September 25, 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.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Last Wednesday, September 21, we closed on our new building and changed the locks. We asked God to do this in his time and God did. Now, let us thank him. We thank all our brethren that so generously helped us. Until we finish a few repairs we will continue to meet at the firehouse. I will let you know when the first service is scheduled in our new building.
We are thankful for God’s grace in saving our brethren, Bob and Kim Evans. After the message this morning, they will confess the Lord in believer’s baptism. We thank Cyril and Lenore for keeping their pool open and hosting us today.
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VALUE THE WORD OF GOD
Joshua 1:8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9: Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
A sinner saved by the grace of God values the Holy Scriptures. We value the scriptures because they are the very word of God. We may stumble and go through dark seasons. But by God commanding us, God gives us a heart to not let his word depart out of our mouth and to meditate therein day and night. We value the word of God because every single word is for our prosperity and good success. There is much in the word of God to direct our steps to honor and adorn the gospel while on our pilgrimage to our heavenly abode. We certainly value and seek to do according to all that is written therein. But our prosperity and good success is Christ our triumphant Redeemer who conquered sin, death and hell on our behalf. Wherever we are in God’s word, we are given eyes to behold Christ and ears to hear God speak to us through his blood, saying, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
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As I was preaching the midweek service, I read the following verse which illustrates how preaching is profitable only when delivered in understandable language, “And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?” (1 Cor 14: 7) As I read that verse a delightful thought came to mind: by the effectual, irresistible grace of God, the preaching of the gospel of Christ is life giving sound.
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FAITH COMES BY HEARING
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
The preaching of the gospel of Christ is the soul-saving ordinance. It is not through the eye but rather through the ear that salvation comes to men. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God".
In every age God has raised up men to faithfully proclaim His gospel of grace. Elijah may ascend but his mantle fell to Elisha. Paul may die but not until Timothy is trained and on the field.
The true preacher of God’s gospel has a rightful claim on your attention. If God has sent him, men should - and must - hear him for he who preaches Christ crucified has life flowing from his lips. And he who hears will find life flowing in his heart and soul. "God hath chosen by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). Pastor Henry Mahan
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So great is the depravity of unregenerate man that, although there is nothing that he needs more than the gospel, there is nothing that he desires less. Pastor Scott Richardson
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BE YE THANKFUL
This is a command. “Be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15). In another place Paul said, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18). Being thankful is not being thankful because things could be worse. Being thankful is being thankful because things could not be better! If God really is sovereign, whatever happens is best because He is in control of it. It may bring joy, it may bring sorrow. But whatever it brings, it is best. Whether our hearts are bubbling over with joy or breaking in sorrow, we are thankful. Whatever He does is best! We may not understand how it is best, but we do believe it is best. Therefore we are thankful! Pastor Todd Nibert
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AND THE WORD OF GOD INCREASED
Acts 6:1: And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2: Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3: Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4: But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5: And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7: And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
When this need arose the twelve apostles said to the church, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” They directed the church to pick out seven men to appoint over this business.
Those seven disciples had full time jobs with families to care for. Those men awoke early, commuted, worked a full day, walked home, took care of their family, went to bed late, got up early and did it all over again the next day. Even more, this work given to a mere seven men was for a congregation of at least five thousand members with untold numbers of widows which required ministering, and that, on a daily basis.
On the other hand, to the carnal eye, the apostles did not have nearly the workload as the disciples. The apostle’s work required them to go most of the week unseen in their study and in prayer, seen by the church only when they preached the gospel publicly. The carnal heart would reason the apostles were only excusing themselves. Carnal understanding would say that the disciples should be the last called to this work because they already had full schedules while the apostles only preached (in the early church) one day a week. But no carnal eye can see the burden of speaking for God to eternity bound sinners which weighed heavily on the apostles continually day and night. Oh, be thankful God does not leave his work to carnal hearts!
God the Holy Spirit effectually gave the apostles the word from Christ our Head, that even though the need required daily attention, it was not reason enough that his ambassadors should leave his word and serve tables. Christ provided faithful men so Christ effectually made the apostles to say, “Brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Then Christ moved the hearts of his people to receive their word as Christ’s own, “And the saying pleased the whole multitude.”
The outcome never would have come to pass if carnal reason would have ruled. But by God working his will and good pleasure in each one, each did what God called him to do, and God blessed it. “And the word of God increased”, “and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly”, and out of the synagogues of Satan “a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”