{"id":6957,"date":"2025-11-09T08:44:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T08:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6957"},"modified":"2025-11-09T08:44:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T08:44:19","slug":"bulletin-edition-november-2025-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6957","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sitting at the leper’s\ntable!<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>(Horatius Bonar)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Now when Jesus was in\nBethany, in the house of Simon the leper” Matthew 26:6
\n
\nTo this home Jesus had been invited\u2014and He goes.
\n
\nIt seems to have been his leprosy, which first brought Simon to\nChrist\u2014and Christ to him. His disease was his link of connection with the Lord;\nand had it not been for it, he might never have sought Him.
\n
\nIt is still so with us. Our sin, our moral leprosy\u2014draws us to\nJesus. We go to Jesus, not about the good that is in us\u2014but the evil. Our sense\nof guilt draws us to Him as the Pardoner; and our consciousness of sin\nconstrains us to deal with Him as the Healer and Renewer. And as we began\u2014so\nalso do we go on. Sin brought us to Him\u2014and Him to us. Our sin keeps us\nconstantly at His side.<\/strong>
\n
\nSimon finds that he has much more to do with Jesus than merely\nfor the cure of his leprosy; therefore he must have Him at his table. So is it\nwith us. We begin our relationship with Jesus by going to Him with our sins.
\n
\nBut we soon discover that it cannot be ended here. Our\nrelationship becomes a constant interchange of thought and sympathy. We invite\nHim to our house\u2014and He comes. We ask Him to dine with us\u2014and He comes.
\n
\nHow great the honour enjoyed by Simon, of entertaining the Lord\nof glory; sitting at his own table, with Jesus at his side as his guest! How\nmarvellous the condescension of Christ\u2014in thus sitting at the leper’s table!<\/strong>
\n
\nHere, then, is the Saviour that suits us\u2014the healer of the\nleper, and the guest of the healed one! We say to Jesus, “Heal\nme”\u2014and He heals! “Come in”\u2014and He comes! “Sit down at my\ntable”\u2014and He sits down immediately.
\n
\nIt is but little communion indeed, that we can taste here; for\nthe best of earthly feasts are but foretastes of the marriage-supper. But the\nwhole glad fullness we shall yet enjoy, when we shall meet a long absent Lord,\nnot at our table\u2014but at His own! That day shall be the day of the Master’s joy,\nas well as of ours\u2014He feasting with us, and we with Him! He enjoying our\nfellowship, and we His\u2014forevermore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nsinner, not the Pharisee<\/strong>
\n
\n(J. C. Philpot, “Spiritual Fruit<\/a>”\n1858)
\n
\n\u201cThe Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank\nthee, that I am not as other men are<\/em>, extortioners, unjust,\nadulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give\ntithes of all that I possess.\u201d<\/strong> Luke 18:11-12<\/strong>
\n
\nMan unites in himself, what at first sight seem to
\nbe completely opposite things. He is the greatest
\nof sinners<\/strong>–and yet the greatest of Pharisees<\/strong>.
\n
\nNow, what two things can be so opposed to each
\nother as sin<\/strong> and self-righteousness<\/strong>?\nYet the very
\nsame man who is a sinner<\/strong> from top to toe, with\nthe
\nwhole head sick and the whole heart faint–who is
\nspiritually nothing else but a leper throughout–how
\ncontradictory it appears that the same man has in
\nhis own heart a most stubborn self-righteousness!<\/strong>
\n
\nNow, against these two evils God, so to speak, directs
\nHis whole artillery–He spares neither one nor the other.
\n
\nBut it is hard to say which is the greatest rebellion
\nagainst God–the existence of sin <\/strong>in man and\nwhat he
\nis as a fallen sinner–or his Pharisaism<\/strong>, the\nlifting up
\nhis head in pride of self-righteousness.
\n
\nIt is not easy to decide which is the more obnoxious<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>to God<\/strong>–the drunkard <\/strong>who sins without shame–or the
\nPharisee<\/strong> puffed up with how pleasing he is\nto God.
\n
\nThe one is abhorrent to our <\/strong>feelings–and, as\nfar as
\ndecency and morality are concerned, we<\/strong> would\nrather
\nsee the Pharisee. But when we come to matters of
\ntrue religion, the Pharisee seems the worst!<\/strong> At\nleast
\nour Lord intimated as much when He said the publicans
\nand harlots would enter the kingdom of God before them.
\n
\n\u201cAnd the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much\nas his<\/em> eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying,\nGod be merciful to me a sinner. <\/strong>14 <\/sup><\/strong>I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather<\/em> than\nthe other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that\nhumbleth himself shall be exalted.\u201d<\/strong> Luke\n18:13-14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Deadly Danger of\nMoralism!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(C.H.Spurgeon)
\n
\nProverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seemeth right to a\nman, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
\n
\nOne of Satan’s most subtle and damning deceptions is\n“moralism”–the idea that man, by his own supposed goodness, can\ncommend himself to God.
\nMoralism substitutes external reform, for internal regeneration.
\nIt preaches behaviour change, apart from the new birth.
\nIt is content with polished external conduct, while the heart\nremains unwashed.
\nAnd it is leading multitudes to Hell!
\n
\nMoralism often dresses itself in religious<\/em> acts<\/em>.
\nIt promotes virtue, and applauds kindness.
\nIt speaks of honesty, and decency.
\n
\nBut its fatal flaw is this:
\nIt offers these things apart from Christ.
\nIt seeks to be right with God, without the righteousness of God.
\nIt promotes “virtue” without the power of the Holy\nSpirit.
\nIt promotes morality–but despises the Saviour.
\n
\nThe Pharisees of old were moral men. They fasted, prayed, and\ngave alms. Yet Jesus said to them, “Woe\nunto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited\nsepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of\ndead men\u2019s<\/em> bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 <\/sup><\/strong>Even\nso ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of\nhypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:27-28).
\n
\nMoralism is deadly because it convinces the sinner that he needs\nno Savior. It flatters human pride. It whispers, “You are not that bad!\nGod will surely accept you–look at all your good deeds.” It blinds the heart to man’s true condition: “dead\nin trespasses and sins,” utterly depraved, and without hope apart from the\nsaving grace of God. No amount of morality can change the leper’s spots, or\ncleanse the defiled soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\nthen is the remedy? It is not to be<\/em> better, but to be born\nagain. It is not to do<\/em> more, but to despair of doing anything\nthat could be acceptable to God–and to cast oneself wholly upon the mercy of\nGod in Christ. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but\naccording to His mercy He saved us\u2026” (Titus 3:5). Salvation is not earned\nby morality–it is a gift from God to undeserving sinners. Salvation is\nnot achieved<\/em>–but received<\/em>. Salvation is not by\nmerit–but by grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear reader, have you been\ntrusting in your morality, instead of Christ? Flee from every false refuge!\nCast away your pride. Confess your utter sinfulness. Cling to the Savior who\nalone can wash away your sin, and robe you in His perfect righteousness. Every\nform of moralism leads to damnation! Only the Gospel leads to eternal life.\n“But to him that worketh not, but\nbelieveth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for\nrighteousness.” (Romans 4:5). Hallelujah! What a Saviour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n<\/strong>THE LORD AND THE LEPER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBehold,\nthere came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst\nmake me clean.\u201d<\/em> Matthew 8:2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The\ncleansing of this leper is recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Surely the Holy\nSpirit intends for us to learn some specific lesson from it. This leper is held\nup as an example of the way in which a sinner must approach the Lord in order\nto obtain mercy. Let me show you how this man came to Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.                     This\nLeper Came To Christ With A Deep Sense of His Personal Need<\/strong>. He was a\nleper. According to the law, he was unclean, corrupt, and defiled. He was an\noutcast of society. Luke tells us that he was \u201cfull of leprosy\u201d. There was no\ncovering for his disease. From head to toe, he was defiled. The sure result of\nhis disease was death. He could not help himself; and no one else could or\nwould help him. Do you need Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.                     This\nLeper Came To The Lord In Great Humiliation.<\/strong> Mark says, he came\n\u201ckneeling\u201d. Luke tells us that he fell on his face at the Saviour\u2019s feet. He\nsaw who and what he was. He saw who and what Christ is. And he was humbled. The\nway to Christ is the road of humiliation. If you would go up to heaven, you\nmust come down in repentance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.                     This\nLeper Came To Christ Confessing True Faith. <\/strong>He called Jesus Lord. He\nknew that Christ is what he claims to be, LORD and KING. And he knew that\nChrist could do what he claimed. He worshipped the man Christ Jesus as God \u2013\n\u201cLord, thou canst make me clean\u201d \u2013 Jesus Christ is God. He is Lord and King. He\nhas power sufficient to save your soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.                     This\nLeper Came To Christ In Total Submission.<\/strong> \u201cLord, if thou wilt, thou\ncanst.\u201d He knew that the sovereign power of Christ is dispensed according to\nthe sovereign will of Christ. He has mercy on whom he will have\nmercy. He ventured himself upon the sovereign mercy of Christ, saying, Lord, I\nknow you have all power, do for me what you will according to your own great\nmercy. If he turns me away, I cannot be worse off than I am now. But he can\nmake me whole. I must sue for mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.                     This\nLeper Obtained Mercy, And So May You.<\/strong> The Lord said, \u201cI will, be thou\nclean.\u201d His healing was immediate and complete. God never has turned away one\nwho came to Christ like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\nFortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One\nmass of moral corruption!<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>(Winslow, “The Inner Life in its Relapsed Influence”)<\/em>
\n<\/em>
\nWhere divine grace does not exist in the heart, there
\nis nothing to stunt the growth, or to check the progress,
\nor to restrain the power of the soul’s depravity.
\n
\nThe fountain pours out its streams of corruption and death,
\nbidding defiance to all human efforts either to purify or\nrestrain.
\n
\nEducation can’t restrain the power of the soul’s depravity.
\n
\nPublic sentiment can’t restrain the power of the soul’s\ndepravity.
\n
\nHuman law can’t restrain the power of the soul’s depravity.
\n
\nMoral persuasion can’t restrain the power of the soul’s\ndepravity.
\n
\n‘Self love’ can’t restrain the power of the soul’s depravity.
\n
\nAll these instruments fail in the attempt.
\n
\nThere is going on in the soul a process of moral decay,
\nwhich, if not averted by divine grace, must terminate in
\nthe intolerable and interminable pangs of the second
\ndeath; the soul departing into eternity, one mass of<\/strong>
\nmoral corruption!<\/strong>
\n
\nBut let one grain of God’s grace fall into this corrupt
\nfountain, and there is deposited a counteracting and
\ntransforming element, which at once commences a
\nhealing, purifying, and saving process. And, what
\nparental restraint, and the long years of study,
\nand human law, had failed to do, one hour’s deep
\nrepentance of sin, one believing glance at a crucified
\nSaviour, one moment’s realisation of the love of God,
\nhave effectually accomplished.
\n
\nO the intrinsic preciousness, the priceless value, the
\nsovereign efficacy of God’s converting, sanctifying grace!
\n
\nEffecting a lodgement in the most debased and corrupt
\nheart, grace revolutionises the whole soul, changing its
\nprinciples, purifying its affections, ennobling its sentiments,
\nand assimilating it to the Divine holiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nCleansing Of Naaman Or God’s Method Of Grace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Many lepers were\nin Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed,\nsaving Naaman the Syrian.”<\/em> Luke 4:27<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\ncleansing of Naaman was a famous story of the Old Testament scriptures, with\nwhich the Jews of our Lord’s day were very familiar. But, when our Lord\nrecalled it to their attention, “they were filled with wrath.” Those\nmen understood perfectly well what Christ was saying, and they greatly resented\nit. That which our Lord was teaching is just as violently opposed by our modern\nreligionists as it was by the Jews. But, for those who are taught of the\nSpirit, this is a most delightful and comforting doctrine – salvation is\naccomplished by the sovereign prerogative of God. This little story plainly\nsets forth God’s method of grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nsovereignty of God’s grace Was clearly displayed in cleansing of? It is evident\nthat Naaman was the object of sovereign grace, because he was the most unlikely\ncandidate for mercy. Naaman was a heathen, Gentile idolater. He was a sworn\nenemy of Israel, the people of God. Besides, Naaman lived a long way from the\nprophet’s home. Yet, the grace of God passed by many lepers in Israel. Going\nfar afield; it found this Syrian soldier. Blessed be God, he still operates in\nthis same sovereign manner! Those whom men consider the  least likely\ncandidates for mercy are the objects of God as free-grace. Many others were\npassed by, more noble, more excellent than he; but God chose Naaman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            But,\nmark this also – The grace of God always operates in a definite manner. God has\nnot only ordained who will be saved. He has ordained the method by which they\nwill be saved as well. First, Naaman had to hear the good news that healing was\npossible. Whenever God intends to save a sinner, he will send someone to tell\nhim the gospel, It may be a little Hebrew maid, or it may be an old man. But\nalways, “Faith cometh by hearing”. For another thing, it was\nimperative  for Naaman to heed the message and obey the command. Even\nmen must hear the gospel and in humble faith wash in the blood of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\nFortner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sitting at the leper’s table! (Horatius Bonar) “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper” Matthew 26:6 To this home Jesus had been invited\u2014and He goes. It seems to have been his leprosy, which first brought Simon to Christ\u2014and Christ to him. His disease was his link of connection with […]<\/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-6957","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\/6957","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=6957"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6958,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6957\/revisions\/6958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}