• Psalm 63 | Fainting for & Feasting on God
    Jun 1 2025
    Preacher: Joel Fair Psalm 63 CryIng Out In The Context of Covenant - Vs 1 A Wanting (Fainting) Soul - Vs 1 - 4 A Satisfied (Feasting) Soul Vs 5 - 11 Augustine If the psalm prays, you pray; if it laments, you lament; if it exults, you rejoice; if it hopes, you hope; if it fears, you fear. Everything written here is a mirror for us. Genesis 17:7–8 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” Psalm 31:14 14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” Exodus 6:7 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Psalm 89:3–4 3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah Matthew 5:6 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Edmund Calamy (1600–1666) A true meditation is when a man doth so meditate of Christ as to get his heart inflamed with the love of Christ; so meditate of the Truths of God, as to be transformed into them; and so meditate of sin as to get his heart to hate sin. * Calamy went on to say that, to do good, meditation must enter three doors: the door of understanding, the door of the heart and affections, and the door of practical living. “Thou must so meditate of God as to walk as God walks; and so to meditate of Christ as to prize him, and live in obedience to him John 6:32–33 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
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    40 mins
  • Psalm 119:97-104 | I Love Your Law
    May 25 2025
    Preacher: Joel Fair Psalm 119:97-104 Augustine Expositions on the Psalms Because as often as I began to reflect upon it, it always exceeded the utmost stretch of my powers.… I cannot show how deep it is Psalm 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Thomas Brooks Remember that it is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most that will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian. J. I. Packer Knowing God Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God… It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God. Isaiah 55:8–9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Philippians 4:8–9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Derek Kidner Attraction to the true and revulsion against the false are, for us, acquired tastes. Verse 104 describes the process; 101 reveals the earnest co-operation it requires of us. James M. Hamilton Jr. This love is a cultivated disposition to choose obedience over sin. Ezekiel 36:25–27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Psalm 19:9–11 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 1 John 5:2–3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
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    46 mins
  • Romans 5:3-5 | How God Produces Hope
    Apr 6 2025
    Preacher: Sam Powers Romans 5:3-5 John 16:33 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Mark 4:17 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Romans 5:4 (KJV) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: C. H. Spurgeon Patience is a pearl which is only found in the deep seas of affliction; and only grace can find it there, bring it to the surface, and adorn the neck of faith therewith. Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
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    57 mins
  • Romans 4:16-17 | Grace Gives God Glory
    Mar 9 2025
    Preacher: Joel Fair Romans 4:16-17 John Flavel The free grace of God in Christ, is that which gives immutability to this covenant. It is not built upon works, but grace... This covenant is not founded as the first was, upon the variable and inconstant obedience of man, but upon grace, which is a steady and firm foundation of it. John 1:16-17 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Timothy Keller Complete assurance. The promise of inheriting the earth-of enjoying eternal life in a renewed world- is of grace, and relies on God's promise-keeping power, not our performance (v 16). This enables us to live without fear of the future, and without despair at our failings. John R. W. Stott It reads literally: 'therefore by faith in order that according to grace'. The fixed point is that God is gracious, and that salvation originates in his sheer grace alone. But in order that this may be so, our human response can only be faith. For grace gives and faith takes. Faith's exclusive function is humbly to receive what grace offers. Otherwise 'grace would no longer be grace' (11:6). Romans 11:6 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. "There is nothing for man to boast of, not even his faith. If you boast about your faith, if you boast about the fact that you have believed while someone else has not, it is no longer grace; and it is no longer to God's glory, but the credit goes to your belief. It has to be either of works or of grace; and if you claim merit even for your faith, you are turning your faith into works, and you are taking from the glory of God,
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    45 mins
  • Romans 4:13–15 | Heir of the World
    Feb 23 2025
    Preacher: Sam Powers Romans 4:13–15 The Promise to Abraham And His Offspring That's you, believer! Heir of the world Co Heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17 ; Gal. 3:29 ; Gal. 4:7 ; Eph. 3:6 ; Titus 3:7 ; 2 Tim. 2:12 ; Matt. 13:43) John MacArthur In the end, you will be a joint heir with Christ, and you will inherit everything that is Christ’s. You, Christian, have a great eternal inheritance that is more glorious than you realize. * Not through the Law * But through the righteousness of faith * This is the Gospel You, Christian you have a great savior who is more glorious than you realize. Let us not be satisfied with a great inheritance, but let us be captivated with the one who purchased it on our behalf. Special Guest: Sam Powers.
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    48 mins
  • Romans 4:9-12 | Good News For Everyone
    Feb 16 2025
    Preacher: Joel Fair Romans 4:9-12 Abraham Is Justified By Faith - VS 9 Before Circumcision - VS 10 Faith Is The Only Requirement For EVERYONE - Vs 11-12 Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:3-6 _And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. _ Genesis 17:10-11 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. John Piper An act like circumcision, or any other act in obedience to God, does not give you your right standing with God. Faith alone does. But the acts of obedience are a sign and a seal that your faith is real and that Christ is your perfect righteousness. Ephesians 1:13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Having the Holy Spirit I know that all that God promises to me is already mine in a very real sense. It is sealed to me. Galatians 2:15-16 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
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    45 mins
  • Romans 4:6-8 | The Blessing of Justification
    Feb 9 2025
    Preacher: Joel Fair Romans 4:6-8 Luke 7:36-50 John Piper It means "between you and God all is well." You are deeply secure, profoundly content, happy in God—even if you are weeping over the pain of a struck body, a perplexed mind, or a heartbreaking relationship. Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Philippians 3:8-9 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith
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    47 mins
  • Rom 4:1-5 | Abraham Believed God
    Feb 2 2025
    Preacher: Sam Powers Rom 4:1-5 Special Guest: Sam Powers.
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    46 mins