Month: November 2011

The Twelve Year Old Preacher

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Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778) was twelve when he started preaching. He would preach to anyone who would listen. He began writing hymns when he was 14 years old. By age 22 he was ordained. Toplady was a staunch Calvinist. Around the time the Colonists in the New World were declaring their independence from England, Toplady and John Wesley were engulfed in a theological battle with each other.
In 1776 Toplady wrote his poem, Rock of Ages. He writes,

Rock of Ages, Cleft for me let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood from thy wounded side, which flowed,
Be for sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.

The Rock of Ages is Jesus. When the soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). This is where we can hide. It is the blood of Jesus that saves us and makes us pure the moment we receive Him.
Jesus said in Matthew 7 that we are to build our lives on the Solid Rock. This means that we listen to the teachings of Jesus and then we follow Him. Jesus is our Solid Rock upon which we should build our lives.

I remember the first time I went to Universal Studios as a kid. I was able to pick up a huge rock and hold it over my head. A rock that looked like it weighed several tons. The truth is that the rock I picked up was from a movie set. Of course it was fake. Let’s make sure we are holding on to the Rock of Ages and not something that just looks like Christianity.
As we sing The Solid Rock, Rock of Ages (Two Versions), I Go to the Rock and He Hideth My Soul, I pray that it will turn into worship. I pray that each one of us will make sure we holding onto the Rock of Ages.

“I go to the Rock of my Salvation. I go to the Stone that the builder rejected. I run to the Mountain and the Mountain stands by me. The earth all around me is singing sand. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go the Rock!”

Our Covenant-Keeping God!

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Many hymns come from the author’s dramatic experience. H. P. Spafford, (It is Well With My Soul), for example wrote about his own feelings after his wife and children were tragically taken in a ship wreck. Our foundation hymn for November 20, 2011 comes simply from the author’s realization of God’s great faithfulness. Great is Thy Faithfulness was written by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1866 – 1960.
Thomas wrote many poems in his life. In 1923, he sent several of his poems to Rev. W. M. Runyan, a musician associated with Moody Bible Institute. Thomas included his record of the unfailing faithfulness of his Covenant-
Keeping God. This poem spoke of the many wonderful displays of God’s providing care. Thomas had been amazed by the way God provided for him. He had no college degree or even a high school diploma. He never made much money yet he always felt the hand of Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Will Provide, on his life.
Thomas wrote,
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine with ten thousand to beside.”

Thanksgiving is this week and we will open our worship service with “Count Your Blessings”.
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done”

After we have “Counted our blessings” we will sing Hosanna (Praise is Rising) “Come have Your way among us. We welcome You here Lord Jesus” is the phrase in this song that is so meaningful to me. It is an invitation to Jesus to have His way in this church. “Lord this is Your church. Let Your will be done in this church” is my prayer.
Next, we will sing Holy is the Lord. This morning pay attention to the words that you sing. This song says “For the Joy of the Lord is our strength”. We have strength through the Joy of the Lord! Great is Thy Faithfulness will lead us to a chorus simply named Sanctuary. This chorus is really a prayer. “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you”. As we come to a time of prayer, lead by Pastor Al, be willing for God to “Prepare you”. This will take a heart that trusts God and a spirit that is surrendered completely to Him. Is that you? Are you ready to be “Prepared” by God?

The $6.00 Hymn

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The $6.00 Hymn

Johnson Oatman Jr. was a preacher who never pastored a church. After his father’s death he went into the insurance business. In 1892 he started writing gospel songs. Over the next 30 years he wrote approximately 3,000 hymns. His hymn lyrics were very much in demand and he would often receive about $1.00 for each text that he sold. He authored popular songs such as Count Your Blessings, No Not One and our foundation hymn for Sunday November 6, 2011, Higher Ground.
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel is the composer of the music for Higher Ground. He sold the tune for a grand total of $5.00, which brings monetary value of this great hymn to a whopping $6.00.

The verses that Oatman penned are as current as if they were written in 2011. The second verse talks about not dwelling where doubt and fear live.

“My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.”

Too many of us live in this trap set by the world. We allow fear and doubt to rule our lives. Our aim is off! Are you aiming for God’s will in your life or are you settling for what the world is offering, doubt and fear?
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
Hebrews 12:1-2 The Message

The rest of our songs include:
HIGHER, written by Eugene Gregory (1965-2009)
Mighty to Save
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL IS JESUS

“I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.” PHILIPPIANS 3:14