Weekly Bulletin – July 7, 2024

Devotional

Abounding Joy

“Rejoice in the Lord alway.” – Philippians 4:4

Paul was growing old. The sufferings he had experienced had certainly taken their toll. Yet despite the catalogue of afflictions he had endured while preaching the gospel of Christ, he had not lost his sense of the vibrancy of life. The words joy and rejoice (which is a variant form of the word joy) occur sixteen times in this epistle.

These words express triumph in the face of the disappointments and hardships of the Christian life. The command ‘Rejoice in the Lord alway’ sounds the keynote of the entire epistle. The Christian can rejoice at all times and under all circumstances, because the source of his joy is the Lord. Thus rejoicing, like joy, is supernatural. It issues from the very nature of God and is intended to well up within those in whom God’s Spirit dwells.

Those who have trusted Christ have the privilege of experiencing ‘fulness of joy’ (Psa. 16:11). The ‘Man of sorrows’ was possessed of a deep joy. As He faced the cruel death of the cross, He said to His followers, ‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full’ (John 15:11).

The unusual thing about Paul’s situation was that there appeared to be no reason for him to rejoice. He was a Roman prisoner awaiting trial. He might be acquitted, or he might be beheaded. Yet in spite of his danger and discomfort, Paul overflowed with joy.

He could testify, ‘I rejoiced in the Lord greatly’ (Phil. 4:10). All our joys must terminate in God, and our thoughts of God must be delightful thoughts. The psalmist said, ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord’ (Psa. 37:4). Even in the midst of grievous and afflicting experiences he could say, ‘In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul’ (94:19).

Earthly joys vanish, but when you rejoice in the Lord, you have something that lasts.

Quote: “Joy is the flag that is flown from the citadel of the heart when the King is in residence.” – Anonymous

This Week

The Lord's Day Services

Sunday, July 7

11:00 a.m. Morning Service – Mr. Daniel Sima’an

5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer

6:30 p.m. Evening Service – Mr. Daniel Sima’an

Click here to view the morning or evening service live.

Weekly Announcements

Wednesday, July 10

7:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer – Mr. Maher Louis

Advanced Announcements

Sunday, July 14

11:00 a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Saunders

5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer

6:30 p.m. Evening Service – Pastor Daniel Olson

Fellowship following the evening service.

Advanced Announcements

Wednesday, July 17

7:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer

Catechisms

The Shorter Catechism

Q4: What is God?

A: God is a Spirit¹, infinite², eternal³, and unchangeable⁴, in his being⁵, wisdom⁶, power⁷, holiness⁸, justice, goodness, and truth⁹.

1. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24).
2. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job 11:7).
3. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Psalm 90:2).
4. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17).
5. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14).
6. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:5).
7. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8).
8. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: (Revelation 15:4).
9. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7).

Bible Questions & Answers For Children

Q83: How long did the children of Israel wander in the desert?

A: Forty years.

“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot..” Deuteronomy 29:5

Q84: Why did they wander in the desert for forty years?

A: They did not believe that God was able to bring them into the Promised Land.

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.” Numbers 14:34