Great Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 02 October, 2026 A.D.

 

Not saved are we by trying

From self can come no aid

’Tis on the blood relying 

Once for our ransom paid

’Tis looking unto Jesus

The Holy One and Just

’Tis His great work that saves us

It is not try, but trust.


No deeds of ours are needed

To make Christ’s merit more

No frames of mind or feelings

Can add to His great store

’Tis simply to receive Him

The Holy One and Just

’Tis only to believe Him

It is not try, but trust.  

 


-old Gospel hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation”

 

 

-------0------- 

 

 

    No one is immune from trouble.  It could come from sickness or sorrow.  It could come from financial distress.  It could come from upbringing from misguided parents.  It could be an abusive relationship where we were mistreated.  It could be being treated unfairly or falsely accused.  It can come from our own hand as our sinfulness is ever before us.     But it all comes under the umbrella of Romans 8:28.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  If we become stuck in the past with bitter and angry resentment, we are forgetting who brought this our way for our good and His glory.  I hope that instead  of viewing ourselves as victims, we can, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  -copied


***** 


    The importance of hearing the Gospel cannot be overstated, because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).  One of the names of the Gospel is, “The hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:5).  The Lord said on numerous occasions, “He that hath ears to hear, let  him hear.”  Not everybody has ears to hear!  In Luke 6:27, the Lord said, “I say unto you that hear.”  He only speaks to those who hear.  Hearing is an evidence of knowing and being of God.  “He that knoweth God hearth us; he that is not of God hearth not us” (I John 4:6). We are also warned of becoming dull of hearing  (Hebrews 5:11).  

 

In the parable of the sower, where the Lord gives us the four types of hearers, He says in Luke 8:18, “Take heed how ye hear!”  Not only are we to be careful what we hear, but how we hear!  “Let every man be swift to hear and slow to speak” (James 1:19).  It takes just as much grace to hear the Gospel as it does to preach the Gospel!  May we all say with Samuel, “Speak LORD, Thy servant heareth.”  Guard against becoming dull in hearing!  -copied

 

 

***** 


BELIEVING GRACE

 

When I was first confronted with the Doctrine of Grace… Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and the Perseverance of the Saints, my great concern was… is this what God’s Word actually teaches?  One cannot deal with Scripture honestly and conclude that it does not clearly set forth the Doctrine of Grace. 

 

But did you know believing grace goes much further than that?  You can believe the Bible teaches grace and be nothing the better for it.  Believing grace goes farther than acknowledging the Bible teaches it.  Believing grace sees the necessity of the Holy Truth of sovereign grace for my salvation.  Since I am totally depraved, the election of the Father, the Redemption of the Son, and the Irresistible Grace of the Holy Spirit are essential to my salvation.  The only hope I have is the sovereign grace of God in Christ Jesus.  But believing grace goes even farther than that.  Not only do I see the Bible teaches the Doctrine of Grace, not only do I see that what grace teaches is essential to my salvation, I love the Doctrine of Grace!  Or I should say, I love the God of the Doctrine of Grace!  I love the way He saves.  It is perfect.   

 

Believing grace is more than giving assent to the Doctrine of Grace. It is also seeing grace as essential for salvation, and loving the way God saves by His sovereign grace in Christ Jesus.  What does this say about preachers who see the Scriptures do teach the Doctrine of Grace, yet believe you can preach the Gospel and not preach sovereign grace?  What does this say of those who claim to believe grace and can yet be satisfied to sit under preaching that does not clearly set forth sovereign grace?  It does not take a genius to figure that out.  They really do not believe grace at all!  -copied



***** 


“BE MORE READY TO HEAR!”

-Ecclesiastes 5:1

 

  Have we ever stopped to realize that it is just as vital for us to be “ready to hear,” as it is for the preacher to be ready to preach?  How often do we come to worship assuming that our God will bless His message to our hearts?  Our Lord said, “I WILL DO all these things for My people,” but in Ezekiel 36:37 He said, “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.”  Our Lord plainly told us, “Ask, and it shall be given you!”  Do you desire a blessing from His Word today?  Ask Him for it!   

 

Enquire of Him for it! Ask Him to bring you to the house of God PREPARED for worship!  Ask Him to make you “ready to hear,” and beg Him for His message of the hour.  Earnestly ask Him for His blessing and His Spirit in the hearing of His Word! Lord, make Your servant ready to declare! …and make us Your servants, “ready to hear!” - Gabe Stalnaker 

 

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