September 17, 2006

 

Three things are essential to the everlasting salvation of GodÕs elect: (1.) The work of God the Father for us in eternity. (2.) The work of God the Son for us as our Substitute. And (3.) the work of God the Holy Spirit in us.

 

Daily Readings for the Week of September 17-24

                  Sunday                   Micah 1-5                                                                     Thursday                                 Haggai 2-Zechariah 4

                  Monday                   Micah 6-Nahum 2                                                    Friday                      Zechariah 5-9

                  Tuesday                                   Nahum 3-Habakkuk 3                        Saturday                                  Zechariah 10-14

                  Wednesday          Zephaniah 1-Haggai 1                        Sunday                   Malachi 1-4

 

á          I am preaching this morning for Grace Baptist Church in Taylor, Arkansas. Tonight and tomorrow night, I am scheduled to preach for the Grace Fellowship in Wichita Falls, Texas. Bros. Larry Criss and Ron Wood will preach the Gospel to you today. Bro. Daniel Parks, pastor of Redeemer Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, will preach here Tuesday evening.

á          I am scheduled to preach for Zebulon Baptist Church in Pikeville, KY, where Bro. Tom Harding is pastor on Thursday night, September 28th. On Friday night and Saturday morning, September 19th and 30th, I am scheduled to preach for Grace Baptist Church in Dingess, WV, where Bro. Gary Vance is pastor.

 

Christ Jesus Died for Me! — Don Fortner

(Tune: #531 — America the Beautiful — CMD)

 

1.        The cross of Christ inspires my heart, to sing redeeming grace. —
Awake, my soul! Awake, my heart, in my RedeemerÕs praise.
All praise forever give to Him, Who died upon the tree!
This is my soulÕs delightful theme, — Christ Jesus died for me!
 
2.        His heart was crushed, His body torn, and stained with His own blood,
His soul reproached with guilt, forlorn, forsaken by His God!
And then the Father gave the stroke that justice had decreed.
All nature felt the dreadful stroke, when Jesus died for me!
 
3.        When He was made a curse for me, ÒMy God, my God,Ó he cried,
ÒWhy hast Thou thus forsaken Me?Ó And then my Savior died.
But why did God forsake His Son, When bleeding on the tree?
He died for my sins, made His own. — Christ Jesus died for me!
 
4.        When sin and guilt on Him was laid, justice to satisfy,
His soul a sacrifice was made, and Christ my Surety died!
Was ever love so great as this? Was ever grace so free?
My glory, hope and joy is this, — Christ Jesus died for me!
 
5.        He entered in, with His own blood, and took His place on high;
Effectual, sin-atoning blood, can never be denied.
My mighty Savior cannot fail. — My Advocate is He!
And with my soul all things are well, since Jesus died for me.

 

7

Ascending to the House of God

Psalms 120-134

 

Psalms 120-134 form a section of the Psalms called ÒPsalms of Degrees,Ó or ÒAscension Psalms.Ó These psalms were commonly chanted by the children of Israel in their pilgrimages to Jerusalem to observe the annual feasts required under the law. They were psalms of pilgrims going up to the house of God. Some suggest that the priests in Israel chanted one of these fifteen psalms on each of the fifteen steps ascending up to the temple on those holy days.

 

         These are psalms written and recorded by divine inspiration to show us three things:

 

1.                     The attitude of our Lord Jesus Christ as he made his pilgrimage through this world of woe as JehovahÕs righteous Servant. Our SaviorÕs heart was set upon the glory of God, the will of God, and the house of God above.

2.                     The attitude of GodÕs saints as we make our pilgrimage through this world to our FatherÕs house above. May God give us grace to set our affection upon things above, to mind not earthly things but heavenly things, to look not at the things which are seen but at those things which are not seen, ever to set our hearts upon the glory of God, the will of God, and eternity!

3.                     The attitude we ought to cultivate as we come to the house of God to worship him.

 

         These fifteen psalms are specifically intended to encourage us to come to the house of God with the attitude reflected in them. Whenever we have the privilege of coming up out of this distressing world of darkness and woe to gather with GodÕs saints, worshipping in his house, at his footstool, before his throne, with his people, we ought to be filled with joyful hope and anticipation.

 

         When we come to the house of God in public worship, we come to a physical place. But the physical building in which we gather is not GodÕs house. Rather, GodÕs house is the assembly of his saints. We should never look upon the physical building in which we meet as the house of God. Yet, the building is the place where the house of God meets and should be treated as such. It should be well maintained, kept clean, neat and physically attractive, and treated with respect.

 

         What a privilege! What a blessing it is to gather with GodÕs saints in his house, to worship him! If the Lord allows us to worship him, if indeed we come into his house in the name of Christ, if just two or three come together in the name of Christ, trusting him — his blood — his righteousness — his intercession — his grace — his power — his goodness, seeking his honor, seeking his will, seeking his glory, to worship him, we have come into the house and temple of God. The Lord Jesus is in our midst (Matt. 18:20). The Holy Spirit is here (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 3:16-17).

 

                  Indeed, if we come together to worship our God, if he grants us the privilege and honor of doing so, coming into the assembly of his saints, we come to the very throne of God in heaven. Yes, there is a very real since in which we gather around GodÕs throne in heaven every time we gather in GodÕs house to worship him (Heb. 12:18-25).

 

8

Ascending to the House of God

In Distress for Help

Psalm 120 and 121

 

In Psalm 120 the pilgrim leaves his home in distress, calling upon the Lord to deliver his soul from the trouble and heartache he experienced from slandering tongues and a world of strife.

 

         Added to that, GodÕs pilgrim was constantly aware that he dwelt in Meshech. Meshech was the son of Japheth. His descendants were the people to the north of Israel. They were commonly associated with Magog, the enemies of God and his people. Meshech here represents all false, antichrist, freewill, works religion.

 

                  Therefore he ascends to the house of God seeking relief from the distress felt in his soul, distress caused by the idolatry surrounding him in this world. Here are the longings of the believing heart under distress, finding comfort in the Lord Jesus. — ÒIn my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongueÉWoe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech!Ó

 

                  Turning his eyes, his heart, and his mind away from all that troubled him, the pilgrim looks away to Christ on his throne in Psalm 121. He is our Help. He is our Keeper. He will preserve us from all evil. He will preserve our souls! — ÒI will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.Ó The temple was built on ZionÕs hill. In it was the ark of the covenant and the mercy-seat, all eminent types of Christ. Let us ever come to the house of God looking to Christ, who alone is our Help. — ÒMy help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.Ó Every believing soul, looking to Christ for help, may say with confidence, ÒMy help cometh from the Lord.Ó As Spurgeon wrote, ÒHelp is on the road, and will not fail to reach us in due time, for he who sends it to us was never known to be too late.Ó

 

         ÒHe will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.Ó

 

                  Like David, we sometime cry, because of our unbelief, ÒMy feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped!Ó But our safety and security do not depend upon us. Israel does not keep himself. We are kept by our God and Savior. And he who keeps us never slumbers. He never sleeps. The Lord is our Keeper. He shades us from the heat of adversity. He preserves us from all evil. He preserves us when we go out in the morning and when we come in at night. And he will do so forever!

 

                  In all times, in all circumstances, though we may be weak and fainting, ÒHe will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness before himÓ (1 Sam. 2:9). His grace is sufficient. He is our Strength. O that we might have grace to confidently trust him!

 

9

 

Grace Bulletin

 

September 17, 2006

 

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 in 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