Colm Wilkinson-Four Tenors-Bring Him Home(les Mis)

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http://cbell1956.wordpress.com/

True Light or your light?

Isaiah 50:10-11

Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God. 

Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled-this you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment.

Here the prophet spoke a word in season, to the weary. He addressed those who fear God but found themselves overwhelmed with afflictions, walking in darkness. Maybe they struggled with error, perhaps sorrow and possibly even death. Isaiah pointed the children of God of his day away from themselves and exhorted them to trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God!

He also had a word for the hypocrite, for the self-righteous and the self-reliant. It was a warning to those who lit their own fire, made their own light and looked to themselves for salvation. Thus says the Lord, “this you shall have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment”.

When the Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ, walked in this world he said; “come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light”.

May we be found looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

The Narrow Way

He is the image of the invisible God.  Col. 1:15

The sum is this - that God in himself, that is, in his naked majesty, is invisible, and that not to the eyes of the body merely, but also to the understandings of men, and that he is revealed to us in Christ alone, that we may behold him as in a mirror. For in Christ he shows us his righteousness, goodness, wisdom, power, in short, his entire self. We must, therefore, beware of seeking him (God) elsewhere, for everything that would set itself off as a representation of God, apart from Christ, will be an idol.
                                    ---from Calvin's commentary

from The Belgic Confession, 1618

Article 1: The Only God

• We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God -- eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good.

What is necessary?

It is not necessary for me to be rich, but it is necessary for me to make my peace with God;  it is not necessary that I should live a pleasurable life in this world, but it is absolutely necessary that I should have pardon of my sin;  it is not necessary that I should have honor and preferment, but it is necessary that I should have God as my portion, and have my part in Jesus Christ, it is necessary that my soul should be saved in the day of Jesus Christ.  The other things are pretty fine indeed, and I should be glad if God would give me them, a fine house, and income, and clothes, and advancement for my wife and children:  these are comfortable things, but they are not the necessary things;  I may have these and yet perish forever, but the other is absolutely necessary".

n  Jeremiah Burrough,, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

White Robe

White Robe

See here this robe of purest white;

one hand did weave it all.

I dare not add one thread to it;

I've none unstained by gall.

It's made with intricate design;

it needs no ornament.

And He that wove it to my soul

this garment did present.

It's made to cover scar and sin,

and guilt and grievous shame.

The One who made it bought it dear,

and Holy is His name.

I wear it now; I'll wear it too

upon the coming Day

in which the elements shall melt,

the heavens pass away.

This is my cov'ring, bright and good,

this is my wedding-dress,

all pure and washed in sacred blood:

Jesus, Your righteousness.

By D.E. Young

Revelation 7:9-17

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Singing the Psalms...continued...

This psalm may be sung to the tune When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.

Repentance

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.   Ps. 51:10

O thou that hear'st when sinners cry,

Though all my crimes before thee lie,

Behold them not with angry look,

But blot their mem'ry from thy book.

Create my nature pure within,

And form my soul averse to sin;

Let thy good Spirit ne'er depart,

Not hide thy presence from my heart.

I cannot live without thy light,

Cast out and banished from thy sight;

Thy holy joys, my God, restore,

And guard me, that I fall no more.

A broken heart, my God, my King,

Is all the sacrifice I bring;

The God of grace will ne'er despise

A broken heart for sacrifice.

My soul lies humbled in the dust,

And owns thy dreadful sentence just:

Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye,

And save the soul condemned to die.

Then will I teach the world thy ways;

Sinners shall learn thy sov'reign grace;

I'll lead them to my Saviour's blood,

And they shall praise a pard'ning God.

Singing Psalm 50:1-6

This psalm may be sung to the tune of Crown Him With Many Crowns.

                                                   

The Lord Jesus Christ

The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken....Ps. 50:1

Psalm 50:1-6

The mighty God, the Lord, Hath spoken unto all;
From rising to the setting sun, He unto earth doth call.
From Zion, his own hill, Where perfect beauty dwells,
Jehovah hath his glory shown, In brightness that excels.

Our God shall surely come, And silence shall not keep;
Before him fire shall waste, and storms Tempestuous round him sweep.
He to the heavens above Shall then send forth his call,
And likewise to the earth, that he May judge his people all.

"Together let my saints Unto me gathered be,
Those that by sacrifice have made A covenant with me."
Then shall the heavens declare His righteousness abroad;
Because the Lord himself is judge, Yea, none is judge, but God. Amen.

Hymn of the Month

This was our hymn of the month for April.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES — BRADFORD

I know that my Redeemer lives,
And ever prays for me;
A token of his love he gives,
A pledge of liberty.

I find him lifting up my head;
He brings salvation near;
His presence makes me free indeed
And he will soon appear.

He wills that I should holy be:
Who can withstand his will?
The counsel of his grace in me
He surely shall fulfil.

Jesus, I hang upon thy Word:
I steadfastly believe
Thou wilt return and claim me, Lord,
And to thyself receive.