Sing Songs of Praise

 

Pastor: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16 NIV)

 

The Holy Scriptures in the book of Genesis, chapter four, speak of one named Lamech who was the seventh generation from Adam. We read in verses nineteen through twenty-one: “Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.” (NIV)

 

No dictionary will tell you that the word “Jubilation” comes from the name of this man, “Jubal”, but he is indeed the first mentioned in the scriptures to make music – the first of many! This wondrous gift – MUSIC! Music can satisfy the human desire to be calmed or uplifted, to face the truth or to transcend reality, and, in the process, apprehend a higher truth. Above all, as Luther states, music has also the power carry the word of God, perhaps more convincingly than any other art or science.

 

 

Just as I am, without one plea But that thy blood was shed for me

And that thou bidd'st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Just as I am and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Pastor:             A word of forgiveness from the lips of our Savior is a precious melody to a repentant heart. Our Savior’s message in days past is still wonderful today, “Go in peace, your sins are forgiven.”    Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (Isa 49:13 NIV)

 

Amazing grace -- how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see.

 

The Lord has promised good to me; His Word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

 

Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

 

When he was just seven years old, his mother died. Before she died she had taught him Bible verses and some hymns. Between the ages of 8 and 10 his father, who was a shipmaster, sent his son to a boarding school. At the age of 11 his father took him on a ship and made five trips to the Mediterranean Sea. At the age of 17 he joined the Royal Navy. He deserted the ship and was caught. He was lashed and reduced to a common sailor. He asked to join a Guinea trading vessel and the Navy was glad to get rid of him. For the next year he lived half starved and badly treated under a slave trader. Finally he himself became a slave trader and captain of a slave ship. 

 

During a horrible storm at sea he began to pray. He had read “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis. Following the storm, he still was a slave trader for the next 6 years. He returned to England where he became surveyor of tides and a customs officer. He then started to pursue ministerial studies. He first became a deacon and then was to be ordained. But the Bishop refused to ordain him. Finally he was ordained and served as a pastor. 

 

His tombstone reads: JOHN NEWTON, clerk, once an Infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich Mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy. 

 

This is the story of the man who wrote the song we just sang, “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound that Saved a Wretch like Me.” 

 

Word:The Reformation was carried by song. The following Psalm verses formed the basis for the hymn, “Almighty Fortress”: (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. {2} Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, {3} though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

 

 

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;

He helps us free from ev'ry need That has us now o'ertaken.

The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;

Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;

On earth is not his equal.

 

With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.

But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected.

You ask, "Who is this?" Jesus Christ it is,

The almighty Lord. And there's no other God;

He holds the field forever.

 

Word: The Old Testament had pictures of God’s loving care: (Exodus 19:4 NIV) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

 

 

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,

Who abide in his shadow for life,

Say to the Lord: "My refuge, My rock in whom I trust!"

And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of his hand.

 

For to his angels He's given a command

To guard you in all of your ways;

Upon their hands they will bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of his hand.

Text and Tune: c 1983 Coronet Press. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. Sole Representative, Theodore Presser Company. *Setting: c 1993 Elfred Bloedel. Used by permission.

 

Word: In the Old Testament the great work of deliverance from Egypt brought Moses and God’s people to song. Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

                In the New Testament we read of Jesus great work of deliverance from sin, death and the devil into the Lord’s heavenly Promised Land. We hear of the songs of heaven: (Rev 15:3 NIV) They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

 

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare to make no other claim, But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

 

His oath, his covenant and blood Support me in the raging flood;

When ev'ry earthly prop gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

 

I love to tell the story Of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and his glory, Of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story Because I know it's true;

It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story; 'Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and his love.

 

I love to tell the story, For those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest.

And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,

'Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story; 'Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and his love.

 

When he was just seven years old, his mother died. Before she died she had taught him Bible verses and some hymns. Between the ages of 8 and 10 his father, who was a shipmaster, sent his son to a boarding school. At the age of 11 his father took him on a ship and made five trips to the Mediterranean Sea. At the age of 17 he joined the Royal Navy. He deserted the ship and was caught. He was lashed and reduced to a common sailor. He asked to join a Guinea trading vessel and the Navy was glad to get rid of him. For the next year he lived half starved and badly treated under a slave trader. Finally he himself became a slave trader and captain of a slave ship. 

 

During a horrible storm at sea he began to pray. He had read “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis. Following the storm, he still was a slave trader for the next 6 years. He returned to England where he became surveyor of tides and a customs officer. He then started to pursue ministerial studies. He first became a deacon and then was to be ordained. But the Bishop refused to ordain him. Finally he was ordained and served as a pastor. 

 

His tombstone reads: JOHN NEWTON, clerk, once an Infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich Mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy. 

 

This is the story of the man who wrote the song we just sang, “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound that Saved a Wretch like Me.” 

 

Word: Revelation 5:9-13 NIV And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. {10} You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." {11} Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. {12} In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Lord, the light of Your love is shining

in the midst of the darkness shining;

Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us,

set us free by the truth You now bring us

Shine on me, shine on me.

 

Refrain:    Shine, Jesus, Shine - fill this land with the Father's glory;

             Blaze Spirit, blaze, - set our hearts on fire

            Flow, river, flow, - flood the nations with grace and mercy;

            Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light.

 

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,

From the shadows into Your radiance;

By the blood I may enter Your brightness,

search me, try me, consume all my darkness,

Shine on me, shine on me.   Refrain:

 

Word:  Acts 16:25 NIV   About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

 

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus;

he came to love, heal and forgive.

He lived and died to buy my pardon;

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Refrain:           Because He lives I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives all fear is gone;

Because I know he holds the future,

and life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river;

I'll fight life's final war with pain. 

And then as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives. Refrain:

                        (1971 Copyright, William Gaither CCLI 630266)

 

Word: Revelation 1:12-18 NIV   I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, {13} and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. {14} His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. {15} His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. {16} In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. {17} When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. {18} I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

 

Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!

Truly I'd love thee, Truly I'd serve thee,

Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.

 

Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight,

Bright the sparkling stars on high;

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer,Than all the angels in the sky.

 

Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, Praise, adoration,

Now and forevermore be thine!

Word: Isaiah 6:1-8 NIV    In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. {2} Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. {3} And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." {4} At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. {5} "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." {6} Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. {7} With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." {8} Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

 

 

Hark! the voice of Jesus crying, "Who will go and work today?

Fields are ripe and harvests waiting;Who will bear the sheaves away?"

Loud and long the Master calleth; Rich reward he offers thee.

Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I -- send me, send me?"

 

If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus; You can say he died for all.

If you cannot rouse the wicked With the Judgment's dread alarms,

You can lead the little children To the Savior's waiting arms.

 

The story of this song begins in Sweden when a Carl Boberg experienced a storm and then the sun shining and birds singing. He was compelled to write a nine verse poem. To his surprise several years later he heard that song being sung by a congregation. Later that song would be translated into German and then into Russian by Ivan Prokhanoff who is known as the “Martin Luther of Russian.” 

 

Missionary Stuart Hine while serving in Russian heard that song and wondered how he might translate it into English. His story is that he experienced a storm in Russia and then later experienced the power of the Gospel with many coming to faith. This would affect his translation which has very little in common with the original Swedish poem. This song would make it to the Americas and in 1955 George Beverly Shea sang it at Toronto, Canada for a Billy Graham Crusade. Since then it has become one of the hymns of American Christianity, “How Great Thou Art.”

 

 

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged -- Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness -- Take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge -- Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In his arms he'll take and shield you; You will find a solace there.

 

 

Lift high the cross; the love of Christ proclaim

Till all the world adore his sacred name.

 

Come, Christians, follow where our captain trod,

Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

Lift high the cross; the love of Christ proclaim

Till all the world adore his sacred name.

 

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,

The hosts of God in conqu'ring ranks combine.

Lift high the cross; the love of Christ proclaim

Till all the world adore his sacred name.

 

So shall our song of triumph ever be:

Praise to the Crucified for victory.

Lift high the cross; the love of Christ proclaim

Till all the world adore his sacred name.

 

Text, Tune, Setting: c 1974 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Descant: c 1985 by GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago IL. All rights reserved. Used by permission.