October 21, 2012
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553
Telephone: 615-513-4464
Schedule of Services
Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class
Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service
Order of service, announcements, etc, are in attachment. All articles in the bulletin are by the pastor unless otherwise noted.
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Believing God is the secret to true happiness (Ps 84: 12)
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Waiting on God
Ecclesiastes 11:4: He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
Brethren, this is the day God has made for us. Every wind and cloud of difficulty is under the direct order of God’s divine decree working together for good to us according to the promise and power of our faithful God. (Rom 8: 28) If we wait until the wind settles then we shall not sow; if we wait until the clouds pass then we shall not reap. Waiting on God is not waiting for a bluebird day, attempting to discern by things below if God will bless the work—“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.” Waiting on God is continuing steadfast sowing his gospel trusting God who rules the storm to do as he will—“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” (Ecc 11: 5-4)
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Withholding No Good Thing
Psalm 84:11: For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
If a people would walk uprightly before the Lord trusting in Christ alone as all they need, God will never withhold any good thing. You shall not thirst or hunger physically or spiritually. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17) People constantly work and strive for good things. O that they might see that they are all found in Him by the grace and glory given to us by God! David Eddmenson
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Lessons from Abraham’s Faith
Hebrews 11: 8-10
Faith affects every aspect of a believer’s life. It determines what we leave behind, how we live in this world, and what we look forward to.
Faith Determines What We Leave Behind
God calls his children effectually giving us faith to trust Christ so that we leave our former vain confidence, even if it means severing the closest ties—“when he was called to go out…obeyed.” God called Abraham to leave behind his ungodly vain confidence. (Jos 24: 2-3) By faith Abraham obeyed. Abraham lost his life in Ur, but he found eternal life in Christ. He never went back. Faith determines what we leave behind. (2 Cor 6: 17-18)
Faith Determines How We Live
First, Abraham was promised a place “which he should AFTER receive for an inheritance.” Likewise, it was promised our Redeemer by God the Father after he suffered to glorify God and redeem his people. God the Son left heaven’s glory, took upon the form of a servant to minister, not to be ministered to. It meant sorrow, despising and rejection. (Mt 8: 19-20) But Christ finished the work, redeemed every elect child of God, and God highly exalted him. Should our Savior do the same for us and shall we not live for him rather than self, content to wait until after this light affliction for our inheritance with Christ? According to God’s promise all is ours, yet may we live remembering the only thing here that we will end up with is a space large enough to hold our dead body. (1 Cor 3: 22-23)
Secondly, faith walks by faith, not sight—“he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Abraham believed God would lead him. (Gen 12: 1) Better than a foresight of what the future held, he had the word of God. So do you, believer.
Thirdly, faith is a stranger to this world—“by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country.” Believer, be a stranger in this world. (Gal 6: 14) Why would we concern ourselves about another country but our own? (Phil 3: 20-21)
Fourthly, faith lives knowing this world is passing away—“dwelling in tabernacles (tents).” All our possessions and dearest ties are as weak as a tent, as apt to disappear as quickly as a tent can be removed. All that this world regards as needful, changes as constantly as the evil heart in man. The more we are attached to the things of this world the more distraction from believing God. Our only unchangeable rest and righteousness is Christ. Cling to Christ.
Fifthly, faith dwells with fellow believers—“dwelling…with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.” Abraham left family and friends, but God gave him sweet new company. Abraham dwelt in tents but he did so among princes. You could gather together all the wisest, most powerful, most honorable men of this world and I would trade them all to dwell in tabernacles with my dear brethren, the heirs with me of the same promise. Faith determines how we live.
Faith Determines What We Look Forward To
Faith looks forward to the eternal city of God, heavenly Jerusalem, founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ Jesus—“he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The city of God is as eternal as God who built it. It is as lasting as God is immortal. The builder and maker is God our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. There the believer will walk streets with no adversary, have fellowship with no hindrance, and worship Christ with no interruption. Abraham found that city by faith. “Now the just shall live by faith:…we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb 10: 38-29)
What a legacy to leave behind—he lived by faith!