October 22^nd 2023

9:30 am ---------------------------------------------Bitter Waters Made Sweet – Exodus 15:23-27

10:00 am ------------------------------------------------------------------.What is This? – Exodus 16:15

What is The Gospel? . . ."What is the gospel itself but a merciful moderation (covenant), in which Christ's obedience is esteemed ours, and our sins laid upon him, wherein God, from being a judge, becomes our Father, pardoning our sins and accepting our obedience, though feeble and blemished? We are now brought to heaven under the covenant of grace by a way of love and mercy." – Richard Sibbes

Do You Love Christ?

Peter was grieved when the Lord asked him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” It has been suggested that the Lord asked this question three times because Peter denied him three times. I’m sure that the memory of that incident added to Peter’s grief that the Lord should keep repeating this same question. Peter appealed to the Lord’s complete knowledge of all things, of all hearts and thoughts, and replied, “Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.”

This is the vital issue for all professed Christians; “Do you love Christ?” It is not, do you love the sovereignty of God, the doctrine, the Bible, the church, or even the people of God (though you certainly will love all these if you love Christ). But do you love him? This is where life and hope and grace are born—love for Christ (1 Cor. 16:22). – Henry Mahan

Man by Nature – by C.H. MacKintosh,Ireland, 1820-1896

“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

As you pass to a fro through this world of men you may meet the atheist who affects to deny the existence of God; the infidel who denies God’s revelation; the skeptic and the rationalist who disbelieves everything. And, on the other hand, you will meet the religious devotee who spends his time in prayers and fastings, ordinances, and ceremonies; and who feels sure he is earning a place in heaven by a wearisome round of religious observances that actually unfit him for the proper functions and responsibilities of domestic and social life. You may meet men of every imaginable shade of religious opinion, high church, low church, broad church, and no church; men who, without a spark of divine life in their souls, are contending for the powerless forms of traditional religion.

Now, there is one grand and awfully solemn fact common to all these various classes, castes, grades, shades, and conditions of men by nature, and that is there is not so much as a single link between them and heaven—there is no link with the Man who sits at the right hand of God—no link with the new creation. They are without Christ and without hope. They are unconverted. They have not gotten eternal life. As regards God, and Christ, and eternal life, and heaven, they all—however they may differ, morally, socially, and religiously—stand on one common ground; they are far from God—they are out of Christ—they are in their sins—they are in the flesh—they are of the world—they are on their way to hell.

"Be Still and Know That I AM GOD" -- Psalm 46:10

This text of scripture forbids quarrelling and murmuring against God. I will assure you that there are none that have corruption (sinners), that should not be afraid of this. But many give way to this quarrelling, and consider not the hazard thereof. Beware of it, for it is a dreadful thing to quarrel with God. Who may say unto Him, "What doest Thou?" It is a good account of Aaron, that when God sent fire to destroy his sons, he held his peace. Let us then, while we bear the yoke, "sit alone and keep silence, and put our mouths in the dust, if so be there may be hope" (Lam.3:28-29). Ye know, the murmuring of the children of Israel cost them very dear. "Be Still," that is, beware of murmuring against me, saith the Lord. God gives not an account of His matters to any; because there may be many things ye cannot see through. I say, God gives not an account of His matters to any. Beware then, of drawing rash conclusions. -- Richard Cameron, Scotland (read below)