“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” -John 14:18
He left us, and yet we are not left orphans. He is our comfort, and He is gone; but we are not comfortless. Our comfort is that He will come to us, and this is consolation enough to sustain us through His prolonged absence. Jesus is already on His way: He says, “I come quickly”: He rides posthaste toward us. He says, “I will come”: and none can prevent His coming, or put it back for a quarter of an hour. He specially says, “I will come to you”; and so He will. His coming is specially to and for His own people. This is meant to be their present comfort while they mourn that the Bridegroom doth not yet appear.
When we lose the joyful sense of His presence we mourn, but we may not sorrow as if there were no hope. Our Lord in a little wrath has hid Himself from us for a moment, but He will return in full favor. He leaves us in a sense, but only in a sense. When He withdraws, He leaves a pledge behind that He will return. O Lord, come quickly! There is no life in this earthly existence if Thou be gone. We sigh for the return of Thy sweet smile. When wilt Thou come unto us? We are sure Thou wilt appear; but be Thou like a roe, or a young hart. Make no tarrying, O our God!
[from Morning & Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon]
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” -Galatians 6:9-10
Awesomeness isn’t our calling; love is. Impact isn’t our calling; presence is. Success isn’t our calling; faithfulness is. -Scotty Smith via Twitter
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” -Psalm 46:1
A help that is not present when we need it is of small value. The anchor which is left at home is of no use to the seaman in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of no worth to the debtor when a writ is out against him. Very few earthly helps could be called “very present”: they are usually far in the seeking, far in the using, and farther still when once used. But as for the Lord our God, He is present when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when we have already enjoyed His aid.
He is more than “present,” He is very present. More present than the nearest friend can be, for He is in us in our trouble; more present than we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of mind. He is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present, altogether present. He is present now if this is a gloomy season. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon Him; He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now. We need not have a moment’s care or an instant’s fear. “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]
“He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” -Hebrews 13:5
Several times in the Scriptures the LORD hath said this. He has often repeated it to make our assurance doubly sure. Let us never harbor a doubt about it. In itself the promise is specially emphatic. In the Greek it has five negatives, each one definitely shutting out the possibility of the LORD’s ever leaving one of His people so that he can justly feel forsaken of his God. This priceless Scripture does not promise us exemption from trouble, but it does secure us against desertion. We may be called to traverse strange ways, but we shall always have our LORD’s company, assistance, and provision. We need not covet money, for we shall always have our God, and God is better than gold; His favor is better than fortune. We ought surely to be content with such things as we have, for he who has God has more than all the world besides. What can we have beyond the Infinite? What more can we desire than almighty Goodness. Come, my heart; if God says He will never leave thee nor forsake thee, be thou much in prayer for grace that thou mayest never leave thy LORD, nor even for a moment forsake His ways.
[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon, December 28 entry]
Sunday School | 1 John 2:1-14 | Bro. Roger Harden
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” -1 John 2:1-2
-Propitiation=Subsitute, but even further, the wrath of God was satisfied AND His favor was bestowed upon us!
-We have to be motivated by the love of God. What’s your motivation? Are you trying to impress the world?
Morning Worship | 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” -1 Corinthians 1:10
-If you are in fellowship with the Lord, you are in fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. (Philippians 2:5)
-Desire to live, speak and provoke others to the glory of God.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” -1 Corinthians 1:17
-The good news becomes good news only when you realize the bad news.
-Only when you see yourself as a sinner in need of a Savior can you love what Christ has done.
-When you realize His love for you, you are drawn with cords of love to Him.
Evening Worship | Exodus 40:1-37
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” -Exodus 40:34
-God delivered Israel out of bondage and continued to deliver them for His glory.
-He has delivered us from the bondage of sin and continues to deliver us for His glory.
-The Israelites had obeyed God’s instructions concerning the tabernacle, built it and consecrated it and they were anticipating God’s glory coming down on it.
-vs. 35- No one can come into the presence of Almighty God without blood. Don’t get too laid back with the holiness of God.
-Jesus Christ fulfilled all these protypes: lampstand, shewbread, basin, shakinah glory, etc.!!!!
-God promised His guiding presence, blessings, protection and providence. (vs. 36-38)
-He has promised never to leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
-He has delivered us. He is delivering us. Our Deliverer is coming!
Sunday School | 1 Peter 1: 1-12 | Steve Dawson
“…to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” -1 Peter 1:4-5
We are spiritual exiles (vs. 1) from our inheritance and being together with Christ (vs. 4). We are exiled from where our heart truly is.
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” -1 Peter 1:6-7
Suffering puts HIM in perspective. Jesus is revealed through suffering.
Sunday Morning | Colossians 3:15 | Steve Wainright
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” -Colossians 3:15
-The peace of God comes from having peace with God.
-If you can’t change the place you’re in, you need to change your mind.
-“rule”=umpire, has final decision> Let the peace of God be the final say-so in your life.
How do we do that?
-Be thankful. Don’t complain
-Bless Him for the mercies and the miseries.
-As we have thankful hearts, the peace of God rules in our hearts.
Sunday Evening | Exodus 33:1-11 | Steve Wainright
“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” -Exodus 33:3
–God promised His blessing, but not His presence. His presence brings accountability.
-What do you want more of: God’s blessings or God Himself?
-Do you desire the Blesser more than the blessings?
>Get a CD if there is one…I can’t summarize it well enough!<
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