Gospel Living

Counted Worthy by Paul Washer Suffering for Christ in a World That Hates Him 2017 Shepherds' Conference (No video for this session) MEDIA LINKS:   MP3  /  SPANISH MP3 We often have an elevated view of persecution in the United States, acting as though a mean look equates to those thirty-nine lashes.  Even so, we do live in a world that hates the truth of God, and its animosity grows.  What should our message and assurance be?

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2  And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3  He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4  for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5  Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. Many problems in this world bring us low, and many (if not most ) are of our own, sinful making.  Sometimes, others are responsible for our current trials (although, not as often or to the degree that we claim).  In relatively few instances, though, the blame lies in the demonic realm. This account follows the storm at sea, which itself came at the end of the Lord’s busy day of teaching in chapter ...

We're going to be talking about the temptation of Jesus from Mark 1:12–13. We can’t have a savior who might falter. If He’s the Second Adam, will He eventually sin like the first? What if He isn’t obedient to the Law His whole life? What if He isn’t obedient to the point of the cross? What if He decides not to save those the Father gives to Him? Even given all of that, how can He be a sympathetic High Priest if He’s never endured temptation? In order for Christ to launch His earthly ministry, He had to be tested and proved. I. Jesus had to be tempted II. Jesus had to be tempted worse than we are III. Jesus had to be tempted and emerge victorious Audio: Video: Notes ( PDF ): Jesus’s Temptation | Mark 1:12–13 Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 22 January, 2017 Heavenly Father, ·         As we read about Your temptation, we think of our own temptations.   ·         Help us to see how Y...

To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. 1            I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;             I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2            I will be glad and exult in you;             I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalms fill our worship with joy, even amid heartache.  Here, both Psalms 9 and 10 were possibly one psalm, as they are in the Septuagint translation.  These psalms are a hymn of praise and a lament, respectively.  Because of these distinctive moods, the psalms function well as two.  Even so, the title of this psalm, “according to Muth-labben,” seems to be a popular tune known translated “the death of a son.”  As such, David clearly struggles in both psalm...

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. 1            O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;             save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, 2            lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,             rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. 3            O LORD my God, if I have done this,             if there is wrong in my hands, 4            if I have repaid my friend with evil             or plundered my enemy without cause, 5          ...

What does it mean to be one with Christ?  I recommend this helpful chart that Andy Naselli posted to help us understand.

In memory of our son, Joshua Enoch: Your brother and your sisters shouted with glee Sighting those early glosses A little brother!  Satisfied prayers from knees bent upon running future races When peace, like a river, attendeth our way With ease, we sing our souls are well Scarlet!  Why have you appeared to us this day? Are you to announce a new farewell? Through the prayers of many, you strived and you thrived Until we thought you would survive Beat, oh, please sound, tell us our son is alive! Oh, dear heart, from us do be not rived! Dawn turns to dusk, and pains ebbing far too soon, Face so small, body so fragile, Oh, our child!  Once fettered to life in womb, rest you now in mom’s hand so careful. Our son never to know sorrow or pain’s sting We grieve, but then smile and endure. For behold!  Your joy, so wide, in heaven’s gain; God, rest us in this word made so sure. Our son grows and trusts a far better Fathe...

Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your feet from being caught. My loving wife forwarded me a moving blog post from a mother who survived the horrors of the Colorado theater shooting.   Give it a read.

(From Letters of John Newton ) My Dear Friend, I must leave a line to tell you that we sympathize with you and your wife in your severe trial. (The death of an infant.) But, at the same time, I rejoice exceedingly in the Lord's goodness, enabling you to be resigned and satisfied with His will, despite all the feelings and pinchings of flesh and blood. If you can now believe and say, "He does all things well"--with what transport would you say it, if the whole plan of His wisdom and love was unfolded to your view? He will condescend to unfold it to you hereafter--and it will fill you with admiration. It is an affliction, to be cordially rejoiced in, when the Lord, who cares for us--intimates His will by the event. Healing and wounding are equally from His hand--and are equally tokens of His love and care over us! "The Lord gives--and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21 You are in the wise and merciful hands of One who prescrib...