January
6, 2019
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
?-----------------------------?
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.
?-----------------------------?
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE WEBSITE: The
videos are now listed as individual sermons, as well as full services—click here.
?-----------------------------?
SUNDAY’S READING IN PROVERBS
Proverbs 12: 19: The lip of truth shall be
established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
?-----------------------------?
LET HIM SPEAK MY WORD FAITHFULLY
Jeremiah 23:28: The prophet that hath a
dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word
faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?
saith the LORD.
This is the
responsibility of God’s preacher. He is
to speak God’s word faithfully. If
someone in the congregation is walking contrary to the word of God then the
word spoken will most likely be personal and offensive to them and their family
initially. Is the Lord’s preacher supposed
to water down the word so as not to offend?
Is God’s preacher to ignore the word God has laid on his heart? Should he preach another passage so as not to
offend? No, the person walking contrary
to the word is in need of rebuke by God’s word.
That person needs to turn and walk according to God’s word. If those closest to him love him then they
will tell him the same thing. But God’s
preacher must speak God’s word faithfully.
We are not to alter which passage we preach, nor hold back the truth of the
passage, no matter who it offends.
This is another one of the things that
makes it difficult being God’s messenger.
If we speak only the passages of God’s word that we are sure will not condemn
or offend anyone then there will be no passages we can preach. At all times God is sending his word to
rebuke some, while the same message is sent to comfort others. Therefore, every word preached will rebuke
someone every time. But if we are
faithful to God, as well as to the souls of those God has entrusted to our care,
then we will obey God even if it means we receive an unfavorable response. God says to those who hear the word, “Poverty and shame shall be to him that
refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.” (Pr 13:
18) And God says to those who speak his word, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that
flattereth with the tongue.” (Pr 28:23) Therefore,
God’s faithful preacher obeys God who says, “he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.” Likewise, those who hear God’s word will
be better off if they hear it faithfully!
?-----------------------------?
BIOGRAPHY OF A SERVANT
Ephesians 6:21: But that ye also may know my
affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a
beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all
things: 22: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know
our affairs, and that he might
comfort your hearts.
Many
honorable men in the Bible have short biographies. But those short biographies are very instructive.
Tychicus is such a man. All that we are told is that he was a “beloved brother and a faithful minister in
the Lord.” What a biography!
Tychicus was “a beloved brother” (Eph 6: 21).
What does it mean to be a “brother” or “sister” in Christ? It is a rare title only reserved for those saved
by the same grace of God as us. When we
call someone brother we are saying he is chosen freely of God the Father in
Christ, justified freely with God’s elect by the blood of Christ, called from
death to life by the Holy Spirit so that he is of the same “household of God” (Eph 2: 19). We
are saying that he is one with us (Eph 4:
4-6). This title only belongs to
those who give God in Christ all the glory in salvation! Notice, Tychicus was not
only a brother but a "beloved"
brother. Beloved of God from eternity in
Christ? That is obvious since he was called of God. But also he was beloved of the saints who
knew him, especially Paul. He was a loving,
loveable brother. Those born from above
are so because “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” (Ja 3: 17).
This is the most honorable quality we
can have. Christ said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn 13: 35).
The second characteristic in Tychicus’ biography
is that he was a “faithful minister in
the Lord.” Faithfulness is what God
requires of his minister (1 Cor 4: 2). It is not a product of our flesh. God is faithful, Christ is faithful, so when
God puts his Spirit in us, the gift imparted is faith and faithfulness. (Eph 2:8-10; Gal 5: 22) This is why Paul
addresses his letters to the churches as “to
the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph 1: 1; Col 1: 2). Tychicus was faithful because Christ
qualified him, appointed him and sent him.
(1 Tim 1:12-14) He was faithful to Christ his Lord preaching only Christ
crucified according to God’s word. A
faithful minister in Christ is faithful to the souls to whom he ministers. He was willing to forfeit his comforts for the
glory of Christ and the good of his people. Tychicus knew those to whom he ministered had
an eternity to spend: either saved by God’s grace or condemned by their own rebellion.
He wanted to see them saved by grace.
We are not all called to be preachers. But we are all called to be faithful, beloved
brethren, who minister to one another. May
God make it our aim to leave a biography like Tychicus—“a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.” If we accomplish nothing else in life but
this then we will have made the very best use of the time that God gave us.
?-----------------------------?
AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH
This is the experience of every
sinner called by the grace of God—"In
whom ye also trusted, AFTER
THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: in whom also
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which
is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:13). All who have experienced God’s salvation,
experienced it by hearing the good news of Christ preached. Bringing the gospel to his child and blessing
it to our hearts so that we hear with spiritual ears is as much “unto the praise of his glory" as everything else said here. The person who denies that God saves
exclusively through preaching of the gospel according to God’s word, denies the
praise of God’s glory as much as if they deny the glory of God’s electing grace
or particular redemption. Scripture say
those who believe do so by Christ because God raised him and gave him the glory
as Head of the church to fill all in all, “Who
BY HIM do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and GAVE HIM GLORY;
THAT YOUR FAITH AND HOPE MIGHT BE IN GOD” (1Pe 1:21; Eph 1: 22-23; 4:10-16). Therefore, we give him all glory due unto
his name, including the glory of filling all, including the pulpit, the pew,
the mouth of his preacher and the heart of his redeemed.
?-----------------------------?
COMMUNICATION
“But that ye also may know my affairs, how I
do, [Tychicus], shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you
for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs…” (Eph 6: 21-22)
Paul knew the
Ephesians would desire to know his state as a prisoner. Faithful ministers want to know how their
brethren are and they want their brethren to know how they are. This helps us pray for each other and
communicate, not only our words, but our aid.
Therefore, Paul communicated to them by sending
this minister of the gospel, Tychicus. Paul
did not ask for anything for Tychicus nor for himself. It was for their benefit alone. In this, we see what God did for his people scattered
throughout the world, “For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3: 16); “In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 Jn 4: 9). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because
he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren” (1 Jn 3: 16). Communication
is not only in word but in deed and in truth.
By not only entering the covenant but also by fulfilling his word, Christ
saved his people and God is well-pleased with us in him. In this, we see the importance of communicating
with our brethren, not only verbally, but with all things with which we can
supply their need.
Brethren, I am thankful that God has blessed
you with hearts of gratitude toward our Lord Jesus Christ so that you faithfully
communicate to one another in word and in deed and in truth. This edifies a needy brother’s heart like
nothing else. “To do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God
is well pleased” (Heb 13: 16).