August 11, 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
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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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ANNOUNCEMENTS
·
This week, Thursday, August 15th, Missionary
Lance Heller is scheduled to preach for us in our mid-week service.
·
Fourth Friday class for our young people will
be August 23rd at 7pm.
·
Sunday, August 25, we are scheduled to baptize
Cyril and Lenore Rennels in the Doodnath’s pool after the morning service.
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Proverbs 13: 18: Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth
instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
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A LESSON
FROM A FULL BIRD
In the summer of 1990, the United States Air Force flew
their KC-10 refueling planes to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana
so I could paint a 30 by 30 foot decal under the cockpit window of each of
those billion dollar aircraft, called nose-art (a name and character chosen by
the crew to represent their plane). I
was a twenty-year-old civilian so the servicemen would not acknowledge me,
especially when I came into the tool crib. One day, I was walking back to a plane empty
handed and frustrated because they would not give me the tools I needed. A man in street attire that I did not know asked
me what my problem was. After I explained,
he told me to follow him. When we
stepped inside the tool crib, every soldier in that room jumped to attention saluting
this man. Turned out my new friend was a
full bird colonel in command of the entire base! He told the servicemen that from
that moment when they saw me anywhere on base, they were looking at him and were
to treat me as such. The rest of that
summer anything I asked in the name of that colonel, I promptly received. So it
is with us, brethren, when we come before the Father in the name of Christ our
Advocate. He said, “In that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it
you.” (Joh 16:23)
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Sin is pleasurable, affliction is not. The riches of this world are tempting, reproach
for the name of Christ is not. But always
look ahead to the end when deciding on what to do now: the end reward of living
for this world will be separation from God forever; the end reward of living
for Christ will be communion with Christ forever. May God’s grace make us like Moses, “Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Heb
11:23-26).
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CHRIST IS OUR PREACHER
Psalm 22: 22: I will declare thy name unto my
brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Christ is the Prophet, the Preacher, God promised to raise
up. (De 18:15) Here Christ says to God his
Father, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the
congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps 22: 22)
Christ has been declaring God’s name to to us since the beginning of
time. He was “the Voice walking”
in the garden. Christ preached God’s name throughout the days of old in
different ways through his prophets, by various signs, even by pre-incarnate
appearances. (Heb 1: 1) Then as he walked this earth, God “hath in these
last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb 1:1-2) Most especially, Christ declared
God’s name on the cross: declaring God is the justifier of his people who satisfied
his own justice for his people. Christ continues to preach from his throne in
heaven through the preachers he sends. Paul said, “Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2Co 5:20)
Therefore, in
our day, when God’s people gather publicly, it is not to be instructed merely
by the man speaking from the pulpit. We come to taught by Christ our Prophet.
If we truly hear the gospel in our hearts, it will not be the voice of a man
that teaches us, but Christ Jesus himself. Scripture exhorts us to lay this to heart, “See
that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him
that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him
that speaketh from heaven” (Heb 12:25).
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CHRIST’S MESSAGE
“I will
declare thy name unto my brethren…” (Ps
22:22)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Jireh, “The LORD
will provide”, “the LORD will see to it”, “in the mount of the LORD it
shall be seen.” (Gen 22: 14). In
God’s holy mount on the cross, it was seen.
God has provided salvation for his
elect by saving us from our sins by Christ Jesus’s death in our place.
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Rapha, “I AM the
LORD that healeth thee” (Ex 15: 23-26). By Christ’s death in our place “with his stripes we are healed.” (Is 53: 5)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Nissi, “I AM the
Lord your banner.” (Exo 27: 15). Christ was lifted up like Moses rod was
lifted up: on the cross, into heaven, in the gospel we preach and in the hearts
of his people. Thereby, believers are more than conquerors through him that
loved us in this war against sin, death and hell. We rally to Christ like soldiers on a battle
field rally to their flag.
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Tzidkenu, “I AM the
Lord your Righteousness” (Jer 23: 6; 33: 16). Christ Jesus is the
righteousness of God. (Rom 10: 3-4) By his irresistible grace making us willing
to believe on Christ his righteousness is ours.
“This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our
righteousness.” (Jer 23: 6; 33: 16)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH
Shalom, “I AM the Lord your peace” (Judg 6: 24). Christ reconciled his
people unto God, working peace between us and God (Rom 5: 6-11). Through faith in Christ God says to
his child, “Peace be unto thee;
fear not: thou shalt not die.” (Ju 6: 23)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH
Shammah, “I AM the Lord who is there” (Eze 48: 35). This is why his
church is the guarded city; it is why the gates of hell shall not prevail
against his church, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there.
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Raah, “I AM the
LORD your Shepherd” (Ps 23). This cursed earth is the valley of the shadow
of death. Only Jehovah Raah makes his
sheep lie down in green pastures.
These are the seven names of God. Seven is the number of perfections. God’s
name is perfect. The perfection of God’s great name is summed up in our Lord
Jesus, “I AM the LORD your Savior” (Is 43: 3; Mt 1: 21).