Oh The Blood

Oh The Blood

As I think on the cross

And the price that was paid

Royal blood that was spilled

So the dying could live

Every sin or disease

Broken hearts come to you

I’m so grateful

As Your mercy

And Your grace cover me

Oh, the blood of Jesus

Oh, the blood of Jesus

Hallelujah, hallelujah

You’re the reason I’m free

All the praise and all the honour

To the only Lord and Saviour

Hallelujah, hallelujah

You’re the reason I’m free

With my hands and my heart

I surrender again

All devotion

Adoration

With my life I will praise

Now unto Him

Who takes all the sin of the world

Hallelujah

STILL

STILL

Hide me now

Under your wings

cover me

within your mighty hands

(Chorus)

When the oceans rise

and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood

And I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul in Christ alone

Know his power in quietness and trust

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know His power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still and know You are God

Your Joy Oh lord

will be my strength,

Renouncing fear

We stand in your glorious grace.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still and know You are God

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Create In Me A Clean Heart

(Based on Psalms 51)

By Gilberto Barreto

Make me know you, O Lord

In the depths of my soul.

Purify me and I will be clean.

Wash me whiter than snow.

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew your Spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew your Spirit within me.

The sacrifices acceptable to you,

O Lord, are a broken spirit.

A broken heart, a contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew your Spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew your Spirit within me.

Are You a Hypocrite?

I had the privilege of preaching in seminary chapel yesterday. One of the great blessings of my current ministry is that I get to teach seminarians each week and preach in the chapel regularly. I often try to preach from texts of Scripture that I think will help shape the ministry mindset of future pastors and missionaries. Yesterday, I chose to preach from Matthew 7:1-5 and urge the men to guard themselves against the hypocritical mindset which the Lord confronts there.

The first part of verse 1 is perhaps one of the most often quoted and misused texts of Scripture. “Do not judge” is an oft-abused trump card in debates. It seems clear that Jesus is not against judgment, but against a certain kind of judgment. The context makes that clear–just a few verses later He tells them to watch out for false prophets and that they can know them by their fruits, something which obviously requires the exercise of judgment. John 7:24 is helpful in differentiating the two kinds of judgment, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Jesus is confronting a wrong kind of judging in Matthew 7:1-5, not all judgment.

Christ the Builder, Christ the Perfecter

The church is a people who are called out and set apart from the world who are also called and sent into the world. The goal of the Christian life is complete conformity to Christ, and such conformity is both in character and in mission. In other words, the church is to be both a holy people (set apart) and missionary people (sent) at the same time, all the time.

I come away with this when considering the promise that Jesus will build His church and the purchased goal that Jesus will perfect His church.

Christ the Builder: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Christ the Perfecter: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

Jesus, the head of the church, is very committed to His bride, that is His people. He has determined that His church will be built and that His bride would be pure. Given that these promises are “yes” and “amen” and are sealed in His blood, we should consider the implications on who we are and how we should function as His people.

Is it possible to know when Jesus is coming back?

Matthew 24:36-44 declares, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come…So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” At first glance, these verses would seem to provide a clear and explicit answer to the question. No, no one can know when Jesus is coming back. However, those verses do not say that no one will ever be able to know when Jesus will return. Most Bible scholars would say that Jesus, now glorified in heaven, knows the timing of His return, indicating that the phrase “nor the Son” does not mean Jesus will never know when He will return. Similarly, it is possible that, while Matthew 24:36-44 indicates that no one at that time could know the timing of Jesus’ return, God could reveal the timing of Jesus’ return to someone in the future.

A Prayer for a Victorious New Year.

As you look back over the past year, do you see patterns that need amending, habits that need rending, and do you find yourself defending your actions and attitudes? Are you longing for something different this year? If you want to move ahead, start over, and experience a year of victory, not defeat, then maybe this prayer will help to inspire you.

Lord Jesus, I come to you in this brand new year with a desire to move forward, not backward. Last year is gone, and with it all the foolish mistakes I made. I’m eager to put the past behind and to press on toward the mark of knowing you, loving you, serving you, and making Your name known in this coming year.

I don’t ask for cheap grace, because I know it cost You, Your life. You gave everything for me, so I could have a new beginning—every day of every year. Thank You for Your underserved favor and unlimited mercy—and Your grace, that keeps on giving. Thank You for making me Your child. Forgive me for ignoring Your voice at times, for pursuing my own pleasures, and for letting my priorities slip. Your promise is like gold to me: Your offer of forgiveness, Your unfailing compassion, and Your new mercies daily.