{"id":6470,"date":"2023-09-07T11:49:11","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T11:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6470"},"modified":"2023-09-07T11:49:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T11:49:11","slug":"bulletin-edition-september-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6470","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition September 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Election\nPerverted<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some say God looked down to see\nif you would believe and saw that you would. So, He elected you to salvation in\nJesus Christ. What is said here amounts to this; God saw you would do\nsomething, then He predestinated you to do it after He saw you would. That\nwould be the most dishonest thing in the world. God would be taking credit for\nsomething He did not\ndo.                Pastor\nScott Richardson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the\nman Christ Jesus.\u201d \u2013 I Timothy 2:5<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I must approach unto God by\nChrist Jesus because I am unholy. God must approach unto me by Christ Jesus\nbecause HE IS HOLY. In Christ Jesus, I, a poor sinner, and God, a Holy and\nHeavenly Father, have an honest and sincere communion one with another. His\nholiness is not violated and my sin is not imputed but all is washed away. Oh,\nsweet fellowship! Oh, holy union! Oh, easy walk! Oh, joyous friendship! Oh,\nhappy me! (I John 1:7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastor Bruce Crabtree<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c …\u2018draw\u2019 means to\n\u2018drag\u2019… \u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo man can come to me,\nexcept the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the\nlast day.\u201d <\/em>(John 6:44)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No man can come to Christ except God the Father draw him. The\nreason a man can\u2019t come is because he is dead in trespasses and sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that the Greek word for \u201cdraw\u201d means to \u201cdrag?\u201d I\nunderstand that God will not drag any man to heaven\u2019s glory, kicking and\nscreaming against his will. God simply makes the chosen sinner willing in the\nday of His power (Psalms 110:3). But the only two ways to bring or take a dead\nman with you somewhere, is to drag him or give him life. Thank God, that in\nChrist, God draws us by the cords of His love, power and grace and gives us\nspiritual life through a new birth. The saved sinner is made able and willing\nonly because they are made alive unto God (1 Corinthians 15:22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastor David Eddmenson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naked Before God<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is only when we are stripped\nof all of nature’s ornaments that God can deal with us. A naked sinner can be\nclothed, but a sinner dressed up, fit to kill in his own ornaments, must be\nstripped. This is always true. We must be stripped of all that pertains to self\nbefore we can be clothed with that which pertains to God. Bro. Scott\nRichardson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he\nshall see his<\/em> seed.” Isaiah 53:10.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OUR Lord Jesus has not died in vain. His death was sacrificial:\nhe died as our substitute, because death was the penalty of our sins; and\nbecause his substitution was accepted of God, he has saved those for whom he\nmade his soul a sacrifice. By death he became like the corn of wheat which\nbrings forth much fruit. There must be a succession of children unto Jesus; he\nis, “the Father of the everlasting age.” He shall say, “Behold,\nI and the children whom you have given me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A man is honored in his sons, and Jesus has his quiver full of\nthese arrows of the mighty. A man is represented in his children, and so is the\nChrist in Christians. In his seed a man’s life seems to be prolonged and\nextended; and so is the life of Jesus continued in believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus lives, for he sees his seed. He fixes his eye on us, he\ndelights in us, he recognizes us as the fruit of his soul travail. Let us be\nglad that our Lord does not fail to enjoy the result of his dread sacrifice,\nand that he will never cease to feast his eyes upon the harvest of his death.\nThose eyes which once wept for us, are now viewing us with pleasure. Yes, he\nlooks upon those who are looking unto him. Our eyes meet! What joy is this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

“I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes on\nme should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THIS world is dark as midnight; Jesus has come that by faith we\nmay have light, and may no longer sit in the gloom which covers all the rest of\nmankind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whoever is a very wide term: it means you and me. If we trust in\nJesus we shall no more sit in the dark shadow of death, but shall enter into\nthe warm light of a day which shall never end. Why do we not come out into the\nlight at once?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cloud may sometimes hover over us, but we shall not abide in\ndarkness if we believe in Jesus. He has come to give us broad daylight. Shall\nhe come in vain? If we have faith we have the privilege of sunlight: let us\nenjoy it. From the night of natural depravity, of ignorance, of doubt, of\ndespair, of sin, of dread, Jesus has come to set us free; and all believers\nshall know that he no more comes in vain than the sun rises and fails to\nscatter his heat and light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shake off your depression, dear brother. Abide not in the dark,\nbut abide in the light. In Jesus is your hope, your joy, your Heaven. Look to\nhim, to him only, and you shall rejoice as the birds rejoice at sunrise, and as\nthe angels rejoice before the throne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

“He hath cast out thine enemy.” Zephaniah 3:15.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT a casting out was that! Satan has lost his throne in our\nnature even as he lost his seat in Heaven. Our Lord Jesus has destroyed the\nenemy’s reigning power over us. He may worry us, but he cannot claim us as his\nown. His bonds are no longer upon our spirits: the Son has made us free, and we\nare free indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still is the arch-enemy the accuser of the brethren; but even\nfrom this position our Lord has driven him. Our advocate silences our accuser.\nThe Lord rebukes our enemies, and pleads the causes of our soul, so that no\nharm comes of all the devil’s revilings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a tempter, the evil spirit still assails us, and insinuates\nhimself into our minds; but thence also is he cast out as to his former\npreeminence. He wriggles about like a serpent, but he cannot rule like a\nsovereign. He hurls in blasphemous thoughts when he has opportunity; but what a\nrelief it is when he is told to be quiet, and is made to slink off like a\nwhipped cur! Lord, do this for any who are at this time worried and wearied by\nhis barkings. Cast out their enemy, and be you glorious in their eyes. You have\ncast him down, Lord, cast him out. Oh that you would banish him from the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

What Happened\nAt Calvary?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 12:31-33<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        Certainly\nit is not possible for me to state in a few brief lines all that took place\nwhen Jesus Christ suffered in our stead at Mount Calvary. But our\nLord does tell us plainly that three things definitely occurred as the result\nof His death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n   1. THE CROSS OF CHRIST WAS THE\nJUDGMENT OF THE WORLD.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n          The\nworld was judged for sin. The world was proven to be guilty and sinful. The\nworld was found guilty of hating God. When the pure, holy, and spotless Son of\nGod came to the earth, the men of this world crucified the Lord of glory with\nwicked hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n   2. BY HIS DEATH UPON THE CROSS, OUR\nLORD SPOILED SATAN OF HIS UNIVERSAL MONARCHY.<\/strong>
\n  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Adam, by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree,\nwas cast out of Paradise. The Second Adam, by dying upon the cursed tree,\ncast Satan out of his place of usurped dominion. By virtue of his death and\nresurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ has crushed the Serpent’s head. He no\nlonger has power to accuse us; neither does he have power against us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. BY HIS DEATH UPON THE CROSS, JESUS CHRIST HAS BECOME\nTHE CENTRE OF ATTRACTION AND THE OBJECT OF FAITH FOR\nPERISHING SINNERS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The\nboundaries of God’s kingdom have been enlarged to include Gentiles as well as\nJews. Now, the crucified, risen, exalted Christ draws sinners from the four\ncorners of the earth, through the preaching of the gospel. He draws sinners who\ncould not come and who would not come to himself. He draws them lovingly and\ntenderly. And, blessed be his name, he draws them effectually. It is the\ncrucified Christ who conquers the hearts and wills of men. The terrors of the\nlaw will alarm you. The fear of hell will torment your mind. But, if ever you\nget sight of the Son of God dying in your stead, he will break your heart and\nconquer your will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw\nall men<\/em> unto me.” John 12:32.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COME, you workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw\na congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour;\nfor this is the greatest “draw” that was ever yet manifested among\nmen. What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to him now but his own\nblessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will\nsoon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you, and will hold you even to\nthe end. Why, then, doubt his power to draw others? Go with the name of Jesus\nto those who have hitherto been stubborn, and see if it does not draw them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich\nand poor, ignorant and learned, depraved or amiable\u2014all men shall feel the\nattractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other. Music\nwill not draw to Jesus, neither will eloquence, logic, ceremonial, or noise.\nJesus himself must draw men to himself; and Jesus is quite equal to the work in\nevery case. Be not tempted by the quackeries of the day; but as workers for the\nLord work in his own way, and draw with the Lord’s own cords. Draw to Christ,\nand draw by Christ, for then Christ will draw by you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cMy Gospel\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus\nChrist according to my\ngospel.\u201d                                                                            \n(Romans 2:16)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without\nquestion, there is only one true gospel. Every other gospel is a false gospel.\nThose who preach a false gospel are false prophets; and those who believe a\nfalse gospel are yet lost, under the wrath and curse of God (Read Galatians\n1:6-8). Serious as that charge is, it cannot be ignored or denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\none true gospel, the gospel of God, is the gospel of salvation by grace alone.\nBy that statement I mean that salvation comes to helpless, depraved, lost and\njustly condemned sinners only by God\u2019s sovereign, eternal election (Ephesians\n1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; John 15:16), Christ\u2019s particular, effectual,\nsubstitutionary redemption of his people (Isaiah 53:8-11; John 10:11, 15;\nGalatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12) and the Holy Spirit\u2019s irresistible, effectual\ncall and omnipotent, regenerating grace (Psalm 65:4; 110:3; John 6: 63; Romans\n9:16). Salvation is the free, unconditional gift of God\u2019s eternal, immutable\ngrace. It is not in anyway determined by or dependent upon the will, works or\nworth of the sinner (2 Timothy 1:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 9:11-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nonce received a letter from a lady who asked, \u201cHow can I be sure the gospel you\npreach is the only true gospel?\u201d That is a fair, honest, and reasonable\nquestion. It is a question you would be wise to ask and a question every\npreacher should be required to answer. This is my answer: I know that the\ngospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone is the\nonly true gospel because…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     This is the only gospel revealed\nin all the Holy Scriptures (Luke 24:44-47; Acts 13:38-39).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.     This is the only gospel that\nglorifies God in all his holy attributes (Romans 3:24-26; Psalm 85:10-11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.     This is the only gospel that\nhonors, magnifies and satisfies all the demands of God\u2019s holy law (Romans\n3:31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.     This is the only gospel that\noffers hope to helpless, guilty sinners who can do nothing for themselves\n(Ephesians 2:1-5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.     This is the only gospel that\ngives all the glory of salvation to the triune God alone (1 Corinthians\n1:29-31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.     This is the only gospel that\ncompletely forbids the boasting of the flesh (Psalm 115:1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.     This is the only gospel that\ncompels saved sinners to consecrate themselves to God with grateful, devoted\nhearts (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 19-20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is,\nas Paul put it, \u201cmy gospel<\/em>.\u201d It is the gospel I believe, the gospel by\nwhich I am saved and the gospel I preach incessantly. \u2014 \u201cThough we, or an\nangel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have\npreached unto you, let him be accursed!<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don FortnerThe cross has not\nbecome obsolete!<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>(Horatius Bonar<\/a>, “The Surety’s\nCross”)

\n“For the\npreaching of the cross<\/strong> is foolishness to them that perish foolishness;\nbut unto us which are saved it is the power<\/strong> of God.” 1\nCorinthians 1:18
\n
\n<\/em>The whole world\nlooked with contempt\u2014indignant at the audacity of a few humble Christians, thus\n. . .
\n  affronting and\ndefying the “public opinion” of nations and ages;
\n  assailing the\nreligions of earth with the cross as their only sword;
\n  striking down\ntheir idols with this as their only hammer; and
\n  with this, as\ntheir one lever, proposing to turn the world upside down!
\nFrom that day the\ncross became “a power” in the earth; a power which went forth, like\nthe light\u2014noiselessly yet irresistibly\u2014smiting down all religions alike, all\nshrines alike, all altars alike\u2014sparing no superstition nor philosophy.

\nThis power remains\u2014in\nits mystery, its silence, its influence, it remains. The cross has not\nbecome obsolete!<\/strong> The preaching of the cross has not ceased to be\npowerful and effectual!

\nThere are those who\nwould persuade us that, in this modern age\u2014the cross is out of date and out of\nfashion, time-worn. But this does not shake us. It only leads us to clasp the\ncross more fervently, and to study it more profoundly, as embodying in itself\nthat gospel which is at once the wisdom and the power of God.

\nYet the cross is not\nwithout its mysteries<\/strong>:

\n  It\nilluminates\u2014yet it darkens.

\n  It is life\u2014yet\nit is death.

\n  It is\nhonour\u2014yet it is shame.

\n  It is\nwisdom\u2014but also foolishness.

\nThe cross is . . .
\n  both pardon,\nand condemnation;
\n  both strength,\nand weakness;
\n  both joy, and\nsorrow;
\n  both love, and\nhatred;
\n  both medicine,\nand poison;
\n  both hope, and\ndespair.

\nThe cross is Christ’s\nhumiliation\u2014yet it is His exaltation!

\nThe cross is Satan’s\nvictory\u2014yet it is Satan’s defeat!

\nThe cross is the gate\nof Heaven\u2014and the gate of Hell!

\nThe cross is the key\n. . .
\n  to God’s\ncharacter,
\n  to God’s Word,
\n  to God’s ways,
\n  to God’s\npurposes.

\nThe cross is the\nsummary of all the Bible\u2014the epitome of Scripture Revelation\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Election Perverted Some say God looked down to see if you would believe and saw that you would. So, He elected you to salvation in Jesus Christ. What is said here amounts to this; God saw you would do something, then He predestinated you to do it after He saw you would. That would 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-6470","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\/6470","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=6470"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6471,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6470\/revisions\/6471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}