1 Cor. 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Tag: Ephesians 2:8-9 Page 1 of 2

Peace Through Troubled Times – False Accusers

2Ti 3:1-3  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Have we ever seen so many false accusations than what has occurred in the past decade? Supreme Court Justices have been falsely accused of infidelity. A U.S. President has been accused of insurrection. The devil is working hard to prepare for his reign in the seven-year Tribulation.

False accusers are all around us. You may be the one who has lied about someone else and gotten them into trouble. Nothing is thought of lying anymore. Unless one is caught in that lie, there’s no remorse. Is it any wonder that it’s bearing false witness is one of the Ten Commandments? It’s probably one of the easiest sins to commit! But nonetheless, it is a commandment and one lie will keep you from eternal life in Heaven with Jesus Christ!

Friend, we are living in fearful and exciting times. These feelings are polar opposites, aren’t they? To those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they are experiencing fear. But to us who are authentically born again, we have no need of fear. I realize the following verse was spoken by God to Israel, but we sure can glean God’s character from it:

Isa 43:1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah of mankind, to take on our punishment onto Himself because of His compassion and love! Friend, God has redeemed us unto Himself. He has called us by name and we are His! Do you feel lonely? Do you feel empty and void? Do you feel useless? The God I serve took the punishment for your sins (Romans 3:23). He wants to be your Saviour as well. But you must acknowledge that you are a sinner (Romans 3:10) in need of saving! You cannot work for your salvation as many popular religions claim. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Repentance is required. Repentance is a genuine sorrow for your sin and requires a changed heart toward that sin. One can say I’m sorry but yet do the same offense over and over. That is not genuine repentance. (Ephesians 4:28) Once genuine repentance has occurred, it stands to reason that you will follow Christ as He is the One responsible for your salvation! A desire to serve Him and do as His Word commands will follow repentance.

If you are not truly born-again, you won’t see today’s topic as a sin. But there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Hymns 2.0 – At Calvary

Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Refrain:
Mercy there was great and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty–
At Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned–
Then I trembled at the Law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary. [Refrain]

Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus ev’rything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary. [Refrain]

O the love that drew salvation’s plan!
O the grace that brought it down to man!
O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary. [Refrain]

William Reed Newell (1868-1956)

The History Behind the Hymn

William R. Newell was born on May 22, 1868 in Sa­van­nah, Ohio.  All who knew him considered him a “humble man”, however that was not how his life began.

Dr. Torrey, President of Moody Bible Institute told the following story. “When I was president of the Moody Bible Institute, I received a letter from a very concerned pastor who told me of a son who was causing himself and his family a great deal of trouble. His life was really mixed up. And the father felt that attendance at Moody would help. I advised the father that even though I sympathized with him, for I was a father; yet, because I was running a Bible school and not a reform school, I had to deny his request. After many letters of pleading his cause, I finally gave in with the stipulation that the rebellious teen must see me each day and make every effort to abide by the rules and requirements of the Institute.”

“Torrey went on to say that the boy faithfully visited his office each day; and with wisdom from God’s word, he answered the questions that had been keeping the boy from God. Finally, after many months of counseling, the prayers of the boy’s father were answered.”

Years I spent in vanity and strife, caring not my Lord was crucified…There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary

That young man was William R. Newell.  Newell eventually became a minister and later returned to Moody Bible Institute as a teacher.

One day in 1895, Newell was sitting in his classroom during a planning period. He began to pen a word picture in the form of a poem describing his testimony.  His original words were penned on the back of a used envelope.

After writing the poem, Newell paid a visit to the Music Director at Moody.  That man was Daniel Towner.  “Towner went to a vacant piano room, sat down, and started writing a tune for his friend’s lyrics. An hour later, the music was finished, and the two friends were sitting down by a piano, singing the new creation together.”

Newell died on April 1, 1956, in Florida.

Today, Newell’s testimony is a reminder of all that Christ did for all of us At Calvary.

https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/at-calvary/

A Lesson for Me

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

A lot happened at the cross of Calvary. I think that one of the very first things that happened was that Jesus paid the price that the Law (the Ten Commandments) could not pay. We all know that even on our best day, we break one of those commandments. It’s impossible to live a sinless life and that is why Jesus came!

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned–
Then I trembled at the Law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Message for today

The Old Testament is our teacher. It tells us all about Jesus, why He had to come to die for our sins, and that He is coming again. It is our “schoolmaster” as the verses below tell us.

Gal 3:24-26  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  (26)  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

It is by faith that we are saved. The Ten Commandments were given to the Jews as laws to live by. These laws were to open their eyes to realize that they could not keep the entire law without breaking at least one. If one could keep the Ten Commandments without breaking one each and every day of their life, they would be sinless. But Romans 3:23 tells us that there isn’t one person that is sinless. That is why Christ had to come. The Law was to teach them that they could not work for their salvation but that they needed a Savior.

Eph 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Jas 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham came before the Law was given to Moses, yet we see in James 2:23 that Abraham believed God – he had faith in his God – and he is known in the bible as the Friend of God! Therefore, the Law points us to recognize our sin and the need for a Savior, and faith leads us to salvation.

O the love that drew salvation’s plan!
O the grace that brought it down to man!
O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary.

Friend, are you in the same boat as William Newell was in? Are you searching to fill a hole in your empty heart? It is not until you reach the cross of Calvary and realize that you are in need of what Jesus did there. It is there that forgiveness for your sins can be found.

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Hymns 2.0 – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

 O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Helen Lemmel

The History Behind the Hymn

Few know, however, this call to fix your eyes on Christ was given by a blind woman! 

Born in 1864, Helen Lemmel moved to the United States around the age of twelve. From a young age, her musical ability was noticed by all those around her. 

In 1907, She moved to Germany for 4 years to undergo intensive music training. It was here that she would meet her husband. Together, they returned to the United States in 1911. While in America, she served faithfully in the Lord’s work. She dedicated herself to writing, arranging, and teaching songs and hymns of the faith  

A few years after her marriage, a tragic illness caused her to lose her vision. Her husband, refusing to attend to a blind wife, left her. This time of hurt and loss weighed heavily upon Helen. 

Then, in 1918, Lemmel was introduced to a pamphlet written by Algerian missionary Lilias Trotter. Trotter was a well-known artist who had given up a rising and lucrative career to serve the Lord on the mission field. Her words stirred the heart of Lemmel. She writes, “Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and, singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody…These verses were written…the same week…” 

The words that so captivated Helen were these: “How do we bring things to a focus in the world of optics? Not by looking at the things to be dropped, but by looking at the one point that is to be brought out. Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look…look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him, and the Divine “attrait” by which God’s saints are made…will lay hold of you. For “He is worthy” to have all there is to be had in the heart that He has died to win.” 

Helen kept her eyes on the Lord Jesus and continued to serve Him faithfully.  She would lead a women’s choral group for many of the Billy Sunday outreaches, teach music at the Moody Bible Institute, and pen over 400 hymns! Her life is a stirring challenge to us all. Hence, it may be said that although blind, her spiritual sight has challenged those of us who can see to keep our eyes fixed on Christ.   

https://enjoyingthejourney.org/hymn-history-turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/

A Lesson for Me

Act 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Consider your walk on this earth as a journey in total darkness. Your steps are uncertain and you must feel your way in order not to stumble. Along your journey, you find a flashlight and turn it on! All of a sudden, things are made clearer! The uncertainties of what lies ahead is not so unsettling, is it?

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Message for today

Jesus said He is the light of the world in John 8:12. Today’s hymn depicts this beautifully! It reveals to us that the Saviour, Jesus Christ, is a light in the darkness. But what darkness?

The human heart is filled with wickedness.

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

One only has to create a check list of the Ten Commandments and put a checkmark next to each commandment one has broken to discover that Jeremiah had it right.

Jesus says that He is the light of the world. The light of His Gospel reveals to us that He is the Son of God – He is God; He came for one purpose and that was to save us from our sins. He wants to shine truth and salvation into our hearts so we can plainly see our sins and admit we need a Saviour. (John 3:16, John 1:1)

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Eph 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Every person must realize that there is no way to receive God’s peace through one’s own merit. The light of the Gospel now begins to shine in man’s heart and he looks to God’s Word for redemption. Jesus took our sins and nailed them to the cross because God knew that man could not earn or work his way to Heaven.

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Once one recognizes and confesses his own sin and accepts Christ’s redeeming work on the cross, he is born again. A new life is given and that soul is no longer walking in darkness but in the light of the Word of God.

God’s Word will never fail you. Now tell someone else about what God has done for you!

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Hymns 2.0 – Rock of Ages

Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

Rock of ages cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
Rock of ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee

Let the water and the blood
From thy riven side which flowed
Oh, be of sin the double cure
Cleanse me from its guilt and power

Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Nothin’ in my hand I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling

Naked, come to Thee for dress (come to Thee for dress)
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
(Oh, look to Thee for grace)
Vile, I to the fountain fly
Wash me, Savior, or I die

Rock of ages (ooh, rock of ages)
Cleft for me (cleft for me)
Let me hide myself in Thee
Rock of ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee (in Thee)

 Augustus M. Toplady

The History Behind the Hymn

There is a popular story most hymnologists do not believe about the origin of this hymn text. That story was started 122 years after publication of the hymn text by a letter published in the Times [of London], June 3, 1898, from Dean Lefroy of Norwich, together with one from Sir W. H. Wills on the same matter. The burden of Lefroy’s correspondence is based on a claim made by Sir W. H. Wills regarding the origin of this hymn. Wills’ claim asserted that Toplady drew his inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England. Toplady, then a curate (assistant Church of England preacher) in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a storm. Finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial lyrics. [3]

According to E. J. Fasham, a more likely inspiration for the text is a 1673 sermon by Daniel Brevint (who had been the Dean of Durham Cathedral). This sermon had been partially quoted in the preface to Charles Wesley’s Hymns of the Lord’s Supper (1745), which was in common use amongst a number of ministers of the period. The similarity between the passages from Brevint’s sermon and the hymn suggests this was the starting point for Toplady’s text.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Ages_(Christian_hymn)

A Lesson for Me

Psa 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psa 119:114  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Where do I go in times of trouble? I have been saved since 1980 and the answer to this question has changed a few times throughout the years. With each passing trial, I have learned to trust the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6) As I grew in the Lord, I discovered His faithfulness more and more. Each trial drew me to Him more quickly. His invitation to come to Him in times of trouble would be the first thing I ran to rather than go to Him as a last resort.

Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Nothin’ in my hand I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling

Message for today

Is it any wonder why the world’s religions center on men’s works instead of faith in Jesus? Working one’s way to Heaven is a lie from the enemy. It is centered on the ver first sin, which is pride. This sin had Lucifer thrown out of Heaven and it carried on when he tempted Eve in the Garden. If I can say that I worked my way to heaven, then I can also tell you everything I did in order to earn it!

Eph 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is nothing that I can do that will wash away my sins. It is due to the wonderful gift that the Father has bestowed upon His creation! (John 3:16) Anything good I do before salvation is considered to be dirty rags. Mother Teresa was a wonderful person; her works for the poor and needy are to be commended. But they will only be commended here on earth. Her works amount to nothing because she did not have that relationship with Jesus Christ.

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Jesus has a very special love for you. [But] as for me–The silence and the emptiness is so great–that I look and do not see,–Listen and do not hear.

–MOTHER TERESA TO THE REV. MICHAEL VAN DER PEET, SEPTEMBER 1979

A born-again Christian is given the Comforter, the power of the Holy Spirit, to be able to see the truth so that truth can set him free. (John 8:32) The promise from Jesus Himself tells us that the Holy Spirit abides with us for ever! Had Mother Teresa known Jesus, she too would have had the peace of God! (Philippians 4:7)

Joh 14:16-17  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  (17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Jesus paid a dear price in order for us to have that peace. He paid a great price for His Church so she can hide herself in the cleft of the Rock! It is through Him that we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us! (Romans 8:37)

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Hymns 2.0 – Jesus Paid It All

Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

  1. I hear the Savior say,
    “Thy strength indeed is small;
    Child of weakness, watch and pray,
    Find in Me thine all in all.”
    • Refrain:
      Jesus paid it all,
      All to Him I owe;
      Sin had left a crimson stain,
      He washed it white as snow.
  2. For nothing good have I
    Whereby Thy grace to claim;
    I’ll wash my garments white
    In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
  3. And now complete in Him,
    My robe, His righteousness,
    Close sheltered ’neath His side,
    I am divinely blest.
  4. Lord, now indeed I find
    Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
    Can change the leper’s spots
    And melt the heart of stone.
  5. When from my dying bed
    My ransomed soul shall rise,
    “Jesus died my soul to save,”
    Shall rend the vaulted skies.
  6. And when before the throne
    I stand in Him complete,
    I’ll lay my trophies down,
    All down at Jesus’ feet.
Elvina M. Hall

The History Behind the Hymn

Did your mind ever wander during a Sunday service? Perhaps you started thinking about other things–maybe what occurred last week, or plans for the coming week or what you will be doing later that day. Something like that happened to the writer of a familiar hymn.

On a hot summer Sunday morning in 1865, Mrs. Elvina Hall (1820-1889) was found in her accustomed place in the church choir loft. But as the pious words of the Reverend Schrick’s prayer droned on and on, her thoughts drifted to other things. She pondered the meaning of the cross, and the storied scene flashed before her mind’s eye.

High upon a rocky crag, three crosses scarred the afternoon sky. On the outer gibbets, hung two notorious thieves. Below, Roman soldiers drank and gambled, waiting for death to overtake the poor wretches suspended above them. It was a public execution, but far more significant than they imagined at the time. Suddenly, the air grew dense and an eerie darkness invaded the scene.

As the soldiers gazed about them in superstitious dread, a triumphant cry pierced the gloom. It came from the figure on the centre cross. One word, in the Greek tongue: “Tetelestai!” Then He was dead. That shout of victory Christ uttered as He died is usually translated “It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30). But it had another meaning back then. It was an accounting term. When a bill was paid, it was commonly stamped with the word “Tetelestai,” meaning Paid in Full.

https://www.independentbaptist.com/jesus-paid-it-all1/

A Lesson for Me

But it had another meaning back then. It was an accounting term. When a bill was paid, it was commonly stamped with the word “Tetelestai,” meaning Paid in Full.

https://www.independentbaptist.com/jesus-paid-it-all1/

It is finished! Paid in full! Tetelestai! Tetelestai comes from the verb teleo, which means “to bring to an end, to complete, to accomplish.” How appropriate that the Lord used these words, Reader! Do you see it? We’ve heard the phrase “Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe” but does it mean anything to you?

Someone has to pay the debt for all my sin, and that is ME! Each one of us cannot enter Heaven’s gate unless that debt, that penalty, is paid. If there were a dollar value set to each one of my sins in my lifetime, I dare say there would not be enough money in the world to take care of that debt! Since tetelestai’s meaning in Jesus’ day was an accounting term, we can picture the Father in Heaven stamping “PAID” on our debt because Jesus paid for it all.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb

Message for today

Friend, thank the Lord Jesus for giving us the opportunity to have our sins washed clean because of His shed blood on Calvary!! There is no other way that one can do this! (John 14:6) He is the only way. Buddha can’t help you! Allah can’t help you! Only Jesus.

What would you say if you bought a house when times were great and your income paid the mortgage with no problem. But then you fall on difficult times and you are now months behind with no hope to catch up. If the bank didn’t foreclose on you, that debt would increase ever more with interest added to boot! It is no different with our sins, Reader. The only way the debt for our sins could ever be paid was for Jesus to take that debt upon Himself. We cannot pay that debt ourselves! There is nothing we can do either! All we can do is receive the consequences for lack of payment and that is eternal life in Hell!

Eph 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Where are you at this point in your life, Reader? Are you so deep in debt for the sins you’ve committed that you feel there is no turning back? We all come to that place in our lives. Some receive salvation early in life, while others are more stubborn. The longer you wait, the harder your heart becomes toward that sin. Sin will no longer stir regret in your heart and it will become hard as stone. There will come a point where your heart will be so hardened you will be blind to sin altogether.

Eph 4:18-19  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Don’t get to that point, Reader. Surrender yourself to God’s love and forgiveness. There is peace to be had and balm for your wounds! Jesus paid it ALL so you could have that peace and balm! However, judgment awaits the person who does not want his debt to be paid. The Bible shows us the way of salvation. Don’t be ignorant but turn from your wicked ways.

Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

A great wrath awaits the person who does not accept salvation. Zech 7:12  Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Is your heart set in stone? If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Hymns 2.0 – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

This was not at the top of my list for songs that speak to my heart. However, upon doing the research for this post, it has since risen to the top! No one wants to admit they are a sinner. This hurts our pride and, therefore, is not a title we willingly claim. It is for this very reason that Christ went through the agony of the cross. Dr. C. Truman Davis wrote an article entitled “A Physician’s View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.” If you haven’t read it before, please take a moment to read it as it will most definitely change the way you think about what Christ went through for you and I! It is heart-wrenching to say the least! I’m thankful Dr. Davis took it upon himself to research it and to share it with us! Our society has no idea what the Lord Jesus went through in order to be the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins!

  1. When I survey the wondrous cross
    On which the Prince of glory died,
    My richest gain I count but loss,
    And pour contempt on all my pride.
  2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
    Save in the death of Christ my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them to His blood.
  3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
    Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
  4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts

The History Behind the Hymn

It was a daring move when, in 1707, Isaac Watts published his first book of hymns. At that time it was the practice of almost every congregation of the Church of England to sing only Old Testament psalms in their public worship. However, Watts had grown to dislike this because it restricted the Christian from being able to explicitly celebrate in song all those aspects of the gospel that are fulfilled and illuminated in the New Testament.

In the preface to Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Watts addresses the worship situation of his time and offers a defense for writing and publishing new music.

Many Ministers and many private Christians have long groaned under this Inconvenience, and have wished rather than attempted a Reformation: At their importunate and repeated Requests I have for some Years past devoted many Hours of leisure to this Service. Far be it from my Thoughts to lay aside the Psalms of David in public Worship; few can pretend so great a Value for them as my self . . . But it must be acknowledged still, that there are a thousand Lines in it which were not made for a Saint in our Day, to assume as his own; There are also many deficiencies of Light and Glory which our Lord Jesus and his Apostles have supplied in the Writings of the New Testament; and with this Advantage I have composed these spiritual Songs which are now presented to the World.

Within Watts’ book, under the section “Prepared for the Holy Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper” is the first public printing of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

Concerning the hymn’s creation, there is no special story that singles it from among the many others he wrote. (He is credited with something like 750 hymns.) But what makes the hymn unique is the particular beauty of its language and imagery, and the power with which it highlights the most significant event in human and personal history — the cross of Jesus Christ our God.

https://believersportal.com/story-behind-when-i-survey-the-wondrous-cross-hymn/

A Lesson for Me

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

I was raised Catholic and because I was taught that salvation was by works plus Christ’s work on the cross, I would battle my flesh whenever I wanted to boast at the good things I had done. After salvation, however, I learned through the Scriptures that it was by God’s grace that I was saved through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross!

Eph 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

No longer could I boast about what I had done! Oh but I sure could boast on what Christ did so I could be saved!

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Message for today

The above verse brings tears to my eyes! After reading the doctor’s medical account of the crucifixion of our Saviour, I can totally understand why Issac Watts penned “Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,”! Our Saviour had to suffer such excruciating pain in order to pay our penalty! 😥 Oh what great a love would drive Him to do so! I love my husband and I would surely die for him. But the Lord Jesus died for me while I was yet a sinner!!! (Romans 5:8)

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

1Pe 2:24-25  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  (25)  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

My Saviour hung on the cross … a wooden cross … one that took His earthly body. But praise the Lord, He has risen and is coming again!

Php 2:8-11  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Rapture and End Time News – Hidden Agenda No Longer Hidden

We are most certainly in the end times. Confusion runs rampant in our streets. In years past, one would not have heard nor seen such things as we are today. Just last week, there was a march in Manhattan where one could hear chanting:

We’re here, we’re queer, we’re coming for your children!

https://tinyurl.com/yc6ma44m

It’s not even hidden – it is out in the open and there is no longer a hidden agenda. It is pure evil spawned by the devil himself. The devil has wanted the children from the beginning! He tried to destroy the seed of Moses so Jesus would not be born. He tried to destroy Jesus through the work of Herod. His goals are totally the opposite of Jesus’ goals!

1 Pet 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2 Cor 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1 John 5:19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Some government servants took a stand on moral ground. But I’m afraid that these stands are not enough. The Church is not screaming louder than those who promote such evil deeds.

“This movement grooms minors to have mastectomies and castration and fuels a multi billion dollar medical child abuse industry,”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweeted in response to the clip.

This is pure, unadulterated sin! Imagine allowing your child(ren) to be lab rats undergoing experimental surgeries where lifetime repercussions result! This is no different than Josef Mengele’s surgeries during Hitler’s reign of terror. People were outraged when the truth came out. Where are these objectors now? Why isn’t the Church screaming at the top of her lungs to put an end to all of this!

Joh 3:19-20  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Jesus Christ will win in the end and the judgment that will be passed on people who participate and support such events will have to account for their actions. Their own sins will bring judgment upon themselves.

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

No matter what sin(s) one commits, the end result is the same. (Romans 3:23) No one can enter Heaven on his own merit. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Every human being since the fall of Adam and Eve is born with a sinful nature. You don’t have to teach a child to do wrong; you have to teach a child to do what is right. No matter what a person does, that person starts off life the same as everyone else. After we are born, we start our lives heading down the path of condemnation, which is eternity in the Lake of Fire. That is why the Apostle John said that we are condemned already!

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

That is why Jesus said we must be “born-again”! (John 3:3, 3:7) We cannot be born physically a second time. But our spirit is born-again. Rather than seek after evil, we now desire to seek after that which is good. We must turn around spiritually! We must repent of that life and forsake our sinful nature. That is why Jesus said:

Mat 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The time is coming when it will be too late for you to repent. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved; you will remember each time you laughed it off and ignored it. Please Reader, repent and accept Christ into your life. (Act 16:31Rom 10:9) I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Comfort During the End Times – Day 26

Good morning! If you think you aren’t important to God, you have it all wrong. You are unique to God. He created you with a unique fingerprint and a unique DNA strand. The devil wants you to believe in evolution so people can believe that they are just a descendent of a blob. But God knows every thought you have ever thought or will think in your future! Those are a lot of thoughts! It doesn’t end there, my friend. God knew you even before you were in your mother’s womb!

Psa 139:13-16  For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  (14)  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  (15)  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  (16)  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Isn’t that beautiful? The same God who created the universe and all that is in it knows you intimately! He knew every body part that grew inside your mother. You are special to Him; so special that He sent Jesus Christ to take on your sins so you would be saved! (Romans 5:8) Christ did this even while you were yet a sinner! He didn’t expect you to clean up your life. If you could have done so, it would mean that your own works could get you into Heaven but we know that isn’t so. (Eph. 2:8-9) That is enough to make you praise the Lord for all He has done for us! This is enough to bring comfort to the one who is discouraged.

Are you discouraged today, Christian? If yes, reflect on the day salvation was yours and be thankful! God has not forgotten you. It may seem as though He is silent in your calamity but He is most certainly working in the background. Romans 8:28 tells us that ALL things work together for good to them that love God. However, the verse doesn’t end there… it continues to say “to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Friend, the Lord has a purpose for you. You have a purpose in life – your main priority is to fear Him (honor Him with reverence) and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13) As believers, we desire to sin less and to keep His commandments because the Word says that none of them are burdensome. They are there to teach us, guide us and help us to live godly lives in order to honor Him! (1 John 5:3) By doing this, others will see God in us! We are to be walking Bibles for the lost world to see.

If you’re a believer and reading this today, you know all these things above. But as an unbeliever, what I’ve written is foreign to you and you probably think I’m off my rocker. However, as the days are getting darker and more evil, it is all the more important that you get saved because things are about to get even darker and more evil. You will have no one to cling to as you experience the most horrific time ever.

Mark 13:19  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

As believers, we must be a lighthouse to the lost – pointing them to the light of the Word of God. We must warn them of those dangerous times ahead! We have the whole manual that tells us what is to come. How comforting that is for the believer!! We are not to be caught unaware but we are to stand ready and watching for the appearance of our Lord and Saviour!

We need to give the lost hope as we have hope! Friend, don’t be willfully ignorant of the end times. (2 Peter 3:5) If you are not born-again, confess your sins and repent of them. The time is coming when it will be too late for you to repent. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved; you will remember each time you laughed it off and ignored it. Please Reader, repent and accept Christ into your life. (Act 16:31Rom 10:9) I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Day of Atonement

Leviticus 23:26-32  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (27)  Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  (28)  And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.  (29)  For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.  (30)  And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.  (31)  Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  (32)  It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Good morning! Today’s Feast is an exciting feast, in my opinion. The setting is the Second Coming of Jesus and Israel finally accepts Him as their Messiah! They look upon Him who died for their sin and became the sinless and perfect offering for all sins! Hallelujah! 🥰

You can read in detail how God instituted this Feast in Leviticus 16. However, prophetically speaking, we see in Zechariah 12:10 and Zechariah 13:1, that Israel will look upon Him whom they have pierced! This can only happen at Christ’s Second Coming, amen?

It’s interesting to me that the Scriptures above mention several times that NO work is to be done. This time was to be one of fasting and praying (Leviticus 23:27); Repeating this certainly must have some significance, amen? The only one who could do work was the high priest as he would be burning the offering to the Lord. Anyone who violated this would be destroyed (Leviticus 23:30). Do you see the significance here, reader? There is no one who can “pay” for his salvation. (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9) Only the High Priest can do this for mankind. There can’t be any “work” done in order to gain eternal life, amen? This time was to be a time of prayer and fasting. That is what “afflict your souls” is referencing in Leviticus 23:27, 29). They are to look inward and do inventory of their heart and focus on fasting and prayer! It’s kind of ironic that this is not a time of “feasting” but of fasting!

As focus is on Israel during the seven-day Tribulation, this will be their time to recognize Christ as their Messiah. During this time, they will be fasting and praying for God’s revelation of the One Who saved them to make Himself known to all Israel! They will see their Messiah at His Second Coming and will recognize Him! Their atonement will be complete in Him, amen?

Don’t these symbolic points of these Feasts excite your spirit? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus – Day 40

Prophecy of Messiah:

Psalm 68:18  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Good morning, dear reader! If there are any verses that, in my opinion, separate the doubters from those who confirm Christ as Messiah, these are the verses. The word “gift(s)” referring to the Lord in the New Testament are such a blessing. If only people understood what a true and blessed Gift the Lord Jesus Christ really is! Please, take a moment to read the following verses so you can be blessed:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Acts 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Romans 5:15-16  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  (16)  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Romans 5:18  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I realize that to some this “free gift” may sound like old news and not really taken to heart. But once you understand what it actually means, it makes more sense. As you know, a gift is given to a person and the giver does not expect anything in return, except maybe gratitude and thankfulness. The receiver doesn’t need to pay for the gift; if he did, the gift would not be a gift at all, but would now be a purchase, right? Today’s prophetic verse of Christ being the true Messiah is probably one that stands out the most to me. No other man on earth can say that their death brought salvation to mankind. Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Notice the end of the verse says “yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world! Israel rejected their Messiah and God gave the Gentiles, you and I, the blessed opportunity to receive salvation! Praise the Lord! 🙌 What if Israel had accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah? Think about it!

Today’s verse speaks of the Messiah’s ascension into Heaven and how Jesus fulfilled that. How many “gods” do you know did that? Surely Buddha didn’t, nor Allah! Only Jesus Christ can claim this! Hallelujah! 🙌 Without Christ’s resurrection and ascension, He would be in the ground and just another prophet. However, Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and He did indeed go back to Heaven to reclaim His rightful throne!

Prophecy of Messiah Fulfilled:

Luke 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Do you know Him personally or do you only know of Him? I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

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