Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our text this week rings relevant, especially in view of the Republican National Convention last night which was opened with a Hindu prayer and closed with a Muslim prayer, and a presidential candidates third wife declaring that the man she has been with for 18 years  is “loyal.” This week, John brings us into the world of God’s love for His children who have been rejected by the world. We will be called to behold the love of God. After explaining various evidences of the love of God, John now urges us to “BEHOLD.” John is captivated by the love of God. He has been itemizing the favors of God toward His children, how He causes them to walk in the light, walk in love, walk in God’s commandments rather than in the ways of the world. He has spoken of how He protects His children from antichrists through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God. Thanking God for His love is something that John cannot stop doing in his letter.  Now, In 1 John 3:1-3, we are called to behold the love of God toward His children. John makes it plain that even though the world, “does not know us,” God calls us His children, makes us like Christ, and purifies us. This is the love of God toward His church. He loves His church and cares for her even though she is despised in this world and rejected.

This week prayer will be held at the Brown’s Barn

On Thursday at 5:00, we will be focusing on Philippians, as we are Re-Discovering the New Testament Church. Paul writing from prison, writes the most joy filled letter in the New Testament, because a true church is a joyful church. You can come to my library at 5:00 or lifestream it by clicking here: https://ncfic.org/events/bible_survey

Here is a good article by Tim Challies on why we cannot embrace the Roman Catholic Church, as those who were intending in Washington DC last weekend at Together 2016.

And, catch Jason Dohm on the “Missteps on the Fear of God.” Psalm 115:11; 13, Promise: God helps those who fear God, “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. […] He will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great.”

Check out Defendingmarriage.com  and see how 68 companies are joining the opposition against North Carolina’s bathroom law.

The songs we will be singing are below:

• Crown Him with Many Crowns
• Abide with Me
• Here Is Love
• He Will Hold Me Fast
• How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

Crown Him with Many Crowns

Crown Him with many crowns

The Lamb upon His throne

Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns 

All music but its own!

Awake, my soul, and sing

Of Him who died for thee

And hail Him as thy matchless King

Thro’ all eternity

Crown Him the Lord of Love!  

Behold His hands and side –

Rich wounds, yet visible above

In beauty glorified

All hail, Redeemer, hail!  

For Thou Hast died for me

Thy praise and glory shall not fail

Thro’out eternity 

Crown Him the Lord of life!

Who triumphed o’er the grave

Who rose victorious in the strife 

For those He came to save

His glories now we sing

Who died and rose on high

Who died eternal life to bring 

And lives that death may die

Crown Him the Lord of Heav’n!

One with the Father known

One with the Spirit thro’ Him giv’n

From yonder glorious throne

To Thee be endless praise

For Thou for us hast died

Be Thou, O Lord, thro’ endless days

Adored and magnified

Abide with Me

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide:

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour;

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?

Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless:

Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.

Where is death’s sting? where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes:

Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:

Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee:

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Here Is Love

Here is love, vast as the ocean,

Lovingkindness as the flood,

When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,

Shed for us His precious blood.

Who His love will not remember?

Who can cease to sing His praise?

He can never be forgotten,

Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,

Fountains opened deep and wide;

Through the floodgates of God’s mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers,

Poured incessant from above,

And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,

Love Thee, ever all my days;

Let me seek Thy kingdom only

And my life be to Thy praise;

Thou alone shalt be my glory,

Nothing in the world I see.

Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,

Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me

By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;

And Thy grace my need is meeting,

As I trust in Thee, my Lord.

Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring

Thy great love and power on me,

Without measure, full and boundless,

Drawing out my heart to Thee.

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!

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

How deep the Father’s love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice 

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom