Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday October 21

In Alfred Hitchcock's famous movie, "The Man Who Knew Too Much," Doris Day croons, "When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother, what would I be? Would I be pretty; would I be rich? Here's what she said to me. …"

The answer of this supposedly wise mother, designed somehow to bring comfort is, "Que sera, sera; whatever will be, will be," or, "It is all in the hands of blind fate."

For the serious Christian, of all the questions that might cause us concern, none is so important as the question, "What will the outcome of my Christian life be? Will God be pleased with me to the end of my days and so finally save me?" Needless to say, "whatever will be, will be" is not adequate for most of us as an answer to that question. (This illustration comes from Chad Brand,
Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Southern Seminary)

God wants us His children secure in our relationship with him.  And God is faithful to keep us secure.  This Sunday we will feed upon and be strengthened by this Scriptural truth: Anyone who truly repents and trusts in Christ can be confident that God will preserve him/her until the end.  This certainty has nothing to do with the strength of our faith or the righteousness of our lives.  It has everything to do with the power and faithfulness of God.  Jesus is our Shepherd who is faithful to keep us as His own for all eternity.  You can count on it.

We could go to Jeremiah and hear God say through him “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (31:3)

We could go to Paul, and hear him declare: Rom 8:38-39:  “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We could go to Peter and hear him say: we “who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Pet 1:5)

We could go to Jude and hear him praise God by declaring: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy”  (Jude 24)

Instead we will go to Jesus – the Chief Shepherd of our souls and hear his powerful proclamation and promise:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,

and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, 

and no one is able to

 snatch them out of the Father's hand. 

I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

As you prepare for worship tis Sunday I encourage you to meditate upon these verses, and ask God to use them to anchor your soul in his strength to keep you secure and restore in you the joy of His salvation. 

If you are lacking this confidence in your eternal security or there is no joy in your assurance, ask God to show you why. 

Perhaps you have never truly been born again, you’ve never repented of you sins and trusted in Christ.

Perhaps you are saved, but are trusting your emotions when you fail or spiritual accomplishments more than God’s Word. 

Perhaps there is un-confessed sin in your life or an area of your life you’ve not surrendered to Him. 

Perhaps you’re not hearing your Shepherd’s voice or not following Him as you should.

Rejoice my Brothers and Sisters, and stand firm in the assurance that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  We will sing this marvelous truth in this old hymn.  Prayerfully meditate on these lyrics.  Sing it to God as a prayer of thanksgiving and testimony. 

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 spilled.

Refrain:  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.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
 

What can avail to wash it away?


Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,


Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

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?

Refrain

I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!