Beloved,

Sermon Text for Sunday: The apostle John cannot get over the love of God for undeserving sinners. Nor can he get over how important that his little children understand that love flows from God, and through His church only as they understand the love that was demonstrated in the good news of Jesus Christ’s incarnation and suffering for sin. Our text begins, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God…” Let’s spend this week meditating and talking about the love of God, and what it looks like, as we prepare for the exposition of 1 John 4:7-16 on Sunday.

On Thursday at the Bible Survey – “Rediscovering the New Testament Church,” Scott Brown will teach through Paul’s letter to Philemon. It is a letter that shows how love works in the church when someone is wronged. It preaches the value of regeneration, and restoration on many levels. You can come to Scott’s library at 5:00pm or join in the lifestream.  To catch the messages on the gospels, Acts, Romans… and the rest of the sessions leading up to Philemon, click on the link to listen on Sermonaudio for all the New Testament Survey messages.

Please pray for Jason Dohm and I as we are going to meet Carlton McLeod and his staff to pray at noon on Thursday about how we might work to get the message about family reformation to black pastors.

Continue to pray for the elders, and for all of us as we consider our options regarding our meeting place. We desire to have full confidence in the Lord for this matter and are waiting on Him for that confidence.

On Wed, Prayer will be held at the Brown’s Barn. In preparation for prayer tonight, notice the things that formed the content of Pauls prayer for Philemon and the church that was gathering in his house, “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, ⁵ hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, ⁶ that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Philemon 4-7

We will be singing many songs of love on Sunday as you see below:

• O Great God
• More, More About Jesus
• The Love of God
• Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
• Behold the Lamb

O Great God

O great God of highest heaven

Occupy my lowly heart

Own it all and reign supreme

Conquer every rebel power

Let no vice or sin remain

That resists Your holy war

You have loved and purchased me

Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin

Had no ears to hear Your voice

Did not know Your love within

Had no taste for heaven’s joys

Then Your Spirit gave me life

Opened up Your Word to me

Through the gospel of Your Son

Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life

That’s dependent on Your grace

Keep my heart and guard my soul

From the evils that I face

You are worthy to be praised

With my every thought and deed

O great God of highest heaven

Glorify Your Name through me

More, More About Jesus

More about Jesus would I know,

More of His grace to others show,

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

   More, more about Jesus,

   More, more about Jesus,

   More of His saving fullness see,

   More of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,

More of His holy will discern;

Spirit of God, my Teacher be,

Showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus in His Word,

Holding communion with my Lord;

Hearing His voice in ev’ry line,

Making each faithful saying mine.

More about Jesus on His throne,

Riches in glory all His own;

More of His kingdom’s sure increase;

More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

The Love of God

The love of God is Greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell

It goes beyond the highest star

And reaches to the lowest hell

The guilty pair, bowed down with care

God gave His Son to win

His erring child He reconciled

And pardoned from his sin

  O love of God, how rich and pure!

  How measureless and strong!

  It shall forevermore endure – 

  The saints’ and angels’ song!

When years of time shall pass away

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall

When men who here refuse to pray

On rocks and hills and mountains call

God’s love so sure shall still endure

All measureless and strong

Redeeming grace to Adam’s race –

The saints’ and angels’ song

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Tho’ stretched from sky to sky

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Come behold the wondrous mystery

In the dawning of the King

He the theme of heaven’s praises

Robed in frail humanity

In our longing, in our darkness

Now the light of life has come

Look to Christ, who condescended

Took on flesh to ransom us

Come behold the wondrous mystery

He the perfect Son of Man

In His living, in His suffering

Never trace nor stain of sin

See the true and better Adam

Come to save the hell-bound man

Christ the great and sure fulfillment

Of the law; in Him we stand

Come behold the wondrous mystery

Christ the Lord upon the tree

In the stead of ruined sinners

Hangs the Lamb in victory

See the price of our redemption

See the Father’s plan unfold

Bringing many sons to glory

Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come behold the wondrous mystery

Slain by death the God of life

But no grave could e’er restrain Him

Praise the Lord; He is alive!

What a foretaste of deliverance

How unwavering our hope

Christ in power resurrected

As we will be when He comes

Behold the Lamb

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away

Slain for us and we remember

The promise made that all who come in faith

Find forgiveness at the cross

   So we share in this bread of life

   And we drink of His sacrifice

   As a sign of our bonds of peace

   Around the table of the King

The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ

Torn for you eat and remember

The wounds that heal the death that brings us life

Paid the price to make us one

   So we share in this bread of life

   And we drink of His sacrifice

   As a sign of our bonds of love

   Around the table of the King

The blood that cleanses ev’ry stain of sin

Shed for you drink and remember

He drained death’s cup that we may enter in

To receive the life of God

   So we share in this bread of life

   And we drink of His sacrifice

   As a sign of our bonds of grace

   Around the table of the King

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise

To respond and to remember

Our call to follow in the steps of Christ

As His body here on earth

   As we share in His suffering

   We proclaim Christ will come again!

   And we’ll join in the feast of Heaven

   Around the table of the King

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Don’t forget, we are calling for Fasting and Prayer on Wednesday.

Then, Wed night prayer will be held at the church building at 6:00. We will break our fast and pray at 7:00. Everyone bring potluck for dinner.

Don’t forget women’s mentoring on Wednesday, August 10, at the Brown’s barn from 10-noon. We are going through Managers of Their Homes. Childcare will be provided for preschool children.

On Thursday, Scott will be teaching through 1 and 2 Timothy at 5:00 for, “Rediscovering the New Testament Church.”

On Sunday, we will be instructed in the ways of love. In John 3:16-24, we learn that God demonstrates His love toward us, not only that we might experience His love, but also that we might be taught by God how to love the brethren… He calls us to love one another in the same way God has loved us, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16.

On Sunday evening at 7:00pm we will be singing and having a ministry update where we will speak of some of the important elements of the ministry at Hope Baptist Church, vote on two deacon candidates, Al Burke and Alan Hillman, sharing how we will be going forward with Sunday Night Services, and to explain the options before us regarding the building and our future meeting place… this is why we are fasting and praying on Wed.

Don’t forget to pray for those participating in the Father Daughter Retreat on Friday evening and Saturday… pray for holy daughters of Zion.

And last but not least: Don’t miss the Baptism of Jenny Grace Burke on Sunday afternoon

Our Songs for Sunday are:

• O Worship the King
• I Love Thy Kingdom Lord
• How Sweet and Awesome Is This Place
• Speak, O Lord
• Let It Be Said of Us

O Worship the King

O worship the King, all glorious above

And gratefully sing His wonderful love

Our Shield and Defender,the Ancient of Days

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air; it shines in the light

It streams from the hills; it descends to the plain

And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail

In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail

Thy mercies how tender, how firm till the end!

Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend!

All hail to the King!  In splendor enthroned

Glad praises we bring, Thy wonders make known

Returning victorious, great conqueror of sin

King Jesus, all glorious, our vict’ry will win

I Love Thy Kingdom Lord

I love Thy kingdom, Lord,

The house of Thine abode,

The church our blessed Redeemer saved

With His own precious blood.

I love Thy church, O God.

Her walls before Thee stand,

Dear as the apple of Thine eye,

And written on Thy hand.

If e’er to bless Thy sons

My voice or hands deny,

These hands let useful skills forsake,

This voice in silence die.

Should I with scoffers join

Her altars to abuse?

No! Better far my tongue were dumb,

My hand its skill should lose.

For her my tears shall fall

For her my prayers ascend,

To her my cares and toils be given

Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy

I prize her heavenly ways,

Her sweet communion, solemn vows,

Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, Thou Friend divine,

Our Savior and our King,

Thy hand from every snare and foe

Shall great deliverance bring.

Sure as Thy truth shall last,

To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield

And brighter bliss of Heaven.

How Sweet and Awesome Is This Place

How sweet and awesome is this place

With Christ within the doors,

While everlasting love displays

The choicest of her stores!

Here every bowel of our God

With soft compassion rolls;

Here peace and pardon bought with blood

Is food for dying souls.

While all our hearts and all our songs

Join to admire the feast,

Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,

“Lord, why was I a guest?”

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,

And enter while there’s room,

When thousands make a wretched choice,

And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast

That sweetly drew us in;

Else we had still refused to taste,

And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God!

Constrain the earth to come;

Send Thy victorious Word abroad,

And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,

That all the chosen race

May with one voice, and heart and soul,

Sing Thy redeeming grace.

Speak, O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

To receive the food of Your Holy Word.

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility;

Test our thoughts and our attitudes

In the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see

Your majestic love and authority.

Words of pow’r that can never fail –

Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Are the works of the Devil being destroyed in your life? Or, what do you think it would be like for you if God was actually destroying the works of the Devil? Our scripture text this week answers this question and gives us what is one of the clearest and most powerful statements in the Bible regarding the nature of sin and its cure. John does not want us to be “deceived” (v7) regarding sin and righteousness and the status of the works of the Devil. This is why 1 John 3:4-9 brings us to recognize some very important definitions and distinctions. First, John defines sin as “lawlessness,” (v4). Second, John makes distinctions between those who are born of God and those born of the Devil, (v9). Third, he makes it clear why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (v8).  How does this happen? Simply by seeing and knowing and being born of God. Why does John bring this message to us? So that we might further, “behold what manner of love the Father has given to us that we should be called the sons of God.”EndFragment

This Wednesday Night at 7:00, we will gather for Prayer at the Burke home.

Please remember to pray for the workers preaching the Gospel at the abortion clinic this Saturday. On Friday, we will send out a prayer sign up sheet for prayer coverage.

Don’t forget the Father Daughter Retreat, August 12-13.

Colossians Study – Have you considered just how “Complete” a Savior is Jesus Christ? Or, do you understand what it means to be “complete in Christ?” Come to our, “Rediscovering the New Testament Church” course on Thursday at 5:00 in Scott’s library where we will survey the message of Paul to the Colossians. Or, you can listen wherever you are by dialing in to the lifestream. https://ncfic.org/events/bible_survey

Don’t miss this short video clip of Jason Dohm on “Suppressing the Fear of God.” He speaks of the importance of those times, when you realize that every second you live is under His gaze, there is a subsequent fear of God…

The Songs are below:

• Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• Holy, Holy, Holy!
• What God Ordains Is Always Good
• Rejoice in the Lord
• Jesus! what a Friend for Sinners!

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise His name – I’m fixed upon it

Name of God’s redeeming love

Hitherto Thy love has blest me

Thou hast bro’t me to this place

And I know Thy hand will bring me

Safely home by Thy good grace

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wand’ring from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger

Bo’t me with His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter

Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Holy, Holy, Holy!

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy!  All the saints adore Thee

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee

Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be

Holy, holy, holy!  Tho’ the darkness hide Thee

Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see

Only Thou art holy – there is none beside Thee

Perfect in pow’r, in love, in purity

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity

What God Ordains Is Always Good

What God ordains is always good:

His will is just and holy;

As He directs my life for me,

I follow meek and lowly.

My God indeed in every need

Knows well how He will shield me;

To Him, then, I will yield me.

To Him, then, I will yield me.

What God ordains is always good:

He is my Friend and Father;

He suffers naught to do me harm,

Though many storms may gather.

Now I may know both joy and woe,

Some day I shall see clearly

That He hath loved me dearly.

That He hath loved me dearly.

What God ordains is always good:

Though I the cup am drinking

Which savors now of bitterness,

I take it without shrinking.

For after grief God gives relief,

My heart with comfort filling,

And all my sorrows stilling.

And all my sorrows stilling.

What God ordains is always good:

This truth remains unshaken.

Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,

I shall not be forsaken.

I fear no harm, for with His arm

He shall embrace and shield me;

So to my God I yield me.

So to my God I yield me.

Rejoice in the Lord

God never moves without purpose or plan

When trying His servant and molding a man.

Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;

In darkness He giveth a song.

   O Rejoice in the LORD; He makes no mistake,

   He knoweth the end of each path that I take,

   For when I am tried and purified,

   I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;

So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.

I bowed to the will of the Master that day;

Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;

God strengthens His children and purges in love.

My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;

Through purging more fruit I will bear.

Jesus! what a Friend for Sinners!

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus! Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Saviour, makes me whole.

   Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

   Hallelujah, what a Friend!

   Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

   He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him;

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,

He, my strength, my vict’ry wins. 

Jesus! what a help in sorrow!

While the billows o’er me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,

He, my comfort, helps my soul. 

Jesus! what a guide and keeper!

While the tempest still is high,

Storms about me, night o’ertakes me,

He, my pilot, hears my cry. 

Jesus! I do now receive Him,

More than all in Him I find,

He hath granted me forgiveness,

I am His, and He is mine.

Beloved,

Prayer will be held at the Noah’s

New testament Survey, Tuesday at 5:00pm on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. You can come to my library at 5:00 or lifestream it by clicking here: https://ncfic.org/events/bible_survey

Women’s mentoring this Wednesday, July 13, at the Brown’s barn from 10-noon. We are going through Managers of Their Homes. Childcare will be provided for preschool children. 

Pray for the men going to Together 2016 as they preach the gospel in Washington DC on Saturday.

Pray for Scott Brown as he meets with church leaders in Atlanta on Thursday night, and then on Friday noon in Montgomery and then speaks at a regional conference on the family in Montgomery, returning home Saturday evening.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This week we are focusing on 1 John 2:15-17, which is an examination of worldliness – something we always need. But, why do we always need it? We always need it because worldliness is not simply avoided by, “don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t chew and go with girls that do.” Worldliness is far deeper than outward appearances. We can do all those things and still be driven about by the winds of the world. But, when you believe in your heart that this world and its lusts are “passing away, your affections reject the worldliness of the world. When you believe that “he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17) you gravitate away from the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Your holy affections overtake the forces of the ungodliness of this world and so you become less worldly. 

Remember the upcoming Father Daughter Retreat Aug 12-13.

Sunday Afternoon Teaching. We are planning to add an additional instrument or two for Sunday morning worship beginning July 10, and Mike Davenport will explain from scripture why we would do such a thing after the fellowship meal this Sunday.

Prayer will be held at the Burke Home.

The Songs we are going to sing are,

All Hail the Power

Higher Ground

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

In Christ Alone

All I Have Is Christ

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!

Let angels prostrate fall

Bring forth the royal diadem

And crown Him Lord of all

Bring forth the royal diadem

And crown Him Lord of all

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race

Ye ransomed from the fall

Hail Him who saves you by His grace

And crown Him Lord of all

Hail Him who saves you by His grace

And crown Him Lord of all

Let every kindred, every tribe 

On this terrestrial ball

To Him all majesty ascribe

And crown Him Lord of all

To Him all majesty ascribe

And crown Him Lord of all

O that with yonder sacred throng

We at His feet may fall!

We’ll join the everlasting song

And crown Him Lord of all

We’ll join the everlasting song

And crown Him Lord of all

Amen

Higher Ground

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” 

   Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

   By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,

   A higher plane than I have found;

   Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where those abound,

My prayer, by grace, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,

Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground. 

Through grace alone I shall not stray,

Kept by His power throughout each day;

But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” 

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ my God

All the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood

See, from His head, His hands, His feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were a present far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all!

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! 

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

All I Have Is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way.

The sin that promised joy and life

Had led me to the grave.

I had no hope that You would own

A rebel to Your will.

And if You had not loved me first

I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race

Indifferent to the cost

You looked upon my helpless state

And led me to the cross.

And I beheld God’s love displayed

You suffered in my place

You bore the wrath reserved for me

Now all I know is grace.

   Hallelujah! All I have is Christ

   Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me.

Oh Father, use my ransomed life

In any way You choose.

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You.

   Hallelujah! All I have is Christ

   Hallelujah! Jesus is my life