October 29^th 2023

10:30 am ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Messa ge by John Chapman

“IT IS FINISHED” – John 19:3

Every time I consider this passage, my mind focuses first on the “It”. All that God required concerning the redemption of God’s sheep ... all that the law demanded for justice and judgment against His people ... every type and shadow of Christ in the Old Testament is included in “It”. And though this frail creature fails to grasp the fullness of “it”, all was “finished.” Everything God eternally purposed, decreed and ordained was finished by Christ’s one sacrifice for sin. And the marvel of this blessed truth is summed up with the word, “is”. That which He has done has been done forever! What a declaration of peace for a needy sinner from the mouth of the glorious Lamb of God. – Marvin Stalnaker

God’s Works And Thoughts

“Many, 0 Lord, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done and Thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Ps. 40:5).

No matter what our feelings or our circumstances, there is always something in the scriptures to meet our need or express what we feel. David, in this verse, expresses my feelings. All any of us have to do to see the wondrous works of God toward us is to just look around us. Has He not preserved us, kept us from falling, and met all of our needs both temporally and spiritually? Look at His wonderful works toward us as a church! He has indeed done a wondrous work for us as a body of believers. Just consider where we were just a few short years ago. When I do, my heart melts in gratitude and is filled with joy.

Let us offer thanks to Him for every trial and every tear, for every mountain and every valley, for every bit of rejoicing and every bit of sorrow, for every bit of ease and every bit of struggle, for every step, every breath and every moment that has

brought us to this place and time! 0 Lord, our God and Savior, give us of your grace that we may honor and magnify the truth of your grace given us in your Son.

0 Lord, renew our zeal, renew our determination to be true to the One True and Living God and Jesus Christ whom you sent to be the sacrifice and substitute for sinners like us. Lord, enable us to guard our fellowship as brethren, that we would always enjoy peace and harmony and unity of purpose and heart as a church family. Lord also let us always love one another and be kind and gracious one to another, as we remember the Great Love wherewith you Loved us and Gave Yourself for us. - Don Bell

The Significance of the Pool – John 5:1-9

Some say the pool at Bethesda was a superstitious pool and had no virtue in its water. Others say that it was blessed of God by the presence of an angel who troubled its water and gave healing virtue to the first to plunge into the pool.

I personally see this pool as a picture of both. But the real significance of Bethesda’s pool is the sovereign King of Glory who graced it with His presence. The only reason for it to be preserved or mentioned at all; the only value to it or virtue it could claim is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before He appeared or after his appearance, He is still the source of its virtue and the magic of its water. I thought as I studied these passages how much this applies to all that we are and do.

1. As your pastor: I have no reason to be honored, listened to, obeyed, or followed except for Christ. If Christ be in me and in my ministry and in my life then this office has honor but without Him it is just another hollow form of religion.

2. The building we meet in: There is nothing special about this building or the grounds. But if this place is used to honor God’s King, He will also honor this place. If Christ be here, I had rather meet here than in the greatest cathedral in the world.

3. This assembly: Of what value is a crowd if Christ is not in their midst? A huge multitude gathered on the outskirts of Canaan without Christ and accomplished nothing except to bring down the wrath of God on their heads.

4. Worship: Who will bring us to the Father? Who will take our pitiful gifts and make them acceptable? Who will show us the Father that we might know him and be stirred to worship?

5. Reading the scriptures: “To Him give all the prophets witness”, Take Christ out of the Bible and it is just another book.

6. Preaching: Oh, what a pitiful exercise would preaching be if it were not for Christ. What could you say to perishing sinners? What comfort could you give to the suffering? What hope could you offer to the lost?