The greatest pressure for me as a pastor is, one, knowing that I speak
\non behalf of God and am accountable to God for what I declare concerning
\nChrist; two, it is knowing that I speak to sinners who will spend
\neternity somewhere. This pressure is due to fear God has put in my
\nheart. I really do tremble for those who are quick to speak the word of
\nGod to eternity bound sinners, especially if they speak not according to
\nGod\u2019s word. It will be especially terrible for those who divide brethren
\nand lead men away from the gospel of Christ. God says, \u201cof whom hast
\nthou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered
\nme, nor laid it to thy heart?\u201d (Isa 57:11) It takes God creating a new
\nheart to make a sinner truly fear and reverence God, resting entirely in
\nChrist alone. He makes us come out from the wicked (2Co 7:1; Pr 9:10).
\nThe fear of God makes us submit to one another rather than sow discord
\n(Eph 5: 21).<\/p>\n
Clay Curtis.<\/p>\n
THE LOVE OF GOD<\/p>\n
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
\nshould be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).<\/p>\n
There is a great deal said in religious circles about the love of God,
\nbut few have a real scriptural concept of the truth of God’s love as it
\nis manifested in the scriptures. The general idea most people have is,
\n“that God loves everybody without exception and is trying his best to
\nsave everybody, but the sinner will not cooperate.”<\/p>\n
The truth of God’s character revealed in the word is that God is Holy,
\nJust and His love is always in harmony with His Holy character as a Just
\nGod and a Saviour (Isa. 45:21). Those for whom He loves in Christ
\n(Rev.1:5), elected in Christ (John 6:37), redeemed in Christ (Eph.1:7)
\nmust be justified in Christ (Rom. 8:28-30) and will be called out of
\nbondage into Light (Col. 1:12-13).<\/p>\n
Here are some scriptures that describe this true love of God to His
\ncovenant people:<\/p>\n
1). The love of God is manifested and revealed in Jesus Christ
\n(Rom.8:32-39; Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Cor.4:6).<\/p>\n
2). The love of God is sovereign and given to whom the Lord pleases
\n(Rom.9:12-16; Eph. 5:25). Outside of Christ, God is a consuming fire
\n(Heb. 12:29).<\/p>\n
3). The love of God is eternal and will never be discontinued (Jer.
\n31:3). God Himself is eternal, therefore His great love must be eternal
\n(Eph. 2:4).<\/p>\n
4). The love of God is sacrificial love and will redeem all His people
\nfrom all their sins (1 John 4:10; 3:16; Eph.5:2, 25; Matt.1:21; John 10:15).<\/p>\n
5). The love of God is permanent love and will always abide in the
\nbeliever (John 13:1; Mal.3:6; Heb. 13:8).<\/p>\n
6). The love of God is electing love that unconditionally chose us in
\nChrist before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Thes. 2:13;
\nJohn 15:15-16; 17:2).<\/p>\n
7). The love of God is unmerited love, we have never done anything to
\ndeserve His favor or mercy (Titus 3:3-7; Rom 5:6-9). The only reason for
\nHis love to us is found in Himself, not in us (Deut.7:7-8).<\/p>\n
8). The love of God is constraining love and motivates everyone who
\nbelieves the gospel, to obedience to Him as a willing, loving bond slave
\nof Christ (2 Cor. 5:14; Psa. 65:4; 110:3).<\/p>\n
9). The love of God is Holy love, God in Christ is both a Just God and
\nSaviour (Isa. 45:20-22). His love is regulated by His holy character
\n(Rom. 5:21).<\/p>\n
The more we meditate upon His great love to us, its character, its
\nfullness, its blessedness; the more our hearts will be drawn out in love
\nto Him. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19; 3:16).
\nPastor Tom Harding<\/p>\n
Have you ever lived out of this country? We lived in a foreign country
\nfor over 25 years. We lived there. Paid bills there. Had friends there.
\nHad our children there. But all that time, our citizenship was here in
\nthis country. We knew that though we went through heartaches, trials,
\ntroubles, and conflicts, we were going to leave and come back to this
\ncountry. It was not our home. Not legally nor emotionally.<\/p>\n
We were bound by the laws of that country. But there were so many things
\nthat made us different. It was not hard to tell that we did not belong
\nthere. We were foreigners. We were in that country, but we were not of
\nthat country.<\/p>\n
When it rained on that country, we got wet. When the sun shined, it
\nshined on us. But we lived in a way that did not bring reproach on our
\nhome country. We lived there during the administrations of Presidents
\nJohnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush, but we never talked
\nagainst our president.<\/p>\n
We did what we could to keep a low profile. When we went to town, we
\ntried to dress in such a way that we did not stand out. We did not mix
\nin the politics of the country. We did not try to persuade people to our
\nway of thinking. We did what we thought was right, and left the rest
\nalone. We left Mexico to the Mexicans.<\/p>\n
So in this world believers are subject to the ups and downs of this
\nworld. We are sick just like the people of this world. We have
\ntribulation just like all the rest. When there is no food we get hungry
\nlike the rest. In this world we submit to those in authority. We lead
\norderly and peaceable lives. We are simply passing through. Bless it in
\nyour travel, but do not yoke yourself with its affairs. You may wish all
\nthings were different, but remember you are in a foreign country. When
\npossible we help those among whom we lived. We do what we can to point
\nthem to Christ \u2013 to point them to eternal life. You cannot make the
\nworld like Heaven, so do not make it a dwelling place for your soul.
\nPastor Milton Howard<\/p>\n
YOU CAN\u2019T MAKE WATER WET\u2014I am always frustrated to hear \u201csoul winners\u201d
\ntell people, \u201cLet God be Lord of your life.\u201d My friend, you can\u2019t make
\nGod the Lord of your life anymore than you can make water wet. Water is
\nwet because that is the nature of water. God is King of kings. He is
\nLord of all because that is His nature. The only thing sinners like us
\ncan do is beg God the King to save us by His grace. Pastor Frank Tate<\/p>\n
The Most Important Question<\/p>\n
\u201cSirs, what must I do to be saved?\u201d (Acts 16:30). There are other
\nimportant questions. Who is God? What is He like? What is my state
\nbefore Him? But none are more important than the question of the
\nPhilippian jailor: \u201cWhat must I do to be saved?\u201d Notice what he did not
\nask: what must I do to save myself? But, \u201cWhat must I do to be saved?\u201d
\nPaul answered his question, \u201cBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
\nshalt be saved.\u201d Then he went on to speak unto him, \u201cThe Word of the
\nLord.\u201d He told him who the Lord Jesus Christ is, what He did, and where
\nHe is now! I recently heard a preacher say to his congregation (and I
\nhave heard this many times), turn from your sins and trust Christ. While
\nwe ought to turn from our sins and never sin again \u2013 has there ever been
\na man that has stopped sinning? That message in reality is adding
\nsomething to faith in Christ. Paul did not say, \u2018Turn from your sins and
\nbelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ.\u2019 That is putting a step before faith
\nin Christ. That addition is a denial of faith alone. Preachers that
\npreach that way are afraid to preach the naked Gospel. Could it be it is
\nbecause they do not believe the naked Gospel? Most believe faith and\u2026.
\nFew believe faith alone. ~Todd Nibert<\/p>\n
\u201cGrace Gospel Church\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty-two years ago today, the Lord called us out and separated us to
\nthe gospel of His free and sovereign grace in Christ. We did not choose
\nto come out. We were not looking to \u201cstart a church\u201d. The Lord shut us
\nup to Himself and gave us a need to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
\nThe beginning of this work was all of grace and all to His glory. Since
\nthen, the Lord has been gracious to add to the church such as should be
\nsaved. He has been merciful to keep us faithful to the gospel. Had He
\nnot kept us, we would all have fallen away. If we have grown in His
\ngrace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (and I believe we
\nhave) that too is a testimony to His grace. \u201cHe which hath begun a good
\nwork in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.\u201d Phil. 1:6.
\nHowever long we have in the days to come, we will become more and more
\naware of our dependence on our Great God for His mercy and grace.<\/p>\n
Grace: A free and sovereign act of demerited favor.<\/p>\n
Gospel: The Good News that ALL the work of Salvation is accomplished
\nonce and for all in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
Church: The called-out ones. God\u2019s elect, faithful in Christ Jesus. ~Greg<\/p>\n
By Grace Alone<\/p>\n
\u201cFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
\nis the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.\u201d Ephesians
\n2:8-9<\/p>\n
\u201cBy grace are ye saved.\u201d There is no present salvation except that which
\nbegins and ends with grace! No man can preach or possess a present
\nsalvation except those who preach and believe that we are saved by grace
\nalone! The work is finished! Any other way of salvation is dependent on
\nthe sinner and it will fail. ~Henry Mahan<\/p>\n
Continue In Prayer<\/p>\n
Tom Harding<\/p>\n
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal
\npraying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to
\nspeak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may
\nmake it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Col. 4:2).<\/p>\n
Our Lord said in Luke 18:1, “that men ought always to pray and not to
\nfaint.” Prayer is not a mechanical performance to be seen of men; the
\nPharisees prayed that way and were not heard before God (Matt. 6:5).
\nPrayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude of the heart, and a
\ndependence of the soul upon Almighty God. It is also seeking to spread
\nout our heart’s desire before God and asking it to be granted according
\nto His sovereign purpose. Real prayer is communion with God through the
\nonly Mediator, Jesus Christ the Lord; who is sitting at God’s right hand
\nmaking intercession for us (Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim 2:5). Prayer is never
\nintended to change the purpose of God, but rather to make us know and
\nrealize what the purpose of God is. I have often heard people say, “that
\nprayer changes things.” I hope it changes our wrong attitudes, our
\nsinful desires and our ungodly conduct, but prayer never changes the
\npurpose of the eternal God (Isa. 46:9-12). He said, “I am the Lord I
\nchange not” (Mal. 3:6).<\/p>\n
Well then, since God is sovereign and has decreed all things, then why
\nare we instructed to pray? God has decreed all things, but all He has
\ndecreed come to pass through the means He has ordained (Acts 4:27-28).
\nGod has elected a people unto salvation (2 Thes. 2:13), but He has also
\ndecreed that His people shall be saved from their sin by the appointed
\nmeans, Jesus Christ (Gal. 4:4); His grace and sacrifice (Rom. 3:24). The
\ngospel then is one of the appointed means to accomplish His eternal
\npurpose and prayer is another. Even the prayers of His people are
\nincluded in His eternal purpose. Therefore, instead of prayer being
\nuseless and vain; they are part of the decrees by which God exercises
\nHis eternal purpose.<\/p>\n
What distinct privilege the Lord has given unto to His covenant people
\nto call upon our great God and Father in prayer. \u201cFor we have received
\nthe spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father\u201d (Rom. 8:15).<\/p>\n
Samuel declared, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin
\nagainst the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1Sam. 12:23).<\/p>\n
Paul declared, “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for
\nthis is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thes. 5:17-18).<\/p>\n
I hope we can all say, “Lord teach us to pray” (Matt.6:9-15).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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