Filed under: Audio, Awliscombe, Colossians, Creation, Darkness, Devon, Faith, Gospel, Gospel Preaching, Holy Spirit, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Righteousness, The Church, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: Awliscombe, Christ, Colossians, Fulness of God, Gospel, Honiton, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Preaching, Truth
The following message was preached in Honiton Sovereign Grace Church on Sunday 21st December 2008.
“In Him should all fulness dwell” Colossians 1:19 21-12-08 (Ian Potts)
Filed under: Audio, Awliscombe, Devon, Faith, Gospel, Gospel Preaching, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Meetings, Mind, Philippians, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: Awliscombe, Christ, Gospel, Grace, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Mind, Philippians, Preaching
This message was preached in Honiton Sovereign Grace Church on Sunday 16th November 2008.
“Let this mind be in you” Philippians 2:5 16-11-08 (Ian Potts)
Filed under: Audio, Awliscombe, Devon, Faith, Gospel, Gospel Preaching, Hebrews, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Righteousness, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: Awliscombe, Faith, Gospel, Hebrews, Honiton, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Preaching, Righteousness
This message was preached in Honiton Sovereign Grace Church on Sunday 9th November 2008.
“The just shall live by faith” Hebrews 10:38 9-11-08 (Ian Potts)
Filed under: Audio, Awliscombe, Devon, Gospel, Gospel Preaching, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Meetings, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: Christ, Free Grace, Gospel, Honiton Sovereign Grace Church, Ian Potts, Lamentations, Preaching, Salvation, Substitution, Suffering
This message was preached in Honiton Sovereign Grace Church on Sunday 5th October 2008.
“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” Lamentations 1:12 5-10-08 (Ian Potts)
Despite many churches, many meetings, and much ‘preaching’, the reality is that there is too little preaching of the truth as it in in Jesus Christ today.
“What is truth?” asked Pilate. Listen to the following for some answers:
“How shall man be just with God?” Job 9:2 – John Metcalfe (Singapore, 8-9-85)
“The power of his resurrection” Philippians 3:7 – John Metcalfe (Singapore, 30-12-84)
“Jesus’s cry from the cross” Matthew 27:46 – John Metcalfe (Singapore, 8-12-85)
“The pot of oil” 2 King 4:1-7 – John Metcalfe (Bethlehem Meeting Hall, Tylers Green, 11-11-86)
“The Gospel of the Kingdom” Mark 1:14 – John Metcalfe (Westminster, London, 4-5-91)
“The church” Ephesians 5:25-27 – John Metcalfe (Jalan Azyze, 25-12-86)
“Water made wine” John 2:9 – John Metcalfe (Penang, 13-3-88)
“Paul not ashamed (of the gospel)” Romans 1:16 – John Metcalfe (Penang, 11-9-85)
“Justified by faith” Romans 3:28 – John Metcalfe (Penang, 13-12-84)
(It has become notable in recent months how many visitors to this website are downloading messages by John Metcalfe. If you are interested in hearing further messages by him please do drop me a line at ianpotts@graceandtruthonline.com )
For messages from Honiton Sovereign Grace Church see our page on FreeGraceRadio.com.
Filed under: Audio, Gospel, Ian Potts, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: Alpha Course, Churches, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Exeter, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Ian Potts, Launceston, Plymouth, Poole, Preaching, Somerset, South West, Street, Taunton, Truro, Truth, Weymouth
Nothing is more needful today than to hear the truth of God’s grace proclaimed in the preaching of the Gospel. Yet nothing is more conspicuous today by its absence in many places of worship than the faithful preaching of God’s grace in the Gospel. Up and down the country more and more ‘churches’ have opened their doors wide to the proliferation of sheer heresy in the Alpha Course, sheer entertainment in what they profess to be ‘worship’, and sheer drivel in what passes for ‘preaching’….. yet more and more ‘churches’ have closed their doors firmly shut to the faithful declaration of the Truth as set forth in the scriptures, as it is in Jesus Christ.
What is true of Great Britain as a whole, is true of the South West. Visit the churches of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset, of Plymouth, Exeter, Truro, Launceston, Street, Taunton, Weymouth or Poole, and you may encounter many things… but very little Gospel preaching. Of course I’m quite aware that many would claim that they do preach the Gospel, but the fact is that what is called the ‘gospel’ today bears very little resemblance to that message which God declared by the mouths of His prophets, the apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Out has gone the truth of man’s fall in sin and his total depravity, to be replaced by a message of mankind’s ‘failings’ and ‘mistakes’, out has gone the truth of God’s eternal judgment of the wicked, to be replaced by universal love, out has gone the truth of God’s penal judgment of sin in Christ upon the cross, to be replaced by an ‘example of suffering’, out has gone the truth of God’s free grace, to be replaced by the free will of man, out has gone the truth of particular redemption, to be replaced by an theoretic universal redemption which in reality redeems none unless they will, and out has gone the truth of God’s election of a people in Christ unto salvation, by which God chooses a people to save, to be replaced by the damning error of Arminianism in which man chooses to save himself. Whether the ‘church’ calls this corruption of God’s word the ‘gospel’ or not, the fact remains that out has gone the truth, and in has come a lie. And lest some think I speak too harshly, too generally, I will be plain in stating that what I write is borne out of personal experience over many years – such was the case 20 years ago…. and the professing church and the message it conveys has only got worse. It shuts its doors to the truth, and to God’s messengers of that truth, but opens them wide to every new fashion, trend and novelty, and every false prophet and hireling who is willing to purvey such lies.
But where one door shuts, another opens, and when God opens a door, no man can shut it. Praise God for those doors opened to declare the truth as we look to Him as He builds His church by the preaching of His Gospel.
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” Colossians 4:2-4
“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” 1 Corinthians 16:9
But, whatever the faults and failings of ‘Christendom’ today, it is one thing to be able to point out error, but quite another to have and to present the truth itself. Just what is the truth? What is the Gospel?
Let me not leave you without a clear answer. What is the Gospel? Read for yourself at ‘The Gospel of God’. Or listen to the messages available here on ‘Where is Truth?’, and may the Spirit of God be pleased to open the eyes and open the ears, and lead the hearer into all truth.
Jesus said: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14
“The Offence of the Cross” Galatians 5:11 – Ian Potts
“The Right Way” Psalm 107:7 – Ian Potts
“Taught From Above” Matthew 5:1 – Ian Potts
“The Father’s Business” Luke 2:49 – Ian Potts
Filed under: Audio, Don Fortner, Gospel, The Bible, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: 66 Books, Canon, Christ, Discovering Christ, Don Fortner, Gospel, Luke, Revelation, Scriptures, Truth
“Then he said unto the, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27
The whole Bible has one central message, one theme, one subject, running right through it, from Genesis to Revelation, like a crimson cord threaded through each and every word – that message regards the person and the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The message is clear – it concerns “Christ and Him Crucified”. Wherever we read in the scriptures, Old Testament or New, it is Christ who is being spoken of and it is Christ for whom we should look. To miss Christ – both His person and His work – is to miss the very heart, the very essence of the message of the word of God.
In Acts 8:32-35 we read of the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot:-
“The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
The eunuch needed the Holy Spirit to open his understanding in the scriptures. But the message which Philip preached unto him from those Old Testament scriptures was clear – they spoke of Jesus.
Jesus Himself confirmed this fact to the disciples in Luke 24:27 where we read: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Elsewhere we read that the scriptures testify of Christ: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
Of whom it is written: “…thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), and also: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:1-5).
But not only has God given us the scriptures which testify of Christ, but the Holy Spirit, through the written word of God, testifies of the Living Word – the Lord Jesus Christ – that those chosen out of the darkness might comprehend the Light and believe on His name (John 1:12):
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26).
How we need the Comforter, the Spirit of truth to give us eyes to see and ears to hear what wondrous things the Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying to save sinners. May God be pleased to give grace to see Christ in “all the scriptures”.
…
Have a listen to the following series of messages by Don Fortner in which he declares Christ as He is set forth in all 66 books of the word of God, and His work of salvation in saving sinners.
Discovering Christ In Leviticus
Discovering Christ In Deuteronomy
Discovering Christ In 1 Samuel
Discovering Christ In 2 Samuel
Discovering Christ In 1 Chronicles
Discovering Christ In 2 Chronicles
Discovering Christ In Nehemiah
Discovering Christ In Proverbs
Discovering Christ In Ecclesiastes
Discovering Christ In Song of Solomon
Discovering Christ In Jeremiah
Discovering Christ In Lamentations
Discovering Christ In Habakkuk
Discovering Christ In Zephaniah
Discovering Christ In Zechariah
Discovering Christ In 1 Corinthians
Discovering Christ In 2 Corinthians
Discovering Christ In Galatians
Discovering Christ In Ephesians
Discovering Christ In Philippians
Discovering Christ In Colossians
Discovering Christ In 1 Thessalonians
Discovering Christ In 2 Thessalonians
Discovering Christ In 1 Timothy
Discovering Christ In 2 Timothy
Discovering Christ In Philemon
Discovering Christ In Revelation
(Or see Discovering Christ in all the Scriptures (Series) on SermonAudio.com)
Filed under: Audio, Gospel, The Word of God, Truth | Tags: Alpha Course, Celebrations, Chaos, Charismatic, Choirs, Choruses, Community Church, Contemporary Worship, Emergent Church, Gospel, Hope 08, Jesus, New Frontiers, New Perspective, Truth, Vineyard
Something has washed up on the shores of our churches in the last few decades which has all but carried the people away with its cheerful promise. This apparent treasure trove from the sea comes in many forms and guises, but all with certain similar features. Several words may describe it: Contemporary worship, Community churches, Charismatic leaders, Choruses, Clapping, Celebrations, Choirs, Courses (Alpha of course), Confusing Chatter….Constant change… And the resultant effects of chaos and confusion.
Known as the Charismatic Movement, with its ebbs and flows it is full of ‘C’s, emphasises what you see, and, to be plain, is all at sea… bobbing on the ever-changing waters of ‘Hope’, sailing upon the ‘High Cs’, looking for ‘New Frontiers’ to appear in an ‘Emergent Church’, all aboard on the ‘Good Ship Vineyard’ where you’re as likely to contract ‘T.B’ (or the Toronto Blessing) as you are to ‘Catch the vision’ of a ‘New Perspective’…..
But in the midst of all this pioneering and cheerful camaraderie, when one takes up a Bible and compares the truth as God has delivered it in the scriptures and as revealed by His Spirit, with what is done and said in these contemporary 21st century temples of worship, several questions must inevitably come to mind: What has happened to the faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and the resting in the knowledge that it is the preaching of the cross by which God is pleased to save sinners (1 Corinthians 1)? Where is the sound of the truth, the continual proclamation of that message described as “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3)? Where is that preaching which convicts of sin and brings in a broken and a contrite spirit, with which sinners are led to the feet of the Saviour? Where the taking up of one’s cross, and the suffering of persecution for righteousness sake? Where the preaching of “Christ and him crucified”, who died for sinners, as according to the scriptures, the Just for the unjust, a substitutionary sacrifice in the place of those people chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1)? Where the clear declaration of the Sovereignty of God in salvation in saving all those whom He predestinated unto eternal life? Where is that powerful, Spirit-filled preaching which brings in that awe and reverence before a Holy God which so characterised the preaching of the Gospel in days gone by? …..Where are these things?
Perhaps you attend such a church, one that is ‘modern, relevant, changing with the times, reaching out to the community’? Perhaps your experience of ‘Christianity’ is that purveyed by such contemporary ‘worship’ as has become so common in this day and age. Then, my reader, I encourage you to take a moment to “consider your ways” and especially to consider the ways of the ‘churches’ which speak so much of a Jesus and so much of a spirit which have so little to do with the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God as set forth in the Gospel by the word of God (2 Corinthians 11:4). Take a moment to heed a warning. It is not my desire to find fault here, but it is my desire to point you towards the truth, to point you towards Jesus Christ the Saviour of sinners and to point you towards that preaching of the Gospel which alone is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).
For the truth is, that devoid of the Gospel, rather than bringing to a sure and certain hope, the ships of the Charismatic Movement will lead their jolly, but entranced, travellers into troubled waters and certain spiritual death and destruction. Many are those who have been led to shipwreck upon such voyages, led along as it were as children following the Pied Piper. But the faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ, as according to the scriptures, declares of salvation by that Jesus, that Joshua, who leads His people through the waters of death dry-shod! (Joshua 3:17) Not by their works, not by the exercise of their own will, not by worked up sentiment or emotion – but by free and sovereign grace! By the eternal electing purpose of God. He does it! He saves! And He saves… by the preaching of the word of truth.
This is that preaching which declares unto man what he really is. It tells him who God really is. It tells him the consequences of sin, and the eternal states of both the sheep and the goats. This preaching convicts of sin, it convinces men of righteousness and of judgment – and it points the guilty sinner to a Saviour who took away sin by His one sacrifice for sin for ever. This is that preaching which declares the Redeemer, even Jesus Christ… and Him Crucified.
But is this the preaching you hear in the ‘churches’ today? Is this the Gospel you know? That Gospel which the Spirit of God really preaches? That Spirit with whom all of God’s people are baptised when born again, not by their decision, “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” John 1:13. That Gospel which points fallen, guilty, sinners to God, the Saviour of sinners. That Gospel which is “to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:18. That Gospel which is preached, for “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
Have you heard this Gospel preached? My reader, if salvation lies in this Gospel, and none other, if salvation is found in Jesus Christ and none other, then these aren’t questions to be trifled with. The rest of our eternal souls depends upon it. Do we know the truth or not? Do we believe the Gospel or not? Is the ‘Jesus’ we know truly the Christ of the scriptures, who came into this world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15)?
If it be true – and it is true – that “the truth shall set you free” then it is vital that we ask ourselves the question – do we know the truth? Indeed, where is truth?
Well, I would not leave you without hope. I am not out to point out faults, but to point the way to the One who is the Truth (John 14:6). So I urge you my reader, compare what is said and done in these Charismatic Chambers of Confusion with the Clarion Call of the Gospel of God’s free grace in Christ Jesus, that word of truth as can be read and heard here:
And may the Lord be pleased to lead into all truth – that truth as it is in Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His Name.
Amen.
Listen to ‘Signs and Wonders for Today’ or ‘Worship’ by Don Fortner
Filed under: Audio, Devon, Don Fortner, Gospel, Gospel Preaching, Ian Potts, Maurice Montgomery, Meetings, Sovereign Grace Conference, The Bible, The Church, The Word of God, Truth
Where can the truth of God be heard in Devon?
‘The Church in Devon’ website seeks to answer that question – being most concerned with the gathering of Christ’s church (the ekklesia) in the Devon area. As such it promotes the Gospel of Christ and provides details of meetings held in Devon where that Gospel may be heard.
We live in days when there is a great famine of the hearing of the word of God in our country. Though many churches profess the name of Christ, the reality is that there are very few places where Christ is actually preached in the Gospel – where the Truth may be heard. Yet the preaching of the Gospel is the very means by which God saves sinners, builds and establishes the church, and continues to sustain and feed His people in that church. The truth is, any ‘church’ in which the Gospel fails to be preached is not worthy of the name of Christ.
Of course, many will claim that they do preach the Gospel, but unless the gospel preached accords with that set forth in the scriptures (see The Gospel of God ), unless it be the same message preached by the apostles of old, preached with the same Spirit by those sent of God to proclaim it, then whatever the name given to the message, and whatever the claims made for it, it simply isn’t the Gospel of Christ, and it has no power to save. What is needed in the churches today is the faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ, as set forth in the scriptures, by preachers sent forth by God to preach His word with boldness: “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” 1 Thessalonians 1:5.
Yet despite a great falling away from the truth of the Gospel and from the faithful preaching of Christ in that Gospel in many places today, nevertheless the Lord still does have a people in this day, He still does gather them under the preaching of His word, and He still does send forth preachers to preach that word. Christ continues to build His church! It is our joy to see this happening and our desire to see God’s people gather to hear the preaching of Christ in the Gospel. To this end, this website promotes that Gospel and its proclamation in the county of Devon in which we live, and also further afield.
Since April 1999 we have held meetings in Honiton, Devon to gather under the preaching of the Gospel, usually on audio and video tape. These meetings are normally held every two weeks. If you are in the Devon area and are interested in attending these meetings please do get in touch by email.
For further details see also the ‘Honiton Sovereign Grace Meetings’ website, which provides full details of meeting times as well as providing messages online which can be listened to. To understand the importance and value of the public worship of Christ in His church have a listen to The Importance of Public Worship by Henry Mahan.
See also: The Gospel of God and Grace and Truth Online
…
In this post I hope to provide some links to messages which we have recently heard at the meetings in Honiton, as well as information regarding the meetings.
On Monday February 25th we listened to the following heart-warming message by Maurice Montgomery:
‘Jesus Christ’ – Colossians 1:15-17 (Maurice Montgomery)
…
THE SOUTH WEST SOVEREIGN GRACE CONFERENCE 2008
On Tuesday April 1st and Wednesday April 2nd GraceAndTruthOnline.com’s 2008 Sovereign Grace Conference was held in Sidmouth, Devon.
Following his visit to this area last year we were delighted to welcome back Pastor Don Fortner as our speaker.
Don Fortner’s ministry has been a great blessing to us over the years, a ministry in which the Lord Jesus Christ is always exalted.
The venue for this year’s conference was the excellent Sidholme Hotel in Sidmouth Devon. This is situated about 30 minutes south of Honiton on the beautiful East Devon coastline (http://www.sidholme.co.uk ). Sidholme Hotel Elysian Fields, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8UJ (See also the PDF Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 Flyer here?)
Audio messages of the meetings are now available.
Tuesday 1st April 2008 at 8.00pm D.V.
Freewill or Freegrace (Don Fortner)
The Baptisms of Luis Gomes and Ian Potts – April 1st 2008
Wednesday 2nd April 2008 at 8.00pm D.V.
A Parable of Every Believer’s Life (Don Fortner)
About Don Fortner
Don Fortner has pastored and faithfully declared the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ at Grace Baptist Church of Danville Kentucky for over twenty-five years. Only incidentally is he a widely published author, and conference speaker. Books and commentaries he has written include Basic Bible Doctrine; Grace for Today; Discovering Christ in Revelation; Discovering Christ in Genesis; Discovering Christ in the Song of Solomon; Discovering Christ in Ruth; Discovering Christ in all the Scriptures; Life After Pentecost; and The Church of God. His prolific and endless labour to comfort and feed the people of Christ has resulted in a copious amount of unpublished materials now available and updated routinely at http://www.donfortner.com.
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
Filed under: Audio, Don Fortner, Gospel, Henry Mahan, The Bible, The Word of God, Truth
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:19-21
The message of salvation is a message of grace. It declares the free grace of God in saving undeserving, rebellious sinners, who turned their back on God and went another way… a people, who sought not God, but whom God was pleased to save out of nothing but His love and mercy to them in the Person of His precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This message of Free Grace is so rarely preached in the ‘churches’ of our day – yet it is the message of the Bible, the message of God’s Gospel, the message of Truth and the only message which saves! You and I need to hear it.
We thank God for those men whom He has sent to preach that very message. Men such as Don Fortner and Henry Mahan. Listen to some of their messages here:
What Does it Take For God to Save a Sinner? – 1 Peter 4:18 (Don Fortner)
No Compromise – Exodus 5:1 – 10:29 (Don Fortner)
Eternal Grace – Ephesians 1:3-6 (Don Fortner)
He Opened To Us the Scriptures – Luke 24:13-35 (Don Fortner)
Accepted in The Beloved – Ephesians 1:6 (Don Fortner)
A Man After God’s Own Heart – 2 Samuel 11:26-27 (Don Fortner)
…
