CENTRAL BULLETIN JANUARY 15, 2017

Central Grace Church

3596 Franklin Street . Rocky Mount, Virginia

January 15^th , 2017

9:30 am -------------------------------------------------------------------The Bread From Heaven – John 6:30-35

10:00 am -----------------------------------------------------------That He Might Bring Us To God – 1 Peter 3:18

Birthdays: January 31^st – Robin Chandler

Cleaning: This Week – Tom & Helen, Next Week – Wesley & Melanie

Nursery: Lauren, Alt: Helen

The Lord willing, Mindy and I will be leaving after service, traveling to Madisonville, Kentucky, where I will be preaching Wednesday for the Bible Baptist Church; David Eddmenson, pastor.

NO WEDNESDAY SERVICE THIS WEEK.

Listen to live audio of services on: www.mixlr.com/centralgracechurch

In Romans 16, Paul commended 35 people by name; thanking them for their service to the church and to him; commending them and holding them forth as examples to all. I will not mention everyone, but would like to commend a few who are constant, faithful servants of this church and me. Thankyou brother Mac Torrence, for your willing and faithful work in the treasury. Thankyou sister Jeannette for all the secretarial work you do for me. Thankyou Ed & Kevin for constantly doing things around here (unknown to most). Thankyou John & Irene for all you do (and it is so much). Thankyou Melanie for all you do. Thankyou Ron Fannin for always looking for things to do and doing them; for always asking if I need your help. And so many more of you, whom I may mention at a later time . . . thankyou.

He Is Not Ashamed To Call Them Brethren – Hebrews 2:11

This is surely one of the most comforting verses a sorry, saved sinner could hear; that, the Lord of Glory is not ashamed to call us brethren. O’ how ashamed we are of ourselves. As the Lord said through Ezekiel; after we hear of all that the Lord has and will do for us, “ye shall remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations”(Ezek.36:31). And yet, the Lord God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is not ashamed of those He died for; not ashamed of them, though they have shamefully treated him. He is not ashamed of them, for He knows their frame; He knows their hearts; He knows the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He knows they believe Him (He gave them the faith) though they often act and speak like they don’t. He knows they love Him (He gave them that love) though they sometimes act and speak like they don’t. He knows them, like a Father knows His child, like a brother knows His brother, like a husband knows His wife. He knows them better than they know themselves, and so, He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

We can’t help but think of the story of Joseph, when He revealed himself to his brethren; those sorry brothers who hated him, sold him, and forgot about him. But Joseph never hated them, never rejected them; he never forgot about them. And when the Lord brought them into Joseph’s hands, to do with them as he pleased, Joseph, a type of Christ, was not ashamed to own them as his brethren. In his first words to them, he said, “I am Joseph your brother”. . . And the fame thereof (Joseph’s love and mercy) was heard in Pharoah’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brethren are come” (Gen.45:4,16). And so it was, of the Lord’s first words to His disciples (all of whom forsook Him), through Mary, were, “Go tell my brethren.”

What a loving, merciful, longsuffering, kind, compassionate, patient and understanding Elder Brother we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. O, how we ought to fear sinning against such love; fear doing anything to put Him to shame. But O’ what hope and comfort it will give us, that even when we do sin, “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” None who put their trust in Him will ever be put to shame; none will ever be disowned by Him. For He abideth faithful.

Sweet and Comfortable Conversation -- By John Flavel, 1627-1691, English preacher

How comfortable and sweet should the conversation and communication of Christians be one with another, in this world! . . .

O’ what manner of heavenly communications and ravishing discourses should believers have with each other as they walk by the way! O, what pleasant and delightful converse should they have one with another about the Place and state whither Christ is bringing them, and Where they shall shortly be! What ravishing, transporting, transforming visions they shall have that day that they are brought home to God! How should such discourses as these, shorten and sweeten their passage through this world, strengthen and encourage the dejected and feeble-minded, and exceedingly honour and adorn their profession! Thus lived the believers of old (Heb.11:9-10).