September 18, 2016
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553
Clay Curtis, pastor
Telephone: 615-513-4464
Schedule of Services
Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class
Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service
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NURSERY
We have a nursery equipped with a digital flat screen television broadcasting all services live, for children four and under.
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All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted. As you read the bulletin at home with your children be sure to look up the scripture references.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
· We are thankful to have Brother Scott Keller and Brother Eric Lutter preaching the gospel here today. Be sure to thank these men for their labor to set forth the person and work of our Redeemer. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” (1 Ti 5: 17) I am preaching this weekend at Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church.
· Tomorrow, Monday, September 19, we are scheduled to close on our new building. We thank God for doing opening this door in his time and by his grace. We thank all our brethren that so generously helped us. I will let you know when our first service will be scheduled in the new building.
· Next Sunday, September 25, we will have one service at 11am at the Rennel’s at 654 Morwood Rd, Telford, PA, 18969. We will be baptizing our sister, Kim Evans from Canada. Afterward, we will plan to have a meal together. Thanks to Cyril and Lenore for keeping their pool open and for graciously opening their place for us to meet.
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THE FEAR OF THE LORD
“Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom” (Job 28:28). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). In his dictionary, Charles Buck defines the fear of God as “That holy disposition or gracious habit formed in the soul by the Holy Spirit, whereby we are inclined to obey all God’s commands. It evidences itself: 1. By a dread of his displeasure. 2. Desire of his favor. 3. Regard for his excellencies. 4. Submission to his will. 5. Gratitude for his benefits. 6. Sincerity in his worship. 7. Conscientious obedience to his commands (Proverbs 8:13; Job 28:28).” “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (1 John 3: 23)
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The month Abib (March-April) marked the new first month of the year to the children of Israel when God freed them from slavery through the passover lamb. That same month, all things became new for God’s elect when God freed us from slavery when Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. (Ex 12: 1-2; 2 Cor 5: 17)
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THE MOST DIFFICULT LESSON TO LEARN
I suppose the most difficult thing any believer has to learn is that "Without Him we can do nothing." This is our creed but not our experience! We will never be effectually used for God’s true glory until it becomes our experience. God will never use men that are proud enough to think themselves necessary or capable. He will throw away the vessel which begins to boast in itself or allows others to boast in it. Whatever is our strength in the flesh is sure to become our weakness in the spirit — whether it be our intelligence, our morality, our length of service, our doctrine, our courage or whatever. Gideon feared the Midianites because of the small number of his soldiers, but the Lord said, ‘Your soldiers are yet too many for me.’ I wonder if we will ever become weak enough, empty enough, and ignorant enough for God to use us for His glory! The logic of the Lord is strange to the natural mind. ‘For when I am weak, then am I strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10). ‘Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ my rest upon me’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Lord must go back to the seashore and raise up some fishermen — we’ve all become masters and doctors, wise men in theology and great counselors. I disqualify myself for God’s use when I become qualified. My fine talents and lofty credentials become hindrances rather than helps. I thought to prepare myself for great things, only to learn that it was the rough voice in the wilderness He planned to use, not the polished preacher; it was the weak, impulsive shepherd with the sling He planned to use, not the mighty warrior with his armor of wit and arsenal of facts, doctrines, and learning. It may not be too late for some, but most are too proud to become expendable. If we don’t pour contempt on ourselves — God will! —Henry Mahan
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In order for God alone to receive all glory and all praise for the salvation of his elect then God alone must do all the work beginning to end. God says, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” Therefore, we conclude that the saved sinner contributes nothing to the work of salvation. “Salvation is of the LORD.” (Isaiah 42: 8; 43: 7; 48:11; Jonah 2: 9) The song of those truly being saved by God is, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” (Ps 115: 1)
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For those saved by grace in Christ our Redeemer it is impossible to take the grace of God too far or to exalt Christ too much. It is because in “the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him…Christ is all and in all!” (Col 3: 10-11)
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To those who truly believe, those who have this precious faith, "HE IS PRECIOUS" (1 Peter 2:7). This is one way I know that God has given me this faith. The faith which I have will not permit me to look to, trust in, rest upon, live upon, or have any hope in anyone but Christ, and Christ alone! Unto me "HE IS PRECIOUS!" Pastor Maurice Montgomery
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Those who halt between two opinions know just enough of God’s Word that you cannot enjoy the things of this world, and have just enough of this world that you can find no peace in the promises of God’s Word. You have the fears of the Word, without its hopes. You have the duties of the Word, without its joys. You have to act like godly people act, but there is no heart in it. You have to sit at the table spread with the bread of life, but cannot eat it. You get among the saints and try talk like they do and you sound like someone trying to speak a foreign language he learned from a book. Pastor Milton Howard
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CHRIST OUR HEAD AND MEDIATOR APPLIES HIS BLOOD
Exodus 12: 7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8: And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Moses’s faith is spoken of in the sprinkling of the blood of the passover lamb on the doorpost. (Heb 11: 28) Indeed, Moses believed God, obeyed God and declared God’s word to the people. That is what faith does. Indeed, God used men to sprinkle the blood on the doorpost. But God did it to show us a type of something that God alone is able to do.
Notice, it was the head of each house who put the blood on the doorpost, not the children in the house. (Ex 12: 21-22) Also, notice it was after the head of the house sprinkled the blood on the doorpost that the children in the house partook of the passover lamb. The Head of the household of God is Christ. It is Christ our Head and Mediator who through the Holy Spirit sprinkles his own blood on the doorpost of our hearts, purging our conscious, by whom we are made willing to partake of Christ our Passover by faith. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament.” (Heb 9: 14-15)
Another place we see this typified is when Moses “took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” (Heb 9: 19-20) As Mediator, Christ both sprinkles his own blood in the presence of God, as well as in our hearts. It is the same one who speaks effectually into our hearts who gives us the cup of wine, in both cases saying, “This is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Heb 10: 15-22) We do not get the glory for applying the blood and making ourselves believe. Christ does!
Therefore, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10: 22)