True preaching doesn’t just inform the mind - it searches out the heart. It brings a vital message from the heart of God, which is laid upon the heart of the preacher and directed to the heart of the hearer. A message which must be heard.

Last night we heard just such a message. This message deserves to be heard by all who profess the name of Christ.

So do listen to “I Never Knew You” Matthew 7:21-23 by Henry Mahan.

And when you’ve heard it, have your friends and family listen too.

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

At last night’s meeting in Honiton we remembered the death of our Lord Jesus Christ by partaking of the bread and the wine in the Lord’s Supper.

Before so doing we listened to the following message by Don Fortner which is highly recommended because of the truth it sets forth regarding what is pictured by the Lord’s Supper: What’s The Meaning of This?

Paul instructs the Corinthian church on the correct approach to the Lord’s Supper in chapter 11 of First Corinthians, the same chapter in which he also sets before us the glorious truth of the Headship of Christ over His church. Peter Ditzel has written a couple of very helpful articles on both subjects which he has on his website. They are:-

The Elements of the Lord’s Supper

The Headcovering

Tuesday April 1st
Audio Freewill or Freegrace (Don Fortner)

Or click here to play video

Wednesday April 2nd
Audio: A Parable of Every Believer’s Life (Don Fortner)

Or click here to play video

The video messages can also be listened to on the Video Page of graceandtruthonline.com or on the Grace and Truth Online Video Chanel on Veoh. When played online they provide a 5 minute preview but they can also be downloaded for playback on your computer.

The Music Room at the Hotel where the meetings were held…

The Gate outside…

On Tuesday April 1st and Wednesday April 2nd 2008 we hope, in the will of the Lord, to host GraceAndTruthOnline.com’s 2008 Sovereign Grace Conference in Sidmouth, Devon.

Following his visit to this area last year we are delighted to welcome back Pastor Don Fortner as our speaker and would like to invite all those who are able to come along and hear him on this special occasion.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. We trust that others too will find encouragement in hearing this ministry in Devon. May Christ be glorified in the preaching of His Gospel.Our venue for this year’s conference is the excellent Sidholme Hotel in Sidmouth Devon. This is situated about 30 minutes south of Honiton on the beautiful East Devon coastline. Not only will visitors be able to attend the meetings at the Conference, but for those who are travelling from afar and wish to make a break of it rooms are available at excellent rates at the hotel – this will also provide opportunity for fellowship with others staying at the hotel. Bookings can be made through the hotel website (http://www.sidholme.co.uk  ) or by telephone - 01395 515104 (Mention the Sovereign Grace Conference when booking). Alternatively there are of course a number of other good hotels and B+Bs throughout the East Devon area (a quick search on the internet should find some).

Why not download the PDF Sovereign Grace Conference 2008 Flyer here and print it out for display on your noticeboard?

Augustus Toplady, the author of the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ ministered in the Devon village of Broadhembury, not far from Honiton, during the 1700s. Perhaps few in the area today would remember his name, a few more might remember his well-known hymn, yet the Gospel he preached is everlasting.

Here is a short quote by toplady on ‘The Religion of Christ’:

‘Every religion except one puts upon you doing something in order to recommend yourself to God. It is only the religion of Christ (which runs counter to all the rest by affirming that we are saved and called with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to the Father’s own purpose and grace) which was not sold out to us on certain conditions to be fulfilled by ourselves, but was given us in Christ before the world began. It was long ago remarked by a good man that,”It is the business of all false religion to patch up a righteousness in which the sinner is to stand before God. But it is the business of the glorious gospel to bring near to us, by the hand of the Holy Spirit, a righteousness ready wrought, a robe of perfection ready made, wherein God’s people, to all the purposes of justification and happiness, stand perfect and without fault before the throne.”  ’

Yesterday we listened to the following message by Don Fortner on Haggai 1:15:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113082147302

 Preached in Kentucky, Heard in Honiton.

In the autumn of 2007 the cranes having finished their tasks, and the workmen having added the final details, the much talked about and anticipated new Princesshay Shopping Centre was opened in the city of Exeter, Devon. This multi-million pound development promises to rejuvenate the centre of this historic city providing a range of new shops, restaurants and accommodation. Much has been written about Princesshay and much is expected of it.

However, whilst such developments in our towns and cities might fill a temporaral need for their people in providing goods and services, there is nevertheless a much greater need, a much more enduring need, which is so often neglected. That is the need for the preaching of the Gospel. Exeter’s great need, as with the rest of Great Britain, is to hear the message of Christ and Him Crucified - the message of Salvation. Whilst temporary needs may be addressed, may Exeter also be given an awareness of its eternal need, and the vital importance of hearing the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.

Listen to that Gospel in the following audio messages (MP3):  

   “The Offence of the Cross” Galatians 5:11

   “The Right Way” Psalm 107:7

   “Taught From Above” Matthew 5:1-2

   “The Father’s Business” Luke 2:49

Or pay a visit to Free Grace Radio.

Although most in Plymouth today have probably never heard of him, back in the 1800s there ministered in that city a man called Robert Hawker whose ministry was greatly blessed by God. Hawker’s faithful preaching of Christ, from all the scriptures, was used to the blessing of many, and his writings are still available today.

If you haven’t read Hawker - make a point of doing so.  Larry Brown of Grace Baptist Church, Danville, Kentucky (pastored by Don Fortner) has recently set up a new website called Grace e-Books. On here you will find complete, downloadable, versions of many books, in PDF format, including a number of Robert Hawker’s works.

In days in which there has been a great turning away from the truth of the Gospel, may the Lord be pleased to use such means to bring His word to the hearing of many, and may that Gospel which was once regularly sounded in Plymouth be heard there again, not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.