March 26^th 2023

9:30 am --------------------------------- The Man With a Message From The Lord – Exodus 4:18-31

10:00 am ----------------------------------------- The Called and Calling – 1 Corinthians 1:2

Wednesday: 7:00 pm

The following article has been in our bulletin a few times, but needs to be read again and again.

Too Many And Too Much– By Henry Mahan

We have entirely too many fears for a people to whom the Lord has said: “Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”-- Isa.41:10.

We have far too many doubts and fears concerning God’s mercy, love, and grace for a people to whom the Lord has said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out . . . I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish: John 6:37; 10:28.

We spend entirely too much time grumbling and complaining about our trials and troubles for a people to whom the Lord has said, “In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

We have entirely too much attachment to this world and to this present life for a people who are looking for a city whose Builder and Maker is God (Hebrews 11:8-10).

We have far too much anxiety, care, and fear, far too much concern for the earthly, material things for a people to whom the Lord has said, “Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32)

“If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than prayer, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better than the Lord’s table, any person better than Christ, any indulgence better than the hope of Heaven . . . take alarm!” -- Thomas Guthrie

“There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of this world uppermost in our aim, love and estimation.”– Joseph Alleine

“By grace we can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.” -- John Newton

Christ and His Church Are Synonymous

One cannot be in Christ and not be in the body, for Christ is the Head and the church is His body. The union is like marriage when the two become one. This union and oneness is true both spiritually and physically. Spiritually, there is a mysterious but real union of Christ and His people which makes them one in all things. As He is, so are we in this world. As He is holy, righteous, loved and accepted by God, so are His people . . . accepted in the Beloved. Christ and His people are one in purpose (God’s praise and glory) one in thought (agreeing with God in all things) one in love (loving God and each other), one in all things. And this union is true physically . . . for where Christ is, so is His body. Where Christ meets to worship, so does His body. Where Christ loves to resort (the garden of His beloved) so do His people. And so, Christ and His church are synonymous. You cannot have one without the other; nor think of one without the other. To love Christ is to love His people. To serve Christ is to serve His people. To be with Christ is to be with His people. If Christ is our life, the church family will be our life. Christ gave Himself, His whole earthly life and death, and now lives eternally for the Church. What of us? Who is our life? . . . our love? . . our joy? . . . our family? Christ said all this of His Church!

I Will Heal Their Backsliding, I Will Love Them Freely . . . – Hosea 14:4