January 17^th - 2021

9:30 am -----------------------------------------Treasures of Wisdom & Knowledge – Colossians 2:3

10:00 am-----------------------------------------------------------------Like Precious Faith – 2 Peter 1:1

Wednesday: 7:00 pm

Cast All On Christ

The most difficult thing for any of us to do is to TOTALLY and COMPLETELY trust and rest in our blessed Lord Jesus to redeem us, sanctify us, and make us accepted of the Father. We are so prone to self-righteousness and works that we have a constant battle trying to remember that “man at his BEST STATE is altogether vanity” but also that, in his WEAKEST MOMENTS, is no less loved and accepted if he is in Christ.

As Bro. Fortner said, “My relationship with the eternal God (in Christ) does in great measure determine what I do. But what I do (good or bad) in no way determines my relationship with the eternal God.” Actually, “In my flesh dwelleth NO GOOD THING.” It is in Christ that the Father is well-pleased; and only in Christ can He love, accept, and be pleased with me.

I did not come to Christ on the basis of my works, nor am I kept in Christ on the basis of my works! I looked to Him THEN for ALL THINGS, and I look to Him NOW for ALL THINGS! Any look within will serve only to discourage and depress me; but, looking to Christ, the author and finisher of my faith, will only encourage me, for He never changes. His gift of life and calling to grace is without change.

The command, “Look unto Me and be ye saved,” is not only the hope and strength of the seeking sinner, but it is the constant hope and strength of the believing sinner. I know my sins, but I rejoice in his grace. I know my weakness, but I rest in His strength. I know my emptiness, but I am complete in Him.

“O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear” all because we do not cast our sins and our souls on Christ and LEAVE THEM THERE! -- Henry Mahan

A Better Year?

I heard someone say that they hoped that 2021 would be a better year. I ask this question. Was God’s will done in 2020, yes? Was the purpose of God accomplished in 2020, yes? Are we (believers) one year closer to going home to be with our Lord, yes? Then I say, it was a great year. “Do not say, Why was it that the former days were better than these? For you do not ask from wisdom concerning this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10). Remember, former days, present days, and future days are all the Lord’s days. – John Chapman

“CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL”-- Colossians 3:11

An excerpt from the first words of C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1861 are as follows: “My venerated predecessor, Dr. Gill, has left behind a Body of Divinity, admirable and excellent in its way; but the Body of Divinity to which I would pin and bind myself for ever, God helping me, is not his system, or any other human treatise; but Christ Jesus who is the sum and substance of the gospel, who is himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth, the all-glorious personal embodiment of the way, the truth, and the life.”

Mr. Spurgeon was right on key. In our religion, the Christian religion, “Christ is” indeed “all and in all.” Our salvation is of Him, it is by Him, it is for Him, it IS HIM! He is its Author and its Substance. Everything about the Christian religion is viewed in its connection with Him - every doctrine, and every precept, and every privilege, and every duty, and every precious promise. He is that great Fountain from which all spiritual blessings flow to His dear people – ever full, yet ever flowing to each and every one of His needy people

It is to Christ that his people are continually coming, of Him they are continually learning, on Him they are continually feasting, and in Him they continually find rest and peace – all by grace through faith – IN HIM! -- Maurice Montgomery