Grace Bulletin — September 24, 2006

 

That which God the Holy Spirit does in us in regeneration is just as necessary as that which God the Son did for us in redemption and God the Father did for us in predestination.

 

Daily Readings for the Week of September 24-October 1

                           Sunday                                  Malachi 1-4                                                                                                                                 Thursday                             Matthew 11-12

                           Monday                               Matthew 1-4                                                                                                                                Friday                                     Matthew 13-14

                           Tuesday                               Matthew 5-7                                                                                                                                Saturday                              Matthew 15-18

                           Wednesday                       Matthew 8-10                                                                                                                            Sunday                                  Matthew 19-21

 

á          I am scheduled to preach Thursday night for Zebulon Baptist Church in Pikeville, Kentucky, where Bro. Tom Harding is pastor. Friday night and Saturday morning I plan to preach for Grace Baptist Church in Dingess, West Virginia, where Bro. Gary Vance is pastor.

á          Sequoyah Baptist Church in Cherokee, NC will host its annual Bible Conference October 16-19. The scheduled preachers are Gary Shepard, Rupert Rivenbark, Todd Nibert and Don Fortner. Bro Tim James is the host pastor.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!   Noah Duff-26th

 

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: ShanteÕ(AM) Celeste Peterson (PM)          Tuesday: Ruth Wall

 

Forever with the Lord!— Don Fortner

(Tune: #39 — This Is My FatherÕs World — SMD)

 

1.        This world is not my home, IÕm only passing through;

A stranger here, I must go on, My home is now in view!

ÒForever with the Lord!Ó Amen! So let it be!

With Christ IÕll live for evermore in immortality!

 

2.        There is no resting place in all the earth for me;

But Christ in heavÕn prepares a place of rest, sweet rest, for me!

ÒForever with the Lord!Ó Amen! So let it be!

With Christ IÕll live for evermore in immortality!

 

3.        My journey soon shall end, my Lord will come for me;

HeÕll take me home to be with Him for all eternity!

ÒForever with the Lord!Ó Amen! So let it be!

With Christ IÕll live for evermore in immortality!

 

4.        My soul, be of good cheer! With such good hope as this,

What sorrows here can be compared to heavenÕs endless bliss?

ÒForever with the Lord!Ó Amen! So let it be!

With Christ IÕll live for evermore in immortality!

 

10

Ascending to the House of God

Our Anticipation

Psalm 122

 

In Psalm 122 the pilgrim turns his mind toward GodÕs house and the assembly of GodÕs saints around his throne (the mercy-seat), anticipating the prospect with gladness. In this psalm the beauty and glory of GodÕs church are typically set before us.

 

                  David sang, ÒI was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.Ó It is no marvel to me to read those words. There the typical sacrifice of atonement was set forth. There the Word of God was expounded. There the glory of God was revealed. There the people of God met together. And there God met with his people. What a delight it was for David to go into the house of God! What a privilege he enjoyed!

 

                  Yet, DavidÕs privilege could not be compared with ours. When David went up into the house of the Lord, he had all these things in type and ceremony. But now, in Christ Jesus, the very fulness of the eternal God is revealed to us.

 

                  As a believer, I have no greater joy in this world than to go into the house of God. There my family gathers. There my Redeemer reveals himself. There God speaks to my heart. There my soul is fed and refreshed. There I find strength and encouragement, both in the preaching of the gospel and in the fellowship of GodÕs saints. When someone says to me, ÒLet us go into the house of the Lord,Ó it gives me joy. I am glad to go!

 

                  It is beyond, the stretch of my imagination to understand how a redeemed sinner can be satisfied to neglect such a privilege. Indeed, the first sign of an apostate heart appears to be the neglect of public worship (Heb. 10:23-26). Pastor Henry Mahan wrote, ÒI was glad that I had a desire to go, that I had the strength to go, that I understood the words spoken there, that I loved the people assembled there, that I, the chief of sinners, should be permitted to come into his presence.Ó

 

                  ÒOur feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.Ó — What blessedness we find in the assembly of GodÕs saints! Therefore we make it our determination to gather with them in the place of public worship. There we join in common prayer and praise. There we hear the glorious gospel of Christ. As we gather with GodÕs saints below, our hearts are lifted in anticipation of that day when we shall enter the New Jerusalem and, seeing our Savior face to face, join in the everlasting Hallelujahs.

 

                  ÒJerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.Ó — Built by Christ, built upon Christ, the Foundation and Chief Corner Stone, GodÕs saints are living stones in his house, joined together, Òan habitation of God through the Spirit.Ó Nothing can exceed the magnificence of the true Jerusalem, the Church and City of God, upon earth. As John describes her in his visions of her everlasting perfection and glory, our hearts rejoice to know that every passing day brings us nearer the gates of the City Beautiful.

 

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                  ÒWhither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord.Ó — All GodÕs elect, all the tribes of the Israel of God, called the 144,000 in Revelation 7:4-9, are going up to Jerusalem which is above. GodÕs elect shall be gathered from the four corners of the earth, and all shall go up to Glory. Not one shall be absent. And all around the world, as redeemed sinners go up to the house of worship, we ought to go up thinking to ourselves, ÒSoon, we shall gather to worship our Savior in perfection, never more to part.Ó

 

                  When we come into the house of God, believing sinners assembly around Òthe testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.Ó — We gather in the name of Christ and gather unto Christ, the true Ark of the Covenant, the true Mercy-seat, where the Lord God promised he would meet us in mercy (Ex. 25:22). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Testimony of Israel, the Word of God, in and by whom God reveals himself. He is the Ensign, the Banner, around whom the people gather.

 

                  ÒFor there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.Ó — Here the church is called Òthe house of DavidÓ because king David was typical of Christ our King. By the Gospel of God proclaimed in his house and sent forth into all the world from his house, our great King judges the world.

 

                  ÒPray for the peace of Jerusalem.Ó — Let every ransomed soul earnestly and without ceasing pray that GodÕs rich blessings of grace may constantly descend upon his church. Let none dare seek in any way to disrupt the sweet fellowship of GodÕs saints. Let none dare attempt to divide GodÕs church. ÒIf any man defile (corrupt, divide, or destroy) the temple of God, him shall God destroyÓ (1 Cor. 3:17). Let us ever desire and promote peace in the family of God. Suspicion, strife, and division are deadly things. Let them not be found in the palace of the Prince of Peace.

 

                  ÒThey shall prosper that love thee.Ó — Spurgeon wrote, ÒProsperity of soul is enjoyed by those who take a deep interest in the church and cause of God.Ó We find abundant recompense for all that we do in promoting the interests of Zion. Yet, the word ÒprosperÓ really means to be quiet, secure, tranquil and at rest. It speaks of one who enjoys quiet prosperity. Those who love GodÕs church, Christ her King and GodÕs people, the citizens of Jerusalem, those who love the law of the Lord, the gospel that is sent forth from her, shall have peace.

 

                  ÒPeace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.Ó — Let no enemy come near, let alone enter the house of God. Let it be our earnest prayer that every palace of our Savior, every true gospel church, be kept in the blessed prosperity of quietness and tranquil security.

 

                  ÒFor my brethren and companionsÕ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.Ó — Here are two great motives for such prayers: (1.) GodÕs saints are our brethren. They are our companions in Christ. (2.) GodÕs church is his house. These things ought to swell our hearts. For the good of our brethren, our companions, and for the glory of our God, let us ever seek the good of GodÕs church in this world.

 

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Grace Bulletin

 

September 24, 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