Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

September 25, 2022

Weekly Schedule of Services

 Proverbs 19:6: Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7: All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

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God’s people know the original language of God’s word. It is not Hebrew or Greek.  It is the holy love and righteousness of God revealed in Christ Jesus.  Only the Holy Spirit can teach it and those taught of God all know it.  God said, “Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” (Zep 3:9).

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Reader, all other joy is transitory—only the joy of the Christian can remain. All other is but for a season; and even here, when least expected, the golden cup of worldly delight may be dashed in pieces from the lips—but this is a treasure which none can take away. All outward comforts may fail—friends, prosperity, health, fame—but this promised blessing, this “joy and peace in believing,” is beyond the reach of men or evil spirits. When flesh and heart fail—when life departs from the material clay—then the joys of Christians are only increased. Not even that irresistible hand which tears us from all that is earthly, and consigns us, bereft of every human honor, joy, and consolation, to the cheerless grave—even the hand of Death itself cannot deprive us of the pearl of great price. On the contrary, it robs us only of that which we would not wish to keep, and admits us to the full fruition of those pleasures of which the foretaste is so delightful, that the believer desires “to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” And what will constitute the joy of believers in glory? Methinks their chief joy will be seeing Christ, and being made more and more “like Him.”                              

–John MacDuff

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GOD IS

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be...unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone! He was bruised and brought healing! He was pierced and eased pain! He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought life! He is raised and brings power! He reigns and brings peace! The world can’t understand Him, armies can’t defeat Him, the schools can’t explain Him, and the leaders can’t ignore Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him, the Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and the people couldn’t hold Him! Nero couldn’t crush Him, Hitler couldn’t silence Him, The New Age can’t replace Him, and Donahue can’t explain Him away! He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His word is eternal, and His will is unchanging. He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior, He is my guide, and He is my peace! He is my Joy, He is my comfort, He is my Lord, and He rules my life! I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His yoke is easy, in Him is abundant life. I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and The Sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come. He will never leave me, never forsake me, never mislead me, never forget me, never overlook me, and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book! When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I am blind, He leads me! When I am hungry, He feeds me, when I face trials, He is with me! When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts me! When I face loss, He provides for me! When I face death, He carries me home! He is everything for His elect, everywhere, every time, and every way. He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine! So, if you’re wondering why I feel so secure, understand this... He said it and that settles it. God is in control, “if He be for me who can be against me?” That means all is well with my soul.                                          

–Don Bell

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“KEPT”

I Peter 1:5

An old man who had walked in the way of faith for many, many years, when he was about to die, was asked by his family, “What would you like for us to put on your tombstone?”  After a long and thoughtful silence, the old saint answered, “Kept!”  That is a good description of every believer’s life.  We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

1.      We are kept and preserved in life by the power of God until the appointed day of our calling (Jude 1).  This is what the old Puritans called “Prevenient Grace.”  It is grace that goes before and prepares the way for God’s saving grace in Christ.  Because God made an everlasting covenant of grace for us, chose to save us in eternal election, and redeemed us by the blood of Christ, he kept us, provided for, and protected us until the hour that He gave us life in Christ

2.       We are now kept and preserved in the way of faith and life by the same power and grace of God (Jeremiah 32:39-40).  This is the word of our Savior regarding all his elect, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).  I know that salvation is the work of God alone.  And “I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it that men should fear before Him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

3.      And all who trust Christ are kept in all their ways by the power and grace of God throughout their pilgrimage upon the earth (Psalm 91:9-11).  As we walk before God by faith, seeking His glory, doing His will, serving the cause of Christ in this world, we shall be kept from all evil in our ways.  Yes, “Mortals are immortal here until their work is done.”  The very angels of God are charged by our Lord to keep us!  Though the flesh is opposed to us, though Satan roars against us, though the world charms us, though trials trouble us, and though temptations vex us, we are “Kept!”

–Don Fortner