{"id":5964,"date":"2021-03-15T23:35:45","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T23:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5964"},"modified":"2021-03-15T23:35:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-15T23:35:45","slug":"bulletin-edition-march-2021-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5964","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition March 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Contemplating God’s greatness!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Charles Spurgeon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,\nthe moon and the stars, which You have set in place \u2014 what is man that You are\nmindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the work of God’s fingers\n\u2014 behold the sun guided in his daily march! Go forth at midnight, and behold\nthe heavens \u2014 consider the stars and the moon! Look upon these works of God’s\nhands, and if you are men of sense, and your souls are attuned to the high\nmusic of the spheres \u2014 you will say, “What is man that You are mindful of\nhim?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My God! When I survey the boundless fields of ether, and see\nthose ponderous orbs rolling therein; when I consider how vast are Your\ndominions \u2014 so wide that an angel’s wing might flap to all eternity and never\nreach a boundary \u2014 I marvel that You should look on insects so obscure as man!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I behold the Almightiness of Jehovah \u2014 I am so little that\nI shrink into nothingness! I am so little, that the difference between the\nmolecule and man dwindles into nothing \u2014 when compared with the infinite chasm\nbetween God and man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let your mind rove upon the great doctrines of the Godhead;\nconsider the existence of God from before the foundations of the world; behold\nHim who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let your soul comprehend as much as it can of the Infinite, and\ngrasp as much as possible of the Eternal \u2014 and I am sure if you have minds at\nall, that they will shrink with awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tall archangel bows himself before his Master’s throne \u2014 and\nwe shall cast ourselves into the lowest dust when we feel what base nothings,\nwhat insignificant specks we are, when compared with our all-adorable Creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labor, O soul, to know your nothingness \u2014 and learn it by\ncontemplating God’s greatness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Creator of all worlds in tears!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(John MacDuff, “A BOOK FOR THE BEREAVED”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Lazarus is dead.” John 11:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 had come along with her also weeping, He was<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” John 11:33<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Jesus wept!” John 11:35<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us turn aside for a little and see this great sight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the Creator of all worlds in tears–the God-man<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mediator dissolved in tenderest grief!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus wept out of sympathy for the bereaved. The<\/p>\n\n\n\n

hearts at His side were breaking with anguish. All<\/p>\n\n\n\n

unaware of how soon and how wondrously their<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sorrow was to be turned into joy–this appalling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

thought was alone present to them in all its<\/p>\n\n\n\n

fearfulness–“Lazarus is dead!” When He, the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God-man Mediator, with the refined sensibilities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of His tender heart, beheld the poignancy of their<\/p>\n\n\n\n

affliction, the pent-up torrent of His own human<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sympathies could be restrained no longer. His<\/p>\n\n\n\n

tears flowed also! “Jesus wept!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the creature failed, he flew to the Creator!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Charles Spurgeon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Help, Lord! For the godly are no more.” Psalm 12:1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, seasonable,\npithy, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of godly men, and therefore\nlifted up his heart in supplication. When the creature failed, he flew to the\nCreator! He evidently felt his own weakness\u2014or he would not have cried for\nhelp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and\ndistinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed,\nthan in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs\nstraight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is\nseeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed\nmanner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  In providential afflictions, how suitable it is for tried\nbelievers who find all helpers failing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  In doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by\nlifting up this cry of “Help, Lord!” to the Holy Spirit, the great\nTeacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the\nthrone for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Workers in heavenly labour may thus obtain grace in time\nof need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the\nsame weighty supplication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, in all cases, times, and places, this prayer will serve\nthe turn of needy souls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Help, Lord!” will suit us . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 living and dying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 suffering or labouring,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 rejoicing or sorrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Him our help is found\u2014let us not be slack to cry to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer to the prayer is certain, if it is sincerely offered\nthrough Jesus. The Lord’s character assures us that He will not leave His\nredeemed people; His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing. His promise\nstands sure, “Fear not\u2014I will help you!” Isaiah 41:13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer\ncomes before you!” Psalm 88:13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we love Him?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spurgeon, “THE CHURCH’S LOVE TO HER LOVING LORD”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because before this round earth ever was fashioned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

between the palms of the great Creator- before he<\/p>\n\n\n\n

had painted the rainbow, or hung out the lights of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the sun and moon, Christ’s delights were with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He foresaw us and he knew what we should be-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and as he looked upon us, the glance was love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He delighted to sit upon the throne of glory, and to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

remember his dear ones who were yet to he born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the great prospect which his mighty and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

infinite spirit had- a joy that was set before him,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that he should see a multitude that no man could<\/p>\n\n\n\n

number who should be his beloved forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, if you know that Jesus had loved you from before<\/p>\n\n\n\n

all worlds, you must love him. At least you will grant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

there cannot be a better reason for love than love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love demands; no, it does not demand- it takes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by almighty force, by irresistible energy, that heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n

captive, upon whom it thus sets itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE SUPREME INVESTITURE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John MacDuff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said,”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“All power in heaven and in earth is given unto Me!” \u2014\nMatthew 28:18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What an empire is this! Heaven and earth \u2014 the Church militant \u2014\nthe Church triumphant \u2014 angels and archangels \u2014 saints and seraphs are under\nChrist’s supreme authority! At His mandate: the billows were hushed \u2014 demons\ncrouched in terror \u2014 the grave yielded its prey! “Upon His head are many\ncrowns!” He is made “Head over all things!” Yes! over all\nthings, from the minutest \u2014 to the mightiest. He holds the stars in His right\nhand \u2014 He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, feeding every\ncandlestick with the oil of His grace, and preserving every star in its\nspiritual orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prince of Darkness has “a power,” but it is not an\n“all power.” Satan is potent \u2014 but not omnipotent. Christ holds him\non a chain! He has set bounds that he may not pass over. “Satan,” we\nread in the book of Job, “went out (with permission) from the presence of\nthe Lord.” Satan “desired” to have Peter that he might\n“sift him;” but there was a mightier agency at hand: “I have\nprayed for you,” Jesus said to Peter, “that your faith will not\nfail!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believer, how often is there nothing but this grace of Jesus,\nbetween you and everlasting destruction! Satan’s key may be fitting the lock in\nyour wayward heart \u2014 but a stronger than the strong man is barring him out! The\npower of the adversary fanning the flame \u2014 the Omnipotence of Jesus quenching\nit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you even now feeling the strength of your corruptions, the\nweakness of your graces, the presence of some outward or inward temptation?\nLook up to Him who has promised to make His grace sufficient for you;\n“all-sufficiency in all things” is His promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is power, too \u2014 in conjunction with tenderness. He who sways\nthe scepter of His universal empire “gently leads” His weak, and\nweary, and burdened ones! He who counts the number of the stars \u2014 loves to\ncount the number of their sorrows! Nothing is too great \u2014 and nothing is too\ninsignificant for Him! He paves His people’s pathway, with love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessed Jesus! my everlasting interests cannot be in better or\nin safer keeping, than in Yours. I can rely on the all-power of Your Godhead. I\ncan sweetly rejoice in the all-sympathy of Your Manhood. I can confidently\nrepose in the all-wisdom of Your dealings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Sometimes,” says one, “we expect the blessing in\nour own way \u2014 but He chooses to bestow it in His way.” But His way and His\nwill must be the best! Infinite love, infinite power, infinite wisdom \u2014 are\nsurely infallible guarantees! Nothing can alter His purposes. His promises can\nnever fail. His Word never falls to the ground. “Heaven and earth shall\npass away \u2014 but MY WORDS shall not pass away!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All is transparent and harmonious to His eye!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Octavius Winslow, “My Times in God’s Hand!”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in a world of mysteries! They . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  meet our eye,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  awaken our inquiry, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  baffle our investigation at every step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature is a vast arcade of mysteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Science is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religion is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our existence is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The future of our being is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And God, who alone can explain all mysteries, is the greatest\nmystery of all! How little do we understand of the inexplicable wonders of a\nwonder working God, “whose thoughts are a great deep,” and\n“whose ways are past finding out.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But to God, nothing is mysterious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In His purpose, nothing is unfixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In His forethought, nothing is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In His providence, nothing is contingent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His glance pierces the future as vividly as it beholds the past.\n“He knows the end from the beginning.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All His doings are parts of a divine, eternal, and harmonious\nplan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He may make ”darkness His secret place; His pavilion round\nabout Him dark waters;” and to human vision, His dispensations may appear\ngloomy, discrepant, and confused. Yet He is “working all things after the\ncounsel of His own will,” and all is transparent and harmonious to His\neye!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Octavius Winslow, “Experimental Religion”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spiritual mind, fond of soaring through nature in quest of\nnew proofs of God’s existence and fresh emblems of His wisdom, power and\ngoodness \u2014 exults in the thought that it is his Father’s domain which he\ntreads! He feels that God, his God, is there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the sweet consciousness of His all-pervading presence, and\nthe impress of His great perfections which everywhere meets his eye, overwhelm\nhis renewed soul with wonder, love, and praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O the delight of looking abroad upon nature, under a sense of\npardoning filial love in the soul, when enabled to exclaim, “This God is\nmy God!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The heavens tell of the glory of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Day after day they continue to speak;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 night after night they make Him known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 They speak without a sound or a word;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 their voice is silent in the skies;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 yet their message has gone out to all the earth,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 and their words to all the world.” Psalm 19:1-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sovereign, supreme disposal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And God placed all things under His feet and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 appointed Him to be head over everything,”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ephesians 1:22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How vast\u2014how numerous\u2014how complicated are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the various events and circumstances which attend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the Christian here below, as he travels onward to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

his heavenly home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if all things are put under Jesus’ feet\u2014there<\/p>\n\n\n\n

cannot be a single circumstance over which He<\/p>\n\n\n\n

has not supreme control. Everything in providence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and everything in grace are alike subject to His<\/p>\n\n\n\n

disposal. There is not . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a trial,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a temptation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  an affliction of body or soul,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a loss,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a cross,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a painful bereavement,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a vexation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a grief,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a disappointment,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  a case, state or condition,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

which is not put under Jesus’ feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has sovereign, supreme disposal over all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

events and circumstances. As possessed of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

infinite knowledge He sees them\u2014as possessed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of infinite wisdom He can manage them\u2014and as<\/p>\n\n\n\n

possessed of infinite power He can dispose and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

direct them for our good and His own glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much trouble and anxiety would we save<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ourselves, could we firmly believe, realize, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

act on this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we could see by the eye of faith that . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  every foe and every fear,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  every difficulty and perplexity,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  every trying or painful circumstance,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  every looked-for or unlooked-for event,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  every source of care, whether at present or<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in prospect\u2014are all put under His feet\u2014at His<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sovereign disposal\u2014what a load of anxiety and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

care would be often taken off our shoulders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Almighty Friend!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Octavius Winslow, “Christ, the Mighty God”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,\nEverlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” Isaiah 9:6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Jesus is the almighty God, His people have an almighty\nburden-bearer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are a burdened people. Every believer carries a burden\npeculiar to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your burden, O believer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it indwelling sin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it some natural infirmity of the body?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it a constitutional weakness?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it some domestic trial?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it a personal or relative trial?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it a state of poverty?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it the decay of health?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it soul anxiety?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it mental despondency?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is well that you are sensible of the pressure, that you feel\nyour weakness and insufficiency, and that you are brought to the end of all\nyour own power. Now turn to your Almighty Friend, who is the Creator of the\nends of the earth, even the everlasting God, who does not faint, neither is\nweary. Come, oppressed and burdened believer, ready to give up all and\nsink\u2014behold Jesus, the Almighty God, omnipotent to transfer your burden to\nHimself, and give you rest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How precious is the promise addressed to you! “He gives\nstrength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow\ntired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD\nwill renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run\nand not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint!” Isaiah 40:29-31<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, what strength there is in Jesus for the weak, and faint and\ndrooping of His flock!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are ready to succumb to your foes, and you think that the\nbattle of faith is lost. Cheer up! Jesus, your Savior, friend, and brother, is\n“the Almighty God,” and will perfect His strength in your weakness.\nHe . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 sustains our infirmities,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 bears our burdens,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 supplies our needs, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 encircles us with the shield of His Almightiness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a Divine spring of consolation and strength to the tired\nand afflicted saint, is the Almightiness of Jesus. Your sorrow is too deep,\nyour affliction is too heavy, your difficulty is too great for any human to\nresolve. It distances in its intensity and magnitude, the sympathy and the\npower of man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come, you . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  who are tempest-tossed and not comforted;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  whose spirit is wounded,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  whose heart is broken,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  whose mind is bowed down to the dust\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and hide within Christ’s sheltering Almightiness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is equal to your condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His strength is almighty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His love is almighty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His grace is almighty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His sympathy is almighty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His arm is almighty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His resources are infinite, fathomless, measureless!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almighty to rescue, He is also your Brother and Friend to\nsympathize. And while His Divine arm encircles, upholds, and keeps you\u2014His\nhuman soul, touched with the feeling of your infirmities, yearns over you with\nall the deep intensity of its compassionate tenderness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Contemplating God’s greatness! (Charles Spurgeon) “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place \u2014 what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4 Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the […]<\/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-5964","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\/5964","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=5964"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5965,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5964\/revisions\/5965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}