{"id":5938,"date":"2021-02-28T23:50:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T23:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5938"},"modified":"2021-02-28T23:50:10","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T23:50:10","slug":"bulletin-edition-february-2021-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5938","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition February 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Goodness of God <\/strong>\u2013 A W Pink<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The goodness of God endures continually” (Psalm 52:1<\/a>).\nThe goodness of God refers to the perfection of His nature: “God is light,\nand in Him is no darkness at all” (1\nJohn 1:5<\/a>). There is such an absolute perfection in God’s\nnature and being that nothing is lacking to it or defective in it, and nothing\ncan be added to it to make it better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“God\nis originally good, good of Himself, which nothing else is; for all\ncreatures are good only by participation and communication from God.
\nHe is essentially good; not only good, but goodness itself: the\ncreature’s good is a superadded quality, in God it is His essence.
\nHe is infinitely good; the creature’s good is but a drop, but in God\nthere in an infinite ocean or gathering together of good.
\nHe is eternally and immutably good, for He cannot be less\ngood than He is; as there can be no addition made to Him, so no subtraction can\nbe made from Him” (Thomas Manton).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\nis summum bonum\u2014<\/em>the highest <\/em>good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\noriginal Saxon meaning of our English word God <\/em>is “The\nGood.” God is not only the greatest <\/em>of all beings, but\nthe best<\/em>. All the goodness there is in any creature, has been\nimparted from the Creator; but God’s goodness is underived, for it is the essence\nof His eternal nature. As God is infinite in power from all eternity, before\nthere was any display thereof, or any act of omnipotence put forth\u2014so He was\neternally good before there was any communication of His bounty, or any\ncreature to whom it might be imparted. Thus, the first manifestation of this\ndivine perfection was in giving being to all things. “You are <\/em>good,\nand do <\/em>good” (Psalm\n119:68<\/a>). God has in Himself an infinite and inexhaustible treasure\nof all blessedness, enough to fill all things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goodness of God is seen in that when man transgressed\nthe law of His Creator, a dispensation of unmixed wrath did not at once\ncommence. Well might God have deprived His fallen creatures of every blessing,\nevery comfort, every pleasure. Instead, He ushered in a regime of a mixed\nnature\u2014of mercy and judgment. This is very wonderful if it is duly considered,\nand the more thoroughly that regime is expanded the more will it appear that\n“mercy rejoices over judgment” (James\n2:13<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goodness of God appeared most illustriously when He\nsent forth His Son “made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those\nwho were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians\n4:4<\/a>,5<\/a>).\nThen it was that a multitude of the heavenly angels praised their Maker and\nsaid, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and peace on earth to all whom\nGod favors” (Luke\n2:14<\/a>). Yes, in the Gospel the “grace <\/em>[which\nword in Greek conveys the idea if benevolence or goodness] of God that brings\nsalvation has appeared to all men” (Titus\n2:11<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness,\nand for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goodness of God is the life of the believer’s trust.\nIt is this excellency in God which most appeals to our hearts. Because His\ngoodness endures forever, we ought never to be discouraged: “The Lord is\ngood, a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who trust in Him”\n(Nahum 1:7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When\nothers behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give\nthanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious\nthat we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him\nthat He is good. We must never tolerate an instant of unbelief as to the\ngoodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely\ncertain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary\u2014but His nature is\nalways the same” (Charles Spurgeon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Glory of God \u2013 John MacDuff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was as perfect before the birth of time \u2014 as He will be\nwhen \u201ctime shall be no longer!\u201d He was as infinitely glorious when He inhabited\nthe solitudes of immensity alone \u2014 as He is now with the songs of angel and\narchangel sounding in His ear! But \u201cwho can show forth all His praise?\u201d We can\nat best but lisp the alphabet of His glory. Moses, who saw more of God than\nmost, makes it still his prayer, \u201cI beseech You, show me Your glory!\u201d Paul, who\nknew more of God than other men, prays still, \u201cthat I may know Him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nis this the Being to whom I can look up with sweetest confidence \u2014 and call \u201cMy\nFather\u201d? Is it this Infinite One, whom \u201cthe Heaven of Heavens cannot contain,\u201d\nI can call \u201cMy God\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believer,<\/strong> contemplate\nthe medium through which it is you can see the glory of God, and yet live. \u201cNo\nman has seen God at any time, the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the\nFather, He has revealed Him.\u201d He who dwells in inaccessible light, comes forth\nfrom the pavilion of His glory in the person of \u201cImmanuel, God with us.\u201d In\nChrist, \u201cthe Image of the invisible God,\u201d the creature \u2014 yes, sinners \u2014 can\ngaze unconsumed on the lusters of Deity! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

———–<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God’s conscious comforting presence!
\n<\/strong>
\nOctavius Winslow, “Beginning\nthe Year with Jesus”
\n<\/em>
\nThen Moses said to him, “If Your Presence
\ndoes not go with us, do not send us up from
\nhere…..” Exodus 33:15
\n
\nWhat a needed and solemn petition!
\n
\nGod’s presence, going with us! Such is the
\nresponse of every true God fearing, Christ
\nloving heart. The believer has learned to
\nunderstand the nature of God’s favor, to
\nknow the value of His presence, to test the
\nwisdom of His guidance, and to experience
\nthe blessedness of the light of His countenance.
\nAnd now, the one desire and prayer of his heart
\nis, “Let Your presence go with me. Let it
\naccompany me in all the chequered, changeful
\nhistory of this year. May Your Presence….
\ncounsel me in difficulty,
\nsoothe me in sickness,
\ncheer me in solitude,
\nkeep me in danger,
\nshield me in temptation,
\nstrengthen me in service,
\nsustain me in suffering, and
\ndeliver me from evil.”
\n
\nLet, then, the accompanying presence of God be
\nthe intense desire of your heart, and the principal
\nelement of your Christian experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Immutable God<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An old Greek\nphilosopher once said; \u201cthe only constant is change\u201d. He was never able to find\nany purpose behind this ever-changing world and ended up taking his own life.\nTruth is, everything is in constant flux, but not without purpose. The Lord\nchanges not (Mal.3:6). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever\n(Heb.13:8).  He controls all things in heaven, in the earth, and under the\nearth.  His nature, purpose, and covenant promises cannot change. His\nmercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations. (Ps.100:5) We\nare often confused by and attempt to control our circumstances in this\never-changing world.  Remember, it is our immutable God that shakes the\nthings that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which\ncannot be shaken may remain (Heb. 12:27) There is a Rock, smitten by the rod of\nGod\u2019s justice, out from which flows rivers of living water. He follows us\nthrough this dry and thirsty land. I Cor. 10:2. The house built on this sure\nimmutable foundation will not fall.     \n                                                                   ~GE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Truth of Thy\nSalvation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We come into the\npresence of God only according to the, \u201cTruth of Thy Salvation\u201d Ps. 69:13. So,\nwhat is the truth of God\u2019s salvation? Perhaps the alliteration will give us\nsome hooks on which to hang our thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     \nGod\nis SOVEREIGN in Salvation. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy<\/em>\u2026Rom\n9:15-16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.     \nChrist\nis SUCCESSFUL in God\u2019s Salvation. You shall call His name Jesus: for He\nshall save His people from their sins<\/em>. Matt. 1:21. It is finished<\/em>.\nJn. 19:30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.     \nChrist\nis SUFFICIENT in God\u2019s Salvation. He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is\nmy defense<\/em>\u2026 Ps. 62:2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.     \nChrist\nis the SUBJECT of God\u2019s Salvation. \u2026the gospel of God\u2026concerning His Son\nJesus Christ our Lord<\/em>. Rom. 1:1-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.     \nChrist\nis the SUBSTITUTE of God\u2019s Salvation. God will provide Himself a Lamb<\/em>.\nGen. 22:8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.     \nChrist\nis God\u2019s SATISFACTION in Salvation. He shall see the travail of His soul, and\nshall be satisfied<\/em>. Is. 53:11a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.     \nChrist\nis the SHINNING of God\u2019s Salvation. For God who commanded the light to shine\nout of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge\nof the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ<\/em>. II Cor. 4:6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We bear these\ntruths to be clearly set forth in the Word of God. Any attempt to approach God\non a message of salvation contrary to these will surely\nfail.    \n                       \n                      ~Greg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe must increase, but I must decrease.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 3:30<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     John the Baptist, the man who\nwas sent to prepare the way of the Lord; the man who our Lord Jesus Christ said\nwas the greatest prophet born of a woman, said: \u201c<\/em>The Lord Jesus Christ must increase, but I must\ndecrease.\u201d<\/em> To that, all of God\u2019s people will cry: Amen! The higher that the Lord\nJesus Christ is raised up, and the more exalted God\u2019s people see Him to be\u2026 The\nhappier they are! When Christ is exalted, their joy is exalted, their hope is\nexalted, and their faith is exalted as it LOOKS UP to Him, HIGH in the heavens.\nThe higher they see His throne to be, the more glorious the gospel of their\nredemption is to them, and the more in awe they are of how far He came down to\nsave them. After seeing Christ in all of His exalted glory, God\u2019s people cannot and will not ever see Him any other\nway. They will cry to every soul who will listen: \u201cHe must increase, but I must decrease!\u201d  Pastor\nGabe Stalnaker<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

—-<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn everything\ngive thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning\nyou.\u201d 1 Thess. 5:18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord is\nworking all things after the counsel of His own will. Knowing then that He Who\nis all wise, all powerful and merciful toward His people is working everything\nfor His glory and the good of His people, is there anything that comes our way\nfor which we shouldn\u2019t give thanks? How blessed we are to have the Holy Spirit\nbring back to our memory the love, grace, and compassion that has been shown\nhell-deserving creatures like us. Whatever comes our way\u2026\u201d give thanks: for\nthis is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning\nyou.\u201d                       \n           \n   ~Marvin Stalnaker<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Goodness of God \u2013 A W Pink “The goodness of God endures continually” (Psalm 52:1). The goodness of God refers to the perfection of His nature: “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). There is such an absolute perfection in God’s nature and being that nothing is […]<\/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-5938","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\/5938","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=5938"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5939,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5938\/revisions\/5939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}