March 5^th , 2017

9:30 am------------------------------------------Jesus: Known Yet Unknown – John 7:28-36

10:00 am ----------------------------------If Any Man Thirst (Living Water) – John 7:37-39

Wednesday: 7:30 pm ----------------Never Man Spake Like This Man – John 7:40-53

CALLING MEN TO CHRIST

The great object of Gospel preaching and the practice of godliness are to call men, and attract men to Christ. The great commission of Christ to His Church hasn’t been altered nor annulled. Our Lord, by His Gospel trumpet yet gathers His elect from one end of heaven to the other. He employs feeble instruments and feeble means to do so, and though it may appear a day of small things, yet we must not despise them, Zechariah 4:10.

God help us to renew our commitment and determine as never before to (by the Word of God) command men to repent and believe the Gospel. Who knows but Omniscient God, that we may be on the very threshold of seeing Him break forth on the right and on the left and from the east and west and north and south and gather into His Kingdom a great number of Abraham’s seed.

Someone said, “The Church of Jesus Christ is the most important institution in the world. The assembly of the redeemed, the company of the saints, and the children of God are more significant in world history than any other group, organization or nation. The United States of America compares to the church of Jesus Christ like a speck of dust compares to the sun. The drama of international relations compares to the mission of the Church like a kindergarten riddle compares to Hamlet or King Lear. And all pomp of May Day in Red Square and the pageantry of New Year’s in Pasadena fade into a formless grey against the splendor of the bride of Christ. Take heed how you judge things. Things are not what they seem. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the Word of the Lord (and all His family) endureth for ever (I Pet.1:24, 25). The media and all the powers, and authorities, and rulers, and stars that they present are a mirage. “…For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:15). The gates of Hades, the powers of death, will prevail against every institution but one, the Church.”

Our number is small and our means feeble, but the self-existing, self-sufficient great “I AM” is abundantly powerful and is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. While Egyptian pyramid builders build their great monuments to man’s misconception of the God we serve, and trust in horses and chariots (gimmicks and methods), yet we will remember the name of the Lord our God (Ps.20:7); remembering that He hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence (1Cor.1:27). Remember He took a boy’s sack lunch of five barley biscuits and two little fish that were barely keepers and fed five thousand. Therefore let us trust and expect Him to take our small things and do great things with them. – Terry Worthan

WHY? HOW? WHEN?

It is not until the enlightened sinner is made by grace to see the sovereign character of God that these three questions will always be answered in a way that gives the believer true peace, comfort and rest. Here are the final answers to every question that begins with “Why? How? When?

WHY? “Even so Father: it seemed good in thy sight.” (Matthew 11:26, Luke 10:21)

HOW? “According to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

WHEN? “But when it pleased God.” “Until the time appointed.” (Galatians 1:15, Galatians 4:2)