{"id":6312,"date":"2022-10-30T21:56:35","date_gmt":"2022-10-30T21:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6312"},"modified":"2022-10-30T21:56:35","modified_gmt":"2022-10-30T21:56:35","slug":"bulletin-edition-october-2022-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6312","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition October 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Deadly! \nDestructive!  Damning!<\/strong>
\n(the following is by Spurgeon)
\n
\nThe Pharisee stood and prayed thus with\nhimself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners,\nunjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. <\/em><\/strong>12 <\/sup><\/em><\/strong>I\nfast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess<\/em><\/strong>. Luke 18:11-12
\n
\nNothing is more deadly than self-righteousness!
\n
\nYour own righteousness will destroy you
\n  as certainly as your iniquities!
\n
\nIf you rest upon what you have done, however
\ngood in your own eyes, or however praiseworthy
\nin the esteem of your fellow-men, you rest on
\na foundation that will certainly fail you.
\n
\nChrist will have you to know, however good
\nyou are, that you must come to him just as
\nthe vilest of the vile must come.
\n
\nYou must come as guilty- you cannot come as
\nrighteous. You must come to Jesus to be washed;
\nyou must come to him to be clothed. You think
\nyou do not need washing; you fancy you are
\nclothed, and covered, and beautiful to look upon.
\n
\nBut oh! the garb of outward respectability,
\nand of outward morality, often is nothing
\nbut a film to hide an abominable leprosy!
\n
\nYour merits or your demerits are
\n alike unavailing for salvation!
\n
\nGod grant that we may no longer boast of
\nourselves. Put away the Pharisee’s pride,
\nand never utter the Pharisee’s prayer.
\n
\nIt is self-righteousness which
\ndamns the souls of thousands!
\n
\nGod’s arm is strong enough, God’s fire
\nfierce enough, to melt even the iron of
\nself-righteousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This statement is\nquoted four times in Scripture, and each time it gives a different nuance of\nthe meaning.  \u201cBehold his soul which is lifted up is not upright within\nhim: but the just shall live by his faith\u201d (Habukkuk 2:4).  To be lifted\nup is to have a swollen, inflated view of yourself.  The just living by\nfaith is the enemy of pride.  \u201cTherein is the righteousness of God\nrevealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith\u201d\n(Romans 1:17).  It is only by faith that the righteousness of God is\nreceived and relied on.  \u201cBut that no man is justified by the law in the\nsight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith\u201d (Galatians\n3:11).  Faith is opposed to seeking justification by works or law.  \u201cNow\nthe just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no\npleasure in him\u201d (Hebrews 10:38).  The only way to persevere is by faith,\nlooking to Christ only.  To draw back from that is to not have God\u2019s\npleasure. The just shall live by faith is opposed to human pride, the only way\nthe righteousness of God is received, opposed to justification by law (what I\ndo) and the only way of perseverance.  How all encompassing!  \u201cThe\njust shall live by faith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd Nibert<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Confess That Christ Is Lord?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all know that none are saved except those who confess that\nChrist is Lord. But what does it mean to confess Christ as Lord? All religious\npeople make such a confession with their lips; but that certainly cannot be\nsalvation. Even Satan acknowledges the Lordship of Christ in that way. To\nconfess that Christ is Lord is to acknowledge him as Lord by a heart surrender\nand commitment to him as such. True saving faith involves a submission of the\nheart to the Lord Jesus Christ. This submission of the heart to Christ is the\nruling principle of every believer\u2019s life. Without this willing, voluntary\nsubmission of the heart there is no salvation.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 ~Don Fortner (1950-2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually\nminded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6<\/strong>
\n
\nOctavius Winslow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual-mindedness is life. We fearlessly challenge every\nbeliever- What has been the effect in your soul of a low state of grace? What\nhas been the effect of carnal indulgence of allowed sin- of needless communion\nwith the world- of conformity to its policy and its pleasures- of unruly\ntemper- of a volatile disposition, yes, of any species of carnality whatever:\nhas it not been “death”? When a process of spiritual relapse has been\nallowed to proceed stealthily and unchecked- when the world, and sin, and self\nhave gained an ascendancy, what has been the consequence? “Death!”
\n
\nThe habit of prayer may not have been totally neglected, but\nthere has been no communion with God- and so there has been death upon prayer.\nThe Bible has not been entirely unread, but no light has beamed upon the sacred\npage- and so there has been death upon the Bible. The means of grace have not\nbeen utterly forsaken, but no grace has distilled from these channels- and so\nthere has been death upon the means of grace. Thus a spiritual deathliness has\ncrept over the soul, the effect and fruit of indulged and growing carnality.
\n
\nBut “life” is the blessed effect of heavenly-mindedness.\nIt is life springing from life, or rather, the inner life in its outer actings.\nWhat spiritual mightiness, almost omnipotent, does he possess, whose mind and\nheart and faculties are deeply immersed in the Spirit of Christ, closely allied\nto the Divine and heavenly! As sin is weakness, so holiness is strength. As\ncarnality impairs, so spirituality invigorates. The one deadens, the other\nvivifies. Close dealing with Essential Life increases the life of spirituality.\nMuch communion with Jesus draws forth “life more abundantly.”
\n
\nIt is impossible to live a life of faith in the Son of God,\nconstantly taking to His blood every sin, to His heart every care, to His\nsympathy every sorrow, to His grace every corruption, to His arm every burden,\nwithout being conscious of new life, of augmented power, of increased\nheavenliness. Inquire of the man of prayer what is the effect in his soul of\nclose filial communion with God? Ask the reflective mind what is the effect\nupon his spirit of holy meditation? Ask the conscience much beneath the cross\nwhat is the result of the constant sprinkling of the atoning blood? And, as\nwith one voice, and with one utterance, each believer will answer,\n“Life!” Oh, there is an energising influence in spirituality, a quickening\nof the spiritual life in heavenly-mindedness, which he only can understand\nwhose converse is much with things heavenly, much with God.
\n
\nThere is life in prayer, life in the word, life in ordinances,\nlife in the enjoyment of vital religion, which transmits the thrill of its deep\npulsations through the whole soul. Nor life alone in these. But when the storm\nof adversity blows- when sore affliction comes- when the “noise of the\nwater-spout” is heard, and the tossing waves and the foaming billows roll\nover the soul- when the shadow of death is settling upon all creature-good;\nthen, even then, the spiritual mind panting after life exclaims, “Though I\nwalk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me.” “This is my\ncomfort in my affliction; for Your word has quickened me.” And what is all\nthis but the pledge and the prelude of the glorious consummation and crown of\nall- the life that is to come, even life everlasting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n<\/strong>Christ Our Wisdom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\nCorinthians 1:20<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christ is\nWisdom. Christ is Understanding. He gives wisdom and understanding; but the\nHoly Ghost tells us much more than that. He tells us that the Mediator-man\nChrist Jesus is Wisdom and is Understanding (Proverbs 8:12-14). If Christ is\nWisdom and Understanding, as he asserts, then there is no wisdom and no\nunderstanding anywhere except in him. Furthermore, if Christ is Wisdom and\nUnderstanding, then all who are in him and have him possess wisdom and\nunderstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Christ\nJesus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All who\nare born of God are \u201cin Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us Wisdom<\/em>\u201d\n(1 Corinthians 1:30). We are in Christ by the rich, free grace and goodness of\nGod the Father, who put us in him in sovereign election before the world began.\nIn him we were and are preserved and blessed from everlasting. That secret,\neverlasting union with Christ was made manifest in time, when God the Holy\nSpirit gave us life and faith in Christ, by the operation of his mighty grace;\nbut the union is from everlasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s\nWork<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our being\nin Christ is altogether God\u2019s work. Our conversion, our saving union with\nChrist is not the result of something we have done. We are not in Christ\nbecause we are wiser, or better, or have made a better choice than others. We\nare in Christ because God put us in Christ. \u2014 \u201cSalvation is of the Lord!<\/em>\u201d\nIt is the purpose of God to make this apparent, and to force all men to\nacknowledge it. He dispenses his grace in such a way that he makes men see with\nregard to others, and to acknowledge with regard to themselves, that salvation\nis his work alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our\nWisdom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though we\nare foolish creatures by nature, by virtue of our union with him, Christ is\nmade of God unto us Wisdom. He is the one who gives us wisdom and understanding\nin all things spiritual. He is the shining light that dispels darkness in our\nsouls. Christ is our Wisdom objectively, too. I mean by that that our highest\nwisdom is knowing him. Under the personification of Wisdom, our Saviour says, \u201cHe\nthat findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain the favour of the Lord<\/em>\u201d\n(Proverbs 8:35).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \nChrist is the Head of his body the church; and as all the wisdom of the body is\nin its head, so all our wisdom is in him. The Lord Jesus acted for us as our\nWisdom representatively, speaking for us in the everlasting covenant of grace\nand peace; and he is our Advocate with the Father, still pleading our cause and\ninterceding for us in heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \nIt is by Christ Jesus that the triune God is made known and revealed to man. He\nis the embodiment of God, the embodiment of Wisdom, the Word, the Revealer of\nGod. As all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him, so all the treasures of\nwisdom and knowledge are his. By him alone, they are made known to men. \u2014 \u201cNo\nman knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son,\nand he to whom the Son will reveal him<\/em>\u201d (Luke 10:22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truly\nWise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this\nunion with Christ makes the heaven-born soul truly wise, because when Christ is\nformed within, we are given the mind of Christ and know all things (1\nCorinthians 2:14-16). All true spiritual knowledge is derived from Christ; and\nit is only those who are taught of him who are made wise unto salvation. Christ\nis our Wisdom within to direct our paths, guide us in his way, and order our\nsteps day by day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

“We\nHave The Mind Of\nChrist”       <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Corinthians 2:16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Paul tells us plainly that the\nnatural man understands nothing of God’s word, work, or ways. He also\ntells us that every believer has the mind of Christ. That is to say,”The\nbeliever sees things as Christ sees them.” God’s children in this world do\nnot see things as clearly as Christ does, but they see things in the same way,\nin the same perspective, with the same attitude as Christ. In Matthew 11:20-28,\nwe see the mind of Christ displayed in three suggestive directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     1. TOWARD THE WILFULLY IMPENITENT\n– “Woe unto thee” (v. 21). What privileges these people enjoyed! The\nSon of God himself lived among them, preached in their churches, and performed\nmiracles in their streets! Yet, they despised his grace, rejected his gospel\nand would not believe him! Therefore, he said, “Woe unto thee!” And\nevery believer’s heart is in full agreement with Christ. If you, having heard\nthe gospel of Christ and seen his works in others, yet refuse to believe, you\nwill be forever damned. And your damnation will be just.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     2. TOWARD THE PURPOSE OF GOD –\n“I thank thee” (v. 25). Here our Saviour thanks God for performing\nhis own sovereign, eternal purpose. He thanked the Father for hiding the gospel\nfrom some and for revealing it to others, according to his own will. Like\nChrist, every believer rejoices in God’s sovereignty. The purpose of God is\noften painful to our flesh and contrary to our purposes. But it is always\npleasant to our hearts and agreeable to our wills. Our inmost prayer and desire\nbefore God is, “Thy will be done.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     3. TOWARD GUILTY, HEAVY-LADEN\nSINNERS – “Come unto me” (v. 28). Christ is the sinner’s Friend. And\nGod’s people are too. He is compassionate toward sinners. And God’s people are\ntoo. He invites those who “labour,” trying to earn rest by their\nworks, to come to him for rest.He invites those who are \u201cheavy-laden,”\nstaggering, hopelessly and helplessly, under the weight of sin, to come to him\nto find rest for their souls. And he promises rest to all who come to him, to\nall who trust him. Are you labouring for acceptance with God? Cease from your\nworks. Come to Christ. And find rest in his finished work. Are you heavy-laden\nwith sin, despairing of life? Come to Christ. Trust him who bore our sins in\nhis own body on the tree. And find rest for you soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Fortner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Deadly!  Destructive!  Damning! (the following is by Spurgeon) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. Luke 18:11-12 Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-law"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6312","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=6312"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6313,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6312\/revisions\/6313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}