SHREVEPORT GRACE CHURCH

2970 Baird Rd., Shreveport, LA 71118

CHRIST ALONE-SCRIPTURE ALONE-GRACE ALONE

July 31, 2005

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP

SUNDAY

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.

CALL TO WORSHIP 

(Tune: ‘Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee’ #58)  Based on Psalm 119:41-48

Let thy sweet mercies also come

and visit me, O Lord;

Even thy sure salvation,

according to thy word.

So shall I have wherewith I may

give him an answer just,

Who spitefully reproacheth me;

for in thy word I trust.

The word of truth out of my mouth

take thou not utterly;

For on thy judgments righteous

my hope doth still rely.

So shall I keep for evermore

Thy law continually.

And, in that I thy precepts seek,

I’ll walk at liberty.

I’ll speak thy work to kings, and I

with shame shall not be moved;

And will delight myself always

in thy laws, which I love.

To thy commandments, which I love,

my hands lift up I will;

And I will also meditate

upon thy statutes still.

THE SPIRIT VS.THE FLESH

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” 

Galatians  5:17 

t is clear, from the Word of God, and from the experience of every born again sinner, that our flesh is what it has been from birth- sinful, corrupt, and lustful.  So long as we are in this life, we can expect fleshly desires to work in us and through us.  ‘The flesh lusteth’ [literally ‘continually rages against the Spirit in angry passion].  The good news is that it cannot condemn those for whom Christ died, Romans 8:1.  Being born of the Spirit of God, Christ indwells us, by His Spirit, giving life to our otherwise dead souls, and transforms our enmity into oneness with His person, will, and grace, reconciling our spirits to His, and bringing us to believe Him who died for us, and in whom is ALL our righteousness. The Spirit’s work is reveal Him continually to our souls, (John 15:26; 16:13), giving grace to believe Him and rest in what He completed at Calvary.  

I know that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing,”  Romans 7:18, but THANK GOD in Christ’s living, dying, rising again and ascending on high is EVERY GOOD THING, to whom the Spirit continually directs my heart, will, and affection. If in me dwells NO good thing, then it must also be that the only righteousness I have is not one seated in me, but that ONE seated ABOVE in the person of the Lord Jesus, by whom I was redeemed, justified, and reconciled at the cross, and who ever lives to intercede for me, Heb. 7:25. It is there that the Spirit of God continually turns our hearts, minds, and affections away from the flesh, and therefore we do set our affection on things above, NOT on things on the earth, Colossians 3:1,2

KEN WIMER

HOPE IN CHRIST ALONE

HOUGH in regeneration the carnality and corruption of our nature are not destroyed, yet by the Word and Spirit, the soul is possessed with a desire after Jesus, and the sweet remembrance of His name is fixed in the heart; He is all their desire, and all their salvation; they know and feel themselves to be poor and lost; they are humbled in soul; hope from every object but Christ is cut off.  But yet some cannot speak of such manifestations of joy and tokens of comfort which others tell of.  Hence they distress and disquiet their minds, are ready to question whether they can have any true knowledge of, love to, and interest in the Lord.  But this is not right; for it is plain and evident, where there is a desire of soul to the name of Jesus, and remembrance in the heart of His salvation, as our only hope, this ariseth from a degree of knowledge and faith; and love also in proportion is drawn out after precious Christ.  Such will be found waiting upon the Lord, for they see His grace.        W. MASON