SCHEDULE OF REGULAR SERVICES

Sunday 10:00 A.M. Bible Classes

10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service

6:30 P.M. Evening Worship Service

Tuesday 7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service

Television Broadcasts

Danville Channel 6-Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.

Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.

Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

Harrodsburg Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

Web Pages

http://www.donfortner.com

http://www.sovereign-grace/gracechurch.htm

http://www.freegrace.net/danville/default.asp

January 2, 2005

The past we can never recall. Tomorrow may never come. This is the day the Lord has made for us. Let us rejoice and serve him in it.

Daily Readings for the Week of January 2-9

Sunday Genesis 4-8 Thursday Genesis 20-23

Monday Genesis 9-11 Friday Genesis 24-25

Tuesday Genesis 12-16 Saturday Genesis 26-27

Wednesday Genesis 17-19 Sunday Genesis 28-30

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Clare Hellar-4^th Laura Peterson-4^th Bob Poncer-5^th Emily Rice-8^th

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Merle & Charlotte Hart-10^th

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Laura Peterson (AM) Debbie Bartley (PM) Tuesday: Shelby Fortner

And, Now, As Dawns Another Year — Don Fortner

(Tune: #118 — When I Survey — LM)

1. My God, Your mercy, love and grace

Have led me through this wilderness;

And, though my sins oft bring me woe,

Your goodness is unchanged, I know.

2. While viewing all my days now past,

With shame, my sin I must confess.

Yet, Your mercy, so rich and free,

Abides forever sure for me!

3. And, now, as dawns another year,

I cast myself upon Your care,

Dependent on Your boundless grace

To keep me seeking, Lord, Your face.

4. Revive Your work, O Lord, in me!

Subdue my sin, cause me to be

Watchful in prayer and filled with praise.

Guide me in my appointed ways.

5. Savior, teach me to live by faith,

Triumphant over sin and death,

To walk in love and others bless,

While sweetly leaning on Your breast.

“By Way of Remembrance”

2 Peter 3:1

Peter wrote his second Epistle specifically to “stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.” In the Word of God we are constantly told to remember what we are by nature and what the Lord God has done for us by his almighty grace in Christ. The reason for this is both simple and clear. Everything in the kingdom of God is motivated by grace and redemption. Therefore the Lord our God commands, — “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee” (Deut. 15:15).

In his autobiography William Jay tells of a visit he had with John Newton in his study at Olney. He noticed that Mr. Newton had this text of Scripture written in large letters, hanging on the wall over his desk. As that faithful servant of the Lord prepared his sermons these words were constantly before him: — “Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee.” Mr. Newton lived and acted under the influence of his memory of God’s grace to him. It is reflected in his preaching, in his hymns, and in the particular conversation he had with William Jay that day.

“I am glad to see you,” Newton said to his guest. “I have a letter here from Bath. Perhaps you can assist me in answering it. Do you know anything of ___________,” calling the man’s name. Mr. Jay told Newton that he knew the man well. He once faithfully attended the church Jay pastored, and heard the preaching of the gospel with delight. But he had become a man of wicked reputation, a leader of every vice. Newton responded, “Perhaps a change has come over him. He writes a very penitent letter.” Then William Jay said, “I can only say that if ever he should be converted, I should despair of no one.” “And I,” said Newton, “have never despaired of anyone since I was converted myself.”

Newton remembered that he had been a bondman in the land of Egypt and the Lord redeemed him out of his bondage. It appears that his friend, William Jay, had (at least for the moment) forgotten! Newton’s remembrance of his own experience of grace made him both hopeful for and tender toward another sinner in bondage.

May God the Holy Spirit constantly bring to our memories his marvelous, amazing grace in delivering our souls from bondage and melt our hearts before the throne of grace. Nothing will stir up our hearts and minds so effectually, nothing can motivate and govern our lives better than the remembrance of redemption and grace in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. — “Remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee.” He has brought you into “the glorious liberty of the sons of God” by his omnipotent grace.

“Behold, I make All Things New”

Revelation 21:5

What a blessed word with which to begin the New Year! He who is God our Creator and God our Savior makes all things new.

Grace

Has he who sits upon the throne of grace made you a new creature in grace? Has he reconciled you to God by his obedience on your behalf? Has he caused your old record of sin to pass away forever by his atoning sacrifice? Has he given you a new record of righteousness, imputing to you his perfect righteousness? Has he given you a new nature by his omnipotent mercy in the new birth? It is written, “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.” Settle these questions for yourself. Believe on the Son of God, and they are settled forever. Your faith in Christ is the evidence of all these things not seen.

Glory

Believing on the Son of God, let us live in the constant and confident expectation of this glorious work of God our Savior yet to come (Isa. 65:17-19). What a great and glorious prospect this is! Our God declares that when he has finished with us; when he has created new heavens and a new earth; when our salvation is complete and consummate; we will enter into an everlasting joy that will eclipse all the joys we have known in this world. He bids us rejoice now in the anticipation of the joy awaiting us in eternity. He declares, “the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Our sins will not be remembered against us, for Christ has purged them totally (Heb. 1:3). They will cause us no sadness in heaven. In that great and glorious day, our God will make us perfectly joyful. And the Triune God will, in all his holy Being, “rejoice over thee with joy.” He will rejoice over us “as a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride.” — Imagine that!

No Tears

In that great and glorious new creation, God will wipe all tears from the eyes of his people forever! Listen to the apostle John. — “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” There will be no tears in heaven to mar God’s new creation! — No tears over past sins! No tears over failures, losses, bad experiences, or even lost loved ones. Why not? Because “God himself” will be with us, and Christ will be our husband and our joy forever. Who can grasp the fulness of this promise? It is too great, too broad, too incomprehensible for our mortal brains. Yet, it is gloriously true! Our great God shall, in heaven’s glory, remove us from all sin, remove all sin from us, and remove us from all the evil consequences of sin. He will remove us from every cause of grief. He will bring us at last into the perfection of complete salvation and every desire of our hearts will be completely gratified. God’s salvation is so perfect and complete that when he is finished, we will not even have the slightest tinge of sorrow for anything.

GRACE BAPTIST

CHURCH of DANVILLE

2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Telephone (859) 236-8235 — E-Mail don@donfortner.com

Web Pages

http://donfortner.com

http://sovereign-grace/gracechurch.htm

http://freegrace.net/danville/default.asp

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

SCHEDULE OF REGULAR SERVICES

Sunday 10:00 A.M. Bible Classes