October 15^th 2023

9:30 am ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -. The Song of Moses – Exodus 15

10:00 am ----------------------------------------No More a Stranger, Now a Citizen – Ephesians 2:19

Here is another reason for giving the gospel over and over, again and again. It is the reason which makes a mother tell her child twenty times, namely, because nineteen are not enough. Men are so forgetful about the things of Christ, and their minds are so apt to start aside from the truth, that when they have learned the gospel they are very easily bewitched by falsehood and are readily deceived by that "other gospel" which is not another: therefore we need to give them "line upon line and precept upon precept." -- Charles Spurgeon

Everyone Can’t All Be Right

Some think that it does not matter what a man believes so long as he is sincere. The average person thinks that all religions are right. “You go to your church and I’ll go to mine, you believe what you think is right and I’ll believe what I think is right, and we’ll meet in heaven someday and rejoice in our respective saviors.” No! my friends, we cannot all be right when we contradict one another so. It is imperative that we search the Scriptures and see what God says. A doctrine is not true because I believe it or because you believe it, but it is true only if God says it! I do not ask whether you believe what I preach—perhaps you do not. But I ask you to search the Scriptures and determine whether these things be so. I am not afraid to submit my belief in God’s immutable sovereignty, man’s total fall and ruin, God’s elective grace, Christ’s effectual atonement, the Spirit’s invincible call, and the perseverance of the sheep to the Word of God! – Henry Mahan

Try The Spirits Whether They Are Of God – I John 4:1

Here are a few scriptural principles which you may apply to whomever and whatever you hear, so that you may know whether they are of God or speak of themselves.

1. Who is getting ALL the glory in the message being preached? Do the preacher’s name, face and works seem to be in the limelight? After listening and watching him, do you go away being impressed with him, his knowledge, his spirituality, his voice and talents? Are his name and his works at the forefront? This is the first and true test which will generally reveal all false preachers. On the other hand, when you listen to a true man sent from God, as John the Baptist, he will be reluctant to even use his name. He will be self-abasing and God exalting. He will speak of the Name, Person and Work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so often and so exclusively, that (if in the spirit yourself) you will go away thinking only of God’s glory. “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. – John 7:18

2. Is mankind being exalted or abased in the preaching? Is man’s will, choice, worth and works being extolled? Does the preaching leave you with a good opinion of mankind (especially yourself)? Does the preacher leave you thinking about what you can do and be if you aspire to it? These are sure signs of a false prophet. Throughout scripture, God’s true prophets never had anything good to say about the human race, while false prophets were flatterers. The Word of God very clearly abases mankind and reveals him to be a corrupt and fallen creature. Therefore the true preacher of God’s Word always abases the creature while exalting the Creator. The Truth from the beginning has always been of a fallen and sinful race and of the need of sovereign mercy, grace and power to save them. Man is dead in trespasses and sins and God alone gives life . . . to whom He will.

3. Is salvation ultimately in the hands of God or man? At the conclusion of the preacher’s sermon, does he leave salvation up to your decision, your will . . . your acceptance of an ‘offer’, or you ‘making Jesus Lord of your life?’ No matter what was said before, if a man ends his message with salvation dependent upon something you must do, he is a false prophet. Many say ‘grace’ but do not really mean ‘undeserved and unmerited favor.’ The message from God puts a man in the dust as an undeserving, helpless sinner crying out for mercy and grace. The message from God leaves the hearer with a sense of his own helplessness, and total dependence upon God to have mercy upon him and save him by His grace. The message from God declares “Salvation belongeth to the Lord.” He is the “Author and Finisher.” The message from God puts the fear of God in a man and causes him to repent and call on the Lord to save him.