{"id":6392,"date":"2023-01-21T05:04:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-21T05:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6392"},"modified":"2023-02-17T21:07:48","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T21:07:48","slug":"bulletin-edition-january-2022-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6392","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition January 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Christ\nMy Only Hope Forever<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the possession of\nheaven could be obtained with only a single act of goodness – never to all\neternity should I find it. \u201cWhen I would do good, evil is present with me.\u201d Oh!\nThen for grace to know Thee, to love Thee, to follow Thee, as my only good, my\nhope, my righteousness, my portion\nforever!        ~Robert Hawker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God creates out of\nnothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God will make nothing out of\nhim.            \n           \n         ~Martin Luther<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we knew how\nneedy we are, we would not neglect to pray. If we knew how vile we are, we\nwould not fail to thank Him for His mercy. If we knew how glorious He is, we\nwould not cease to praise Him. If we knew how soon we will be with Him, we\nwould not be discouraged.                                          \n     Pastor Chris Cunningham<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After some years\u2019\nexperience, the Christian comes to know, better than he did at first, how much\nthe gospel suits him. He finds that its simplicity suits his bewilderment; its\ngrace suits his sinfulness; its power is suitable to his weakness; it\u2019s comfort\nto his despondence; and the more he grows, the more he loves the gospel of the\ngrace of\nGod.                                                 \n           ~CHS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am sure that\nsome who lived in the days of our Lord\u2019s visitation to earth, and many who\nheard the Gospel from the apostles, and the faithful preachers who followed\nthem, could tell you the exact day they met the risen Redeemer, and bowed to\nHis sovereign rule. I have never felt that it was important for a person to be\nable to tell when he was saved, but rather that he was able now to state he has\nexperienced repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that now\nhe is looking to Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, and is now resting in his\nrighteousness, and a effectual sin- offering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too often men and\nwomen like to establish a time of conversion and an experience, in order to\nhave something to look back upon for comfort and assurance. This is dangerous!\nWe are not to look to anything or to anyone but Christ for our hope, our\nassurance, and our comfort. Paul said something about \u201cforgetting those\nthings which are behind and reaching forward onto those things which are\nbefore,\u201d <\/em>and, \u201clooking unto the Lord Jesus, the Author and\nFinisher of our faith.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of us came\nthrough the confusion, errors, and false professions of modern fundamentalism\nand had so much to unlearn, so many false foundations which had to be\ndestroyed, that it is difficult to set an exact hour when our eyes were turned,\ntotally from our idols of religion to our living Lord—when our hearts were\nweaned from the pride of our religious works and professions and brought\nto rest in him alone!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the\nunaided work of the Spirit of God, and the Word of God; and this is a living\nunion which shall never be dissolved. This is accomplished when sinners hear\nthe Gospel of God\u2018s grace and\nglory.                                                          Pastor\nHenry Mahan<\/em>, 1984<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who have been\nsaved are those who are being saved (I Cor. 1:18: Philippians 1:6; 2:12, 13).\nThose who have learned of Christ are those who are learning of Him (John 6:45;\nMatthew 11:29). Those who know the Lord are those who desire to know Him\n(Philippians 3:7-10). Those who have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus\nChrist (II Corinthians 4:6), are those who continue to cry, \u201cLord, I beseech\nthee, show me thy glory\u201d Exodus 33:18). These are the people who by the grace\nof God can say, \u201cAs for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be\nsatisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness\u201d (Ps.\n17:15).        ~Maurice Montgomery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason faith sees\nthe Gospel as new is because faith is in the present.  When my faith seems\nold or stale it is because it is not present faith.  It becomes faith in\npast experiences and that is not faith in a present Christ, but in yesterday\u2019s\nfaith, which like yesterday\u2019s manna, breeds worms and stinks.  If my faith\nis in the present, the Gospel is good news indeed for the present.  Old,\nstale faith like yesterday\u2019s mews is no longer new!  How much do I need\nChrist and His Gospel right now?  That is how the Gospel will remain new\nand fresh to me.  It is only His grace that will keep us in the present!                                                     \n            ~Todd Nibert<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we have any evidence that we really intend to go there?<\/strong>
\n
\n(John Owen<\/a>)
\n
\nWe all profess that we are bound for Heaven, immortality and glory. But do\nwe have any evidence that we really intend to go there<\/strong>\u2014if all our thoughts\nare consumed about the trifles of this world, which we must leave behind us\u2014and\nhave only occasional thoughts of things above?
\n
\n“If ye then be risen with Christ\u2014seek those things which are above, where\nChrist sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above\u2014not\non things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in\nGod. When Christ who is our life shall appear\u2014then shall ye also appear with\nHim in glory!” Colossians 3:1-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear friend,
\nYou say that you are conscious of defects and defilements<\/strong>. But your\nheart could not be right\u2014if you did not feel these things. To be conscious <\/em>of\nthem, and humbled <\/em>for them\u2014is one of the surest marks <\/em>of\ngrace; and to be more deeply sensible of them than formerly\u2014is the best\nevidence of growth <\/em>in grace!
\n
\nOur righteousness is in Jesus alone; and our hope depends, not upon the exercise\nof grace in us<\/em>\u2014but upon the fullness of grace and love in Him, and upon His\nobedience unto death.
\n
\nIt is a mighty manifestation of His grace indeed\u2014when it can live, and act, and\nconquer in such hearts as ours; when, in defiance of an evil nature<\/em> and\nan evil world<\/em>, and all the force and subtlety of Satan<\/em>\u2014a weak\nworm<\/em> is still upheld; when a small spark <\/em>is preserved\nthrough storms and floods!
\n
\nIn these circumstances, the work of grace is to be estimated, not merely from\nits imperfect appearance\u2014but from the difficulties <\/em>it has to\nstruggle with and overcome. Therefore our holiness does not consist in great\nattainments\u2014but in spiritual desires, in hungerings, thirstings, and mournings;\nin humiliation of heart, poverty of spirit, submission, and meekness; in hearty\nadmiring thoughts of Jesus, and dependence upon Him alone for all we need.\nIndeed these may be said to be great attainments; but they who have most of\nthem are most sensible that they, in and of themselves, are <\/em>nothing, have <\/em>nothing,\ncan do <\/em>nothing\u2014and see daily cause for abhorring themselves\nand repenting in dust and ashes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nEvidence Of Faith         <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hebrews 11:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Assurance\nin the Word of God is based upon faith. The Scriptures never speak of the\nassurance of love, or the assurance of works, or the assurance of experience.\nThe Scriptures only speak of “the full assurance of faith”\n(Heb. 10:22) and “the full assurance of hope” (Heb. 6:11).\nAnd hope is built upon faith. This faith is the gift of God the Holy Spirit,\nwrought in and given to God’s elect in regeneration by the preaching of the\ngospel (Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29; Col. 2:12; Rom. 10:17; James 1:18; I\nPet. 1:23-25). True faith is based upon and born of the knowledge of the\ngospel. No one can or will trust Christ until he sees (1) his need of a\nSubstitute, (2) how that God can be just and the justifier of the ungodly\nthrough the merits of Christ, and (3) that salvation is by grace alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     This\nfaith in Christ is the sure, certain, infallible evidence, proof, and assurance\nof eternal salvation. Faith is not the cause of grace, salvation, and eternal\nlife. But faith is the proof and evidence of these things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     “FAITH\nIS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR.” That word “substance”\nmeans “faith is the essence, certainty, and assurance of things hoped\nfor.” Faith possesses beforehand what God has promised to give.\n“Verily, verily”, our Lord said, “He that believeth on me hath\n(in possession) everlasting life” (John 6:47).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     “FAITH\nIS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.” “Evidence” means\n“proof”. By faith in Christ I read my name in the Book of Life. Faith\ndid not write it there. God wrote it there before the world was made. But my\nfaith in Christ is the proof that it is there. “Faith is the proof of\nthings not seen.” Faith is the proof of things past, done in eternity, but\nnot seen by men. It is the proof of my election and interest in the covenant of\ngrace. Faith is the proof of things done in time, though now unseen: the\ncreation of the world, the righteousness established by Christ, the redemption\naccomplished by Christ, and my justification in him. And faith is the proof of\nfuture things now unseen: the resurrection of the dead, the judgment, and my\neternal glory in and with Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     If\nyou can now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, I assure you upon the authority\nof God’s Word, YOU HAVE A SAVING INTEREST IN CHRIST (I John 5:1, 5-13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

“Let him that thinketh he stands\u2014take heed lest he\nfall.” \u2014 1 Corinthians 10:12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C.H.Spurgeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of\ngrace. A man says, “I have great faith\u2014I shall not fall; poor little faith\nmay fall\u2014but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says\nanother, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.” He who\nboasts of grace\u2014has little grace to boast of. Some who do, this imagine that\ntheir graces can keep them\u2014not knowing that the stream must flow constantly\nfrom the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous\nstream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burns brightly today\u2014it will\nsmoke tomorrow, and noxious will be its odor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take heed that you don’t boast in your graces\u2014but let all your\nglorying and confidence be in Christ and His strength, for only so can you be\nkept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration.\nRead the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more\ncarefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let\nyour conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with\naffection for men’s souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you\u2014that you\nhave been with Jesus, and have learned of Him. And when that happy day shall\ncome, when He whom you love shall say, “Come up higher!” may it be\nyour happiness to hear Him say, “You have fought a good fight\u2014you have\nfinished your course\u2014and henceforth there is laid up for you an unfading crown\nof righteousness!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and\ntrembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant\npetition be, “Uphold me, according to Your Word!” He is able, and He\nalone, “To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the\npresence of His glory with exceeding joy!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOD’S WORD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The following is by Spurgeon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 His word runneth very swiftly” (Psalm 147:15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No language ever stirs the deeps of my nature like the Word of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God, and none produces such a profound calm within my spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As no other voice can,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it melts me to tears,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it humbles me in the dust,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it fires me with enthusiasm,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it fills me with pleasure,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it elevates me to holiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every faculty of my being owns the power of the sacred Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It sweetens my memory,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it brightens my hope,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it stimulates my imagination,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it directs my judgment,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it commands my will, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  it cheers my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word of man charms me for the time,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  but I outlive and outgrow its power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is altogether the reverse with the Word of the King of kings;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

it rules me more sovereignly, more practically, more habitually,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

more completely every day. Its power is for all seasons–for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sickness and for health, for solitude and for company, for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

personal emergencies and for public assemblies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had sooner have the Word of God at my back than all the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

armies and navies of all the great powers, aye, than all the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

forces of nature; for the Word of the Lord is the source of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

all the power in the universe, and within it there is an infinite<\/p>\n\n\n\n

supply in reserve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Christ My Only Hope Forever If the possession of heaven could be obtained with only a single act of goodness – never to all eternity should I find it. \u201cWhen I would do good, evil is present with me.\u201d Oh! Then for grace to know Thee, to love Thee, to follow Thee, as my only […]<\/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-6392","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\/6392","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=6392"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6392\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6408,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6392\/revisions\/6408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}