Blog Archives
Wake up O people of God
Wake up O people of God over every hill and ford,
Wake up and stand for the Lord.
Wake up each child and grown up,
Wake up and God’s Kingdom build up.
Wake up O those in anxiety and deep grief,
Wake up and drive out the faith thief.
Wake up each woman and man,
Wake up and follow God’s plan.
Wake up O sleeper and rise from the dead,
Wake up and Christ will shine over your head.
Wake up for the Lord, each Gentile and Jew,
Wake up and let your praises to God never be few.
All heaven declares (with lyrics) – Martin Ball (Worship Video)
Lyrics:
Verse 1
All heaven declares
The glory of the risen Lord
Who can compare with
The beauty of the Lord?
Chorus 1
Forever He will be
The Lamb upon the throne
I gladly bow the knee
And worship Him alone.
Verse 2
I will proclaim
The glory of the risen Lord
Who once was slain
To reconcile man to God.
Chorus 2
Forever You will be
The Lamb upon the throne
I gladly bow the knee
And worship You alone
Do not despair O believer in Christ
Do not despair O believer in Christ,
When many give up on their holy state.
Do not despair O believer in Christ,
When many give up on the narrow gate.
Do not despair O believer in Christ,
Even if all around you isn’t bright.
Do not despair O believer in Christ,
Even if none of your friends live right.
Do not despair O believer in Christ,
For Christ has your salvation won.
Do not despair O believer in Christ,
For Christ is God’s only begotten son.
God takes our prayers personally
Often say, ‘O Lord God in the name of Jesus remember me as I pray. Because I believe that take each prayer personally’. Do not think because you don’t always see immediate results that God does not care. While its true he doesn’t give heed to the prayers of sinners and the unforgiving, he does listen to the prayers of the righteous. Those who are in Christ and who follow his word will always have God hearing them when they pray.
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry (Psalm 34:15)
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)
Quick Reminder: Purity and faith are pleasing to God
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8-10)
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
A reflection on the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
The prophecy about Jesus coming to Jerusalem on a donkey:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
The above prophecy about Jesus fulfilled:
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11)
Reflection:
When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, he didn’t come as a rich man. He came upon a donkey as prophesied for he was the descendant of King David. Even the way his disciples got the donkey is a miracle in itself. At this point even though the religious elders hated him, the people still gave him a grand welcome. They even said, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Hosanna is a word used to express adoration, praise, or joy (mostly in Jewish and Christian liturgies or worship). And truly Christ was worthy to receive this praise. Being the Son of God that he is, Jesus entered Jerusalem rather humbly in obedience to the will of God. Even today Christ is meek and humble of heart and his burden light.
Here are a few questions for your own reflection keeping in mind the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem:
- Do you still believe God to be faithful to his promises and his word? Yes, you will if you have read that Bible and understood that God’s been fulfilling them all through the ages and continues to do so.
- Are you enamored by mere physical appearances or do you look for the truth in the midst of it all? Indeed, you will when you decide to discern things in a way consistent with the principles of the Lord God.
- When celebrating Christ in your life, will you fear others and not praise him? Surely not when you care more for the desires of God than the desires of men.
- Will you only welcome him but forget and abandon him later in the days to come? Certainly never if you hold close the fact that salvation comes from Christ alone.
- Do you adore Christ just because of the crowd or because you know who he is? You’d worship him more personally when you read about him in the Scriptures and fall in love with him.
