Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 11-18-2018
Bible TextIsaiah 57:11
Date17-Nov-2018
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
 

November 18, 2018

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

 

MEETING LOCATION

251 Green Lane

Ewing, NJ, 08368

Clay Curtis, pastor

Telephone: 615-513-4464

Clay@FreeGraceMedia.com

 

MAILING ADDRESS:

7 Birch Street

Pennington, NJ, 08538

 

Schedule of Services

Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class

Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service

Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service

 

Services Broadcast Live @ www.FreeGraceMedia.com/live

 

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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.  

All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted.

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE WEBSITE: The videos are now listed as individual sermons, as well as full servicesclick here.

 

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SUNDAY’S READING IN PROVERB

 

Proverbs 12: 12: The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.”

 

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When a man says he has hope by the works of his own hands, he is saying that there is no hope by resting in God’s hands. God sent Jeremiah to declare this to be what the people were saying, “And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.” (Jer 18: 12)

 

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Since we are coming up on Thanksgiving, I have been thinking of what I am most thankful for.  Of course, I am thankful for my family.  And I still thank God for providing us a quiet place to meet.  But I am especially thankful for my church family.  God has graced our congregation with faith and love that makes me delight to be your pastor.  On the first Sunday, when I see you all sitting together and talking I cannot describe how it encourages me and makes me thank God for the work He has wrought in our midst.  All the glory is His.  And to think, this is a union that will last for eternity.  Since we will not have services next week on Thanksgiving Day, let me say now that I pray each of you has a nice time with family and friends.

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The greatest pressure for me as a pastor is, one, knowing that I speak on behalf of God and am accountable to God for what I declare concerning Christ; two, it is knowing that I speak to sinners who will spend eternity somewhere.  This pressure is due to fear God has put in my heart.  I really do tremble for those who are quick to speak the word of God to eternity bound sinners, especially if they speak not according to God’s word.   It will be especially terrible for those who divide brethren and lead men away from the gospel of Christ.  God says, “of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart?” (Isa 57:11) It takes God creating a new heart to make a sinner truly fear and reverence God, resting entirely in Christ alone.   He makes us come out from the wicked (2Co 7:1; Pr 9:10). The fear of God makes us submit to one another rather than sow discord (Eph 5: 21).

 

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THE LOVE OF GOD

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1).

 

There is a great deal said in religious circles about the love of God, but few have a real scriptural concept of the truth of God's love as it is manifested in the scriptures. The general idea most people have is, "that God loves everybody without exception and is trying his best to save everybody, but the sinner will not cooperate." 

 

    The truth of God's character revealed in the word is that God is Holy, Just and His love is always in harmony with His Holy character as a Just God and a Saviour (Isa. 45:21).  Those for whom He loves in Christ (Rev.1:5), elected in Christ (John 6:37), redeemed in Christ (Eph.1:7) must be justified in Christ (Rom. 8:28-30) and will be called out of bondage into Light (Col. 1:12-13).

 

Here are some scriptures that describe this true love of God to His covenant people:

1).  The love of God is manifested and revealed in Jesus Christ (Rom.8:32-39; Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Cor.4:6).

 

2).  The love of God is sovereign and given to whom the Lord pleases (Rom.9:12-16; Eph. 5:25). Outside of Christ, God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29).

 

3).  The love of God is eternal and will never be discontinued (Jer. 31:3).  God Himself is eternal, therefore His great love must be eternal (Eph. 2:4).

 

4).  The love of God is sacrificial love and will redeem all His people from all their sins (1 John 4:10; 3:16; Eph.5:2, 25; Matt.1:21; John 10:15).

 

5).  The love of God is permanent love and will always abide in the believer (John 13:1; Mal.3:6; Heb. 13:8).

 

6).  The love of God is electing love that unconditionally chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Thes. 2:13; John 15:15-16; 17:2).

 

7).  The love of God is unmerited love, we have never done anything to deserve His favor or mercy (Titus 3:3-7; Rom 5:6-9). The only reason for His love to us is found in Himself, not in us (Deut.7:7-8).

 

8).  The love of God is constraining love and motivates everyone who believes the gospel, to obedience to Him as a willing, loving bond slave of Christ (2 Cor. 5:14; Psa. 65:4; 110:3).

 

9).  The love of God is Holy love, God in Christ is both a Just God and Saviour (Isa. 45:20-22). His love is regulated by His holy character (Rom. 5:21).

 

The more we meditate upon His great love to us, its character, its fullness, its blessedness; the more our hearts will be drawn out in love to Him. "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19; 3:16). 
                                                                               Pastor Tom Harding

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Have you ever lived out of this country?  We lived in a foreign country for over 25 years.  We lived there.  Paid bills there.  Had friends there.  Had our children there.  But all that time, our citizenship was here in this country.  We knew that though we went through heartaches, trials, troubles, and conflicts, we were going to leave and come back to this country.  It was not our home.  Not legally nor emotionally.

     We were bound by the laws of that country.  But there were so many things that made us different.  It was not hard to tell that we did not belong there.  We were foreigners.  We were in that country, but we were not of that country. 

     When it rained on that country, we got wet.  When the sun shined, it shined on us.  But we lived in a way that did not bring reproach on our home country.  We lived there during the administrations of Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush, but we never talked against our president.

     We did what we could to keep a low profile.  When we went to town, we tried to dress in such a way that we did not stand out.  We did not mix in the politics of the country.  We did not try to persuade people to our way of thinking.  We did what we thought was right, and left the rest alone.  We left Mexico to the Mexicans.

     So in this world believers are subject to the ups and downs of this world.  We are sick just like the people of this world.  We have tribulation just like all the rest.  When there is no food we get hungry like the rest.  In this world we submit to those in authority.  We lead orderly and peaceable lives.  We are simply passing through.  Bless it in your travel, but do not yoke yourself with its affairs.  You may wish all things were different, but remember you are in a foreign country.  When possible we help those among whom we lived.  We do what we can to point them to Christ – to point them to eternal life.  You cannot make the world like Heaven, so do not make it a dwelling place for your soul.                                             Pastor Milton Howard

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Spirituality is not just reading the Bible, praying, going to church, and listening to sermons.  Spirituality involves living a useful, meaningful life, serving God and his people, making the most of your life as a husband or wife, employee or employer: visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, helping the needy, comforting the disconsolate, living for others rather than for yourself.  Pastor Don Fortner

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YOU CAN’T MAKE WATER WET—I am always frustrated to hear “soul winners” tell people, “Let God be Lord of your life.”  My friend, you can’t make God the Lord of your life anymore than you can make water wet.  Water is wet because that is the nature of water.  God is King of kings.  He is Lord of all because that is His nature.  The only thing sinners like us can do is beg God the King to save us by His grace. 
                                                                                   Pastor Frank Tate