October 27, 2019

9:30 am and 10:00 am ----------------------------------------------Messages by brother Thomas Harding

Message to Hear: by Don Bell -- https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=101019138216447

Welcome brother Tom Harding and sister Bridgett. Brother Tom Harding, pastor of Zebulon Grace Church, Pikeville, Kentucky, will be bringing both messages to you today, while I am preaching for Grace Baptist Church of Lewisville, Arkansas, Darvin Pruitt, pastor.

Our meeting with brother Clay Curtis is a less than two weeks away. Pray the Lord will bless us and bring someone.

Preserving Grace Before Regeneration – J.C. Philpot

"To them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called."-- Jude 1

What a mercy it is for God's people that before they have a 'vital union' with Christ—before they are grafted into Him experimentally—they have an 'eternal, immanent union' with Him before all worlds. It is by virtue of this eternal union that they come into the world—at such a time, at such a place, from such parents, under such circumstances—as God has appointed. It is by virtue of this eternal union that the circumstances of their lives are ordained. By virtue of this eternal union they are preserved in Christ before they are effectually called. They cannot die until God has brought about a vital union with Christ! Whatever sickness they may pass through—whatever injuries they may be exposed to—whatever perils assault them on sea or land— die they will not, die they cannot—until God's purposes are executed in bringing them into a vital union with the Son of His love. Thus, this eternal union watched over every circumstance of their birth—watched over their childhood—watched over their manhood—watched over them until the appointed time and spot, when "the God of all grace," according to His eternal purpose, was pleased to quicken their souls, and thus bring about an experimental union with the Lord of life and glory.

The Best Friend

The best friend you can have on this earth is one who will tell you the truth. One who will not help make you comfortable in a refuge of lies. One who speaks the truth to you in love. One who will continue to do so though you may not appreciate his doing so. May I be such a friend that the blood of others be not on my hands. -- Don Bell

“Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I MUST bring, and THEY SHALL hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”– John 10:16

I believe in using means to send the gospel out but if our methods and means begin to look like advertising, then I believe it is positively wrong and brings reproach upon the gospel. And if we think it is our methods and means that have brought God’s people in, we are dead wrong!

The Truth is not a thing which we must market or advertise as we would a product for sale. Those that do so, show little regard for the Holy Spirit and His power to draw all men to hear the gospel. Does that mean that we should forsake all means of trying to get people to hear or read the Truth? NO. But we must guard against presenting the Truth in such a way as to cheapen it and make it appear to be a commodity or product offer available to the general public if they will have it. It is not! Christ said: My sheep hear my voice! And they shall!. . . All of them!. . . With or without us! Certainly without our help, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, who sovereignly brings, convinces and regenerates all for whom Christ died.