September 3^rd 2017

9:30 am -----------------------------------------------------------------Glory and Love – John 13:31-35

10:00 am ----------------------------------------------Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled – John 14:1-6

The Most Godly And Christlike Person

It is written of our Lord that He: “ Forgiveth ALL thine iniquities” . . . “ The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy”. . . “the Lord pitieth” . . . “He knoweth our frame . . . He remembereth that we are dust” . . . “ He is full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” . . . “ He delighteth in mercy.” These and so much more are descriptions of our Lord’s character. And so, that person who is most godly (like God), most Christ like; is that person who is most merciful and gracious, most forgiving and delights to show mercy; most patient, forbearing, longsuffering, pitiful, courteous, kind and understanding. That person who knoweth your frame and remembereth that you are a sinner like him or her, will love you for who you are and forgive you for what you are not. O’ to be like Him!

“Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.” – Micah 7:18

A Pastor’s Farewell

‘Now ye have a storm, but hereafter an everlasting calm, now ye are tost to and fro, and weather beaten, but faith by the glass of the Gospel, discovers land, and this without question may support your spirits. Therefore, when trouble comes, take heed of fetching your comfort from any creature. Alas! they are all puddle water. It is the word of His grace which is the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, the river whose streams make glad the city of God.

Thus I commend you to the word of His grace . . . I commend you to this God, to His favour and singular affection, to His power and special protection, and to His care and universal benediction.

I cannot commend you to one so faithful; though others fall off like leaves in autumn, He will never leave you that are His, nor forsake you. I know not to commend you to one so loving; He lived in love, he in our natures died for love. His love is like Himself, boundless and bottomless. It is impossible to commend you to one so able; He can supply all your needs, fill your souls to the brim; grace is lovely in your eyes, whoever beheld it. Glory is infinitely amiable in your judgments, whoever believed it. He can build you up, and give you an inheritance, where all the heirs are kings and queens, and shall sit on thrones, and live and reign with Christ for ever and ever. There ye shall have robes of purity on your backs, palms of victory in your hands, crowns of glory on your heads, and songs of triumph in your mouths; there ye may meet together to worship Him without fear, and drink freely of His sweetest, dearest favour; there your services will be without the smallest sin, and your souls without the least sorrow. It is some comfort now, that though distant in places, we can meet together at the throne of grace; but oh, what a comfort will it be to meet together in that palace of Glory! But since we must part here, “finally, my brethren, farewell; be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind; live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” . . . “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified.”’ -- George Swinnock, English pastor, 1627-1673

The Deceitfulness and Uncertainty of Riches

“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away . . .” – Proverbs 23:5

“For riches are not forever . . .” – Proverbs 27:24

“The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word” – Mark 4:19

“How hardly shall they that have riches enter the kingdom of God! – Mark 10:23