{"id":6249,"date":"2022-10-04T01:39:14","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T01:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6249"},"modified":"2022-10-04T01:39:14","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T01:39:14","slug":"bulletin-edition-october-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6249","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition October 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My hope lives, not because I am not a sinner,\nbut because I am a sinner for whom Christ died; my trust is not that I am holy,\nbut that being unholy, He is my righteousness.  My faith rests not upon\nwhat I am, or feel or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in\nwhat He is now doing for me.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 ~C. H. Spurgeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The believer’s eternal confession!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(John MacDuff<\/a>, “The Night Watches<\/a>“)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n“By the grace<\/strong> of God\u2014I am what I am!”<\/em> 1\nCorinthians 15:10
\n
\nThis is the believer’s eternal confession!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace found him a rebel <\/em>against God\u2014it leaves\nhim a son <\/em>of God!
\n
\nGrace found him wandering at the gates of Hell<\/em>\u2014it leaves him at the\ngates of Heaven!
\n
\n<\/em>Grace devised <\/em>the scheme of Redemption.
\nJustice <\/em>never would; reason <\/em>never could.
\nAnd it is grace which carries out<\/em> that scheme.
\n
\nNo sinner would ever have sought God\u2014but “by grace.” The thickets of\nEden would have proved Adam’s<\/em> grave\u2014had not grace called him\nout! Saul <\/em>would have lived and died the haughty self-righteous\npersecutor\u2014had not grace laid him low! The thief on the cross<\/em> would\nhave continued breathing out his blasphemies\u2014had not grace arrested his tongue\nand tuned it for glory!
\n
\n“Out of the knottiest timber<\/em>,” says Rutherford, “God\ncan make vessels of mercy <\/em>for service in the high palace of\nglory!”
\n
\n“I came, I saw, I conquered!” may be inscribed by the Saviour on\nevery monument of His grace<\/em>. “I came <\/em>to the\nsinner; I looked <\/em>upon him; and with a look of omnipotent\nlove\u2014I conquered <\/em>him!”
\n
\nBeliever, you would have been this day a wandering star<\/em>, to whom is\nreserved the blackness of darkness forever! You would have been Christless,\nhopeless, and portionless; had not grace constrained <\/em>you! And\nit is grace which, at this moment, “keeps” you.
\n
\nYou have often been a Peter<\/em>\u2014forsaking your Lord\u2014but brought back to\nHim again. Why have you not been a Demas <\/em>or a Judas? <\/em>“I\nhave prayed for you\u2014that your faith fail not!” Is not this your own\ncomment and reflection on life’s retrospect: “Yet not I\u2014but the\ngrace of God which was with me!”
\n
\n<\/em>Seek to realise your dependence <\/em>on this grace every moment.
\n
\n“More grace! more grace!” <\/em>needs to be your continual cry.
\n
\nHis infinite supply<\/em>\u2014is commensurate with your infinite need<\/em>.
\n
\nThe treasury of grace<\/em>, though always emptying\u2014is always full.
\n
\nThe key of prayer <\/em>which opens it\u2014is always at hand!
\n
\nAnd the Almighty Bestower <\/em>of the blessings of grace\u2014is always\n“waiting to be gracious.”
\n
\nThe recorded promise<\/em> can never be cancelled or reversed:\n“My grace is sufficient for you.”
\n
\nThe grace of God is the source of lesser temporal <\/em>blessings\u2014as\nwell as of higher spiritual <\/em>blessings. Grace accounts for the crumb\nof daily bread<\/em>\u2014as well as for the crown of eternal glory!<\/em>
\n
\nBut even in regard to earthly mercies, never forget the CHANNEL of grace: “through\nChrist Jesus!”<\/em> It is sweet thus to connect every blessing, even\nthe smallest and humblest token of providential bounty\u2014with Calvary’s cross\u2014to\nhave the common <\/em>blessings of life stamped with “the print\nof the nails!” It makes them doubly precious to think, “All\nthis flows from Jesus!”
\n
\n“By the grace<\/strong> of God\u2014I am what I am!”<\/em>
\nReader! seek to dwell much on this inexhaustible theme!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nThis divine and marvellous Fountain!<\/strong>
\n
\n(Octavius Winslow<\/a>,\n“From Grace to Glory” 1864)
\n
\n“By the grace of God<\/strong> I am what I am!” 1 Cor. 15:10
\n
\nGRACE is one of the most precious and significant
\nterms of the Bible.
\n
\nGrace tells of God’s free and unconditional choice<\/strong>
\nof a people, whom He everlastingly loved.
\n
\nIt speaks . . .
\n  of His mercy<\/strong> to the miserable,
\n  of His pardon<\/strong> to the guilty,
\n  of His favor<\/strong> to the lost,
\n  of His free and boundless love<\/strong> to poor sinners.
\n
\nNone are saved but those who are saved by . . .
\n  electing grace,
\n  sovereign grace,
\n  free grace.
\n
\nAlso, all the precious streams of present . . .
\n  sanctification,
\n  peace,
\n  joy,
\n  and hope
\nflow from this divine and marvelous Fountain!<\/strong>
\n
\nWhat a heart is His! The Lord of all grace <\/strong>. . .
\n  all pardoning<\/strong> grace,
\n  all accepting<\/strong> grace,
\n  all sanctifying<\/strong> grace,
\n  all comforting<\/strong> grace . . .
\nto the ungracious,
\nto the unworthy,
\nto the poor,
\nto the bankrupt,
\nto the vile,
\nto the sinful.
\n
\n“By the grace of God<\/strong> I am what I am!”
\n
\nMarvellous declaration!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An apostolic face and a Judas heart<\/strong>
\n
\n(Letters of J. C. Philpot<\/a>)
\n
\nMany think that a minister <\/strong>is exempt from such
\ncoldness, deadness, and barrenness, as private
\nChristians feel. And the hypocritical looks and
\nwords of many of Satan’s ministers favour this
\ndelusion. Holiness is so much on their tongues<\/strong>,
\nand on their faces<\/strong>, that their deluded hearers
\nnecessarily conclude that it is in their hearts<\/strong>.
\n
\nBut, alas! nothing is easier or more common,
\nthan an apostolic face and a Judas heart<\/strong>.
\n
\nMost pictures that I have seen of the “Last Supper”
\nrepresent Judas <\/strong>with a ferocious countenance. Had
\npainters drawn a holy, meek-looking face, I believe
\nthey would have given a truer resemblance.
\n
\nMany pass for angels in the pulpit<\/strong>, who if the truth
\nwere known, would be seen to be devils and beasts
\nin heart, lip, and life at home.
\n
\n“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the\noutside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion\nand excess. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye\nare full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:25, 28<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beset with many difficulties<\/strong>
\n
\n(Letters of William Tiptaft<\/a>)
\n
\nThe way to heaven is narrow, and beset with many
\ndifficulties<\/strong>, and we, at times, are almost sorry that
\nwe ever ventured out, especially when we keep
\ncontinually meeting with the lions <\/strong>in the way!
\n
\nBut nothing so much checks and stops us as vile self!<\/strong>
\nIt cleaves to everything on the way, and wants so
\noften to turn us out of the way.
\n
\nAlso, the ear is not deaf to the alluring and enticing
\ninvitation of Demas<\/strong> to look into the silver mine! Blessed
\nare they who are only allowed to look in. For, alas! how
\nmany glaring professors and speedy travellers to Zion,
\nwho have been brave companions on the way for a time,
\nhave stopped short at that mine, and never could be
\nseen beyond it!
\n
\nOur hearts are very closely knit with everything that the
\nworld loves and admires. David said, “My soul cleaves to
\nthe dust;” and so do all God’s children say it now, at
\ntimes, if they know the plague of their own hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brazen\nHypocrisy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 13:2<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing in\nall the world is more corrupt or more callous than the heart of a hypocrite.\nThere sat Judas at the table with the Son of God and his disciples. But he had\nalready struck his deal with the Jews\u2019 priests to betray the Saviour. \u2014 What\nbrazen hypocrisy! Judas stands as a beacon to warn us of what deep corruption\nmay be found in the hearts of very religious people. Still, we must not be\noverly disturbed when we find such hypocrites among God\u2019s saints. Not all who\nare washed in the waters of baptism have been washed in the blood of Christ\n(John 13:10). \u2014 \u201cThey are not all Israel which are of Israel<\/em>\u201d (Romans\n9:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\nFortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The matchless wisdom of God which devised this system of\nsalvation!<\/strong>
\n
\n(Charles Spurgeon<\/a>)
\n
\n“Christ loved the church <\/strong>and gave Himself for it!”\nEphesians 5:25
\n
\nThe more I consider the doctrine of substitution<\/em>–the more is my\nsoul enamoured of the matchless wisdom of God which devised this system\nof salvation<\/strong>. As for a hazy atonement which atones for everybody in\ngeneral, and for nobody in particular–an atonement made equally for Judas <\/em>and\nfor John<\/em>–I care nothing for it. But a literal, substitutionary\nsacrifice, Christ vicariously bearing the wrath of God on my behalf–this calms\nmy conscience with regard to the righteous demands of the law of God, and\nsatisfies the instincts of my nature which declare that, as God is just, He\nmust exact the penalty of my guilt!
\n
\n “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth His life for\nthe sheep<\/strong>!” John 10:11<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n“THE GRACE OF GOD”<\/strong>  I Corinthians 15:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most everyone talks\nabout salvation by grace. But what they mean by grace and what the Word of God\nteaches about grace are exact opposites. Here are six characteristics of the\ngrace of God, as it is set forth in the Scriptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. THE GRACE\nOF GOD IS SOVEREIGN GRACE<\/strong> (Rom. 9:11-18). Grace belongs to God.\nHe can do with it what he will. It is God’s prerogative to give or withhold\ngrace as it pleases him, and he always does. Grace is in no way determined by,\nearned by, or dependent upon the will and works of man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. THE GRACE\nOF GOD IS ETERNAL GRACE <\/strong>(Eph. 1:3-6). God alone determines to whom he\nwill be gracious; and God made that determination before the world was made. In\neternal election God chose a people to whom he would be gracious (II Tim. 1:9;\nII Thess. 2:13-14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. THE GRACE\nOF GOD IS REDEEMING GRACE<\/strong> (Rom. 3:24). Grace chose to redeem.\nGrace provided the Redeemer. Grace chose who would be redeemed. Grace\naccomplished redemption. And grace applies redemption. Those who were chosen by\nGod in eternity were redeemed by Christ at Calvary, and are called by the\nSpirit in time. Grace is bestowed only upon God’s elect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. THE GRACE\nOF GOD IS EFFECTUAL GRACE<\/strong> (Rom. 8: 28-35). Grace always\naccomplishes its purpose. Grace always saves its object. Grace is always\neffectual, irresistible, and unfailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. THE GRACE\nOF GOD IS UNDESERVED, UNCONDITIONAL, FREE GRACE<\/strong> (Rom. 6:23). Man\nis totally depraved, totally undeserving of God’s grace, totally dead in sin,\ntotally without ability to change his condition or do anything pleasing to God.\nHe cannot earn God’s grace by works of righteousness, or win God’s grace by an\nact of his will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. THE GRACE\nOF GOD IS IMMUTABLE GRACE<\/strong> (Mal. 3.6; John 10:27-29). Of this you\ncan be sure – Grace, once it is bestowed, cannot be lost or taken away. God’s\nsaints are secure, because we are kept by his grace. And his grace is in no way\ndependent upon us! We did not earn it by our works. We cannot improve it by our\nworks. And we cannot lose it by our works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Rejoicing in\nInfirmities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Apostle Paul\nprayed three times for God to remove the thorn in his flesh, the answer which\nGod gave him was satisfactory to him. \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you.\u201d (2 Cor.\n12:7-9) The Lord has a purpose for these earthly trials and will fulfill that\npurpose for His glory and our good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing I know; the\nLord Himself is more glorified, and His grace and strength more manifest and\nmore appreciated, in our weaknesses. When I have nothing to say, nothing to\ncontribute, and nothing in which to find comfort and joy, I will look to the\nLord Jesus and find in Him all that I need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If infirmities and\ntrials serve to make me look more fully to Christ, have less confidence in the\nflesh, and wait upon Him, then I will rejoice in infirmities.   \n                      \n                \n~Henry T. Mahan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Monsters of iniquity!<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>
\n Spurgeon’s, “Spots in Our Feasts of Charity”<\/em>
\n
\n Oh, the depths of human sin!
\n
\n Sin is an incomprehensible thing!
\n
\n There is no water so deep but fish will swim in it;
\n no pond so foul but frogs will live in it;
\n no mire so filthy but swine will wallow in it, and
\n no sin so damnable but man will commit it.
\n
\n Men will even seek out ways and means
\n of making themselves more and more
\n proficient in the most filthy of vices.
\n
\n If in these times there should arise monsters<\/strong>
\n of iniquity<\/strong>, we must not be\n astonished, for long
\n practice of sin makes men proficient therein.
\n
\n The earth is ripening, and men’s characters are
\n rotting to the uttermost degree of corruption.
\n
\n We must expect to see more and more of
\n the boilings over of the sink of iniquity,
\n which lies in human nature.
\n
\n Christian, what might you have been, but
\n for God’s distinguishing grace to you?
\n
\n Why, might not you have been Judas?
\n Christian, is there any betterness in
\n your heart beyond the heart of Judas?
\n
\n Judas was an apostle, mark you, a preacher,
\n a miracle-worker; he dipped his hand with
\n Jesus in the dish, and yet he sold him; and
\n why not you?
\n
\n “Let him that thinks he stands, take heed
\n lest he fall.” What another man has done you
\n may do; and there are no depths of wickedness
\n into which you might not have plunged had not
\n the preventing grace of God stopped your course.\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My hope lives, not because I am not a sinner, but because I am a sinner for whom Christ died; my trust is not that I am holy, but that being unholy, He is my righteousness.  My faith rests not upon what I am, or feel or know, but in what Christ is, in what […]<\/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-6249","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\/6249","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=6249"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6250,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6249\/revisions\/6250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}