Dear Brothers and Sisters,

• Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• There Is a Fountain
• Fairest Lord Jesus
• Come All Ye Pining
• Emmanuel’s Land
  
  

Dear brothers and sisters,

Having walked through Isaiah 53 and seen the glory of the Bridegroom Jesus Christ manifested in His substitutionary sacrifice for His people, we came last week to chapter 54 which declares the results of that sacrifice – a fruitful, strong, and glorious Bride.

We come this week to the last portion of the chapter – Isaiah 54:9-17. In this passage we see the following:

• Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have a covenant. We are recipients of a covenant of peace that will never be removed.
• Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have a kingdom. Afflicted and comfortless souls receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken – a kingdom built by the hand of God Himself; a kingdom with a sure foundation; and a kingdom full of splendor, whether you look down (her foundations), up (her highest pinnacles), or around (her gates and walls).
• Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have a future. The offspring of the Church are taught by God Himself and are established in righteousness.
• And because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have a heritage. God, the Provider of our righteousness, has promised that no weapon formed against His Church will prosper.

Are you part of His Bride? Do you truly love her? When you see her, do you only see her spots and her wrinkles? Or do you see her as God sees her; as she is described here in our passage? Christ laid down His life for her. She is precious in His sight. Let us love the Church like He does.

Prayer tonight will be at the Brown barn.

The songs for Sunday are as follows:

• To God All Praise and Glory
• We’re Marching to Zion
• Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
• In Christ Alone
• O Church Arise

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This week, prayer will be held at the Noah’s

Bible Survey schedule: Tuesday: Jeremiah. Thursday: Lamentations

Abortion Update: I’m thankful that the world is pondering the grisly economy of the abortion industry as a result of the recent videos. Last week, they were perhaps the biggest story on the internet. Here is an article worth reading by Ross Douthat in the New York Times:

Our studies in Isaiah 53 take us to 53:7-9, where the submission of the Son of God in salvation is displayed. Isaiah is arguing that the humility and degradation of the Son of God is not a sign that He is not the Messiah, but that it proves He is the Messiah. The Jews were wanting a powerful political savior, but Christ did not look at all like that. They desired a successful knight in shining armor, riding in to town with pomp and circumstance. But God sent His Son to veiled in flesh, taking on the form of a man. He veiled His glory in His sufferings. He puts on a disguise. In the previous section (4-6) God describes Christ’s sufferings and the purpose for them. Now, He turns to Christ’s submission. He willingly entered into these sufferings, delighting to do the will of His Father. This same submission is the call for every Christian in practical matters in daily life as 1 Peter 2 prove. Here is the outline of the flow of Isaiah’s argument that the suffering servant is the Messiah:

1. His unexpected exaltation and success, 52:13-15
2. His misunderstood humiliation and rejection, 53:1-3
3. His suffering, v4-6
4. His submission, V7-9
5. His exaltation, success, prosperity v10-12

The songs are as follows:

• Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Wretched
• The Suffering Servant
• Alas! and Did My Saviour Bleed
• The Power of the Cross
• How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Prayer will be held at the Brown barn.

This week we will examine the next two sections of Isaiah 53, specifically 53:4-9 where we learn of Christ’s suffering and submission for sinners. It shows us the sinfulness of our sin and the greatness of the suffering that Christ endured for repentant sinners. God vindicated His just wrath for rebellion against His law. He vindicates His justice against them through the suffering (v4-6) substitution (v7-9) of His Son. How can a just God justify sinners? The answer is here in Isaiah 53:4-9. The outline of the whole flow of Isaiah 53 is as follows:

I. His unexpected exaltation and success, 52:13-15
II. His misunderstood humiliation and rejection, 53:1-3
III. His Suffering, v4-6
IV. His Submission, V7-9
V. His Exaltation, success, prosperity v10-12

The songs are below:

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!

The Suffering Servant
Who is this God did forsake;
Who Himself our griefs did take?
Stricken, smitten by His God;
Our transgressions brought the rod?

The Great I Am Whom we call Saviour,
Mighty God, and Prince of Peace;
The Righteous Servant of Jehovah;
Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.
As a Father to His children
Everlasting He will be.
Our Counselor, Most Wonderful,
Immanuel, ‘tis He.

Who is this for us now bruised;
Oppressed, afflicted, and abused?
Like a lamb to slaughter led;
All of our sins placed on His head?

Who is this Whose stripes can heal,
Justify, and pardon seal?
Poured out His soul unto death;
And bore our sin ‘til His last breath?

Who is this from Whom we strayed;
Everyone to his own way?
And from Him we hid our face;
Condemned He stood to take our place.

Who is this Who intercedes;
Poor lost sheep, their case He pleads?
All our sin on Him was laid.
He bore God’s wrath; the debt’s been paid.

Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
By His Son now God has spoken
’Tis a true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See Who bears the awful load!
’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man, and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
Christ the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

He Will Hold Me Fast
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in his holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight,
When He comes at last!

Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt

Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold
Threaten the soul with infinite loss
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide
Whiter than snow you may be today

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This week prayer will be held at the Brown Barn

Church discipline conference Update: The conference begins at noon on Thursday and concludes at 3:00 on Saturday. First, Please pray.  

Second, We will have some of the attendees and speakers with us at Prayer on Wed night, including our dear brother Jeff Pollard.

Our scripture focus this week and for Sunday is Isaiah 52:1-12, where God continues to encourage the captives in Babylon as well as those who will be saved during the ministry of Christ in the days of the New Covenant. Since 49:15, He has been piling up one reminder after another of His faithfulness. Now He turns to making several commands to secure their fruitfulness and happiness after such a hard judgment.

Ladies Mentoring will be held at 10:00 at the Brown Barn where we will be studying chapter 18 of the Excellent Wife, which tells us how to deal with anger in a biblical manner.

Our Songs for Sunday are:

Note: The first two songs are a response to the implications of the Court’s recent ruling on same sex marriage. The remaining songs focus on Sunday’s passage…

This Is My Father’s World

The Son of God Goes Forth to War

The Church’s One Foundation

O Church Arise

All I Have Is Christ

This Is My Father’s World

This is my Father’s world, and to my list’ning ears

All nature sings, and round me rings

The music of the spheres

This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas

His hand the wonders wrought

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise

The morning light, the lily white

Declare their Maker’s praise

This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,

He speaks to me everywhere

This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong

God is the Ruler yet

This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done

Jesus, who died, shall be satisfied

And earth and heav’n be one

The Son of God Goes Forth to War

The Son of God goes forth to war,

A kingly crown to gain;

His blood-red banner streams afar;

Who follows in His train?

Who best can drink His cup of woe,

Triumphant over pain,

Who patient bears his cross below,

He follows in His train.

The martyr first, whose eagle eye

Could pierce beyond the grave,

Who saw his Master in the sky,

And called on Him to save;

Like Him, with pardon on his tongue

In midst of mortal pain,

He prayed for them that did the wrong;

Who follows in his train?

A glorious band, the chosen few

On whom the Spirit came,

Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew

And mocked the cross and flame;

They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,

The lion’s gory mane;

They bowed their necks the death to feel;

Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,

The matron and the maid,

Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,

In robes of light arrayed;

They climbed the steep ascent of heav’n

Through peril, toil and pain;

O God to us may grace be giv’n

To follow in their train.

The Church’s One Foundation

The Church’s one foundation 

Is Jesus Christ her Lord

She is His new creation 

By water and the Word

From heav’n He came and sought her 

To be His holy bride

With His own blood He bought her

And for her life He died

Elect from every nation 

Yet one o’er all the earth

Her charter of salvation: 

One Lord, one faith, one birth

One holy Name she blesses, 

Partakes one holy food

And to one hope she presses 

With every grace endued

The Church shall never perish!

Her dear Lord to defend,

To guide, sustain, and cherish,

Is with her to the end:

Though there be those who hate her,

And false sons in her pale,

Against both foe or traitor

She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder

Men see her sore oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder,

By heresies distressed:

Yet saints their watch are keeping,

Their cry goes up, “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping

Shall be the morn of song!

‘Mid toil and tribulation

And tumult of her war

She waits the consummation 

Of peace forevermore

Till with the vision glorious 

Her longing eyes are blessed

And the great Church victorious 

Shall be the Church at rest

Yet she on earth hath union

With God the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion

With those whose rest is won,

With all her sons and daughters

Who, by the Master’s hand

Led through the deathly waters,

Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!

Lord, give us grace that we

Like them, the meek and lowly,

On high may dwell with Thee:

There, past the border mountains,

Where in sweet vales the Bride

With Thee by living fountains

Forever shall abide!

O Church Arise

O church arise and put your armor on

Hear the call of Christ our Captain

For now the weak can say that they are strong

In the strength that God has given 

With shield of faith and belt of truth 

We’ll stand against the devil’s lies 

An army bold whose battle cry is Love

Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul 

But to rage against the captor

And with the sword that makes the wounded whole 

We will fight with faith and valor

When faced with trials on every side 

We know the outcome is secure 

And Christ will have the prize for which He died

An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet 

As the Son of God is stricken 

Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet

For the Conqueror has risen 

And as the stone is rolled away 

And Christ emerges from the grave

This victory march continues till the day 

Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride

Give grace for every hurdle

That we may run with faith to win the prize

Of a servant good and faithful 

As saints of old still line the way 

Retelling triumphs of His grace

We hear their calls and hunger for the day

When with Christ we stand in Glory

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.