July 2^nd 2017

9:30 am ------------------------------------Run The Race, Looking Unto Jesus – Hebrews 12

10:00 am ---------------------------------------He That Was Dead Came Forth – John 11:17-46

*** No Wednesday Night Service This Week ***

ELECTION IS NOT BY WORKS, SALVATION AND DAMNATION IS

When God chose Jacob and Esau it was before the two had done any good or evil. This is to show us that God electing some to salvation, and God passing by others, is not based on anything in us. It is purely by the free and sovereign grace of God alone that God chooses whom he will. But make no mistake, Jacob’s salvation and Esau’s damnation were each based on a work. Jacob’s salvation was due to Christ’s finished work on Jacob’s behalf. Esau’s damnation was due to the work of Esau who chose a bowl of beans over Christ and the birthright. Election is not by works. But salvation and damnation is. Salvation is a gift to the sinner through Christ’s work. Damnation is a wage earned by the sinner through his own. How do we know this is so? By the word of God, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23) -- Clay Curtis

My granddaughter is expecting a baby, long awaited for and prayed for. Often we’ll read Ps. 139: 13-18 together and in wonder as to how our God is forming this precious little being in the secret place of its Mother’s womb. We get so excited as we think of the soon fruition of her labor. I compared it with what Mr. Gurnall said in an article; “When a soul believes, then God’s eternal purpose concerning him whom He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world is brought to term. Can you imagine the love God has for a child He has carried so long in the womb of His eternal purpose? If God delighted in His plan before He spoke the world into being how much greater is His delight to witness the full fruition of His labor, a believing soul.” – Terry Worthan

Job: Perfect Man, Perfect Parent -- “Job; a man that was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. . . . And it was so, when the days (Job’s sons and daughters were) feasting, Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus did Job continually.’” – Job 1:1,5

God called Job, perfect (complete in Christ) and upright (as Christ); meaning, he was just, upright, mature in understanding, character and conduct. By the grace of God he knew God, knew Christ, worshipped God always, called on the Lord always. Christ was his life.

Job had 10 children and Job’s one concern for all his children was that they might know and worship the Lord. He was deeply worried about them. Though they had everything they could ask for (too much) they did not have the one thing needful, and so Job prayed for them; Job called on God for them, and he called on them to come worship the Lord with him. But they didn’t, and so they perished!

Parents, what about you? What is your greatest concern for your children? Is it that they might have all this world has to offer? . . . or have Christ, Who is all? Do you pray for them? . . . that the Lord would reveal Himself to them? Do you call them to worship with you? If they don’t come to Christ they will perish. Do you talk to them about the Lord and their need of Him? If they are old enough to willfully rebel, they are old enough to perish for it. O’ may we be as Job, perfect and upright . . . concerned about ONE THING. If we are more concerned with the things of this world, our children know it and they won’t hear us. If our talk is of the world all week and of God only on Sunday, our children pay no attention to our religion. Like Lot in Sodom, we will seem as one that mocketh. If we murmur and complain all week and are down in the mouth, then come to give thanks to the Lord on Sunday; it is all a pretense to them. If we speak critically of the people of God and the preacher of God, our children will have no love and respect for them or him, and they will not hear the Word of God preached, which Word is able to save their souls

Let us do as the Lord told us: “These words, which I shall command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and risest up (Deut.6:6-7). Let us be as Abraham, “And the Lord said . . . I know him, that he will command his children after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment . . .” (Gen.18:19). Let us be as Job.