WSBC 2.0

The wretchedness of our sin should not be something we minimize.

 

There is no such thing as an innocent person.  All of us are guilty people. 

 

Assurance of Salvation is a good thing, but assurance is never meant to replace thankfulness and wonder that God would save wretched sinners like you and me.

 

It is good to remember that salvation means that we need someone to save us. It is good to remember that salvation is impossible for us to earn.

 

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been given the righteousness of God.  Being counted righteous, being justified in God’s sight is a gift, it is not earned.  Jesus bought our righteousness with his own blood.  In this way, God is righteous in his judgment of us, because Jesus paid the penalty that had to be paid.

 

Not because we are trying to earn our way into heaven, but because Jesus is slowly changing us to be more righteous like him, we should be living according to our new identity in Christ.  We are set free from slavery to our sins. 

 

God chooses to use other brothers and sisters in your life, to encourage you to grow in holiness, to be more like the person you will be in heaven, worshipping God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. 

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Paul writes this letter to exhort them as individuals and as a local church to stand firm and persevere in the faith.

 

Knowing that God is near and He guards us with His peace.

 

That you WSBC would come away even more motivated to stand firm in the gospel, resting in God's peace no matter what frightening things you face together.

 

A church that is doing these things together will be a unified church that stands firm in one spirit, striving side by side, which is what Paul wants of them.

 

The ONLY way we experience true, deep, lasting joy the Bible talks about is by being connected to God, who is the Source of all joy.

 

When our happiness is rooted in God and all He's done and will do for us in Christ, then there's always reason to rejoice, even when our circumstances go from bad to worse.

 

God is the only One whose shoulder is broad enough to cry on, and whose chest is big enough to beat on.

 

Prayer is the main medicine for sinful worry.

 

It's also the church collectively guarded as God's peace reaches out into our web of relationships, binding us tighter together so you maintain peace and unity as a church.

 

God promises to give us the grace to endure right when we need it, not before.

 

That Paul says be anxious for nothing and pray about everything tells us there's no issue big enough to justify our sinful worry, and there's no issue small enough that God doesn't care about it.

 

And God will fulfill His promise to use your prayers as a means of guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

 

We need to get around people living virtuously so we can learn how to live ourselves, and learn how to set an example for others to follow like Paul did.

 

So as we rejoice in and pray to and ponder our Lord, may we all stand firm in faith and unity, until we enter into the joy of our Master.

 

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David doesn’t shy away from hard questions and in times of trouble, David doesn’t shy away from God.

 

If we begin to believe lies about God, if we begin to believe that God does not care, that truly will cause us great pain and sorrow.

 

And if we have begun to doubt God, we need God to grab us out of our doubt. 

 

When David cries out to God, he is not crying out into empty space.  There is a God who is listening.

 

Our prayers hopefully are becoming more and more concerned with God’s glory and God’s honor among the nations. 

 

As we grow in knowledge of God we also grow in being able to pray “thy will be done” kinds of prayers.  As we grow in understanding what is closest to God’s heart, we grow in praying prayers that delight God and honor Him. 

 

So brothers and sisters, boldly bring your requests before God.  And pray as well that our prayer lives would be honoring to Him.

 

And while human love fails at times, God’s love is perfect.

 

It is in Christ’s death that we have the greatest example of love. 

 

It is in the death of Jesus that we see what he gave up out of love and what the Father did out of love, so that undeserving sinners such as you and me could be on the receiving end of the abounding love of the triune God.

 

There may come a Sunday when your voice wavers and tears come into your eyes, but even on that day, remember God’s love and remember His salvation.  And may tears of grief be mixed with tears of joy.

That repentance is the way to clear the obstacles in one’s heart be prepared to receive the glory of Jesus.

 

God spoked and promised this hope that we know now is pointing to Jesus, the fulfilment of the gospel. God’s word is not like grass or flower that withers or fades.  That God’s word will stand forever.  This so we can be secure in God’s word, secure in God’s promises.  This is a comforting hope because it is a secured hope.

 

Knowing we are no longer in exile away from God, no longer enemies of God, that a level path has been made through Jesus to God.  God provides comfort by speaking hope through the gospel.

 

God who is active in bringing about his promises through history.  Nothing can come close in comparison to God’s greatness.

 

God being great in these ways above the heaven and the earth provides comfort.  Because the greatness of God is what assures the Israelites and assures us of our hope and the surety of his words.

 

That God does not faint or grow weary; in another word God is the source of power and strength.  Because he is the source of power and strength God can give power and strength to those that wait upon him. God will renew their strength for those that wait for the Lord.

 

God’s promise is greater than our feelings... This is a comfort to know our hope will renew our strength to last through hardships. This is how God provides comfort by giving strength to those who wait upon him.

 

Uncertainty is certainly giving us opportunities to grow our faith in God.

 

record & edit to Sherry's credit

edit to Sherry's credit