Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

Our Father God, thank You for the Scriptures that remind us of our continuing need and dependence on Your overwhelming mercy and abundant grace. Teach us to know Your way; to respond according to Your Word. Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776. An unsubstantiated story says the lyrics were inspired when Toplady took shelter from a storm under a rocky overhang near England’s Cheddar Gorge; he reportedly wrote the words on a playing card. Music: Toplady, Thomas Hastings, 1830.

ROCK OF AGES
Click here for tune.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Thought Provoker

How do most people respond if they are accused falsely or attacked physically (think about this from different angles: emotional, physical, spiritual)? Some prepare a defense. Some think to plan revenge. A few may cry or cope by withdrawing. Others might learn how to protect themselves by maneuvering their body or with weapons.

David was being falsely accused. His accusers were actively seeking to attack him. How do you think David responded? Look at Psalm 4:8 (the last verse). Confident that God would take care of him, David went to sleep. Could you do that? How could David just go to sleep?

Dad’s Study

David could sleep because he didn’t think so much about his trouble or how to get away from his problems. As expressed in his one sentence prayer, David knew that distresses have a way of producing spiritual growth better than ease and comfort. Instead of focusing on his circumstances, David thought about God and what He is like. How did David describe God in this Psalm?

In verse 1, David appeals to the “God of my righteousness.” He knew that perfect justice is impossible without God. Maybe David was thinking of God as like a prophet, who reminds his hearers of the law and the way back to a right relationship with God.

In verses 2-5, David challenges God’s enemies to “put your trust in the Lord,” instead of seeking righteousness by their own means. How incredible it is that David was being hunted yet continued to warn those who were against him that the opportunity to turn around was at present still available. Maybe David was thinking of the priest who acted between God and the sinner.

In verses 6-8, David prayed, “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” David knew that true gladness (joy, peace, prosperity?) does not depend on our circumstances or the power of position, but on God’s protection and provision. Maybe David was thinking about what it meant to be king, both the privileges and the responsibilities of benefiting others.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Consider the following questions to assist in responding like David.

• Do I tend to dwell upon the adversities in my life instead of on the God of our righteousness?
• While in the midst of working through the difficulties in my life am I continuing to trust the Lord while calling others to do the same?
• When God chooses to bless me, am I excited more at the blessing received or that I am in relationship with the One who blesses?

Pastor Jim Covington – Bell Gardens Baptist Church, CA

Catechism

Question 36

Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23), and do immediately pass into glory (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2) till the resurrection (Job 19:26).

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Prayer

” My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth” (Psalm 57:7-10)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776. An unsubstantiated story says the lyrics were inspired when Toplady took shelter from a storm under a rocky overhang near England’s Cheddar Gorge; he reportedly wrote the words on a playing card. Music: Toplady, Thomas Hastings, 1830.

ROCK OF AGES
Click here for tune.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Thought Provoker

Most are familiar with the story of Noah’s Ark and how God caused all the animals upon the earth to come to Noah and embark on the ark while God caused it to rain upon the earth for 40 days and nights. Ask your children, how long were Noah and the animals on the ark? You will find the answer by reading Genesis 7:11 and 8:13-14.

Dad’s Study

In Genesis 8:15-19, after Noah was in the ark for over a year, God calls upon him to disembark, leave the ark, and populate the earth. Henry M. Morris in his book, The Genesis Record, said this about God’s command to Noah to leave the ark:

“A year and seventeen days earlier, God had said to Noah: “Come thou and all thy house into the ark” (Genesis 7:1). But now He said: “Go forth of the ark, thou and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy son’s wives with thee”. These two commands are not contradictory, but complementary, reminding us of two complementary commands of Christ. First, He said: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This command (all the more meaningful in light of the fact that “rest” was the very meaning of Noah’s prophetic name) is but the preparation for His great command: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The Ark had been like the great sheepfold, with Christ the door, through whom the sheep “shall go in” to be saved, but also, through whom, they shall “go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).”

Upon exiting the Ark, Noah worships God by building an altar and offering up sacrifice that was a sweet aroma to the Lord. God responds to Noah’s worship with a promise not to again curse the ground for man’s sake. Again, let us look at Henry Morris’ comments on God’s reason for the promise:

“The reason for this promise at first seems strange; “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” This would seem to be justification for smiting the earth, rather than for promising not to do so, except for the great paradox of the love and grace of God. Here is a testimony both to what theologians call original sin and universal depravity, and also to God’s redeeming mercy. Because man is helpless to save himself – his very thoughts born and nurtured in sin – he desperately needs the grace of God. On the basis of an atoning sacrifice, God’s salvation and blessing are received by faith. Thus, for the very reason that man is completely unable to save himself, therefore God saves him! Truly, He is the God of all grace! Noah had “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8) and, through his faithful obedience and his believing sacrifice, so have multitudes of his descendants. He did, indeed, “comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed” (Genesis 5:29).”

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Indeed, God did “remember Noah” (Genesis 8:1) and He has remembered us by sending a redeemer, His own Son, to do what we cannot do for ourselves. Christ has provided a way of salvation in which men can be reconciled to God, forgiven their sin, washed clean, and made new creatures by grace through faith. As in the flood, the old is done away with and behold new life has come!

Catechism

Question 36

Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23), and do immediately pass into glory (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2) till the resurrection (Job 19:26).

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Prayer

“I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law
is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise
thee; and let thy judgments help me” (Psalm 119:174-175)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776. An unsubstantiated story says the lyrics were inspired when Toplady took shelter from a storm under a rocky overhang near England’s Cheddar Gorge; he reportedly wrote the words on a playing card. Music: Toplady, Thomas Hastings, 1830.

ROCK OF AGES
Click here for tune.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Thought Provoker

A few years ago I stopped to gaze at the breathtaking springtime vistas on top of the Beartooth Mountains here in Wyoming. I noticed several men, whom I later discovered were biologists from the University of Montana, stopped to identify the beautiful flowers that were starting to bud. I sparked up a conversation by asking them if they knew that this mountain was covered with ocean fossils?

“O yes,” they quickly replied, “in fact there is a nearby fossil field with shells and shark teeth at 11,000 feet!”

I asked them if they had any idea how these ocean creatures found themselves on the top of Rocky Mountains.

“Of course, this used to be the bottom of a great sea”, they responded.

“That’s right,” I answered, “the Bible records that a great flood covered this whole earth in the days of Noah!”

“You don’t really believe that do you?” They chuckled.

“Yes,” I replied, “it is declared in the Word of God.”

Today, we affirm the truth of the worldwide deluge that brought God’s judgment on sin.

Dad’s Study

As the door of the ark closed securely behind Noah, his family, and the living creatures of the earth, the rains could be heard pounding on the deck of the ark. The fountains of the deep gushed forth as the rain continued for forty days. All the mountains and hills of the entire earth were covered with flood waters. As the waters rose all living creatures on the earth drowned (v. 21) and only Noah and those secured by God’s grace remained alive (v. 23). Such mass death did not come without warning. Noah warned of the coming judgment and preached a message of repentance every year that he built the ark. Those who mocked the messenger and laughed at the idea of a flood now found the flood waters choking out their least breath. God keeps His promises in His dealings with men (Heb. 6:18). Unrepentant sin never goes unpunished.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

God has promised never to destroy man again by flood (Gen. 9:14-15). However, God makes another promise of a future day of judgment upon all the ungodly. Instead of rain drops a trumpet will be heard echoing through the heavens as Jesus Christ returns a second time to judge the ungodly in flaming fire. Today, the Gospel comes into your ear, calling you to flee to Christ. Flee to Him for safety. Turn from your sins and come to the One whose death made full atonement for the sins of His people. Don’t be like those in the day of Noah who mocked and laughed at the messenger and the Messiah. Christ alone can save. The Bible warns that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God (Heb. 10:31). Don’t put off for another day God’s only means of salvation. Come unto Christ! It is not too late. The trumpet has yet to sound. You still have life and breath. Come to Christ if you will, and He will shut you safely in.

Catechism

Question 36

Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23), and do immediately pass into glory (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2) till the resurrection (Job 19:26).

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Prayer

“Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up” (Psalm 94:17-18)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776. An unsubstantiated story says the lyrics were inspired when Toplady took shelter from a storm under a rocky overhang near England’s Cheddar Gorge; he reportedly wrote the words on a playing card. Music: Toplady, Thomas Hastings, 1830.

ROCK OF AGES
Click here for tune.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Thought Provoker

Each new year we ask, “Will this be the year that Christ returns?” The Second Coming of Christ is one of the great future events that we look forward to as Christians. There have been many false prophets who have tried to guess the date of Christ’s return. Although our Lord chose not to give us the day or time of His return, He did give us signs to look for. When His disciples asked Jesus the sign of His coming and the end of the age, He gave them several signs. For one of the most graphic of signs He sends us back to take a careful look at the 6th chapter of the book of Genesis. Jesus warned, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the son of man be” (Matt. 24:38- 39). What were the days before the flood like? Were they similar to today?

Dad’s Study

Assuming there are not gaps in the genealogies, Noah was born just 1056 years after creation, which was only 126 years after the death of Adam. Discuss together as a family how much you think the world had changed between the time God created the perfect home in the Garden of Eden and the days of Noah. How do you think it compares to today? How large was the population of the world in the days of Noah? How many righteous people were living during the days of Noah?

Henry Morris, in his book The Genesis Record, estimates the population of the earth at approximately 125,000 within 800 years after creation (p. 143). You can see by the time of the flood the population would be geometrically much higher. In verses 5-6, God opens the window and gives us a peek at just how wicked mankind had become. He describes the wickedness of the world as great. Even the thoughts and imaginations were wicked continually. We can only imagine the anger, murder, drunkenness, warfare, adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, cheating, and disobedience to parents, along with every other form of wickedness that the human mind can imagine. Mankind had already turned their back on their Creator. There was no fear of God, as their wickedness increased, unchecked. Wickedness was so rampant that it repented the Lord that he made man (v. 6). Mankind having changed, God now purposes to destroy man, along with all living things on the earth and in the air. The Creator, in righteous judgment, sets to destroy His creation (vs. 7-8).

However, verse 5 opens with the important word, “But”. All of mankind is wicked and about to be destroyed by their righteous and just God, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 8). God chose to bestow His love and favor on one man by the name of Noah. Noah was no different than the rest of the world, a sinner who deserved to be destroyed. Instead of wrath, God chose to sovereignly bestow His grace upon Noah. This is the first time this wonderful word, grace, appears in the Bible. God gave to Noah an obedient faith that would result in his justification and the sparing of his life. Grace is the way God saves every wicked sinner. God gives to those He is saving what they cannot get for themselves.

If you are tempted to think that fallen mankind has a will that is free to accept or reject Christ’s offer of salvation, go back and reflect on this chapter. There were hundreds of thousands of people alive at the time of the flood; not one of them, not even Noah, turned to God. If man’s will were free, perhaps half of the people would choose God. Not only did half not choose God, none did! Only Noah wonderfully received the grace of God. What a graphic picture of how the depravity of mankind affects his whole being, including his will to follow God with an obedient faith. By God’s grace Noah believed God and built the ark (Heb. 11:7), was perfect, walked with God, and preached the way of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

The days of Noah are a lot like the days we live in. It’s hard to imagine that things can possibly get much worse. Christ’s return could be in the year 2004. But until He returns, God is being longsuffering. He is still extending grace and salvation to all He is saving. Let’s stop and give praise to God for His amazing grace! What state would your family be in today if God was not a God of grace? May those whom are saved within your family stop and give thanks for His unmerited favor. Pray that He might grace unsaved friends and loved ones with His gift of eternal life.

Catechism

Question 36

Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23), and do immediately pass into glory (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2) till the resurrection (Job 19:26).

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Prayer

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy
word” (Psalm 119:114) Amen!

Today’s Hymn

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776. An unsubstantiated story says the lyrics were inspired when Toplady took shelter from a storm under a rocky overhang near England’s Cheddar Gorge; he reportedly wrote the words on a playing card. Music: Toplady, Thomas Hastings, 1830.

ROCK OF AGES
Click here for tune.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Thought Provoker

We read in John 1:11-13, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Discuss as a family what it would be like if a king came to his subjects and they did not receive or acknowledge him. What might that king do?

Dad’s Study

King Jesus has arrived and His people, the Jews, seem not to notice. Strangers from a far land arrive telling of following a star; their purpose is to worship Him, verse 2. These magi inquire in Jerusalem, the capital city, as to where they might find this king, yet no one seems to know. Herod has the chief priests and scribes inquire of the Scriptures and they learn that the King of the Jews is to be born in Bethlehem of Judah, and Herod sends the strangers on their journey. These magi go on rejoicing greatly as the star brings them to the presence of the child. It is indeed strange and strong evidence of the truth of the words of John that His own did not receive Him, for none of the court of Herod, none of the priests, scribes or people accompanied these magi. They have been told that their King has been born and yet none attend upon Him. Only Herod takes an interest in receiving a report and that only for the purpose of murder.

Some commentators think that the homage paid to Jesus by the magi was only that recognition given to any human king. There are strong evidences to indicate otherwise. The first is their perseverance in traveling such great distance to worship the one who had been revealed to them. It was God who had directed them thus by the star and they followed and persevered with great joy. Even after coming to Jerusalem and seeing that the King’s own people were not stirred to seek Him, they were undaunted in their task and their joy, continuing on to joyfully seek Him regardless of the deadness of others to Him. Second is their response when they do find Him in a humble estate. Verse 11 tells us they saw Him in the house with His mother and fell down and worshipped Him. There was no royal court, no splendor, no majesty, no richness or grandeur about Him. These are all the trappings of a king they had come to expect, yet none were present. What was their response? They fell down and worshipped Him; what their eyes did not see their faith did. They saw in the simple babe the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth. Thus they presented themselves first and then their gifts in adoration and worship. Much is made of the symbolism of the gifts but most is pure speculation. The gifts offered represent the best the land of the magi had to offer and was God’s provision to Joseph, Mary and the child for the flight ahead. In the magi we see wise men, called by God who persevere in a difficult journey without discouragement to worship a truly divine King. They are not swayed or discouraged that no one else worshipped with them. They came to the King, bowed before Him presenting themselves in worship and brought to Him the best of their gifts.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Charles Spurgeon said, “Those who look for Jesus will see him: those who truly see him will worship him: those who worship him will consecrate their substance to him.” And so it should be for every Christian. Seek Jesus while He still may be found. Once found offer up to Him not only the best of what we have and who we are, but all of what we have and who we are in the service of the King of kings. (Rom. 12:1) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Catechism

Question 36

Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23), and do immediately pass into glory (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2) till the resurrection (Job 19:26).

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