\nvexed with a devil; someone who is dead in trespasses and sins. While we
\ncannot literally heal the sick, we do have a gospel that will heal the
\nspiritually sick.<\/p>\n
While we are told to reprove, rebuke, correct, and warn, we need to take
\ncare that we always try to comfort His people and heal them that have
\nneed of healing. May we always lift up Christ and Him crucified, as
\nMoses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, that every sin-sick soul
\nmay look and be healed. With every message we need to tell of Him Who
\nwill . . . remove the burden of the laboring and heavy laden; Who will
\nlift the fallen, cheer the faint; Who will receive the prodigal; Who
\nwill forgive the forlorn; Who will comfort the sorrowing; Who will heal
\nall that have need of healing.
\nPaul Mahan<\/p>\n
The Angel of His Presence saved them
\nIn all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence
\nsaved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare
\nthem, and carried them all the days of old. (Isa. 63:9).<\/p>\n
Who is the angel of God\u2019s presence spoken of here in this verse quoted?
\nIt is none other than the same person who speaks in verse 1 of this same
\nchapter; \u201cI that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.\u201d It is none
\nother than our blessed God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. This
\nangel is not a created angel but rather the Mediator and messenger of
\nthe everlasting covenant of grace (Mal. 3:1).<\/p>\n
Who else could it be said, \u201cin all their affliction he was afflicted?\u201d
\nIndeed, Christ was afflicted for our transgression, \u201cSurely he hath
\nborne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him
\nstricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isa. 53:4).<\/p>\n
Who else but the Lord Jesus Christ could it be said, \u201cin his love and
\npity he redeemed them?\u201d None but Christ! \u201cHerein is love, not that we
\nloved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
\nfor our sins\u201d (1John 4:10). We are indeed redeemed with His precious
\nblood (1 Peter 1:18; Heb. 9:12).<\/p>\n
The Lord Jesus Christ has always appeared before God as our Intercessor
\n(Heb. 7:25). He is the Surety and sacrifice of the everlasting gospel
\n(Heb. 7:22; 13:20). He is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the
\nworld (Rev. 13:8). The very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ before the
\nthrone of God as our Representative, Substitute and Mediator is the
\nguarantee of our salvation (Eph. 2:4-6: Rom. 8:34).<\/p>\n
The Lord Jesus Christ having accomplished our righteousness and
\nredemption is now entered in and now occupies the throne of glory for us
\nas our Forerunner; that, \u201cwe might have a strong consolation, who have
\nfled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Which hope we
\nhave as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which
\nentereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us
\nentered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of
\nMelchisedec.\u201d (Heb. 6:19-20). – Tom Harding<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The prophet Jeremiah once said, \u201cObey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.\u201d Yesterday a friend wrote to me of the death of her brother. He had just let his wife off at the airport to go […]<\/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-5116","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\/5116","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=5116"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5117,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5116\/revisions\/5117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}