Worship Notes for 1/27/2008
Jan 25th, 2008
Greetings, Redeemer Family!
You are in a WAR!
Not the type of message one might expect to see in a church office, but a brother in ministry who has a heart to see the Kingdom of Christ extended sees this message each day as he opens his office door. It is an ever-present reminder that there are two kingdoms in conflict, and though Scripture assures us that the outcome is sure (we are at peace with God!), still we need the protection of the Lord as we live in a world filled with battles- with trials and temptations. This week Mike will be preaching on a familiar passage of Scripture, Ephesians 6:10-17, in a message titled "Praying for Protection." Our primary preparation for corporate worship should be reading this passage of Scripture and praying that the Spirit would speak to us, convict us, and transform us as we study this passage together. If there are young children in your household be sure to pick out at least one portion of this passage and discuss it on their level. You may even encourage them to draw a picture to help them visualize how the apostle Paul encourages us to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
As we worship together, we'll focus on themes of the blessed benefits of the Gospel to us and the Lord's gracious instruction, encouragement, and provision for us as we are engaged in the battle.
We begin our corporate worship with a question from the Heidelberg Catechism which reminds us whose we are and the implications that blessed truth brings to our life.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 32
Why are you called a Christian?
Because by faith I am a member of Christ1
and so I share in his annointing.2
I am anointed
to confess his name,3
to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,4
to strive with a good conscience
against sin and the devil in this life,5
and afterward to reign with Christ
over all creation
for all eternity.6
2. Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28); I John 2:27
3. Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10: 9-10; Heb. 13:15
5. Gal. 5:16-17; Eph. 6:11; I Tim. 1:18-19
We respond together by singing three hymns of adoration and thanksgiving for the work of Christ. One is the hymn "Crown Him with Many Crowns," one of the hymns on my list of hymns that we will sing in heaven!
Crown Him with Many Crowns
This great hymn is one of exaltation of Christ and celebration of His victory over sin and death. The text usually sung is a composite of texts written by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring, both 19th century Anglican pastors, who drew their inspiration from Rev. 19:12,13; and both of whom wrote hymns containing 6 stanzas. The name of the tune, "Diademata" is the Greek word for crowns.
The text paints a vivid (and biblical) picture of Christ, the Lamb that was slain, reigning in heaven and receiving praise from the angels and saints there. Verse 2 reminds us of Christ's death on the cross; verse 3 reminds us of His triumph over death to bring us eternal life, and the fourth verse is a glorious reminder of the eternal trinitarian nature of God.
Although there are many variations on the text from hymnal to hymnal, this is a hymn that appears in virtually every hymnal in the English language published since 1900.
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns all music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown him the Lord of peace; whose pow'r a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, absorbed in prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end; and round his pierced feet
Fair flow'rs of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time;
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime:
All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me:
Thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.
We find in Isaiah 59 an Old Testament reference to the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation- and both of these clearly pointing us to Christ as our righteousness and our salvation:
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. (Is. 59:16,17)
We will give thanks for the work of the Gospel, for the righteousness of Christ that has washed us of our sins, by singing a hymn which has become a favorite at Redeemer, John Newton's "Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder." When you are plagued with doubts and fears, this is a text to sing in your heart before the Lord. The Lord is our strong salvation; He holds in view the conqueror's crown!
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
©2001 Laura Taylor Music.
Text: John Newton; 1774
1. Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior's name
He has hushed the law's loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God
2. Let us love the Lord Who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God
3. Let us sing though fierce temptation
Threatens hard to bear us down
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqu'ror's crown
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
He, Who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God
4. Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercy's store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God
5. Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou art worthy Lamb of God
As we worship with tithes and offerings this week we will sing together a hymn of encouragement that comes to us from the Gadsby Hymnal, a 19th century collection of hymns used by many churches at that time in the United States. An unknown hymnwriter gives us this text of encouragement and hope:
The Christian's Hope Can Never Fail
1. We travel through a barren land,
With dangers thick on every hand;
But Jesus guides us through the vale;
O, The Christian's hope can never fail.
2. Huge sorrows meet us as we go,
And devils aim to overthrow;
But vile infernals can't prevail;
O, The Christian's hope shall never fail.
3. Sometimes we're tempted to despair,
But Jesus makes us then His care;
Though numerous foes our souls assail;
O, The Christian's hope can never fail.
4. We trust upon the sacred word,
The oath and promise of the Lord;
And safely through each tempest sail;
O, The Christian's hope can never fail.
Text: Author unknown, from The Gadsby Hymnal, 1838
Music: Benj Pocta, 2004
© 2006 Red Mountain Music
May we grow together in putting on the armor of God, and in trusting in a hope that can never fail.
Blessings in Christ,
John Bennetch