{"id":6419,"date":"2023-03-21T01:15:10","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T01:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6419"},"modified":"2023-03-21T01:15:10","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T01:15:10","slug":"bulletin-edition-march-2023-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6419","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition March 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we have the mind\nof Christ, we see God in everything, we see Christ as Everything, we see\nourselves as nothing.        ~John Chapman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pride and Grace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 David\nsaid, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn\nThy statutes<\/em>” (Psalm 119:71). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong people are apt\nto be harsh and un\u00adsympathetic, so they must be taken to the furnace and\nmelted. Healthy, independent people are apt to be proud and self-centered, so\nthey must be made (in trouble) to realize their weakness and frailty, as Paul\nwith his thorn. Those who have riches, posses\u00adsions, and talent are often\ncritical of the poor and weak, until they are made to see the worthlessness of\nall worldly charms and glory. Pride and grace are incompatible; therefore, if\nwe are His, He will re\u00admove the pride. \n       ~Henry Mahan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n This Precious Anointing!<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>
\n <\/em>(from “The Precious Anointing” by Octavius Winslow)<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n This holy anointing of the Spirit will impart
\n clearness to your mind, so that you shall
\n have a right judgment in all things.
\n
\n It will impart sweetness to your temper;
\n gentleness to your spirit, and will give you
\n a lowly, loving, self condemning heart.
\n
\n It will make your behavior towards others
\n more Christlike. It will fill you with charity
\n and love; the grace of kindness will be in
\n your heart, and the law of kindness on your lip.
\n
\n This precious anointing is so soul transforming,
\n so ‘Christ assimilating’ in its influence, that it
\n is impossible to partake of it in any degree and
\n not be like Jesus.
\n
\n When you see a religious professor who is….
\n proud in heart,
\n lofty in spirit,
\n covetous in his aims,
\n condemning others,
\n justifying himself,
\n unsympathizing, or
\n harsh;
\n you see one who is lacking this anointing.
\n
\n He is not sitting at the feet of Jesus.\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n This sacred anointing<\/strong>
\n
\n (J. C. Philpot, “The Unction of the Holy One<\/a>“)
\n
\n “But ye have an unction from the Holy One.”
\n     1 John 2:20.
\n Wherever the anointing<\/strong> of\n the Holy One touches
\n a man’s heart it spreads itself, widening and
\n extending its operations. It thus communicates
\n divine gifts and graces wherever it comes. It . . .
\n   bestows and draws out faith,
\n   gives repentance and godly sorrow,
\n   causes secret self-loathing, and
\n   separation from the world,
\n   draws the affections upwards,
\n   makes sin hated, and
\n   Jesus and His salvation loved.
\n
\n Wherever the anointing<\/strong> of\n the Holy Spirit touches
\n a man’s heart it diffuses itself through his whole
\n soul, and makes him wholly a new creature. It . . .
\n   gives new motives<\/strong>,
\n   communicates new feelings<\/strong>,
\n   enlarges and melts the heart<\/strong>, and
\n   spiritualizes and draws the affections <\/strong>upwards.
\n
\n Without this\n sacred anointing<\/strong> . . .
\n   all our religion is a bubble,
\n   all our profession a lie, and
\n   all our hopes will end in despair.
\n
\n O what a mercy to have one drop of this heavenly
\n anointing<\/strong>! To enjoy one heavenly\n feeling! To taste
\n the least measure of Christ’s love shed abroad in the
\n heart! What an unspeakable mercy to have one touch,
\n one glimpse, one glance, one communication out of
\n the fullness of Him who fills all in all!
\n
\n By this anointing<\/strong> from\n the Holy One, the
\n children of God are supported under . . .
\n   afflictions,
\n   perplexities,
\n   and sorrows.
\n
\n By this anointing<\/strong> from\n the Holy One,
\n they see the hand of God . . .
\n   in every chastisement<\/strong>,
\n   in every providence<\/strong>,
\n   in every trial<\/strong>,
\n   in every grief<\/strong>, and
\n   in every burden<\/strong>.
\n
\n By this anointing<\/strong> from\n the Holy One they can
\n bear chastisement with meekness; and put
\n their mouth in the dust, humbling themselves
\n under the mighty hand of God.
\n
\n Every good word,
\n every good work,
\n every gracious thought,
\n every holy desire,
\n every spiritual feeling
\n do we owe to this one thing:
\n the anointing<\/strong> of\n the Holy One.
\n
\n “But ye have an unction from the Holy\n One.”
\n     1 John 2:20\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

He has a healing balm for all!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(John MacDuff<\/a>, “The Throne of Grace<\/a>“)  LISTEN to audio!<\/a>  Download audio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above<\/em>,\nas you read the text below<\/em>.)
\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Holy Spirit also helpeth us in our infirmities.”\nRomans 8:26
\n
\nYou cannot live without the Holy Spirit!<\/em>
\n
\nThere cannot be . . .
\n  one heavenly aspiration,
\n  one breathing of love,
\n  one upward glance of faith
\nwithout His gracious influences.
\n
\nApart from Him, there is . . .
\n  no preciousness in the Word,
\n  no blessing in ordinances,
\n  no permanent, sanctifying results in affliction.
\n
\nThe Holy Spirit . . .
\n  directs His people to the waters of comfort,
\n  gives new glory to the promises, and
\n  invests the Savior’s character and work, with new\nloveliness and beauty.
\n
\nCome, then, with your affliction!<\/em>
\n
\nCome with your infirmity!<\/em>
\n
\nCome with your need!<\/em>
\n
\nCome with your wounded spirit!<\/em>
\n
\nCome with your broken heart!<\/em>
\n
\nWhatever, then, be your present situation, seek the promised\nhelp of the Holy Spirit.
\n
\nHe has a healing balm for all<\/strong> .\n. .
\n  the weak,
\n  the tempted,
\n  the sick,
\n  the sorrowing,
\n  the bereaved,
\n  the dying.
\n
\n“The Holy Spirit also helpeth us in our infirmities.”\nRomans 8:26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Holy Spirit\npreaches the gospel
\n
\n(J. C. Philpot<\/a>)
\n
\nWe often know the theory<\/strong> of the gospel,
\nbefore we know the experience<\/strong> of the gospel.
\n
\nWe often receive the doctrines of grace into
\nour judgment<\/strong>, before we receive the grace of
\nthe doctrines into our soul<\/strong>.
\n
\nWe therefore need to be . . .<\/strong>
\n  brought down,
\n  humbled,
\n  tried,
\n  stripped of every prop;
\nthat the gospel may be to us . . .<\/strong>
\n  more than a sound,
\n  more than a name,
\n  more than a theory,
\n  more than a doctrine,
\n  more than a system,
\n  more than a creed;
\nthat it may be . . .<\/strong>
\n  soul enjoyment,
\n  soul blessing,
\n  and soul salvation.
\n
\nWhen the Holy Spirit preaches the gospel<\/strong>
\nto the poor in spirit, the humbled, stripped,
\nand tried–it is a gospel of glad tidings indeed
\nto the sinner’s broken heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can God’s Elect\nDo In A Reprobate Age?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

II Thessalonians\n2:13-14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without question, we are living in a reprobate age. Ours is a\ngeneration under the judgment of God. Read the first chapter of Romans and tell\nme that I am mistaken! The marks of divine judgment are evident throughout our\nsociety: spiritual blindness (II Thess. 2:8-12), moral perversion\n(Rom. 1:27-28), and self-serving chaos and rebellion (Rom. 1:29-32).\nThese things are the results of freewill, works religion, religion that debases\nthe character of God and exalts the dignity of man. The more thoroughly convinced\nmen are that salvation depends upon them, the more vile they become!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     What can we do in this reprobate\nage? If we could outlaw abortion, shut down the peddlers of smut, banish all\ndrugs from our culture, and eradicate homosexuals from the world, it would not\nmove our generation one step closer to God. Our problem is much deeper than\nthese things. They are only the branches. The root is in the wicked heart of\nman. Nothing can deliver us from the judgment of God but the grace of God. Yet,\nthere are some things we can and should be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     WE CAN PRAY! If God is pleased to\nwork his works of grace in this age he can. And if it is his purpose to do so,\nhe will do so in response to the fervent prayers of his people. “As soon\nas Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isa. 66:8).\nWe might well pray the prayer of Habakkuk (Hab. 3:2). “O LORD, I have\nheard thy speech, and was afraid.” Truly, I tremble for this generation. I\nfear for the souls of men in this day. I know the cause of all the evil around\nus. God has obviously left this generation to itself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     “O LORD, revive thy work in\nthe midst of the years.” The word “revive” might be better\ntranslated “preserve alive”. I am not a pessimist, or an optimist. I\nam a realist. I try to deal with things as they are. Though I have prayed much\nfor revival, I do not do so much any more. I only pray for things that I expect\nGod to do. And I do not expect revival in this day, at least not in the sense\nin which we commonly think of revival. If God is pleased to send something\nagain like the great awakening, I will rejoice in his goodness. He certainly\ncan do it! But that does not appear to be his purpose. I am praying that our\nGod will graciously preserve alive his church and his truth. And I know he will!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     “In the midst of the years\nmake known” – Pray that God will make known the gospel of his grace, and\nthat he will make all men to know his greatness, his grace, and his glory in\nChrist. Though the prophets of Baal and those who follow them to destruction\nmay not repent, I pray that our God would make himself known to this generation\nby us (I Kings 18:36-37).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     “In wrath remember\nmercy!” There is yet a remnant, chosen of God and redeemed by Christ, who\nmust be saved. Let us plead with God, putting him in remembrance of his\ncovenant (Isa. 43:26), that he might have mercy upon some, even in\nthis day of judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     WE CAN AND MUST GIVE THANKS ALSO\nTO GOD FOR HIS GRACE TO US (II Thess. 2:13-14). As the Thessalonian\nbelievers heard Paul’s epistle read to them for the first time, after hearing\nabout the apostasy, the antichrist, and the strong delusion God would send,\nwhen the reader got to verses 13 and 14, you can imagine what shouts of joy\nmust have gone up from their hearts as they heard these glorious words:\n“We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the\nLord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through\nsanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you\nby our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     If in the midst of this reprobate\nage you have been snatched out of darkness and translated into\nthe kingdom of God’s dear Son, you have great reason to give\nthanks to God! He chose you to salvation. He sent someone to preach the gospel\nto you. He has called you by his Spirit and sanctified you. And you shall\nobtain “the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     WE CAN AND MUST PREACH THE GOSPEL\nTO THIS REPROBATE GENERATION (Rom. 1:15-18). The only hope sinners have is\nChrist. Unless someone tells them the good news of God’s free and sovereign\ngrace through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, they will perish\nunder the strong delusion of Arminian, freewill, works religion. We must tell\nthis generation the truth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Chasing bubbles on\n perdition’s brink?<\/strong>
\n
\n (Henry Law, “The Golden Lampstand”)<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n Without Christ, the affairs of this world are
\n but a puzzled maze. Poor blinded man sees<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>nothing as it really is.<\/strong> He does not\n know the
\n true end of his being.
\n
\n He imagines the tinsel to be gold.
\n
\n He counts the true gold as dross.
\n
\n He treasures up the chaff as wheat.
\n
\n All his view <\/strong>is bounded by time’s narrow\n line!
\n
\n All his heart <\/strong>is fixed on vanity’s vain\n trifles!
\n
\n He chases bubbles on\n perdition’s brink!<\/strong>
\n
\n He profits no one and he ruins himself!\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n Slaves of Satan!<\/strong>
\n
\n (Philpot, “The Master’s Bounty, and the\n Servant’s Obedience<\/a>“)
\n
\n “they may recover themselves out of the snare of the\n devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26
\n
\n In our natural state, we are all<\/strong> the<\/strong> slaves of Satan!<\/strong>
\n
\n We love our foul master, hug his chain, and delight in his
\n servitude, little thinking what awful wages are to follow.
\n
\n This mighty conqueror has with him a numerous train of
\n captives! This haughty master, the ‘god of this world’, has
\n in his fiendish retinue, a whole array of slaves who gladly
\n do his behests. They obey him cheerfully, though he is
\n leading them down to the bottomless pit! For though he<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>amuses them while here in this world with a few toys<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>and baubles<\/strong>, he will not pay them their wages\n until he
\n has enticed and flattered them into that ghastly gulf of
\n destruction, in which he himself has been weltering for
\n ages.
\n
\n “the god of this world, hath blinded the
\n  minds of them who believe not.” 2 Cor. 4:4\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

“But we see Jesus.” Hebrews 2:9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did your eyes ever see him? Do look into conscience–did your\neyes ever see Jesus? I do not mean your natural, your bodily eyes; but the eye\nof faith, the eye of the soul. I will tell you what you have felt, if you ever\nsaw Jesus. Your heart was softened and melted, your affections drawn\nheavenward, your soul penetrated with thankfulness and praise, your conscience\nsprinkled with atoning blood, your mind lifted up above all earthly things to\ndwell and center in the bosom of the blessed Immanuel. Do you think, then, you\nhave seen Jesus by the eye of faith? Then you have seen the perfection of\nbeauty, the consummation of pure loveliness; you have seen the image of the\ninvisible God; you have seen all the perfections and glorious character of the\nGodhead shining forth in him who was nailed to Calvary’s tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am sure such a sight as that must melt the most obdurate\nheart, and draw tears from the most flinty eyes; such a sight by faith of the\nbeauty and glory of the only-begotten Son of God must kindle the warmest,\nholiest stream of tender affection. It might not have lasted long. These\nfeelings are often very transitory. The world, sin, temptation, and unbelief\nsoon work; infidelity soon assails all; the things of time and sense soon draw\naside; but while it lasted, such, in a greater or lesser degree, were the\nsensations produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, if you have ever seen Jesus by the eye of faith, and ever\nhad a tender affection going out toward him, you will see him in glory. But you\nwill never see him in glory, if you have not seen him in grace; you will never\nsee him eye to eye in the open vision of eternal bliss, unless you have seen\nhim now upon earth by the faith of God’s elect in your heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we have the mind of Christ, we see God in everything, we see Christ as Everything, we see ourselves as nothing.        ~John Chapman Pride and Grace  David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71).  Strong people are apt to be […]<\/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-6419","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\/6419","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=6419"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6420,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6419\/revisions\/6420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}