Central Bulletin January 10, 2015

Central Grace Church

3596 Franklin Street . Rocky Mount, Virginia

January 10^th, 2016

9:30 am Bible Study--------------------------------Doers of The Word – James 1:19-22

10:00 am Service -----------------------Daniel, A Man Greatly Beloved – Daniel 10: 11

Nursery Today: Second Service: Mary P. Alt. – Tammy F.

Cleaning Schedule: This Week: Hudsons, Next Week: Kesses

Birthdays: January 11^th– Lauren Parks, 18^th – Cody Groover, 31^st -- Robin Pendry

“ Real religion consists in a pure and heavenly mind, a purged and peaceable conscience, and gospel affections going out after Christ, the dear Redeemer. These thou canst not enjoy, unless thou maintainest a close union and communion with Christ, which communion is kept up by living faith and fervent prayer. There is much head and tongue religion in the world, while there is but little of this vital religion. -- William Huntington 1745-1813

Daniel’s Habit of Private Prayer

“ Daniel went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God . . .” – Daniel 6:10

Daniel’s habit of private prayer was the hidden cause of all his steadiness . . . and such has been the habit of all the most eminent saints of God: they have not been content with a few cold, heartless words every morning and every night, but they have lived in a spirit of prayer, and sent up many a short earnest petition throughout the day. . . Mark well, beloved the habit of private prayer: here is the secret of that steadiness which Daniel showed in Babylon . . . We know he had all cares of government upon his shoulders; he must have been surrounded with business and affairs of nations, but none of these things prevented him from drawing close near to God.

A habit of prayer will impart special reliance upon God in time of danger; it will give a special boldness; it will secure a special deliverance, for them that honour God, He will honour. Happy indeed are those who, like Daniel, pray without ceasing: they will find within them the same spirit of faith, they never need fear being surprised, they are like him always the same and always ready. – J.C. Ryle

Perfecting Holiness In The Fear Of God

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” -- 2 Corinthians 7:1

'Dearly beloved, since we have the great promises of God in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20) (adoption, God is our Father and we are his children; justification, we are righteous, redeemed and sanctified (1 Cor. 1:30); glorification, we shall be like Christ and reign with him forever (Rom. 8:16-18)) let us cleanse ourselves from everything that would defile body and spirit.' By the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10), through the Word of God (Ps. 119 :9-11), with the aid of God's Spirit, let us keep ourselves clean, not only from fleshly corruption such as intemperance, drunkenness, profanity, dishonesty, sexual impurity and idolatry, but also from error of spirit such as pride, envy, covetousness, malice, evil thoughts and self-righteousness. 'Perfecting holiness- in the fear of the Lord: By holiness is not meant the work of perfect sanctification of the believer before God, for that is wholly the work of Christ, who is our sanctification and righteousness (Heb. 10:14; Rom. 3:19-22; 10:3, 4). But this is holiness of life, walk, conduct and conversation to which we are called and which is the mark and evidence of a true believer (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:21-24). This walk of obedience is motivated not only by God's love for us and our love for him (2 Cor. 5:14, 15) but 'in the fear of the Lord' (Prov. 3:7;16:6). The fear of the Lord for a believer is not slavish fear, or a fear of wrath and hell, but a reverential affection as a child for a father. The fear of the Lord arises from awe, trust, respect and dependence upon him, and a view to his glory and approval (2 Cor. 5:9). -- Henry Mahan’s commentary