t                   oPastor John and wife Kathy  
 

 
 

Preaching God's Sovereign, Electing Grace   

RESCUE BAPTIST CHURCH

January 6th, 2019

“The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” 1 Corinthians 2:14

Message Title
“Comforting Grace” (pt. 7 of 9)

How can I live in this world for the glory of God?
“This is a question of great concern for every believer. Having seen the glory of God in Christ, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we want to glorify God our Savior above all things.
Most people presume that by a mere change of life-style, outward behavior and outward appearance, they can glorify God. Therefore we see individuals and entire religious sects who dress in a peculiar manner, abstain from certain foods and beverages and isolate themselves, as much as possible, from the world. Some live in monasteries, convents and communes and even forbid marriage in an attempt to avoid evil and live in godliness. Such ascetic notions are totally contrary to the Word of God (I Tim. 4:1-5; Matt. 15:10-20). They promote self-righteousness, but not godliness.
Yet we who believe must glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:20). If I would glorify God in this world, my entire being must be consecrated to him. My body, which is the temple of God, must be used for the service of God’s glory. Whatever we do with these bodies must be done as unto the Lord, for the glory of God (Col. 3:17). We must employ our bodies in the worship and service of our Master and in ministering to our Father’s children. And we must endeavor to keep our bodies under the rule of Christ, not giving in to the passions of our sinful flesh (Col. 3:1-14). This is certain: I will glorify God in my body if in my spirit, in my inner self, in my heart I glorify him. ‘Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). Walk before God in this world with a spirit of faith (John 6:29), adoration (Ps. 135:1-6), love (I Cor. 13:1-13), obedience (1 Sam. 15:22-23), submission (1 Peter 5:6-7) and devotion (Luke 14:26-27), and you will live for the glory of God. This is the thing God requires of us. He says, ‘My son, give me thine heart’ (Prov. 23:26). If he has our hearts, he will have our bodies also and we shall glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which are God’s.”
Pastor Don Fortner


“A person can say every right word as they profess to believe on Christ. But by separating themselves from his gospel and his people they deny every word by their works. Faith without works is the faith of devils and it is dead (James 2: 19-20). Christ’s people cannot be driven away because Christ cannot fail, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.’ ‘Blessed art thou, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven’ (John 6:68 - 69; Mt. 16:17).”
Copied


“Faith, dear reader, is neither encouraged nor discouraged by anything we find in ourselves; it is neither encouraged by our graces nor discouraged by our sinfulness; for faith LOOKS OUT OF SELF UNTO ANOTHER. Nothing will afford such encouragement to believing prayer as a sight of the LAMB on His mediatorial throne (Revelation 5:6). No matter how desperate may be our case, how often we have failed and fallen, how low we have sunk, it is ALWAYS the believer's privilege to turn unto his Redeemer and say, "Look Thou upon me, and be merciful UNTO ME, as is your way unto those that love Thy name" (Psalm 119:132).”
A. W. Pink


A Strong Consolation
(Hebrews 6:17 - 19).

“If only one of God’s sheep were to perish, the purpose of God would be frustrated, the power of God resisted, the promise of God broken, the faithfulness of God would be a mockery and the word of God proved to be a lie. If but one of His little ones were to be lost and sin win the day, where would be the veracity, the honor, the grace, the covenant and the oath of God? The assurance of faith is not in my ability to hold on but the immutable character of my God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Pastor Darvin Pruitt


ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Join us for our FELLOWSHIP DINNER concluding this morning service.
· We will come to THE LORD’S TABLE during our afternoon worship service, Lord willing


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
OF GOD
(Joh 1:13)
We read in verse 12,”But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. But who are these that receive, who are these that believe? They are as it states, “the ones who are given”. All of Gods children will receive him, and will believe on his name, for we are GIVEN the power to become the sons of God, we were of God before the foundation of the world in Christ, but our wicked and rebellious hearts would not ,receive him, nor would our unregenerate heart, believe on his name. Those who are of God, are given a new heart, they are born again in the day of his power, with this new heart comes the power from God to become sons of God. So we read in verse 13,” Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. It is either all of GOD, or not of GOD at all Pastor John Reeves


A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR
“May the Lord bless you and lift up the light of His countenance upon you all and give you peace. May you, during this new year of grace, receive much grace; and may you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May we as a church, as pastor, elders, and brethren, mutually strive together to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, boldly proclaim the gospel of His free and sovereign grace, love, encourage, and support our missionaries and sister churches; and may the Lord save His sheep through the Gospel preached from this place. Whatever trials and sorrows by His divine providence may come our way, whatever mercies and blessings may fall upon us, may we be given the Grace to recognize His hand and purpose in THEM ALL and sing from the heart, ‘Unto Him who hath loved us and washed us from sin, unto HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER, AMEN’!”
Pastor Henry Mahan


“The love of Christ which passeth knowledge.”
--Ephesians 3:19—

“The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fulness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passeth all human comprehension. Where shall language be found which shall describe his matchless, his unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow but skimmeth the water, and diveth not into its depths, so all descriptive words but touch the surface, while depths immeasurable lie beneath. Well might the poet say,
“O love, thou fathomless abyss!”
for this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand his previous glory in its height of majesty, and his incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When he was enthroned in the highest heavens, he was very God of very God; by him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: he reigned supreme above all his creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony—to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that ‘passeth knowledge.’ O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude and lead us to practical manifestations of its power.”
C. H. Spurgeon


"Whom Jesus Loved"

"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." (John 13:23)
“John refers to himself this way as though he wished to be known in no other way. What else matters about me if I am one whom Jesus loves? I need no other identity but this. What would you not give in order to be referred to thusly? Is there any higher honor, more secure refuge, greater riches or sweeter rest than His eternal, boundless love?
I would not be known as the disciple who loves Jesus, although I do so very deeply. The other is far more appropriate, for my love is just a result of His for me. It would be folly to emphasize the result rather than the cause. John did not identify himself in this manner as a boast of preference on the Lord's part. It is certain that if He does love me, it is freely, in spite of what and who I am. There is nothing about me that attracted His gracious love. That's what makes His love so glorious, that He extends it even to such a wretch as I.
I am not the wisest disciple or the most gifted. I desire that He might use me in every way He sees fit; but if He chooses not to do so, it is enough that He loves me. This is how Paul could profess to be content in whatsoever state he was. If I am an object of the Saviour's love, then though I be wounded and imprisoned as Paul and Silas, I will sing of His grace with joy in my heart as they did.
I am certainly not the disciple whom the world loves. I am nobody from nowhere with nothing to offer and the world has no love for such. This world hates me and my God, but what matter?
Don't carve upon my tombstone any flattery concerning me or my life. It would surely be an inaccuracy to do so.
This will be enough: Here lies a disciple ‘whom Jesus loved’.”
Pastor Chris Cunningham



January 13th, 2019

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 57:15


Message
“Reviving Grace” (pt. 8 of 9)


ANNOUNCEMENTS
Special THANK YOU for your labor of love yesterday’s clean-up. To God be the Glory!


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
God sent His Son, and now He sends His Spirit. Because Christ has been sent, therefore the Spirit is sent; and now you shall know the Holy Ghost’s indwelling because of Christ’s incarnation. The Spirit of light, the Spirit of life, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of liberty—the same Spirit that was in Christ Jesus is in you. The same Spirit that descended upon Jesus in the waters of baptism also descended upon you. You, O child of God, have the Spirit of God as your present guide and comforter; and the Spirit of Christ is your Spirit.                                                                                                                        C. H. Spurgeon


CHRIST IS ALL
“Not everybody believes this. To some men He is nothing. Others view Him as important. Still others view Him as very important. But to some, He is all. He is all in all things. He is all in their salvation; He is all in their faith; He is all in their rejoicing and confidence. For whom and to whom is Christ all? He is all for all and to all who really believe Him to be all! I truly believe Him to be all in my salvation and have hope in nothing else!”
Pastor Todd Nibert


“There is nothing that keeps a man out of heaven but his own will. But there is nothing that will keep a man out of hell but God’s will. Eternal life is by God’s will, God’s gift, and God’s work (Romans 9:16; 6:23; 2 Timothy 1:9). But eternal death is the result of man’s will, man’s work, and man’s merit (Proverbs 1:23-26; Romans 6:23; 10:21).”
Pastor Don Fortner


LOOK TO CHRIST
“Faith is necessary for salvation. But we do not look to our faith to save us; rather, in faith, we look to Christ. Repentance is necessary for salvation. But we do not look to our repentance to save us; rather, in repentance, we turn to Christ. There are graces, which God works in us as He saves us. But these graces are never to be the object of our trust, confidence or hopeful gaze. All the graces God gives us in salvation are to be used to look to, turn to, appreciate, and lay hold of Christ, who is our Salvation!”
Pastor Joe Terrell


January 20th, 2019

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.
Acts 2:23


Message Title
“Sufficient Grace” (pt. 9 of 9)


ANNOUNCEMENTS
28th Annual Winter Conference begins next Friday night at 7:30 PM. Please pray for all who will be traveling to attend.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
My dear brothers and sisters, led by “covetous” preachers full of “zeal without knowledge,” (II Peter 2:1-3; Romans 10:1-3; Matthew 23:13-15), the churches of the United States have been courting and catering to the world for well over fifty years. They use famous personalities, dramas and performances, pizza parties and sports, and numerous gimmicks and tricks to attract and entice natural, unregenerate men and women into the churches. And, their innovations and efforts have been very successful. Presently the United States is filled with churches and those churches, for the most part, are filled with the world! Contrary to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning His people, they are both in the world and of the world (John 17:17). They have a “form of godliness” (II Timothy 3:5) but are yet strangers to the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Spirit and grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-10; II Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:11-14). They “have a name to live but are dead” (Revelation 3:1). Brothers and sisters, we must not be moved away from the simplicity of the gospel by these fleshly, worldly innovations and attractions. There is absolutely nothing, not one thing, about spiritual truth and true worship which is attractive to the natural man! (I Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:5-9; Galatians 5:17). We must believe our God, “plant and water,” and wait upon Him to “give the increase” (I Corinthians 3:5-8; 1:18-31).
In the same context, I urge you to take the following words of wisdom to heart. Pastor Scott Richardson says, “One reason why the church of Christ at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church. Your duty as a Christian is to stand fast in your place and stand out for God, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh, resolving like one of another time, “Let others do as they will; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the
Lord.”
~ Maurice Montgomery~