April 2^nd , 2017

9:30 am ------------------------------------------------------A Child of God & Abraham – John 8:37-47

10:00 am -------------------------------------------------------------Such As Should Be Saved – Acts 2:47

No Wednesday Service This Week

SWEET SLEEP “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.” -- Psalm 3:5

Blessed Quietness – “I laid me down and slept.” We often lay down, but toss and turn, because like Martha, we are careful and troubled about many things. David was not sitting on his throne when he wrote these words, or resting in his palace. He wrote these words when he fled from his own son Absalom who was leading a rebellion to take his throne. David knew trouble and heartache, but he also knew the reality of God’s faithfulness and grace. I don't recall as a child at home ever losing sleep worrying whether I would be fed the next day. When Mom tucked me in at night, kissed my forehead, and said, “I love you,” I felt safe and secure. “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Pro.3:24). God Does the Watching – “I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.” There are times I would honor my God more by doing nothing rather than trying to do what only He can. There are times to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. “Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps.121:4). With God's good providence for our pillow, the perfect righteousness of Christ for our blanket, and the promise of our Everlasting Father to preserve us unto His heavenly kingdom, why should we not lie down and sleep? “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” David, who was himself a shepherd and a king, now beholds the Chief Shepherd and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ Himself! The Morning Is Coming – “I awaked.” I wonder how much goes on while we’re asleep. We learn sometimes of danger that was in the neighborhood during the night, but we slept right through it. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” And so we shall until that time comes for us to close our eyes for the very last time here. What happens then? “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” The Psalm ends on a sweet note of confident assurance that all the blessings of God’s great salvation are upon His people. “Selah” – Stop, pause, and think about it. May God give me grace to trust Him more. – Larry Criss, Sylacauga,AL

Who Is The King Of This World?

A man once said, “The early Christians did not say in dismay, Look what the world has come to; but rather in delight, Look WHOhas come into the world!”

Perhaps we need to be more like those early Christians. While it is impossible for those who walk in the light to ignore or be indifferent toward the “works of darkness,” yet we should fix our hearts upon Zion’s King, the Lord Jesus Christ, and rejoice with thanksgiving that such an One came into this sinful world and performed such an amazing, effectual work of love for those who were His natural enemies; and what a work He is presently doing in this sinful world right now.

Every time the Lord Jesus visits a country or nation with the gospel, it is an invasion of enemy territory. Every time our Lord establishes a Gospel Church, it is the setting up of a stronghold on enemy turf. Every individual sinner saved is a tribute to the sovereign power and effectual grace of King Jesus, our Saviour. Every believer is a testimony of the conquering power of Mary’s Son, who conquered the powers of Satan and darkness and took the spoils of victory.

What is really going on in this world? First and foremost, faith declares, “My Captain is bringing many sons unto glory” (Heb. 2:9-18). And, “He shall not fail nor be discouraged” (Isa. 42:4). Who is the King of this world? He is our Saviour, our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. “He shall very soon show”, says the apostle Paul, “WHO ISthe blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Tim. 6:15).