{"id":6427,"date":"2023-04-09T09:40:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T09:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6427"},"modified":"2023-04-09T09:40:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T09:40:58","slug":"bulletin-edition-april-2023-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6427","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition April 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

*<\/em><\/strong>Believers in the\nLord Jesus are now looked upon as having died with Christ; laid in the grave\nwith Christ; been raised with Christ; perfectly accepted in Him; their sins,\ntheir iniquities, their transgressions, and their enmity having been entirely\npaid for and put away by the cross. I close with this question. Is this enough\nto motivate you and I to live for his glory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*What is preaching? It is the spiritual energy of a heart\nconstrained by love of the Lord Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Obedience is the\nsafeguard against the snare of the enemy. We cannot reason on what we see; we\nmust obey what we hear. Reason is no guide for the people of God. We must be\nabsolutely and completely guided and governed by the word of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Two times when you ought to pray for the preacher: when he is\nright and when he is wrong. That means all the time.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*A man who knows his right place in the presence of God is able to\nelevate himself above all evil speaking. He is not troubled by it\u2014he can afford\nto forgive it. He is not touchy, tenacious, or self occupied. He knows that no\none can put him any lower than he deserves to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*The grace of God does not change our old nature. Grace gives us a\nnew, spiritual nature; but the old nature is unchanged. Flesh is still flesh,\nundiluted evil, just as evil as it was before God saved us. Old Adam is still\nold Adam, even though Christ is in the heart and grace conquers Adam, and grace\nrules Adam; but grace does not change Adam. “The flesh lusteth against the\nSpirit.” This struggle between the flesh and the Spirit must continue\nuntil at last grace wins the victory, the flesh returns to the earth and we are\nreceived up into glory. We do not excuse the evil of our flesh, nor do we deny\nit. We confess it, acknowledge our sin and trust Christ alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian\nor Antichrist?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 John\n2:18-22; 4:1-3; 5:1; 2 John 1:7<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does\nit mean to deny \u201cthat Jesus is the Christ<\/em>\u201d? \u2014 To deny that Jesus is the\nChrist is to deny that Jesus of Nazareth actually accomplished all that the Old\nTestament Scriptures assert that the Christ of God would accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is it to confess \u201cthat Jesus Christ is come in the flesh<\/em>\u201d?\n\u2014 It is to acknowledge and confess that everything written in the Old Testament\nregarding the person and work of the Messiah, the Christ, meet in and were\nfulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. It is to confess that Jesus of Nazareth\nactually accomplished all that God asserted in the Old Testament Scriptures\nthat the Christ, the woman\u2019s Seed, would accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is it to believe \u201cthat Jesus is the Christ<\/em>\u201d? \u2014 To\nbelieve that Jesus is the Christ is to trust the crucified man, Jesus of\nNazareth, as your Lord (Luke 14:25-33) and Savior (1 Corinthians 1:30). It is\nthe commitment of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Lord\nof Glory, the Prince and King of Heaven and Earth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           \nIs your religion Christian or antichrist? Are you Christian or antichrist? Read\nDaniel 9:24 and you will see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

“MANY FALSE\nPROPHETS ARE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I John 4:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scriptures abound\nwith warnings to God’s elect about false prophets. Satan would rather make you\na religious moralist than make you a pimp or a prostitute, for it is far more\ndifficult to persuade one who thinks he is saved that he needs a Savior than it\nis to persuade one who knows he is an abominable wretch. Therefore the Word of\nGod gives plain and repeated warnings to us about false religion and false\nprophets. Here are four marks by which you can always identify a false prophet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. A FALSE\nPROPHET WILL ALWAYS DENY GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION. <\/strong>He\nmay allow that God is sovereign in creation. He may even allow that God is\nsovereign over the elements of the world in providence. But he will not\nacknowledge God’s sovereignty in salvation, though it is most plainly affirmed\nin the Word of God (Matt. 11:20-26; Rom. 9:8-26).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. A FALSE\nPROPHET WILL ALWAYS DENY THE EFFICACY OF CHRIST’S BLOOD.<\/strong> He does not\ndeny that Christ died for sinners; but he denies that the blood of Christ\nactually atoned for and put away the sins of those people for whom he died, and\nthat his blood guarantees the salvation of all for whom it was shed. Yet, this\ntoo the Word of God teaches in unmistakable terms (Isa. 42:4; 53:8-11;\nHeb. 9:12, 26; 10:10-14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. A FALSE\nPROPHET WILL ALWAYS DENY THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S GRACE ALONE TO SAVE\nSINNERS. <\/strong>He would never openly make such a denial. But he asserts that\nGod deals with all men alike in grace, though some perish and some are saved.\nIn other words, it is not God’s grace alone that determines salvation, but\nGod’s grace and man’s will or man’s works. This also is in direct opposition to\nHoly Scripture (Rom. 9:16; Eph. 2:8-9; II Tim. 1:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. A FALSE\nPROPHET WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DO TO MERIT GOD’S FAVOR.<\/strong> He\nwill have you to understand that your works, to one-degree or another do merit\nsomething from God, either in justification, or in sanctification, or in your\nheavenly reward. Yet, the Word of God everywhere denounces man’s works as\nuseless and abominable (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 11:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don  Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nFaithful Servant and the Evil One<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew\n24:45-51<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nthat last great day, when Christ comes again, every faithful servant of God\nshall be publicly recognized, honored, and rewarded by Christ; and every false\nprophet shall be publicly exposed and damned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\nFaithful Pastor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, <\/em>our\nLord gives us a brief description of his faithful servants (vv. 45-47). While\n this  text may  be  properly  applied  to\n all God\u2019s  saints in  their  various capacities in this\nworld, for all true believers are the servants of God, it speaks specifically\nof pastors and tells us four things about that man who is called and gifted of\nGod to preach the gospel to his people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     His\nCharacter<\/strong> \u2014<\/strong> \u201cFaithful.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 God\u2019s servants are,\nabove all else, faithful men. Some are highly gifted, some less. Some are very\neducated, some not very educated. Some are very sociable, some not so sociable.\nBut they are all faithful to God, his gospel, and his people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.     His\nPosition<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cRuler over his household.\u201d <\/em>\u2014 God\u2019s\nservants are not lords over God\u2019s heritage. They have no desire for that\nresponsibility. But they do rule the house of God, just as a faithful husband\nand father rules his house (1 Timothy 3:5; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7, 17). As\nthere can only be one husband in a family, there can only be one pastor\n(overseer and spiritual ruler) in a local church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.     His\nWork<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cTo give them meat in due season.\u201d <\/em>\u2014\nEvery gospel preacher feeds the church of God with the sweet meat of free\ngrace, with knowledge and understanding, as he is himself taught of God\n(Jeremiah 3:15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.     His\nReward<\/strong> (vv. 46-47). There are rewards for faithful service, both in\nthis world and in the world to come. These are not rewards of debt, but of\ngrace; not according to the rules of law, but of love. Old John\nTrapp <\/em>said, \u201cChrist is a liberal pay-master, and his retributions are\nmore than bountiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is no indication anywhere in Scripture that there are\ndegrees of reward among the saints in heaven, we are encouraged to faithfulness\nby the promise of it being rewarded by our God. As faithfulness honors God, God\nhonors faithfulness. In this world, faithfulness in one form of service is\nrewarded by greater opportunities of service. Faithfulness in small things is\nrewarded by being given greater things (Luke 19:17). In the world to come, we\nshall inherit all the bounty of life everlasting and see the results of our\nfaithfulness around the throne of our God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nUnfaithful Servant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nunfaithful servant is also described by four things (vv. 48-51).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     His\nPresumption<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cMy lord delayeth his coming.\u201d <\/em>\u2014 Being an\nunbeliever, he soon grows weary of waiting upon the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.     His\nAbuse<\/strong> (v. 49). His abuses are two: 1st,<\/em> He beats\nhis fellow servants. He puts them under the law. Rather than comforting them\n(Isaiah 40:1-2), he threatens and beats them. 2nd,<\/em> He lives\nfor pleasure, to the gratification of his lusts, rather than for the glory of\nGod and the good of men\u2019s souls. False prophets, rather than serving Christ and\nhis people, serve themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.     His\nSurprise<\/strong> (v. 50). When the Master comes, he will take the\nself-serving prophet of deceit by surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.     His\nRuin<\/strong> (v. 51). Pretending to be the servant of God while serving\nSatan and himself, he shall justly have his portion with hypocrites in hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Man-centered, man-exalting, man-pleasing,
\n  God-debasing, God-hating religion<\/strong>
\n(the following is by Don Fortner)
\n
\nWe are living in perilous times.
\nWe are living in the midst of the greatest
\nreligious apostasy ever known. It appears
\nthat the time has come when God has sent
\nmen a strong delusion, that they should
\nbelieve a lie, because they received not
\nthe love of the truth.
\n
\nThis modern-day, man-centred, man-exalting,
\nman-pleasing, God-debasing, God-hating religion,
\nwhich seems to engulf the entire world and all
\nreligious sects, is the greatest religious deception
\nthis world has ever known.
\n
\nAny religion that is man-centred; any religion
\nthat has for its foundation man’s will, man’s works,
\nor man’s rights; any religion that promotes the
\nhonor and pride of man; any religion that pampers
\nand cultivates self-righteousness, self-esteem,
\nand self-worth is of antichrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing, than to\ngive them faithful, sincere and holy ministers\u2014so the greatest curse that God\ncan possibly send upon a people in this world is to give them over to blind,\nunregenerate, carnal, lukewarm and unskilled guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Whitfield<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Among the preachers of the\n day<\/strong>
\n
\n (J. C. Philpot, “Memoirs & Letters” 1862)
\n
\n “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words\n of man\u2019s wisdom, but in demonstration<\/strong>
\n <\/strong> of the Spirit and of power<\/strong>.”\n 1 Corinthians 2:4
\n
\n Among the preachers of the day<\/strong>,\n how few preach
\n the truth from any sweet experience of its power!
\n
\n There is no lack of ministers, who hold the truth,
\n at least in the letter. But most hold it merely in
\n their heads<\/strong>. How few are enabled to preach it
\n feelingly and experimentally, under the savour
\n and blessed anointing of the Holy Spirit.
\n
\n What strongholds of Satan we have to pull down!
\n
\n What arrows of conviction to launch!
\n
\n What balm of consolation to administer!
\n
\n What strong hearts to break!
\n
\n What broken hearts to bind up!
\n
\n Oh, may the Lord raise up men who . . .
\n   know <\/strong>the truth,
\n   love <\/strong>the truth,
\n   preach <\/strong>the truth,
\n   and live <\/strong>the truth!\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n The Devil in Sheep’s\n Clothing?<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>
\n “If the devil comes to my door with his horns visible,
\n I will never let him in; but if he comes with his hat on
\n as a respectable gentleman, he is at once admitted.
\n The metaphor may be very strange, but it is quite true–
\n many a man has taken in an evil thing, because it has been
\n varnished and glossed over, and not apparently an evil; and he
\n has thought in his heart, there is not much harm in it; so he\n has
\n let in the little thing, and it has been like the breaking\n forth
\n of water- the first drop has brought after it a torrent.
\n The beginning has been but the beginning of a fearful\n end.”
\n –Spurgeon<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

“I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,\nand shall go in and out, and find pasture.”–John 10:9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

There is a finding pasture in PROVIDENCE. A sweet and healthy\npasture indeed this is–to watch the Lord’s providential dealings with us\nspread through a long series of years. It is seeing the Lord’s providential\nhand which makes the commonest temporal mercies sweet. Every nibble of grass or\nlock of hay which we can believe to be specially provided for us by the hand of\nthat good Shepherd becomes thereby doubly sweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But O what pastures in GRACE has God provided for his hungry\nsheep! Look at the promises and declarations, the sacred truths and heavenly\nconsolations scattered up and down the Scriptures of truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But of all spiritual pasture thus provided for the flock, the\nchief is the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus. This is his own divine\ndeclaration–“For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink\nindeed” (John 6:55). And every communication of grace to the soul out of\nthe fullness of Christ, every promise applied with a divine power to the heart,\nevery truth which drops with heavenly savor, every season of encouragement; in\na word, every part of God’s word which the soul can eat and feed upon is\nspiritual pasture. Thus the prophet found it of old–“Your words were\nfound, and I did eat them; and your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of\nmy heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah\n15:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lion! a dragon!<\/strong> a serpent!<\/strong>
\n
\n(Henry Law<\/a>,\n“Gleanings from the Book of Life”)
\n
\n“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
\n neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28
\nThe good Shepherd protects His sheep.
\n
\nMany and mighty are their foes.<\/strong>
\n
\nIn themselves they are weak and tremulous as a broken reed.
\n
\nThe wild boar out of the forest marks them as his prey.
\n
\nThe roaring lion watches to devour.
\n
\nSavage dogs would mangle.
\n
\nThe wind, the rain, the tempest, threaten to destroy.
\n
\nThe Shepherd knows these perils, and protects from all.
\n
\nSatan<\/strong> is the arch enemy of the flock.
\nFor strength\u2014he is a lion<\/strong>,
\nfor fierceness\u2014he is a dragon<\/strong>,
\nfor twisting deviousness\u2014he is a serpent<\/strong>.
\n
\nHis might almost reaches almightiness.
\n
\nHis many vassals, as legion, are a universal swarm.
\n
\nHis vigilance never slumbers.
\n
\nHis skill is barbed by world long experience.
\n
\nHis wrath is vehement, because his time is short. He
\nwars with desperation because a hopeless doom is near.
\n
\nHow is it that the sheep are not all
\ndriven to Satan’s prison cell?
\n
\nThere must be a Shepherd almighty to protect.
\n
\nHe who delivered David “from the paw of the lion, and
\nfrom the paw of the bear” is the same rescuing Lord.
\n
\nPaul seemed to be in the jaws of ruin, but he testifies,
\n“The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength,
\n and I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”
\n
\nIn direst extremity let the believer cry, “Rescue me
\nfrom the mouth of the lion; save me from the horns
\nof the wild oxen!”
\n
\nA protecting arm will speedily be outstretched.
\n
\nThus His sheep never perish, and no one can
\nsnatch them out of His hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

*Believers in the Lord Jesus are now looked upon as having died with Christ; laid in the grave with Christ; been raised with Christ; perfectly accepted in Him; their sins, their iniquities, their transgressions, and their enmity having been entirely paid for and put away by the cross. I close with this question. Is this […]<\/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-6427","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\/6427","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=6427"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6428,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6427\/revisions\/6428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}