Accounts of grace

This is a (very) brief overview of Christ's work in my life over the last year.











I have been saved for 8 years now, by God's grace and in that time I have received only good from the Lord. This does not mean that everything was or is pleasant, or nice but it certainly good. This is demonstration of Romans 8 vs 28 which promises the believer that all thing work together for good, to those who are called. God is very good, and from His hand I have received good. I would like to give an account, however, of a particular grace He has given me this last year.

Those of you who know me personally, know that at around August 2009 I moved churches to a Reformed Baptist Church. Within that move, I put myself under sound biblical, expository teaching and preaching, something I had not had before. This truly, truly is an astonishing grace of God. The experience can only be described as a man, who, for his entire life has only eaten only dry bread and stale water, being suddenly given permanent access to a large group of the most rich and toothsome foods and drinks. That He would save me... what love and grace. That He would save me and allow me to be in such a church, grace grace, grace. But God did not stop there, although if He did, He would still be infinitely worthy of all honour and praise.

God also introduced me into a group of brothers and sisters in Christ, many of them in fact but I think now specifically of our young adults bible study, known as Cornerstone. These godly young men and women have impressed me very much. They have been an encouragement to me to be godly, to grow in maturity and to show grace, something they had to show me a lot of this year. The majority of our time in study was spent looking at what the bible teaches on manhood and womanhood. This study and the thought required to apply it rocked my world. This was a subject very much taboo in my old church. It was a big grace of God to see a fair sized group of young godly people, striving to be biblical against the world. And this certainly is an issue where the world has taken a strong stand against biblical principals in recent years. I look forward to growing in grace with this group next year.

I praise God also, that He has grown me in holiness in the year past, and at the same time revealed yet more sin which needs to be warred against. I realise that this struggle will continue until glorification and I both relish and shudder at the thought of it. Truly Phil 2 : 12-13 applies to me.

There are so many graces I could mention. God has provided me with health, a job, ministry opportunity, talent with computers, talent with musical instruments. Godly elders, worthy of double honour, and most importantly Jesus Christ, my substitute on the cross.

I anticipate that 2011 will be as full as the previous one, if the Lord tarries, even so come Lord Jesus.

Sola Dei Gloria

Philippians 2: 12 - 13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word

For this purpose, then, the incorporeal and incorruptible and immaterial Word of God entered our world. In one sense, indeed, He was not far from it before, for no part of creation had ever been without Him Who, while ever abiding in union with the Father, yet fills all things that are. But now He entered the world in a new way, stooping to our level in His love and Self-revealing to us. He saw the reasonable race, the race of men that, like Himself, expressed the Father's Mind, wasting out of existence, and death reigning over all in corruption.

He saw that corruption held us all the closer, because it was the penalty for the Transgression; He saw, too, how unthinkable it would be for the law to be repealed before it was fulfilled. He saw how unseemly it was that the very things of which He Himself was the Artificer should be disappearing. He saw how the surpassing wickedness of men was mounting up against them; He saw also their universal liability to death. All this He saw and, pitying our race, moved with compassion for our limitation, unable to endure that death should have the mastery, rather than that His creatures should perish and the work of His Father for us men come to nought,

He took to Himself a body, a human body even as our own.... This He did out of sheer love for us, so that in His death all might die, and the law of death thereby be abolished because, having fulfilled in His body that for which it was appointed, it was thereafter voided of its power for men. This He did that He might turn again to incorruption men who had turned back to corruption, and make them alive through death by the appropriation of His body and by the grace of His resurrection. Thus He would make death to disappear from them as utterly as straw from fire.

-- Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word

Source: 9Marks

God takes away the creature!

  Diogenes noted the folly of the men of his time--that they undervalued the best things--but overvalued the worst things. Ah, that this were not the sin and shame of professors in these days!
God sometimes strips His people of their nearest and dearest earthly mercies--that they may the more prize, and the better taste--of spiritual and heavenly mercies!
  God takes away uncertain riches--that His people may the more prize certain riches!
God takes away natural strength--that His people may the more prize spiritual strength!
  God takes away the creature--that His people may more prize their Saviour.
Spiritual and heavenly things can alone satisfy the soul. The language of a godly man is this, "Ah, Lord! the good earthly things which I have from You, though they may refresh me--yet they cannot satisfy me without Yourself!"

 

(Thomas Brooks, "A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day")

Quote taken from Grace Gems

RC Sproul on the Church

The church is the most important organization in the world. It is the target of every demonic, hostile attack in the universe. Jesus personally guaranteed that the gates of hell will never prevail against the church. He made no guarantee that the gates of hell would not be unleashed against it, however. —RC Sproul

How To Stop Sinning

Sermon by Clint Archer

Title: How To Stop Sinning

Text: Ephesians 4:22-24

Date: 20 June 2010

Download here

Source: baptistchurchhillcrest.com

Theocracy - Absolution Day

Ever heard of this band? Neither had I till a couple of months ago. They have 2 clear things that make me like them.

1. The music, although falling within the metal genre, is both progressive (i.e they play their instruments and experiment with longer songs and jams) and clear (i.e its not just a big noise, you can always hear what the guy is singing) which is brilliant. Speaking as a muso myself this is great.
2. This is more to the point, they are profoundly biblical and gospel centered. As an example to this I invite you to watch and consider the video below:

A transcript of the lyrics can be found here

Here is an extract from part of the song:

No priest can say I'm worthy

No sacraments or holy laws

can take my sin away

No church can wash my spirit clean

For the scarlet stain that paints my soul to sleep

Runs way too deep

No blessed holy water

Can sanctify me in the eyes of God

The great I AM

But He has made provision

To lift me up and wash me in the blood

Of the spotless Lamb

Lovely stuff and very biblical. Now granted most people I know would probably not listen to this type of music, and me neither as a rule. Nevertheless with solid biblical lyrics, its great music and worth listening to.

The band's site can be found here www.theocracymusic.com/

Also check out the wiki page, there are some free (mostly Christmas) music for download wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy

HBC Mission's Conference

All you need is in the download link

However the date for the event is the 27th & 28th of November

Click here to download it

God bless