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Shellharbour Christian Fellowship.
 "Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion" [Numbers 24:19]
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Flinders Primary School
Brunderee Road, Flinders
13th. to 27th. April, 2014 >> Not Current. Old Issue. <<
Meetings begin at 10am & 6pm.
Church Contact:
Andrew & Renae:
42963945
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Click Here: To go to the latest news letter and calendar of events at the Shellharbour Christian Fellowship website.
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O Wretched Man that I am!
(Absolute Surrender)
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God does not work by His Spirit as He works by a blind force in nature. He leads His people on as reasonable, intelligent beings, and therefore when He wants to give us that Holy Spirit whom He has promised, He brings us first to the end of self, to the conviction that though we have been striving to obey the law, we have failed. When we have come to the end of that, then He shows us that in the Holy Spirit we have the power of obedience, the power of victory, and the power of real holiness.
God works to will, and He is ready to work to do, but, alas! many Christians misunderstand this. They think because they have the will, it is enough, and that now they are able to do. This is not so. The new will is a permanent gift, an attribute of the new nature. The power to do is not a permanent gift, but must be each moment received from the Holy Spirit. It is the man who is conscious of his own impotence as a believer who will learn that by the Holy Spirit he can live a holy life. This man is on the brink of that great deliverance; the way has been prepared for the glorious eighth chapter. Andrew Murray
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T O BUILD THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD
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GODS LUXURY APPARTMENTS
1 Corinthians 3:13 (KJV) "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
¶ How you put a building together has a great effect upon the pleasure or non pleasure of occupying a particular dwelling. If the home layout has not been designed by a 'master designer' of proven ability and wisdom then the 'functionality' of the dwelling could prove most uncomfortable and awkward. Trying to accommodate inadequate design in general living, and in particular, the social experience could prove a dismal affair.
The saints in fellowship together according to 'the order' of the Word of God is to dwell in the house of the Lord designed by him for pure luxury of function: Room to move with the provision of good functionality in all sectors of the dwelling. Every facility proving adequate to meet every need to full satisfaction. Alas, luxury of design is not the most vital component in a dwelling. If the quality of material used in the construction of the building and all the installation of ancillary equipment is poor grade quality, then again the dwelling experience will be a disappointing one.
|| The most Critical Issue of Quality. ||
¶ A Church may operate on the basis of good New Testament 'order' but vibrant spiritual health and life is of utmost importance. Though a building may be built to great plans, providing the best of space, convenience and functionality under the heaviest conditions of demand, if quality is downgraded then potential disaster exists. If poor quality materials and appliances are provided, then in time, even the total collapse of the building is possible. Plumbing problems, electrical problems, peeling paint and leaking roof, just to name a few could all culminate in the desertion and vacating of the building by it's now, sad occupants. It means nothing, that the building is built according to plan, if the materials that are used are sub standard. The whole structure is in danger of collapse; similarly, a Church may claim that in structure, it is in conformity to the Word of God but in spirit may be dead with either sin licence or legalistic overbearing heaviness. The "How" of the building, is according to the plan of the Word of God but the "Sort" of material being used is wrong motive, self righteousness and the dictates of man.
¶ A local Church down the road may function according to the LIFE limiting apostate order of clergy laity BUT the QUALITY of building on the foundation of Christ may be of golden value. The "How" of this local Church down the road may not be according to the New Testament pattern, and be under threat of many dangers but the "quality" of the clergyman's spiritual life and ministry may be all out for Jesus, sincere and commendable. In all such Churches there will be blessing. Praise the Lord for that! The writer found the preciousness of Christ in such dry and hampered, turtle moving spirituality.
¶ For further points on Protestantism and the many strains of inherent apostasy, refer to articles entitled "Pastors and the Church" Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and "How? the local Church Edified".
¶ The critical points Paul touches on in his 'survey' of building, presented to the Corinthian Church are in verses 10 and 13 of 1 Corinthians chapter 3. In verse 10 " ..... take heed HOW he buildeth thereupon" and in verse 13 "...... the fire shall try every man's work of what SORT it is".
¶ The "How" refers to building pattern and how it follows good design or bad design; efficient or inefficient usefulness. The "Sort" refers to the "quality" of material being used in the building process. Gold silver and precious stones in verse 12 of 1 Corinthians chapter 3 speak of "quality" of material used in building.
¶ The quality material of gold, silver and precious stones = All out seeking the will of God. Governed in everything by the love of Christ. No seeking of self glory. No pride of position or status. Humbly being a servant to all, as unto the Lord. Christ is more precious than anything. No love of money. Absolute open faced preaching of the Word of God. No deceitful handling of the Word of God. Declaration of the whole counsel of God, etc, etc.
¶ The Lord help us in these days to not only build with the "quality" of "unfeigned faith" and "love unfeigned" for the Lord, [2 Corinthians 6:6. 1 Timothy 1:5.] but also "take heed how" we build upon this glorious foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. How a home is built will either lend itself to enjoyment of living in that home or be a hindrance and restriction of life and blessing.
¶ The Lord help us as we serve the Lord to allow him to be Lord over all things, and seek how that in all things he may have the preeminence, in the liberty and movement of his life among the saints.
The Lord Bless you real good.
Grant.
This Shepherd's Love has No Equal.
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