The Country Baptist Church Newsletter
1 Mile south of Interstate 30 on HWY 19
October 12, 2008
Pastor: Bro. Harace Hammond                            Pastor E-Mail: cbcpastor@toast.net
Web Site: www.countrybaptist.org

"The Voice Of The Country Church"
You Were Asked To Pray For:

Larry Platt, Bro. Archie & Barbara Griffin, Waylon & Pat Abercrombie with their daughter and son, Randy & Donna Johnson, Loyce Smith, Junior Potts, Roberta Bruce and family, Barbara Fails, Jim & Linda Meier, Dina and The Boys, Troy Wiler, Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia, Kathy Rosinbaum, Don & Wynell Hammond, Brenda Galusha, Baby Tucker Walker, Helen Stone, Bro. & Mrs. Pinson, Leta Ellis, Chet Reagan, Sidney Strawn, Amanda Tomlin, Brother Keith & Susie Kennison, Helen Rowe, Kimberlee McCool, Brother David and Anne Shortt, Jewell Mathis, Justin Horne, Janette Sims; Richard Swan, Jean and Cheryl, Letha Langford, David Ellis and family, Beatrice and Virgil Young, Gwen Davis, Allison Rodgers Clay, Angela Hutson, Tiffany and Shannon Lemmon, Bob Ellis, Elaine Woodall, Reese Carrington, Jack Whittle, Ronda Douglass, Nancy, Rosa Tomlen, Pastor and Sister Hammond, Katie Fitch and Stephaine, Sarah Dooherty, and all of our Troops and their Families.
A Thought From C. H. Spurgeon:


The Leadership of Our Guide

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth" John 16:13

Truth is like a vast cavern into which we desire to enter, but we are not able to traverse it alone. At the entrance it is clear and bright; but if we would go further and explore its innermost recesses, we must have a guide, or we shall lose ourselves. The Holy Spirit, who knows all truth perfectly, is the appointed guide of all true believers, and He conducts them as they are able to bear it, from one inner chamber to another, so that they behold the deep things of God, and His secret is made plain to them.

What a promise is this for the humbly inquiring mind! We desire to know the truth and to enter into it. We are conscious of our own aptness to err, and we feel the urgent need of a guide. We rejoice that the Holy Spirit is come and abides among us. He condescends to act as a guide to us, and we gladly accept His leadership. "All truth" we wish to learn, that we may not be one-sided and out of balance. We would not be willingly ignorant of any part of revelation lest thereby we should miss blessing or incur sin. The Spirit of God has come that He may guide us into all truth: let us with obedient hearts hearken to His words and follow His lead.

A Thought For The Week:

"Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
Psalms 97:12

God’s holiness is commended to our remembrance. It is not the doctrine of God’s holiness that we are to remember, but His real holiness. His actual holiness causes the righteous to rejoice and give thanks. They rejoice and are thankful for His holiness. God’s holiness is set forth throughout this Psalm. Let us come aside and remember His holiness.

His holiness is supreme, for "The LORD reigneth" (Psa. 97:1). None can ascend above God or be comparable to Him. None can even reckon the extent of His dominion—it encompasses all things seen and unseen. Even man’s imagination cannot place a figment above God for all the pagan worshippers are confounded by His holiness (Psa. 97:7). How can they figure it? How can they fashion it? How can they make a likeness of it? Though they boast, they utterly fail—"For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods" (Psa. 96:9). Even the idols must bow to Him, "worship him, all ye gods" (Psa. 97:7). Idolaters make no progress against His holiness; it is even as Paul told Timothy of those who "resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." They fight against God, "But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men" (II Tim. 3:8-9).

His holiness is terrible, for "Clouds and darkness are round about him" (Psa. 97:2). His holiness abides in righteousness and judgment. In these, God delights. His righteousness means He is faithful. Of what He has purposed, not one tittle shall fail. In holiness, He dwells in judgment—pleading the cause of the oppressed, the fatherless, and the widow. He hears the cry of their righteous blood and vindicates them. If God calls you a worm, rejoice—it means He is taking up your cause. For thus He spoke to Jacob, "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel ; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel " (Isa. 41:14). He did not speak to Jacob thus to grind him into the dust, rather to lift him out of the dust. In the Scripture, we find ourselves as weak, full of sores, a frame of dust, a flower of the field, a vanishing vapor, etc. In all this, we are weak and helpless, but He will take us up, plead our cause, and vindicate us with His holy judgment.

His holiness is not passive, for "A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about" (Psa. 97:3). Neither is His holiness contained or subdued. His holiness is then victorious consuming His enemies. What have we then to fear? The earth trembles at His light (Psa. 97:4); "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth" (Psa. 97:5). Who shall oppose any that are on the Lord’s side?

His holiness is not hidden. Even the heavens cannot remain silent or indifferent, "The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory" (Psa. 97:6). The fool says there is no God. The wicked refuse to acknowledge Him and look blindly in the light of the noon sun. However, are not the works of His holiness entered into the eyes and ears of His people? "Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD" (Psa. 97:8). Do you not hear the chorus of birds singing praise to their maker? Do you not see the glory of the sun spreading its light to illuminate the creation of the Holy God before our eyes? Does not the corn and wheat stand in the field waving an offering to the one who is righteous, faithful to send the sun, wind, and rain upon the earth so that it responds by bearing forth its fruits?

His holiness is had for His people. "He preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" (Psa. 97:10-11). What a ground and anchor is the Lord’s holiness! Those who love Him love His holiness and therefore, "hate evil" (Psa. 97:10).

Why then are we troubled? Why then are we downcast? Why then do we presume to be trodden under to foot? His holiness is the rejoicing of our heart and the very knife cutting the taut sack, which bursts open with gratitude. His holiness is an impeccable light and there we have fellowship with Him. What a shame that any of His people should need reminded to remember His holiness and give thanks. May our hearts and minds soar upward in the quiet gray of the morning when we render thanks unto Him for the day He has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in the light of the day that declares His righteousness unto us. "Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness" (Psa. 97:12).

By: Jeff Short
Happy Birthday And Anniversary :

Velma Hammond October 12th
Jana McCool October 9th
Chock Reynolds October 7th (Birthday)

Chock & Orena Reynolds 7th (Anniversary)

Please accept my apologies last weeks birthdays and anniversaries were not in last week’s newsletter.

Randy

2 Corinthians 1:12 "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward."