July 17, 2005

 

Because we were justified by Christ’s imputed righteousness at the cross, we are sanctified by his imparted righteousness in the new birth. — “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10).

 

Daily Readings for the Week of July 17-24

Sunday            Isaiah 14-18                                    Thursday                Isaiah 31-34

        Monday          Isaiah 19-23                                    Friday             Isaiah 35-38

        Tuesday          Isaiah 24-27                                    Saturday          Isaiah 39-41

        Wednesday     Isaiah 28-30                                    Sunday            Isaiah 42-44

 

Darius M. Blake

 

The Lord graciously called our friend, Bro. Darius Blake (Diane Campbell’s father) home to Glory June 14th. We have yet another friend in heaven. I have thought a good bit, these past few weeks, about the salvation that is now being revealed to him. Bro. Blake was a faithful and delightful man.

 

        I first met Bro. Blake in 1972. He and his wife did not know me, but they invited me to stay in their home in Lexington, KY for four days while I was attending a Bible conference there. Frankly, the preaching at the conference was not worth the drive to Lexington; but those four days with Bro. Blake were worth more than words can describe. In recent years, Bro. Darius was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. It has been terribly painful for his family to watch him rapidly decline.

 

        His decline ended just over a month ago. Since then, he has been with the ransomed in Glory around the throne of God and the Lamb enjoying that salvation which, just a few weeks ago, was still for him what it is now for us, “salvation ready to be revealed.” I think I can almost see his beaming face and sparkling eyes as he beholds the Savior face to face.

 

I encourage you to drop his wife a note to let her know you continue to think of and pray for her. See Shelby or Diane to get Mrs. Blake’s mailing address.

 

My Savior Lives! Don Fortner

(Tune: #497 — When I Can Read My Title Clear —CM )

 

  1. My Savior lives, no more to die, He triumphed o’er the grave!

Exalted and enthroned on high, He lives, he lives to save!

 

  1. My Savior intercedes for me, spreading His wounded hands;

“I died to set this sinner free, see, here, the law’s demands.”

 

  1. Be gone, my unbelief and fear! Be still, my troubled heart!

Oh, let me cast on Him all care, who lives grace to impart!

 

  1. All praise and glory to His name! When He’s my place prepared,

He’ll call me home with Him to reign, — He lives to bring me there!

 

7

MISSIONARY OFFERING TODAY

 

The Lord willing, Bro. Jean-Claude Souillot, from Chalon, France will preach to us Tuesday night. Bro. Jean-Claude pastors in Chalon and oversees the Preachers’ School and the mission works in West Africa.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:  Betty Burge-19th

 

Absolute Exchange Pastor Donnie Bell

 

For by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:19)

 

It was by the sin of Adam that sin and death passed upon us; we not only had his sin imputed to us, but we also inherited his sinful nature. We then are sinners by birth and sinners by practice. “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” (Eccl. 7:20). But blessed be the name of the Lord, the same way we became sinners we become righteous. We did nothing to become sinners; we do nothing to become righteous.

 

        There is an absolute exchange made, when our dear Savior went to the cross and died under the judgment and wrath of His Holy Father; he suffered not for himself but for those whom he represented. He was suffering the wrath of God because he was bearing his peoples sin upon his body on that tree. What was the absolute exchange? He became what I am, that I might become what He is. He took my sin, that I would have His righteousness; he took my disobedience, I get his obedience; he suffered my death, (my separation from God) that I would receive his life. He was made a curse, that I might be blessed. He was separated from God, that I might be brought nigh to God (Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 3:18).

 

        Just as we also inherited Adams sinful nature, we also become partakers of Christ’s nature; his holy nature is given to us in the new birth, and it makes us love things we once hated and hate things we once loved. Our sinful natures loved sin, hated righteousness; now we love righteousness and hate sin. Once, listening to preaching and reading the Bible would be the last things we would have done, now it is our delight. “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). Thank God not only was Christ for us at the Cross, and accomplished our complete salvation, but, He is also in us “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). By his Spirit in us, He continually works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, and we are kept in the enjoyment of what he did for us by His sacrificial death on the cross. It is not only an absolute exchange; it is also an eternal exchange.

 

“God's people know and believe what God has done in them as well as for them, though they cannot fully comprehend either.”                            Pastor Paul Mahan

 

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Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-46

Robert Hawker

 

We have here Christ’s entrance upon his sufferings, in the garden Gethsemane. The whole life of Jesus had been a life of sorrow, for of him, and him only, by way of emphasis, can it be said, that he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. But here he is entering more especially upon the great work of sorrow, for which he became the Surety of his people. And here it is therefore, that we need most eminently the teaching of God the Holy Ghost. I am aware how very little a way our discoveries carry us, when following the steps of Jesus by faith, into the garden of Gethsemane. I would beg the reader to accompany me, in following by faith, the Lord Jesus to Gethsemane’s garden, in this dark and gloomy hour; and may the Lord be our Teacher in beholding the glory of Christ.

 

As we prosecute this awful business, every step we take seems to be more solemn and striking. The Evangelists who have described the state of Jesus, have each used different words, by way of expressing the feelings of Jesus. Matthew said, (he was in soul) “exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Mark said Jesus “began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy.” The words “Sore amazed” imply such an affright to the mind as when we say it makes the very hair stand on an end, and induces a trembling and horror of the whole frame. Luke represents Christ in an agony or combat. The sweat was as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

 

Before we go further, let us humbly look up and enquire into the cause! Here is no account of any pains of body the Redeemer had yet entered upon! The horrors of crucifixion though in view, were not felt.

 

And what was the cause for which this Lamb of God was thus exercised? He who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (Heb 7:26). What can more decidedly confirm the Scriptures of truth, than that as his Church’s Surety and Representative, he who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21)? He, as the Apostle saith, hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Here was the cause. It pleased Jehovah to put him to grief. The Father’s hand was in the work. And hence the holy Sufferer expressed himself in such strong words. Save me, O God! for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me, (Psa 69 &c). I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. (See also Psalm 22.) I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. (Psalm 38 throughout) For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

 

Oh! ye my poor fellow sinners who never yet felt sin; behold the exceeding sinfulness in the soul travail of Christ Jesus! Lord! let the contemplation fire my soul with love!

9

Grace Bulletin

 

July 17, 2005

 

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of DANVILLE

2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

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

 

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

 

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.

 

Web Pages

http://www.donfortner.com

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

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