Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 1-6-2019
Bible TextEphesians 6:21-22
Date05-Jan-2019
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: The Biography of a Servant (32 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
Audio CD Quality Listen: The Biography of a Servant (128 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
 

January 6, 2019

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

 

MEETING LOCATION

251 Green Lane

Ewing, NJ, 08368

Clay Curtis, pastor

Telephone: 615-513-4464

Clay@FreeGraceMedia.com

 

MAILING ADDRESS:

7 Birch Street

Pennington, NJ, 08538

 

Schedule of Services

Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class

Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service

Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service

 

Services Broadcast Live @ www.FreeGraceMedia.com/live

 

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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.  

All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted.

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE WEBSITE: The videos are now listed as individual sermons, as well as full servicesclick here.

 

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SUNDAY’S READING IN PROVERBS

Proverbs 12: 19: The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

 

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LET HIM SPEAK MY WORD FAITHFULLY

 

Jeremiah 23:28: The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.  What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

 

This is the responsibility of God’s preacher.  He is to speak God’s word faithfully.  If someone in the congregation is walking contrary to the word of God then the word spoken will most likely be personal and offensive to them and their family initially.  Is the Lord’s preacher supposed to water down the word so as not to offend?  Is God’s preacher to ignore the word God has laid on his heart?  Should he preach another passage so as not to offend?  No, the person walking contrary to the word is in need of rebuke by God’s word.  That person needs to turn and walk according to God’s word.  If those closest to him love him then they will tell him the same thing.  But God’s preacher must speak God’s word faithfully.  We are not to alter which passage we preach, nor hold back the truth of the passage, no matter who it offends.  

 

     This is another one of the things that makes it difficult being God’s messenger.  If we speak only the passages of God’s word that we are sure will not condemn or offend anyone then there will be no passages we can preach.  At all times God is sending his word to rebuke some, while the same message is sent to comfort others.  Therefore, every word preached will rebuke someone every time.  But if we are faithful to God, as well as to the souls of those God has entrusted to our care, then we will obey God even if it means we receive an unfavorable response.  God says to those who hear the word, “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.” (Pr 13: 18) And God says to those who speak his word, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue.” (Pr 28:23)  Therefore, God’s faithful preacher obeys God who says, “he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.”  Likewise, those who hear God’s word will be better off if they hear it faithfully!           

 

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BIOGRAPHY OF A SERVANT

 

Ephesians 6:21: But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

 

Many honorable men in the Bible have short biographies.  But those short biographies are very instructive.  Tychicus is such a man.  All that we are told is that he was a “beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.”   What a biography! 

 

     Tychicus was “a beloved brother” (Eph 6: 21).  What does it mean to be a “brother” or “sister” in Christ?  It is a rare title only reserved for those saved by the same grace of God as us.  When we call someone brother we are saying he is chosen freely of God the Father in Christ, justified freely with God’s elect by the blood of Christ, called from death to life by the Holy Spirit so that he is of the same “household of God” (Eph 2: 19).  We are saying that he is one with us (Eph 4: 4-6).  This title only belongs to those who give God in Christ all the glory in salvation!  Notice, Tychicus was not only a brother but a "beloved" brother.  Beloved of God from eternity in Christ? That is obvious since he was called of God.  But also he was beloved of the saints who knew him, especially Paul.  He was a loving, loveable brother.  Those born from above are so because “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (Ja 3: 17).  This is the most honorable quality we can have.  Christ said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn 13: 35).

 

     The second characteristic in Tychicus’ biography is that he was a “faithful minister in the Lord.”  Faithfulness is what God requires of his minister (1 Cor 4: 2).  It is not a product of our flesh.  God is faithful, Christ is faithful, so when God puts his Spirit in us, the gift imparted is faith and faithfulness.  (Eph 2:8-10; Gal 5: 22) This is why Paul addresses his letters to the churches as “to the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph 1: 1; Col 1: 2).  Tychicus was faithful because Christ qualified him, appointed him and sent him.  (1 Tim 1:12-14) He was faithful to Christ his Lord preaching only Christ crucified according to God’s word.  A faithful minister in Christ is faithful to the souls to whom he ministers.  He was willing to forfeit his comforts for the glory of Christ and the good of his people.   Tychicus knew those to whom he ministered had an eternity to spend: either saved by God’s grace or condemned by their own rebellion.  He wanted to see them saved by grace. 

 

     We are not all called to be preachers.   But we are all called to be faithful, beloved brethren, who minister to one another.   May God make it our aim to leave a biography like Tychicus—“a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.”  If we accomplish nothing else in life but this then we will have made the very best use of the time that God gave us.  

 

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AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH

 

This is the experience of every sinner called by the grace of God—"In whom ye also trusted, AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:13).  All who have experienced God’s salvation, experienced it by hearing the good news of Christ preached.  Bringing the gospel to his child and blessing it to our hearts so that we hear with spiritual ears  is as much “unto the praise of his glory" as everything else said here.  The person who denies that God saves exclusively through preaching of the gospel according to God’s word, denies the praise of God’s glory as much as if they deny the glory of God’s electing grace or particular redemption.   Scripture say those who believe do so by Christ because God raised him and gave him the glory as Head of the church to fill all in all, “Who BY HIM do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and GAVE HIM GLORY; THAT YOUR FAITH AND HOPE MIGHT BE IN GOD” (1Pe 1:21; Eph 1: 22-23; 4:10-16).  Therefore, we give him all glory due unto his name, including the glory of filling all, including the pulpit, the pew, the mouth of his preacher and the heart of his redeemed.

 

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COMMUNICATION

 

But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, [Tychicus], shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs…” (Eph 6: 21-22)

 

Paul knew the Ephesians would desire to know his state as a prisoner.  Faithful ministers want to know how their brethren are and they want their brethren to know how they are.  This helps us pray for each other and communicate, not only our words, but our aid.

 

    Therefore, Paul communicated to them by sending this minister of the gospel, Tychicus.  Paul did not ask for anything for Tychicus nor for himself.  It was for their benefit alone.  In this, we see what God did for his people scattered throughout the world, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3: 16); “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 Jn 4: 9). Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn 3: 16).  Communication is not only in word but in deed and in truth.  By not only entering the covenant but also by fulfilling his word, Christ saved his people and God is well-pleased with us in him.  In this, we see the importance of communicating with our brethren, not only verbally, but with all things with which we can supply their need. 

 

     Brethren, I am thankful that God has blessed you with hearts of gratitude toward our Lord Jesus Christ so that you faithfully communicate to one another in word and in deed and in truth.  This edifies a needy brother’s heart like nothing else.  To do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb 13: 16).