“Salvation Will God Appoint For Walls And Bulwarks”

Isaiah 26:1

What walls and bulwarks are to a fortress, an enclosure of safety, salvation is to the church and people of God. God’s saints, those who are born into his church and kingdom, are kept eternally secure in his salvation. The believer’s safety and security is not his will, his works, his worth, or even his faith, but God’s salvation. We believe in the infallible security, perseverance, and preservation of every believer because we know that salvation is God’s work alone. And we “know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14). This is our security! Until God’s purpose, Christ’s blood, and the Spirit’s work can be nullified, God’s elect are safe and secure. These are the walls and bulwarks of salvation!

Pastor Don Fortner

The Trials of Our Faith

Some of the Lord’s people are going through some difficult trials at this time. I would say to you what Simon Peter said; “Beloved, do not be amazed or bewildered by trials and afflictions which come upon you.” (1 Peter 1:6-8).

Afflictions and trials are the common lot of God’s people in all ages. These trials are not by chance but are by Divine appointment for His glory and our eternal good. If you can, “Rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, and when His glory shall be revealed, you will be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:13).

These trials reveal FAITH, which becomes more precious through trial.

They try our LOVE for Christ, which cannot be dimmed nor drowned in the tears of suffering.

They try our HOPE of eternal life, for “whom have I on earth or in heaven beside Thee?”

They enable us to give A GOOD WITNESS to others concerning Him whom we believe, revealing whether it is indeed Him whom we desire rather than the loaves and the fishes He provides (John. 2:23-25).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1990)

“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour” (Prov. 21:21).

What is it to follow after righteousness but to pursue after Christ, Who is the righteousness of His people? What is it to follow after mercy but to cast one’s self upon Christ, Who will never cast out one who comes to Him for mercy? What is it to find life but to, by faith, follow after Christ, Who is The Life? What is it to find righteousness but to find Christ, Who is the God of our righteousness? And what is it to find honor before God but to know Christ and be accepted of God in Him? Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

DYING TO SELF

“If any man will deny himself” (Matthew 16:24)

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, and unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, and spiritual insensibility, enduring it as Christ Jesus endured it, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you no longer care to hear yourself in conversation, or to record your own works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in far more desperate circumstance, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.