{"id":5768,"date":"2020-08-03T01:22:29","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T01:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5768"},"modified":"2020-08-03T01:22:29","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T01:22:29","slug":"bulletin-edition-august-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5768","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition August 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the law of the Spirit\nof life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”\nRomans 8:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We by nature and practice\nare slaves to sin and Satan. We are the sport of the prince of the power of the\nair, who takes us captive at his will. We are held down also by many hurtful\nlusts; or, if free from gross sin, are slaves to pride, covetousness, or\nself-righteousness. Perhaps some idol is set up in the chambers of imagery\nwhich defiles all the inner man; or some snare of Satan entangles our feet, and\nwe are slaves, without power to liberate ourselves from this cruel slavery. We\ngroan under it, as the children of Israel under their burdens, but, like them,\ncannot deliver ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But sooner or later the\ntruth comes to our aid; the truth as it is in Jesus flies to the rescue of\nGod’s oppressed family; the blessed Spirit opens it up and seals it upon the\nheart with a divine power. As, then, under his gracious influences they believe\nthe truth, and feel its power and savor in their heart, a liberating influence\nis communicated; their fetters and shackles are loosened; the bondage of sin\nand Satan, and the power and strength of evil are sensibly broken, and a\nmeasure of holy freedom is enjoyed. There is no other way of getting from under\nthe bondage of the law but by the application of the gospel, and by believing\nwhat the gospel reveals. As the truth, then, comes to the heart as the very\nword of the living God, power comes with it to believe; faith is raised up to\ncredit the testimony; and as faith begins to credit the truth of God and\nreceive it in hope and love, there is a sensible loosening of the bonds; and\nthen the chains and fetters drop off of themselves. It is with the soul as it\nwas with Peter in prison–when the angel came, and a light shined in the\nprison, and the angel’s words fell upon his ears, “the chains fell from\noff his hands.” There remained nothing then to bar his exit; for “the\niron gate that leads unto the city opened to them of its own accord.” So\nwhatever chains or fetters may hold the soul, let the angel of mercy come; let\nthe message of salvation be revealed, the chains of unbelief drop off, the iron\ngate of hardness gives way, and the truth makes the soul blessedly free (John\n8:32).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As many heads as a Hydra,\nand as many lives as a cat!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(John Newton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beware of SELF! This is the\nworst enemy we have to deal with!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-will,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

self-wisdom,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

self-righteousness,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

self-seeking,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

self-dependence,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and self-boasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a large family \u2014 and I\ncannot count up all the branches! They are all nearly related to Satan \u2014 and\nthey are all a sworn enemy to our peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we lie low \u2014 then the\nLord will raise us up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if we will be something\n\u2014 then His arm will surely pull us down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That monster SELF has as\nmany heads as a Hydra, and as many lives as a cat! It is more than twenty-five\nyears since I hoped it was fast nailed to the Cross! But alas, it is alive \u2014\nand still mixing with and spoiling everything I do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(N.B. The Hydra was a\nserpentine mythological water monster with many heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For every head chopped off \u2014\nthe Hydra would re-grow a couple of new heads.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It is God who\njustifies.” Romans 8:33.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Octavius Winslow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behold the eternal security\nof the weakest believer in Jesus. The act of justification, once passed under\nthe great seal of the resurrection of Christ, God can never revoke without\ndenying Himself. Here is our safety. Here is the ground of our dauntless\nchallenge, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God\nwho justifies.” What can I need more? What more can I ask? If God, the God\nof spotless purity, the God of inflexible righteousness, justifies me,\n“who is he that condemns? ” Sin may condemn, but it is God that\njustifies! The law may alarm, but it is God that justifies! Satan may accuse,\nbut it is God that justifies! Death may terrify, but it is God that justifies!\n“If GOD is for us, who can be against us?” Who will dare condemn the\nsoul whom He justifies? How gloriously will this truth shine forth in the great\nday of judgment! Every accuser will then be dumb. Every tongue will then be\nsilent. Nothing shall be laid to the charge of God’s elect. GOD Himself shall\npronounce them fully, and forever justified: “And those He justifies, He\nalso glorifies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The greatest religious\ndeception<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

this world has ever\nknown!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(by Don Fortner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are living in perilous\ntimes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are living in the midst\nof the greatest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

religious apostasy ever\nknown. Freewill,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

works religion is the\ngreatest religious<\/p>\n\n\n\n

deception this world has\never known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This man centered, man\nexalting, man<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pleasing; God debasing, God\nhating<\/p>\n\n\n\n

religion seems to engulf the\nentire world<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and all religious sects. The\nworld, for the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

most part, has accepted the\ndoctrines of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

antichrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any religion that is man\ncentered; any religion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that has for its foundation\nman’s will, man’s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

works, or man’s rights; any\nreligion that promotes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the honor, dignity, and\npride of man; any religion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that pampers and cultivates\nself righteousness,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

self esteem, and self worth\nis antichrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are indeed perilous\ntimes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For a time is coming\nwhen people will no longer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

listen to right teaching.\nThey will follow their own<\/p>\n\n\n\n

desires and will look for\nteachers who will tell them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

whatever they want to hear.\nThey will reject the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

truth and follow strange\nmyths.” 2 Tim. 4:3-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And then the lawless\none will be revealed, whom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the Lord Jesus will\noverthrow with the breath of his<\/p>\n\n\n\n

mouth and destroy by the\nsplendor of his coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coming of the lawless\none will be in accordance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

with the work of Satan\ndisplayed in all kinds of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

counterfeit miracles, signs\nand wonders, and in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

every sort of evil that\ndeceives those who are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

perishing. They perish\nbecause they refused to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

love the truth and so be\nsaved. For this reason<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God sends them a powerful\ndelusion so that they<\/p>\n\n\n\n

will believe the lie and so\nthat all will be condemned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

who have not believed the\ntruth but have delighted<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in wickedness.” 2 Thes.\n2:8-12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I wash myself with\nsnow<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By nature, man knows nothing\nof the purity and perfection of God\u2014or the deep sinfulness and corruption of\nthe creature. There is a veil over man’s heart\u2014a veil of ignorance\u2014of\ndelusion\u2014of unbelief\u2014of self-deception as regards the nature of sin. No man is\nvitally and experimentally acquainted with\u2014its hideous nature\u2014its awful\ndepths\u2014its subtlety\u2014its workings\u2014its movements\u2014its cravings\u2014its lustings\u2014the\nheights to which it rises\u2014the depths to which it sinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when the Lord the Spirit\ntakes a man really and vitally in hand\u2014and He truly begins His sovereign work\nof grace upon the soul\u2014He commences by opening up to the astonished eyes of the\nsinner, something of the real nature of sin. He not only shows him the huge, high,\nwide-spreading branches of sin\u2014but bids him look down and see how deeply-rooted\nsin is in his very being\u2014that sin is not an accident\u2014a faint blot that may soon\nbe washed out\u2014a something on the surface, like a skin disease that may be\nhealed by a simple ointment. He shows him that sin is seated in his very\nbones\u2014that this deep-rooted malady has taken possession of him\u2014that he is a\nsinner to his very heart’s core\u2014that every thought, every word, every action of\nman’s whole being\u2014is one mass of sin, filth, and pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if he attempts, as most\nawakened sinners do attempt\u2014to purify himself\u2014to ease his guilt by lopping off\na few external branches\u2014if he attempts to wash himself clean from iniquity, the\nSpirit will teach him the meaning of Job’s words, “If I wash myself with\nsnow, and cleanse my hands with lye, yet You will plunge me in the ditch. My\nown clothes shall abhor me.” (Job 9:30, 31). Until at last God brings him\nto this spot\u2014that he is a sinner throughout\u2014yes, that he is the chief of sinners\u2014that\nevery evil lodges in his heart\u2014and the seed of every crime dwells in his fallen\nnature. When a man is brought here, he is brought to the place of the stopping\nof mouths\u2014his own righteousness is effectually cut to pieces\u2014his hopes of\nsalvation by his works are completely removed from under him. Those rotten\nprops are cut away by the hand of the Spirit from the sinking soul, that he may\nfall into himself one mass of confusion and ruin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And until he is brought\nhere, he really can know nothing\u2014of a free-grace salvation\u2014of the\nsuperaboundings of grace over the aboundings of sin\u2014of God’s electing love\u2014of\nChrist’s substitution and suretyship\u2014of His atoning blood\u2014of His justifying\nrighteousness\u2014of His dying love. He can know nothing of the rich provisions of\nalmighty power and eternal mercy that are lodged in the fullness of Christ. He\nhas\u2014no eyes to see\u2014no ears to hear\u2014no heart to feel\u2014no arms to embrace a whole\nChrist\u2014a precious Christ, a Savior from the wrath to come\u2014who has stood in the\nsinner’s place and stead\u2014made full atonement for sin\u2014fulfilled the law\u2014brought\nin everlasting righteousness\u2014and justified the ungodly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And I will give them a\nheart to know me, that I am the Lord:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and they shall be my people,\nand I will be their God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

for they shall return unto\nme with their whole heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Jeremiah 24:7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some men and women\nin this world whom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God has chosen to salvation\nfrom eternity, who must<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and shall be saved (John 15:16;\n2 Thess. 2:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a multitude,\nscattered among the fallen sons of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam, in every age, in every\nnation who must be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of God\u2019s elect is\nso great that no man can<\/p>\n\n\n\n

calculate it, though it\nalways appears as only a remnant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

at any given time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number is unalterably\nfixed by God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the elect must be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing can prevent their\nsalvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord Jesus Christ has\nmade atonement for the sins of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s elect and redeemed\nthem from the curse of the law by<\/p>\n\n\n\n

his own precious blood (Gal.\n3:13). Contrary to popular<\/p>\n\n\n\n

opinion, Christ did not die\nfor all men. He refused to even<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pray for all men (John 17:9,\n20). All his work was and is for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

his elect alone. To say\notherwise is to declare that his work,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

his atonement, his\nintercession, all his work as the sinner’s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substitute was and is\nfutile, meaningless, and vain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The death of Christ was for\nhis particular, chosen, elect people<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Isa. 53:8; John 10:11) for\nthe satisfaction of justice on their behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All God\u2019s elect, having been\nredeemed by the blood of Christ, shall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

be called from death to life\nby the irresistible power and almighty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

grace of God the Holy Spirit\n(Gal. 3:13-14; Psa. 65:4; 110:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repentance toward God, faith\nin Christ, and eternal life are the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

results of the Spirit’s\ncall. Theses are things effectually wrought<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in God\u2019s elect (not offered\nto them) by his almighty grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is specific day\nappointed by God in which each of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

his elect will be called to\nlife and faith in Christ by the gospel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Psa. 110:3; Ezek. 16:68).\nGod will see to it that the sinner whom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

he has chosen will be in the\nplace he has ordained, with his heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n

thoroughly prepared to\nreceive the gospel, at the appointed time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And he will send his Word to\nthat sinner in the irresistible power<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and grace of the Holy\nSpirit. In that day, God says, regarding<\/p>\n\n\n\n

every chosen, redeemed\nsinner, \u201cThey shall be my people.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 J.C.Philpot We by nature and practice are slaves to sin and Satan. We are the sport of the prince of the power of the air, who takes us captive at his […]<\/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-5768","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\/5768","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=5768"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5769,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5768\/revisions\/5769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}