{"id":6844,"date":"2025-05-11T08:19:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T08:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6844"},"modified":"2025-05-11T08:19:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T08:19:48","slug":"bulletin-edition-may-2025-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6844","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition May 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Where shall we hide our blushing face?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Octavius Winslow
\n
\nThere is much indeed in ourselves <\/em>of which we have reason\ntruly to be ashamed, and to be filled with profound self-abhorrence. We have\nneed to be ashamed . . .
\n  of our unbelief
\n  of our low thoughts of the Saviour,
\n  of our little love to God,
\n  of our slow advance in the divine life,
\n  of our imperfect conformity to Christ,
\n  of the power of our indwelling sin,
\n  of our slender spiritual attainments . . .
\n     in knowledge,
\n     in personal holiness,
\n     and in heavenly meekness.
\n
\nWhat shamefacedness should cover us, that we are so ready . . .
\n  to compromise,
\n  to falter,
\n  and to halt.
\n
\nHow deeply humbled should we be that there still exists in us:
\n  so much carnality,
\n    so much love of the world,
\n      and so much conformity to the world.
\n
\nWe have so little of the crucified spirit of a cross bearing Savior! <\/em>
\n
\nWhat cause of shame that, with all our profession . . .
\n  the pulse of spiritual life beats in our souls so faintly,
\n  the spirit of prayer breathes in us so feebly,
\n  that we possess so little real, vital religion,
\n  that we follow Christ at so great a distance!
\n
\nWe should be so filled with self-abasement . . .
\n  that the fruits<\/em> and graces<\/em> of the\nSpirit in us are so sickly, drooping and dwarfed;
\n  that we have so limited a measure of faith, love and humility;
\n  that we are so defective in our patience and meekness, wisdom and\ngentleness;
\n  that, with all our blossom and foliage\u2014there is so little real fruit<\/em> to\nthe glory of our Father.
\n
\nMay we not, in view of all this, exclaim with Ezra, in his deep grief and\nhumiliation for the sins of the people, “<\/strong>O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my\nGod; for our iniquities are increased over our<\/em> head, and\nour trespass is grown up unto the heavens.<\/strong>”\nEzra 9:6<\/strong>
\n
\nOh, where shall we fly? Where shall we hide our blushing<\/strong> face<\/strong>,\nbut in the blood of atonement\u2014sprinkled afresh with which, we may lift up our\nheads and not be ashamed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soul’s hardest\nlesson<\/strong>
\n
\n(MacDuff, “Thoughts for the Quiet Hour”)
\n
\n“Not my will, but Your will,” <\/em>is the soul’s
\nhardest lesson<\/strong>; and, when learned, it is
\nits highest achievement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For there is one\nGod, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1\nTimothy 2:5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

That he is God, is the very\nfoundation of his salvation; for it is his eternal Godhead that gives virtue,\nefficacy, and dignity to all that as man he did and suffered for his chosen\npeople. If he were not God, God and man in one glorious Person, what hope would\nthere be for our guilty souls? Could his blood atone for our sins, unless Deity\ngave it efficacy? Could his righteousness justify our persons, unless Deity\nimparted merit and value to all the doings and sufferings of his humanity?\nCould his loving heart sympathise with and deliver us, unless “as God over\nall,” he saw and knew all that passes within us, and had all power, as\nwell as all compassion, to exert on our behalf?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are continually in\ncircumstances where no man can do us the least good, and where we cannot help\nor deliver ourselves; we are in snares, and cannot break them; we are in\ntemptations, and cannot deliver ourselves out of them; we are in trouble, and\ncannot comfort ourselves; are wandering sheep, and cannot find the way back to\nthe fold; we are continually roving after idols, and hewing out “broken\ncisterns,” and cannot return to “the fountain of living waters.”\nHow suitable, then, and sweet it is, to those who are thus exercised, to see\nthat there is a gracious Immanuel at the right hand of the Father, whose heart\nis filled with love, and whose affections move with compassion; who has shed\nhis own precious blood that they might live; who has wrought out a glorious\nrighteousness, and “is able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto\nGod by him.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Though he were a\nSon, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrews\n5:8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Our gracious Lord had to\nlearn obedience to the will of God by a personal experience of suffering, and\nespecially by an implicit submission to his heavenly Father’s will. And what\nwas this will? That he should take upon himself the huge debt which his bride\nhad incurred by original and actual transgression; that he should offer himself\nas a ransom price to discharge and put it away; that he should bear our sins in\nhis own body on the tree, with everything which was involved in being made a\ncurse for us; that he should by death overcome Satan, who had the power of\ndeath, and deliver them who all their life, through fear of death, were subject\nto bondage; and that, whatever sorrows and sufferings should lie in his path,\nhe should bear them all, and learn, in and by them, implicit submission to the\nwill of God. This was the will of God, for he was determined that his law\nshould be magnified, his justice glorified, his infinite purity and holiness\nrevealed and established; and yet, amid all and through all his displeasure\nagainst sin, that his infinite wisdom, tender pity, everlasting love, and\nsovereign grace might shine and reign in the happiness of millions through a\nglorious eternity. This, also, was the joy that was set before Christ, for\nwhich he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the\nright hand of the throne of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Finisher of Our\nFaith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLooking unto Jesus the\nAuthor and Finisher of our faith.<\/em>\u201d (Hebrews 12:2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us ever look away to the\nLord Jesus Christ as the Finisher of our faith. The word here translated \u201cfinisher<\/em>\u201d\nseems to have been coined by Paul himself. It is found nowhere else. Christ is\nthe Object of faith. Christ gives faith. Christ sustains faith. And Christ\nconsummates, completes, and finishes faith. Paul explains what he means by the\nword \u201cfinisher,<\/em>\u201d or consummator, in the rest of the verse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Joy Before Him<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord Jesus has finished\nfaith, that is to say he has finished that whole work that makes him the Object\nof faith, has finished that for which faith looks to him, and has finished his\nown life and example of faith, because he is that One \u201cwho for the joy that\nwas set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at\nthe right hand of the throne of God<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With those words, the Holy\nSpirit here tells us how Christ finished faith. The word \u201cfor<\/em>\u201d could be\nproperly translated in two ways. Both translations are accurate. The word could\nbe translated \u201cinstead of.\u201d And it could be translated \u201cbecause of.\u201d An\naccurate explanation of this text requires that we interpret the word both\nways. This is how the Lord Jesus Christ finished that great work of redemption\nby which he has become both the Object of our faith and the Example of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of the joy set\nbefore him, our blessed Savior endured the cross. “For ye know the\ngrace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he\nbecame poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich<\/em>” (2 Cor. 8:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And because of the joy set\nbefore him, the Lord Jesus Christ endured the cross. \u201cThe joy set before him<\/em>,\u201d\nthe joy that sustained him in all his soul\u2019s trouble, sorrow, and agony was the\njoy of saving his people (Isa. 53:10-11), magnifying the law of God and making\nit honourable (Isa. 42:21), glorifying his Father (John 12:28), and the joy of\nattaining the glory he had with the Father as our Mediator and Surety from\neternity (Ps. 2:8; John 17:5; Heb. 10:10-14; Ps. 21:1-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE CROSS ENDURED<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to save us the Son\nof God, the Lord of Glory, the Darling of Heaven, voluntarily \u201cendured the\ncross, despising the shame.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO what shall I do my\nSaviour to praise, so faithful and true, so plenteous in grace;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So strong to deliver, so\ngood to redeem, the weakest believer that hangs upon Him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With what words can such a\nSaviour be praised? He who endured the ignominy of the cross, despising the\nshame, because of his heart\u2019s love for and his soul\u2019s determination to ransom\nour souls deserves infinitely greater praise than  we  can  give  him  to\nall eternity! Because of his great love for us, the Lord Jesus Christ endured\nthe cross. He would not go back. He would not give up. He would not quit until\nhe had poured out his life\u2019s blood unto death for us! Yes, he endured all the\nwrath and justice of God and endured to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Shame Despised<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because he loved us, the\nLord Jesus despised the shame of the cross. What can be more difficult for a\nman to bear than shame? Yet, as Moses despised the riches of Egypt, counting\nthem nothing, so the Lord Jesus despised the shame of the cross, that he might\nhave us freed from sin and forever glorified with him. He counted all the shame\nof the cross to be nothing: \u2015all the shame heaped upon him by men \u2015all the\nshame of all of our sin being made to be his \u2015all the shame of our guilt\nimputed to him \u2015all the shame of being made a curse for us \u2015all the shame of\nOne abandoned by God. Our Saviour despised it all, counted it all as nothing,\nfor the joy of having his elect with him in glory forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUT NOW SHAME IS ALL GONE! HE\nWHO ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME FOR US, EVEN UNTO THE END, \u201cIS<\/em> (NOW) SET\nDOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD<\/em>!\u201d HIS WORK IS FINISHED. HE HAS\nENTERED INTO HIS REST. HIS GLORY IS FULL. HIS SOUL IS SATISFIED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE GOAL OF OUR FAITH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us therefore encourage\nour hearts, ever looking away to Christ as the Goal of our faith. As he\novercame and has been seated in his Father\u2019s throne, so too, as we follow him,\npersevering to the end, enduring whatever trial he sends us, despising whatever\nshame he has ordained, we shall soon be seated with Christ in his throne. Soon\nour work will be finished. Our rest will begin. Our glory will be full. Our\nsouls will be satisfied!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By the grace of God I am\nwhat I am!<\/strong>
\n
\n(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)
\n
\n“By the grace of God I am what I am!<\/strong>” 1 Corinthians 15:10
\n
\nAll that I am . . .
\n  as a child of God,
\n  as a servant of Christ,
\n  as an heir of Heavenly glory
\n–I am by the grace of God!
\n
\nAm I cleansed from the guilt of my sins? It was Your grace, O God of love,\nwhich opened the fountain that washed it all away!
\n
\nAm I justified? It was Your grace that provided the spotless robe of\nrighteousness, in which I stand accepted before You.
\n
\nAm I sanctified? It is not by works of righteousness which I have done, but by\nYour grace I am saved from the love and power of my sins.
\n
\nAm I bearing any fruit to Your glory? It is by Your grace in Christ Jesus–for\napart from Him, I could do nothing.
\n
\nAm I different from what I once was, or from the ungodly who have their portion\nin this world? It is Your grace alone which has made me to differ. I have\nnothing which I have not received from You.
\n
\n“By the grace of God I am what I am!”
\n  A pardoned sinner,
\n  a justified believer,
\n  an adopted child,
\n  an heir of glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sword of Divine\njustice buried in His sinless heart!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Henry Law, \u201cFamily Prayers\u201d)
\n
\nHoly Father,
\nWe blush to lift up our eyes unto You, O God of all grace and love. Shame and\nconfusion of face humble us to the very dust. Wherever You have been boundless\nin mercy<\/em>-we have been abundant in sin!<\/em> We cannot measure\nour ingratitude. We cannot estimate our vileness. Each day has added to our\nguilt. Each scene has witnessed our wicked hearts<\/em>, our straying\nfeet<\/em> and our offending tongues<\/em>. What is there in heaven or\nin earth, above, around, without, or within-which condemns us not? The sun <\/em>condemns\nus, which has seen our misdeeds; the darkness<\/em>, too, which hides\nnothing from Your all-penetrating eye!
\nThe cruel accuser<\/em> justly accuses us.
\nYour righteous law,
\nYour holy Word,
\nour sin-soiled consciences,
\nour public and our private hours
\n-write dark things against us! We make no denial<\/em>. We frame no excuse<\/em>.\nWe confess, Father, that we have sinned against heaven and before You-and are\nnot worthy to be called Your sons! But still we live!
\n
\nWe live to fly as contrite penitents to Your extended arms!
\nWe know that You will not cast us off-for Jesus brings us near.
\nYou will not condemn us-for Your dear Son died in our place.
\nYou will not mark the mountains upon mountains of our sins-for the Savior has\nremoved them all.
\nHis precious blood has washed out every crimson stain!
\nChrist’s spotless robe of righteousness, covers all our deformities! We put it\non by the hand of faith<\/em>-and we rejoice that we are lovely in His\nprecious loveliness, and beauteous in His matchless beauty.
\n
\nOpen widely the eyes of our faith<\/em>, that we may see all our justly\nmerited curse, expended on the faultless head of our precious sin-atoning\nSavior, and the sword of Divine justice buried in His sinless heart!<\/strong>
\n
\nWe come to You . . .
\n  clinging to His cross,
\n  sheltered by His side,
\n  hidden in His wounds,
\n  cleansed in His blood,
\n  covered by His spotless robe,
\n  beautified in His salvation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs Thy God, whom\nthou servest continually, able to deliver thee\u2026.?\u201d Daniel 6:20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From time to time the\nquestion rises, \u201cCan it be that a man of Arminian (free-will) faith is actually\nsaved?\u201d  It would do us well to rephrase the question.  It is not\nwhether Arminian faith can save, for in truth, no faith can save in the technical\nsense; it is God that saves.  The question should be, \u201cCan the Arminian\u2019s\ngod save a sinner?\u201d  For the answer, we need only ask the Arminian. \nI have often heard Arminian preachers and witnessers say things like, \u201cGod\nwants to save you, but he can\u2019t unless\u2026.\u201d  After the \u201cunless\u201d comes\nsomething a sinner must do in order to enable the Arminian god to save. \nEvery truly Arminian \u201cgospel\u201d leaves something in the scheme of salvation\ndependent on the abilities of natural man.  Such a scheme is doomed to failure.\nMuch of the heat of the Arminian debate comes from looking at Arminians and\nasking if they are saved.  We would do better to look at their god and ask\nif he can save.          \n                                 \n                   \n       ~Joe Terrell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where shall we hide our blushing face? By Octavius Winslow There is much indeed in ourselves of which we have reason truly to be ashamed, and to be filled with profound self-abhorrence. We have need to be ashamed . . .   of our unbelief   of our low thoughts of the Saviour,   of our little […]<\/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-6844","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\/6844","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=6844"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6845,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6844\/revisions\/6845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}