February 7, 2016
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553
Clay Curtis, pastor
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
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NURSERY
We have a nursery equipped with a digital flat screen television broadcasting all services live, for children four and under. Check the announcements.
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All articles in the bulletin are by the pastor unless otherwise noted.
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Proverbs 26:21: As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. Coals and wood put to burning coals and burning wood become one and fuel the fire. A contentious man is like the coal and the wood. He sees strife flame up, he becomes one with it, and he fuels it. But what happens when the Prince of peace rules the heart and subdues our old contentious flesh? “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Mt 5: 9)
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ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN SELF
Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
This is not a suggestion but a command from our Lord Jesus Christ to his saints through God the Holy Spirit. If the Spirit of God has made us one with Christ and our brethren then we are to make this our aim. (Php 2: 1)
Strife and vain glory is glorying in one’s self. It is impossible to put down my brethren without vainly glorying in myself. If I criticize my brethren, or desire to be recognized over them, I may not boast in myself expressly in words yet that is expressly what I am doing.
Notice, it says “Let each esteem other better than themselves.” Strife and vain glory cannot exist where the other is esteemed better than self. If my estimation of my brethren truly is that they love me much better than I love them then it ends all strife in my heart and ends my vain glory in my love for them. If my estimation of my brethren is truly that they bear my burdens better than I do for them then strife in my heart has no fuel to burn and it ends my vain glory in how I bear others burdens. Strife and vain glory cannot exist where the other is esteemed better than self so let each esteem other better than themselves.
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James 3: 14: But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15: This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18: And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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Strife and vain glory wants to be served. It says, “You ought to prove your love to me more.” Lowliness of mind simply serves the other more. Christ did that very thing for God’s elect even when we did not love him, even when we exalted ourselves in pride over him, even while we made ourselves of reputation and esteemed him not. Lowliness of mind “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Lowliness of mind did not begin to love us then stop based on others treatment of him. Lowliness of mind continued in humility toward God, trusting God, even when being crucified by those he loved. That is true humility and true obedience. Now, Christ says to you and I brethren “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (Jn 15: 12) Now, do I really want to brag about my lowliness of mind? Do I really want to esteem myself better than any of my brethren? If that does not bring us down in our estimation of ourselves then I do not know what will!
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When we begin to focus on how we are being treated let us turn our focus to Christ’s suffering “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (Heb 12: 3-4) Have I been so ill-treated and strived against sin until I sweat as it were great drops of blood? Have I remained silent not defending myself but perfectly trusting my Father while every enemy of God beat me till my visage was marred more than any other man? Have I suffered the forsaking of my God bearing a living hell until justice was satisfied and God’s elect perfected forever? How utterly insignificant my suffering has suddenly become!
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Brethren, the bible never teaches me how others are to treat me only how I am to treat others. Todd Nibert, pastor Todd’s Road Grace Church, Lexington, KY
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As we think of all the gifts of God’s grace given freely to us for the sake of Christ let us not forget this one, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” (Php 1: 29)
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If my brother is esteeming himself better than me, let me take it as an opportunity to bear their burden and restore them to Christ in spirit of meekness and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6: 1-2)
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Peter said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” It means forgive without limit. (Mt 18: 21-22. Be sure to read our Lord’s parable in verses 23-35)
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John 19:34: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Psalm 32:2: Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
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“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Eph 4: 31-31; 5: 1-2)