Central Grace Church
3596 Franklin Street Rocky Mount, Virginia
Website: www.centralgracechurch.com Email: [email protected]
November 29th 2020
10:00 am -------------------------------------------------Message by Gabe Stalnaker
Wednesday: 7:00 pm ---------------------------------------Reconciliation – Colossians 1:20-21
Welcome back Gabe and Hannah Stalnaker. For any visitors, brother Gabe is pastor of Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. We thank him for coming to preach to us today.
Listen to live audio of services on: www.mixlr.com/centralgracechurch
Listen to: WYTI Radio – Rocky Mount, VA - 8:00 AM – Sundays -- 1570 AM / 104.5 FM,
He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease – John 3:30
John the Baptist, the man who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord; the man who our Lord Jesus Christ said was the greatest prophet born of a woman, said: “The Lord Jesus Christ must increase, but I must decrease.” To that, all of God’s people will cry: Amen! The higher that the Lord Jesus Christ is raised up, and the more exalted God’s people see Him to be… The happier they are! When Christ is exalted, their joy is exalted, their hope is exalted, and their faith is exalted as it LOOKS UP to Him, HIGH in the heavens. The higher they see His throne to be, the more glorious the gospel of their redemption is to them, and the more in awe they are of how far He came down to save them. After seeing Christ in all of His exalted glory, God’s people cannot and will not ever see Him any other way. They will cry to every soul who will listen: “He must increase, but I must decrease!” – Gabe Stalnaker
The Wisdom That is From Above
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).
You can be sure that when our attitudes and words create strife, confusion, and division, it is not the wisdom of God. Where wise men and women worship, there is love, peace, and unity.
The wisdom which is from God is PURE! When the heart entertains pure and good thoughts of others, the mouth speaks accordingly.
It is PEACEABLE. “If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, live peaceably with all men.” Men who desire peace, speak peacefully.
It is GENTLE, mild, courteous, and patient. To contend for truth is not to be harsh and cruel as some suppose. Gentleness is the fruit of the Spirit, an attribute of Christ and also of His servants.
It is EASY TO BE ENTREATED or willing to listen to any word of wisdom, reason, and explanation; and it is quick to forgive. A forgiving heart is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom.
It is FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS. Wisdom knows that God makes men to differ. He makes rich and poor, strong and weak. So there is always the desire to share what God has given with those who have less.
It is WITHOUT PARTIALIATY. Wisdom does not judge by outward appearance, skin color, or power to reimburse. It is no respecter of men’s persons, but reaches out to all.
It is WITHOUT HYPOCRISY. True spiritual wisdom in Christ is straightforward, open-faced, and genuine. How can anyone be so foolish as to play the game of religion before God, who searches and knows the heart? -- Henry Mahan
Be Not Unequally Yoked With Unbelievers
We are told in the scriptures not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, READ 2Co 6:14-18. This includes all of our relationships. King Solomon found this out the hard way, READ --- 1Kings 11:1-11
Remember, we who believe, have what they have, an old sinful nature. However, they do not have what we have, a new nature. That new nature will have no effect on them, but that old nature will have an effect on us, and it leads to no good. Let us walk in the light of His word and we will not stumble. – John Chapman