SHREVEPORT GRACE CHURCH

2970 Baird Rd., Shreveport, LA 71118

CHRIST ALONE-SCRIPTURE ALONE-GRACE ALONE

JANUARY 23, 2005

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP

SUNDAY

BIBLE CLASS- 10:00 AM

A Time of Trouble Like None Before- Daniel 12:1
 

MORNING WORSHIP- 11:00 AM

Scripture Reading/Prayer: Psalm 97 (David)

Call to Worship: ‘Jehovah Reigns, O Earth Rejoice’

Scripture Reading/Prayer: I Samuel 24 (Mike)

Hymn: #222- ‘There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood’

Message: The Testimony of Jesus Christ- Revelation 1:1-3

Hymn: #118- ‘When I Survey The Wondrous Cross’
                             

AFTERNOON WORSHIP – 12:30PM

Hymn: #442- ‘Praise Him! Praise Him!

Scripture Reading/Prayer: Luke 14 (Jim)

Hymn: #16 ‘The Lord is King’

Message:  Blessing The Lord’s People- Numbers 6:22-27

Hymn: #488- ‘I Will Sing of My Redeemer’

WEDNESDAY

6:30 PM- Mid-week Service

Nursery care available for all services for ages 4 and younger.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ken Wimer, Pastor- ( (318) 687-4943

PO Box 5028, Shreveport, LA 71135

E-MAIL: pastor@shrevegrace.org

WEB SITE: http://www.shrevegrace.org Updated weekly with audio messages now available on-line.

AUDIO MESSAGES:  Available in cassette, CD, or DVD format upon request.

CALL TO WORSHIP 

(Tune – ‘Just As I Am’- #249) 

Words by Harriett Auber, 1829 based on Psalm 97

JEHOVAH reigns!  O earth, rejoice;

Ye ransomed isles, exalt your voice:

Make every hill and vale around

Responsive to the welcome sound.

Though far removed from mortal eye,

He reigns in glorious majesty;

Himself in awful clouds concealed,

His truth, His justice stands revealed.

Yes, Jesus reigns! The Gospel’s light

Beams with mild radiance on our sight;

And fallen man, redeemed, forgiv’n,

May lift his heart, his hopes to heaven.

Oh, then, obey His sacred Word,

All ye who love and fear the Lord;

Go, publish through His wide domains

The glorious truth, Jehovah reigns!

DEAD AND DARK SEASONS

All Christians, even the most eminent servants of God, have their dead and dark seasons—when the life of God seems sunk to so low an ebb as to be hardly visible—so hidden is the stream by the mud-banks of their fallen nature.

By these very dark and dead seasons, the people of God are instructed. They see and feel what 'the flesh' really is—how alienated from the life of God; they learn in whom all their strength and sufficiency lie; they are taught that in them, that is, in their flesh, dwells no good thing; that no exertions of their own can maintain in strength and vigor the life of God; and that all they are, and have—all they believe, know, feel, and enjoy—with all their ability, usefulness, gifts, and grace—flow from the pure, sovereign grace—the rich, free, undeserved, yet unceasing goodness and mercy of God! They learn in this hard school of painful experience, their emptiness and nothingness—and that without Christ they can do nothing. They thus become clothed with humility, that rare, yet lovely garb; cease from their own strength and wisdom; and learn experimentally that Christ is, and ever must be, all in all to them, and all in all in them. J. C. PHILPOT

KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS

Is it possible to know whether Christ died for you and whether you are one of His redeemed, justified ones, as depicted in 1 John 2:1,2?  Absolutely!  The apostle John states, ‘And hereby we DO KNOW that we know him, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.” I John 2:3.  The question is, what does it mean to keep His commandments?

1. Those who know Christ, being taught by the Spirit of God, keep His commandment to repent from dead works and submit to Christ and His righteousness alone established in His obedience unto death, having no confidence in any works of righteousness of our own, nor taking any credit or glory in salvation- Hebrews 6:1 and Philippians 3:3.  
2. Those taught of the Spirit, in evidence of having Christ as Advocate; keep His commandment to believe on Him as He is revealed in God’s Word, I John 3:23.  Faith in Christ and His righteousness is never the cause or reason for our acceptance, but the evidence of being accepted in the Beloved, because of His work of propitiation, reconciliation, redemption, and satisfaction at the cross.  Where there is faith in him; there is also Spirit given love to him, for faith works by love, Gal. 5:6.
3. Those who know Christ in truth, evidence they are the Lord’s in obeying the commandment to love the brethren, I John 4:21. Brethren are those who share the same faith of Christ, revealed in His Word, without condition or compromise, 2 Corinthians 6:15. The grace and mercy of God teaches us to show kindness to all, but just like those of our own family, there is a special love for those whom Christ has redeemed, and taught His grace, Galatians 6:10.  While the religious world may consider us unloving not to fellowship with any who deny the Christ of Scripture, and the message of God’s unconditional election, grace, redemption, and full and complete justification by His death; nonetheless, it is that distinctive love for Christ that causes us to seek out fellowship and love His true people in this way. It is not a love that distinguishes between men based on race, color, or social standing, but rather a love of the truth, that affects our walk, will, and worship.  That is not bigotry, but keeping His commandment!  1 John 2:15.

KEN WIMER

FREEDOM IN CHRIST

“If the Son makes you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

Much we talk of freedom in our day; much is our mind perplexed about it; but how little is said, and how little we think of the freedom in the text.  Freedom in this life concerning temporal matters will benefit us little compared with the freedom which the Son of God gives to his children.  The former endureth only a little while, but the latter endureth for ever.  O may this freedom be made manifest unto us, through God’s dear Son…

            What is this freedom?  Sometimes God is pleased to grant a manifestation of pardon at once, but oftener gradually.  The first token of freedom is, to feel that we are in bondage, that we are sinners;  for though all men are alike sinners in the sight of God, all are not blessed with freedom TO KNOW IT, and to cry out for mercy in consequence thereof.  We never cry for mercy, feelingly so, till we enjoy a little of this freedom!  Then we pant for the water of life, and at last we are enabled to rejoice in a precious Redeemer.

            The Son makes us free, and not us.   Suppose we were in debt and had naught to pay the debt, and a kind friend were to come and pay it for us, we should justly be free.  “He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”  And thus is the law magnified more than if Adam had fully obeyed its commands, inasmuch as it has THE OBEDIENCE OF GOD AND MAN.  By faith we realize[1] this great truth, and are made free.  God grant us the enjoyment of this freedom, and we shall be free indeed.

Excerpt from sermon by WILLIAM GADSBY, Preached 1842

__________________

CHRIST’S INTERCESSION

“Faith asks no signal from the skies; To show that prayers accepted rise;

Our Priest is in the Holy place; And answers from the throne of grace.

JOSIAH CONDER

NOTES

·         CLEANING SCHEDULE: Pennywells (1/24/- 2/6)

·         NURSERY SCHEDULE:  Today- Mary Wimer/Freda Powell

·         THE LORD’S TABLE AND FELLOWSHIP MEAL- Next Sunday