September 16, 2018
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
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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
services—click here.
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SUNDAY’S READING IN
PROVERBS
Proverbs 12: 3: A man shall not be established by wickedness: but
the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
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PUT IN TRUST
WITH THE GOSPEL
1
Thessalonians 2:4: But as we were allowed
of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we
speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
What a
privilege to preach the unsearchable riches of the Lord Jesus Christ. God
called preachers understand that they are “allowed
of God” and “put in trust with the
gospel.” To think that God would trust me with the preaching of His
glorious gospel is so humbling and at the same time with it carries a
tremendous load of responsibility. God has “allowed me” to preach the Gospel of
His redeeming grace in Christ. God has “put me in trust with the message of
Christ and Him crucified.” I surely don’t take it lightly.
“But as we were allowed of God to be
put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” God gets
all the glory in the preaching of Christ and in the saving of sinners. We are
not allowed of God to preach tickling things to itching ears, like man’s free
will decision and works of man’s so-called righteousness. Those things are
pleasing to men! We preach the things that are pleasing to God, the things
which trieth our hearts.
Beloved, you too have been
allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel. Are you telling others about
His free and sovereign grace in Christ? It is your responsibility to do so. God
has put you in trust with the task. May God enable us to be faithful to Him! Pastor
David Eddmenson
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A FRUIT BEARING GIFT
Philippians 4: 18: But I have all, and abound: I am full,
having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour
of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”
The brethren at Philippi thought warmly and considerately of Paul.
Paul was in chains in Caesar’s household for preaching the gospel of Christ his
Lord. And being thoughtful they recognized Paul would benefit from their gift.
Little could they have imagined that they’d receive the greater gift in return.
For when their messenger, Epaphroditus came back to them he brought this letter
filled with the sweet odor of Christ.
Have you been thinking
of giving or doing something for a sister or brother? But you’ve since put it
off or talked yourself out of it? You just never know how the Lord may use it
to touch the heart of his child. If they are provoked to give God thanks for
his display of kindness toward them, is it not worth the small sacrifice we’ve
made? Do it quietly without telling others. Do it for them without seeking or
expecting anything in return. Do it cheerfully and prayerfully and not for
reward.
Have a ready heart to
serve your gracious God and his people. The Lord will undoubtedly bless you more
in turning you from self while instead, thinking of others. Remember the letter
to the Philippians. It certainly blessed that giving church more than the few
earthly goods they parted with in giving them to Paul. Our Lord did say “It is more blessed to give than to receive”
(Acts 20:35). And look how it has blessed the church for nearly two thousand
years since. It has truly redounded to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Our Lord Jesus gave us the most precious gift when he shed his
blood for our sins under the just wrath of holy God. He put off his glory with
the Father to fulfill all righteousness for his people. He bore our sins and
bear them away forever. In him we died and in him we now live. Behold what a
sacrifice he made to bring us to glory! “For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Giving often requires a sacrifice. But what is that sacrifice
compared to what your Savior did for you? If you labor to hold onto your possessions,
your possessions will perish with you and do no good for your brethren.
Sacrifice does require one to deny oneself, and to prefer another before you.
It’s in our Savior’s work where we see most clearly how denying oneself for
others brings forth abundant fruit unto God. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the
ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much
fruit.He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in
this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:24-25).
Our Savior’s death brought forth abundant fruit in bringing many
sons and daughters unto God. Your gift won’t accomplish what his death and
sacrifice accomplished. But it testifies to the continuing power of his
resurrection and the fruit he bears in his children (Philippians 1:11). Pastor Eric
Lutter
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MY GRACE
Matthew 26:
42: O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy
will be done.
Christ asked this three
times. God did not remove the cup. But God sent an angel from heaven which
strengthened him. So now when we are
like Paul, praying three times for God to remove our thorn in the flesh, Christ,
having fully experienced both the weakness of our flesh and the sufficiency of
God’s grace, speaks into our hearts, “My
grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in
weakness.”
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YOUR MASTER IS IN HEAVEN
Ephesians 6: 9: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them,
forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is
there respect of persons with him.
Believers who are bosses should be the best boss any employee can have. The reason is because Christ Jesus your
Master is in heaven.
First, Christ our Master says to every earthly master, “ye masters, do the same things unto them.”
(Eph 6: 9) Give your employees what is just and equal. Christ gave us mercy
because it was just to do so by him establishing the law on our behalf. All his people are equal in him: in
righteousness and holiness. Brethren, we have a good Master! He says give those under your rule that which
is just and equal.
Secondly, Christ says
to us, “forbear threatening.” Far too often managers rule their employees
with hardness. Christ rules his people with gentleness, kindness and
moderation. The word here means that
Christ “loosens the yoke; makes it light and easy.” When we were the servants of sin, we were
under a heavy yoke of bondage under the curse of the law. But Christ our Master came and delivered his
people from that heavy yoke and has given us the light and easy yoke of faith
and love. Therefore, brethren, let us not be guilty of professing to be under the light
yoke of grace then yoke others with the heavy law of Moses. Let’s not be children of grace in the Lord’s
house but Pharaohs’ taskmasters in the workplace!
Lastly, Christ says remember, “your
Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.”
(Eph 6: 9) Remember, our Lord did not choose his people because of anything in
us but by his free and sovereign grace. And Christ pays no attention to face, place,
or race. The rich found outside of
Christ shall be condemned the same as the poor.
He looks on the heart. Christ teaches both his servants and his masters
to do all “as the servants of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart. With good will doing service, as to the
Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the
same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” (Eph 6: 6)