Grace Baptist Church of Danville

December 28, 2008

 

The Lord Jesus Christ did all our work for us as our Representative, suffered all our punishment in our stead as our Substitute, and obtained eternal life as our reward by the merit of his obedience and blood as our Surety.

 

Daily Readings for the Week of December 28-January 4

            Sunday                      Revelation 11-13                                         Thursday                   Genesis 1-3

            Monday                     Revelation 14-16                                         Friday             Genesis 4-8

            Tuesday                    Revelation 17-19                                         Saturday                    Genesis 9-11

            Wednesday  Revelation 20-22                                         Sunday                      Genesis 12-16

 

á      Thank you for your generous gift to Shelby and me. Words cannot express our gratitude for the love and kindness you show to us. We are thankful for the privilege of serving our Savior with you.

á      Rescue Baptist Church in Rescue, CA will host a Sovereign Grace Bible Conference January 29-31. Bro. Gene Harman is the host pastor.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Sammy Wall-1st

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Merle & Charlotte Hart-10th

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Vicci Rolley (AM) Regina Henson (PM) Tuesday: Anne Peterson

 

The Lord Waits to be Gracious — Don Fortner

(Tune: #24 — We Magnify Our Father God — CM)

1.    So great the love, so rich the grace

Of our eternal God.

He waits to save by sovereign grace

And efficacious blood.

2.    While His elect His grace defy,

He waits the destined hour,

Fixed by His own decree on high,

To manifest His powÕr.

3.    He waits to show His gracious name,

And make His mercy known:

He waits His lost ones to reclaim,

And gather in His own!

4.    My God, did You so wait for me,

To save me by Your grace?

Then let my life in all things be

Devoted to Your praise!

5.    The Lord waits to be gracious still,

Though clouds oft hide His face:

So wait, my soul, your SaviorÕs will

And trust Him for His grace.

 

Happy New Year! — Anticipating the dawn of another year, as I consider all of you, your families and my own, and all that is dear to me, this is my prayer, ÒFather, glorify thy name.Ó

ÒWe Beheld His GloryÓ

 

ÒAnd the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.Ó                                                                                                                          (John 1:14)

 

When Peter, James and John were with the Lord Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, they heard Moses and Elijah talking to the Savior about Òhis decease which he should accomplish at JerusalemÓ (Luke 9:31). The word translated ÒdeceaseÓ would be more accurately translated Òexodus.Ó Those disciples beheld ChristÕs glory upon the mount, the very same glory that is revealed to us by the saving operations of his Spirit. By the death he accomplished, our Lord Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets. He pleased the Father (Matthew 17:5). He obtained eternal redemption. He earned the right to be Lord as our Mediator. And he revealed the glory of God as Òa just God and a SaviorÓ (Isaiah 45:20-22). — In Christ crucified God sent forth Òhis mercy and his truthÓ from heaven and saved us (Psalm 57:3).

 

Have you beheld his glory? Have you beheld the glory of Christ by the SpiritÕs gift of faith? If you would behold his glory, he says, ÒLook unto me!Ó Look and you will see. He does not say, work for me, but Òlook unto me.Ó He does not say, figure me out, but Òlook unto me.Ó He does not say, serve me, but Òlook unto me.Ó He does not say, feel after me, but Òlook unto me.Ó He does not even say, pray to me, but Òlook unto me.Ó Look away to Christ and, looking, you will behold his glory. Trusting Christ, we see his glory, just as Isaiah did, Òthe glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truthÓ (Isaiah 6:1-7).

 

It is by faith, only by faith, that we behold his glory (John 11:40). Trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, we behold his glory in redemption, in the saving operations of his grace, and in his adorable providence!

 

The Blessed Vision

 

John describes the blessed vision before us, as we behold the glory of our Savior. It is Òthe glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.Ó What glory we have before us, as we behold the glory of Christ by faith!

á      The Glory of His Wonderful Person — God and Man (Isaiah 9:6)!

á      The Glory of His Perfect Righteousness as Our Representative (Jeremiah 23:6)!

á      The Glory of His Sin-atoning Sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21)!

á      The Glory of His Sovereign Dominion (John 17:2)!

á      The Glory of His Tender, Sympathizing Humanity (Hebrews 1:9-7:25)!

 

á      The Glory of His Heavenly Intercession (1 John 2:1-2).

á      The Glory of His Persevering Love (John 13:1)!

á      The Glory of His Final Triumph (Revelation 19:1-6)!

 

The Witness Given

 

One reason why the Lord God has so graciously given us grace to behold his glory is that we might bear testimony to others of his glory as Òeye witnesses of his majestyÓ (1 John 1:1-3). As soon as Isaiah beheld his glory, the Lord God said to that sinner whose lips still burned with the purging fire off his altar, ÒGo tell this people!Ó That is what we must do. — Proclaim the Glory!

 

      Jesus Christ is the Only Savior of poor sinners. He is the only begotten of the Father. He is full of grace!

 

ÒPlenteous grace with him is found, —

Grace to cover all my sin:

Let the healing streams abound,

Make and keep me pure within.Ó

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is full of truth! — He is Truth! — He is the Truth of all the Prophets, all the Law, and all the Promises of God!

 

ÒAll hail Immanuel, all divine

In Thee Thy FatherÕs glories shine;

Thou brightest, sweetest, Fairest One,

That eyes have seen or angels known.

 

O may I live to reach the place

Where He unveils His lovely face.

Where all His beauties saints behold,

And sing His name to harps of gold!Ó

 

            Have you beheld his glory? Oh, may God give you grace to behold his glory from this day forth and forever more!

 

 

ÒThe light of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ, which is revealed to the renewed heart by the Gospel, has a transforming effect upon those who receive it: they are made partakers of the divine nature and resemble him, whose they are and whom they serve Ôin all goodness and righteousness and truthÕ (Ephesians 5:9).Ó                                                                                                                             — John Newton

 

 

 

Grace Bulletin

 

December 28, 2008

 

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.freegraceradio.com

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

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com