Message of Grace
PUBLISHED BY GRACE CHAPEL MINISTRIES OF O'BRIEN, FLORIDA

“FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST” EPHESIANS 2:8

VOLUME 4
ISSUE 3
MARCH - APRIL - MAY 2003

THE SON STOOD STILL

"SO THE SUN STOOD STILL IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, AND HASTED NOT TO GO DOWN ABOUT A WHOLE DAY." JOSHUA 10:13

One of the most amazing occurrences recorded in the Bible is found here in the book of Joshua. Joshua made war against the enemies of Gibeon and as the daylight hours were rapidly coming to an end, Joshua prayed for the LORD to extend the daylight so that he might complete the destruction of his foes. In answer to his prayer the LORD GOD of heaven and earth suspended the laws of physics and caused the earth to stop on its axis and the "sun stood still"! Now as amazing as this event is: an even more startling occurrence took place on the road leading out of Jericho as the LORD JESUS passed by a blind beggar in the ditch. The scripture says "And as HE went out of Jericho with HIS disciples, blind Bartimaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was JESUS of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say JESUS, thou son of David, have mercy on me.-----And JESUS stood still!" (Mark 10:46-49) We can learn several lessons here:

The LORD's journey took HIM by the very spot where a beggar sat in need!

The LORD doesn't do anything by chance, always by intention. "When JESUS heard it, HE saith unto them, they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17). The LORD seeks and saves that which is lost. (see Mat.18:11) Sinners are not saved by blind chance, but according to the purpose and plan of a merciful Savior!

Being a beggar, Bartimaeus had nothing of value to offer!

The KING of glory stood still in order to meet the needs of someone totally incapable of helping himself or of adding anything to the glory of the LORD's kingdom. Such is the mercy of the SAVIOR that HE helps the helpless and defiled. Blind Bartimaeus had not one thing that the LORD needed. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righeousnesses are as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6)

Bartimaeus understood that his only hope of healing was in the hand of the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Only when a man becomes convinced of his lost condition; will he begin to cry out to the LORD for help. The LORD in his sovereign mercy does awaken sinners to their need of HIM. "To give knowlege of salvation unto HIS people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our 'GOD whereby the DAYSPRING from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." (Luke 1:77-79)

Bartimaeus' need was so great that he would not be deterred from seeking the LORD!

"Many charged him that he should hold his peace; but he cried out the more a great deal, thou SON of David, have mercy on me!" (Mark 10:48) When the LORD convinces a man of the awfulness of his sin and the hopelessness of helping himself, that man can no longer find comfort in religion or the soothing words of religious (though well-meaning) men but he can only find help in the LORD HIMSELF. He can't be satisfied with walking down a church aisle, signing a decision card, or going through a class to teach him how he ought to act. He wants more than that, he must become acquainted with HIM who is eternal LIFE. "And we know that the SON of GOD is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know HIM that is true, and we are in HIM that is true, even in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST" (I Jn 5:20)

Bartimaeus was healed through no power of his own! There is hope in JESUS CHRIST for the worst of sinners. Are you a sinner? Do you find yourself heartbroken for your crimes against the ALMIGHTY? Come to the SAVIOR without delay! "The LORD is nigh (near) unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" ( Psalm 34:18)


THANK YOU LORD

(chorus)

THANK YOU LORD FOR SAVING ME
THANK YOU LORD FOR LIFE
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED
TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
GIVEN UNTO THEE
LET ALL I AM BE SWALLOWED UP IN KNOWING THEE!

I WANDERED IN THE DARKNESS OF DEAD RELIGION's NIGHT
CONTENT TO LIVE FOR SELF WITHOUT THE MASTER's LIGHT
THINKING I HAD LIFE BUT NOT LIVING
BUT THE LORD HE CAME TO ME AND SHOWED ME LIFE WITHIN
NOT IN MYSELF BUT HIM, NOT OF MYSELF BUT HIM
AND NOW I LIVE BECAUSE HE LIVES IN ME!

(chorus)

HE's SHOWN ME THAT HE's LORD OF ALL AND NOW I'M SATISFIED
WITH HIS BLAMELESS, SINLESS LIFE AND HIS BLEEDING SACRIFICE,
FOR IN THEM HE HAS CLAIMED THE VICTORY.
LIFE AND LIGHT ARE NOW MY OWN BECAUSE OF WHAT HE's DONE
SHOWED ME I'M HIS SON BY HIS CHOICE AND NOW MY OWN
O LET ME SERVE YOU LORD BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME

(chorus)


A doctrine is not true because I believe it or because you believe it; it is only true if GOD says it! I do not ask whether you believe what I preach; perhaps you do not. But I ask you to search the Scriptures and determine whether these things be so. I am not afraid to submit my belief in GOD's immutable sovereignty, man's total fall and ruin, GOD's elective grace, CHRIST's effectual atonement, the SPIRIT's invincible call, and the perseverance of the sheep to the WORD OF GOD!

-HENRY MAHAN

I am so sure that the message that I preach is THE GOSPEL that I am willing to leave it alone with my hearer and GOD. If those who hear what I preach (not the way I preach it) will take it and sit down alone with GOD, apart from any outside influence (including myself) and with HIS WORD in their hand examine it, I shall be satisfied. I leave them to the great revealer and convincer of men, the HOLY SPIRIT. If this is the message of GOD and I am HIS messenger, HE will make HIS sheep to know CHRIST in their hearts.

-GARY SHEPARD