More Sparks of Praise from Romans

Michael E. Wood

November 25, 2012

^"... including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,"Cross references: Romans 1:6 Rev. 17:14; [ch. 8:28, 30]Romans 1:6

Though the following thoughts may be somewhat simplistic and childlike, my heart rejoices in the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a man: the helpless babe in Bethlehem was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, and I am called to belong to Him.

Because of Gods great love for me,

I am His and He is mine.

Chosen, called; eternally,

I am His and He is mine.

Separate from the world to be,

I am His and He is mine.

Unto His glory, I now see

I am His and He is mine.

All praise to Christ, who set me free

I am His and He is mine.

And through His name I worship Thee;

I am His and He is mine.

I praise Thee Father as Your own;

I am His and He is mine.

As Christ for me, did sin atone;

I am His and He is mine.

Flesh of flesh and bone of bone;

I am His and He is mine.

A member of His body sown;

I am His and He is mine.

In this world till fully grown;

I am His and He is mine.

As raised with Him before Thy throne;

I am His and He is mine.

So help me walk now more holy;

I am His and He is mine.

To show Thy glories guarantee;

I am His and He is mine.

Empowered by Thy Spirits plea;

I am His and He is mine.

Till perfect in eternity;

I am His and He is mine.

Beholding all Thy majesty;

I am Yours and You are mine

Sparks of Praise from Romans

Michael E. Wood

November 13, 2012

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:1- 4

As helpless babe you came to earth,

The seed of David made by birth,

But in that resurrection hour;

Declared the Son of God in pow’r!

November 20, 2012

O help me love Thee as I ought

With every thought and deed,

Well ordered by Thy Spirit

And the word before decreed,

That Thou alone be glorified

By holiness of heart

Of which, O Christ, you purchased

To the full and not in part.

For when You rose victorious

O’er my sin and conquered grave,

You raised me with Yourself

To be Your child and loving slave,

Now free from all the judgment

Which Your righteousness imputes

And shields me in my conscience

When my foes come with rebukes,

For as I take my stand I trust

Your armor as my own

And raise the shield of faith

You gave by grace through You alone.

A Savior is Born

Michael E. Wood

December 15-16, 2012

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:9-14

Some two thousand years have passed since that day

When an angel appeared to the shepherds to say

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be

For all the people” and this you will see

In the city of David a Savior is born,

Who is Christ the Lord; you will find him adorned

In swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

This babe to so many is still yet a stranger.

For hidden is he to the blind natures eye

Till the Father above gives a heart made to cry

Out by the Spirit, convicting of sin,

And judgment meets mercy when Christ enters in,

To show himself glorious to the praise of his grace;

The fullness of the Godhead to seek then His face.

How good and how gentle you’ll find him to be,

The Shepherd who paid with his blood on the tree.

So if you now see him by faith; take a stand

And spread the good news just as far as you can.

For that little babe is our soon coming King

And the glory of God will then fill every thing

As the heavens and earth will be made all anew

Fulfilling the purpose of our God who is True!

Suffering What You Deem Best

Michael E. Wood

September 27, 2012

 ... and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:17

While listening online to Pastor Michael Karns from Beacon Baptist Church preach on the subject of “Suffering: The Pathway to Glory”, some of those from our congregation at Immanuel Baptist came to mind as they are undergoing a season of suffering.

Having undergone certain seasons of suffering in my own life, at the age of fifty-six, I have no expectations that they will be the last. So as much as I trust the Lord may use the following to be an encouragement to others, I likewise commit all into our Fathers hands to uphold me by His steadfast love and faithfulness when called upon to look to Him with joy while enduring that which He deems best for His infinite glory.

Oh Father help me see this as a gift from Your sure hands

Which draws me close to comprehend Your presence by the bands

Of love beyond all measure and affixed by Your design

To know that I am Yours and through Christ Jesus, You are mine!

Oh help me then embrace that, which You’ve chosen for my good,

In suffering what You deem best and by You understood

To be that which will make me more like Jesus in this time;

To taste and see that You are good till with You then sublime,

Exulting in Your glory when all truth will then unfold

The wonders of Your grace which were much greater than were told.

Psalm 27- Sparks of Praise

Michael E. Wood

 While the study of Psalm 27 has been quite fruitful in relation to preparation for preaching its content over the course of several weeks at Atria, it has likewise been a source through which praise has been lifted from my own heart as well.

November 25, 2012

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Psalm 27:6

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  John 17:20

The truth that we perpetuate

Was given for Thy own Names sake.

For You did ask and we believe

That You for us did leave and cleave

As the husband of the bride

You gave Yourself and we abide

By all You are O Christ alone,

Exalted on Thy glory’s throne,

Restored unto the Fathers place

Oh high, the head of Adams race

Till all is new and all are one;

You purchased as the Fathers Son.

November 30, 2012

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8

We may not always know on earth

What God may have in mind

But certainly we know that

In His glory we will find

That He knew exactly

What to do in every case

To bring about humility

As sin He would abase

To demonstrate the power

Of His own transforming grace

To perfect our praise

By turning us unto His face.

November 2012

Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! Psalm 27:9

You carry me from birth to death

And grant to me my every breath

That with the life that You now give

I may unto Your glory live.

You are the song that I now sing,

The source and the Almighty Spring

By which refreshing water flows

To quench the thirst for grace that grows

With every glimpse You give to view

Your beauty and Your glory too!

November 3, 2012

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  Psalm 27:14

Be of good courage, O yes be it mine,

All for Thy glory, O Father divine.

That is the word You now speak to my heart

And seal by Your Spirit to never depart!

New Sparks of Praise!

Michael E. Wood 

Normally when poetic lines come to mind, I reach for a notebook in which the majority of the poems and songs that I am given are written down with the date. On some occasions, I simply reach for the closest sheet of paper that is available with the intent of transferring the thoughts over at a later date. While in preparation and study for a message from Romans 1:16-17 the following “Sparks” came to mind in either late September or the first week of October 2012.

Oh how my love doth wax and wane

And oft doth keep from speaking plain

The truths You’ve given by Your Word

And by Your Holy Spirit heard

To see by faith with open eyes,

Our Lord and Savior as the prize

For which all heaven and earth proclaims

The splendor of Your Precious Name!

Forgive me for the way at times

I draw attention to myself,

And help me by Your power

To reflect the One who is our health!

October 2, 2012

Sometimes I do forget that Christ is all my righteousness,

But then in faith God leads me to again my sins confess.

He makes me see anew, as He my Shield; Defender Is,

My God and Savior, Lord and King, and He has made me His!

No hope have I apart from Him, who sealed me in His love,

Who causes me afresh to hear the sound and joy of

His voice so sweetly singing while rejoicing in His praise.

He is the Lord our Righteousness, and shall be all our days!

Sparks of Praise

Michael E. Wood

September 21, 2012

Oh who but God could come as man

And manifest the Fathers plan

Born out of such a Sovereign love,

So High and Holy from above?

September 24, 2012

Do you read the Word of God

For joy or just for duty?

Do you see in it the grace

Of Him who is our beauty?

October 12, 2012

Have you not heard, have you not seen

The will of Him on whom we lean

As He leads forth through Holy Script

To walk by faith in what is writ

To grow in love where grace abounds

By actions where the joyful sounds

Of praise to Christ is more increased

As those imprisoned are released

From sin when by the Spirit born

To glorify Him as adorned

With all the fullness that He gives

To know and show by life, He Lives!

A Soul Left From This Earth Today

Michael E. Wood

October 4, 2012

Upon completion of the service held in the Alzheimer’s Unit at Atria, one of the employees approached me and said that one of the residents was in her final moments here on earth and asked if I would come and pray with them. Upon responding in the affirmative we began to walk down the hall, and I could hear coming from the room the words and music of “It is Well With My Soul”.  With so much more to tell than what I will convey through prose, thoughts of Elizabeth taking her last breath stayed with me throughout the evening until finally I found myself sitting at the table as the following came to mind.

A soul left from this earth today as I stood there close by,

The body quaked as friends were near until the final sigh.

Some hymns were sung for comfort and then from the Bible read

Was the Psalm called twenty-three, as God the Spirit led

To speak in those last moments of the Shepherd of my soul,

Who calms our fear and comforts as He leads by His control

Through all the days of life on earth for all who are His own

And brings them safe to final rest in His eternal home.

Oh think not or imagine that this day will pass you by

As all will face the Judgment; as appointed once to die.

Oh make all preparation, but one thing, Oh do not miss,

The place called Calvary where righteousness and peace did kiss.

For all the work was finished, and forgiveness is now owned

By all who trust in Jesus Christ, whose blood there has atoned

As the only way in which Gods wrath is satisfied

And demonstrates His love for us which cannot be denied.

And though not one is worthy, but He chose for His own sake

To redeem a remnant by His grace and to partake

Of all that He has promised by His covenantal will

To display His glory by the cross of Calvary’s hill!

All for Your Name, O LORD!

Michael E. Wood

October 3-6, 2012

For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Psalm 25:11

While reading through Psalm 25 in preparations for preaching in the Alzheimer’s Unit at Atria, the music for “Faith is the Victory” came to mind.  The words of this Psalm seem to fit the melody for the most part and I began to write. While in the progression, I was reminded that the scriptures of the Old Testament were intended to point us to Christ and the power of the gospel. Thus a new song to an old tune with a slight nuance in the chorus was formulated.

One might also notice that the priority in our salvation is to magnify the glory of God.

To You, O LORD, I lift my soul,

My God in You I trust.

O let me not be put to shame.

Give grace to kill my lusts,

Which yet remain as enemies,

And would exult o’er me,

But to Thy cross I cling, O LORD,

Through which you set me free.

(Chorus)

All for Your Name, O LORD!

All for Your Name, O LORD!

How great Your glory is displayed

By Christ who set me free.

Remember mercy, steadfast love,

For they have been of old.

Remember not my sins of youth

Or my transgressions bold.

According to Your loyal love,

O LORD, remember me.

And for Your goodness sake, O LORD,

O hear my humble plea.

(Chorus)

His secret counsel He reveals

To those who are His own

And comforts us when we may feel

That we are all alone.

For He has promised by His Spirit

He would never leave,

And gives to us experience

That He to us doth cleave.

(2^nd Chorus)

All for Your Name, O LORD!

All for Your Name, O LORD!

How great Your glory is displayed

By Christ who set us free.

Oh who is he who fears the LORD,

For he the LORD will teach,

By providence and covenant

His soul will be made rich.

His offspring shall inherit the

Great Promise of the land,

Which comes by faith with all the pow’r

The gospel gives to stand.

(2^nd Chorus)

The gospel is the power of God

To save us from our sin

And by the grace of Jesus Christ

We’re made to enter in.

Not of ourselves, for we were dead,

And hopeless without thought,

But by His blood we’re purchased as

The trophies He hath bought,

(2^nd Chorus)

He That Waters Others

Michael E. Wood

September 28, 2012

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25

I am often amazed at how the Holy Spirit brings the word of God to mind, and then likewise gives words of praise and instruction for encouragement to stand fast in the faith, knowing that our labor is not in vain, in the Lord. 

Evaluate the place that God has placed you in and see

That he that waters others will be watered and will be

A vessel and a channel of our Fathers loving will

To show Himself so infinite to water others still.

For as the Promise of the Father and the Son now brings

Refreshing water as the Spirit to our heart now sings

Of all He is to fill us with Himself and overflow

To magnify the Precious Gift that others will then know

That Jesus is the Mighty One who came to earth to save

A remnant by His cross and resurrection from the grave.

So be steadfast and hold the line by grace through faith unfeign

And know that in the work you do, it shall not be in vain.

For in the time to come when all of life is said and done,

We shall rejoice as the reward of Jesus Christ, the Son!

The Son Now Casts the Shadows

Michael E. Wood

September 18-19, 2012

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8

What began as a simple thought concerning the goodness and pleasure of God to give us that which we have need of to serve Him with joy, was expanded upon while contemplating how He might work in the lives of others.

When I visit those whom the Lord has appointed to my care in the assisted living facilities, there are times when I know well in advance what I will be sharing from His word and believe it to be that which He has in mind.  There are other times that I have no idea until I get there. And then there are times that He gives to me that which will be the focus shortly before I head out.

God is faithful to bring His Word to bear by His Spirit. Some times I can be distracted by focusing more on what I perceive to be the duties that I have been called to rather than the One who has not only called but prepares my heart and sends me forth.

The first stanza of the following poem is an expression of that line of thought and was written on the 18^th of September.   On the 19^th, as I sat out on our balcony with the sun rising in the early morning, I noticed how the shadow of the leaves of a large oak could be seen on the screen directly in my view. Suddenly the shadows began to move and the rest of the poem flowed from there as the Spirit of the Lord brought the passage from John 3 to mind in preparation for the visit that I would be making in a short time.

My original thought had been to share a passage from the book of 1^st Peter as an encouragement to a dear saint in her later years, but upon arrival at the facility we found that another one of the residents came outside where we were meeting in the cool of the morning with a slight breeze blowing.  Ann smiled as I began to speak of the new birth and the way in which the Spirit of God works as the other resident sat nearby listening in.

How oft we in the quagmire of our duties lose the sight

Of the power and the glory and the beauty of Thy might

For when our focus stumbles in the things we think or do

We forget that freely given are the things that pleaseth You.

The Son now casts the shadows through His trees upon the ground

And sows the seeds of faith by grace that He alone be found

To be the only Savior sent from God to be believed.

He is the only answer to our sin and to our need.

Through shadows cast You show the movement of Your Spirit here

That we may know Your presence and then walk with godly fear

With hope in the assurance that by faith You will then use

Our lives a living sacrifice, that others may peruse

The mighty wonders of Your grace through which You will then save

All those whom You appointed by the Son of whom You gave

To take our place, as wrath was spent on him instead of us

That all may know that Christ is He who is all glorious!

“Without books a man may learn much by keeping his eyes open…Every flower is waiting to teach you…Sermons glisten in the morning on every blade of grass, and homilies fly by you as the sere leaves fall from every tree. A forest is a library, a cornfield is a volume of philosophy, the rock is a history, and the river at its base a poem. Go, thou who hast eyes opened, and find lessons of wisdom everywhere, in heaven above, in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth. Books are poor things compared with these.” C.H.Spurgeon,” Lectures to My Students”

Preparation For That Day

Michael E. Wood
September 15, 2012

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13

With this being the third poem which has come to mind in the process of reading through The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall, I thought it might be a good idea to give some introductory information concerning William Gurnall and the book itself.

Gurnall is known by his Christian in Complete Armour, published in three volumes, dated 1655, 1658 and 1662. It consists of sermons or lectures delivered by the author in the course of his regular ministry, in a consecutive course on Ephesians 6: 10–20. Comment, or recommendation, is perhaps needless in speaking of Gurnall's great work. The fact that a sixth edition was published in the year the author died, 1679, is enough to show that its merits were early recognized. It is described as a magazine whence the Christian is furnished with spiritual arms for the battle, helped on with his armour, and taught the use of his weapons; together with the happy issue of the whole war. It is thus considered a classic on spiritual warfare. The work is more practical than theological; and its quaint fancy, graphic and pointed style and its fervent religious tone render it still popular with some readers. Richard Baxter and John Flavel both thought most highly of the book. Toplady used to make copious extracts from it in his common-place book. John Newton, the converted slave trader, said that if he was confined to one book beside the Bible, he dared say Gurnall's Christian Armour would be his choice. Cecil spent many of the last days of his life in reading it, and repeatedly expressed his admiration of it. Charles Haddon Spurgeon commented that Gurnall's work is "peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom. The book has been preached over scores of times and is, in our judgment, the best thought-breeder in all our library." The writing style is akin to that of the King James Bible, so in 1988 [Banner of Truth Trust] did a revised and abridged version in contemporary English.

The Reverend J. C. Ryle closed out his biographical account with the following:

“I now conclude this preface by expressing my earnest hope that this new edition of Gurnall’s work may find many readers as well as purchasers. It is indeed to be desired that solid scriptural theology, like that contained in these pages, should be valued and studied in the church. Books in which Scripture is reverently regarded as the only rule of faith and practice—books in which Christ and the Holy Ghost have their rightful office—books in which justification, and sanctification, and regeneration, and faith, and grace, and holiness are clearly, distinctly, and accurately delineated and exhibited, these are the only books which do real good. Few things need reviving more than a taste for such books as these among readers.

April 23, 1864 - J.C. Ryle

For my own, part, I can only say that I read everything I can get hold of which professes to throw light on my Master’s business, and the work of Christ among men.  But the more I read, the less I admire modern theology.  The more I study the productions of the new schools of theological teachers, the more I marvel that men and women can be satisfied with such writing.  There is a vagueness, a mistiness, a shallowness, an indistinctness, a superficiality, an aimlessness, a hollowness about the literature of the ‘broader and kinder systems,’ as they are called, which, to my mind, stamps their origin on their face.  They are of the earth, earthy.  I find more of definite soul-satisfying thought in one page of Gurnall than in five pages of such books as the leaders of the so-called ‘Broad Church School’ put forth.  In matters of theology ‘the old is better.”

“Doctrine: It behooves every one to arm and prepare himself for the evil day of affliction and death, which unavoidably he must conflict with.” William Gurnall

In quiet contemplations in the secret of our heart

Oh help us daily meditate on that which is our part

Of which You have designed in preparation for that day

When from this earthly body, all exposed will then display

The truth of who we are and most important in Your sight

A wretch left to ourselves or one unto You’ve given light.

For outward show and beauty will not then for current pass

As vanity and power in this life will fail -  Alas,

Nothing will then help against the judgment of that day

Apart from Christ revealed in truth, and He the only way-

Who surely will then separate the wheat from all the chaff

And each found in their final place of torment, or will laugh

At all attempts the devil sought to kill and to dethrone

The One True God for whom all things He made to be His Own!

Pride of Gifts and Grace

Michael E. Wood

September 8, 2012

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

“Now the life of a Christian, as a Christian, is superior to the life of a man as a man; and therefore {he}doth not value himself by these which are beneath him, but in higher and more raised perfections, which suit a Christian calling. As a natural man is proud of perfections suitable to his natural state, as honour, beauty; so the Christian is prone chiefly to be puffed up with perfections suitable to his life. I shall name three: FIRST. Pride of gifts. SECOND. Pride of grace. THIRD. Pride of privileges. These are the things which Satan chiefly labors to entangle him in.” 

 “The Christian in Complete Armour”, William Gurnall

Oh death to self means so much more

Than what we know and why Christ bore

Our sins with joy while suffering

The wrath due us, and offering

Himself to shield us from the Face

Of God Almighty in our place.

Oh how pride of gifts and grace

May hinder us to run the race

When to them we do look for strength

Instead of Christ who knows the length

Of ground to cover in each day,

So look to Him alone: The Way!

Humility can teach us best

If He alone we trust and rest

With confidence for every need

Of strength and by His Spirit feed

Upon what He shall choose to bless

As He Is All our Righteousness!

But count not on humility

If boast you do in it, and flee

Into that which may only seem

To be, when truly but a beam

Which blinds the sight to really see,

To Christ alone all glory be!

Do we think confessing guilt

Is that upon which grace is built,

When lurks therein a secret pride

When flaunted and behind it hide,

And Christ alone knows every thought,

So look to Him, by who we’re bought!

So strip us Lord and more expose

Our pride which brings us no repose,

That You be seen as All in All

To those of whom You clearly call

To follow in the sweet refrain

You give to praise Your Holy Name!

So, broken, poor, by faith now go

To Christ alone, who doth bestow

More grace, as by Him we draw nigh

To God our Father as we fly

By strength the Holy Spirit gives

Each day by which we know; He Lives!

God Chose to Love

Michael E. Wood

August 21, 2012

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14

While listening to a message entitled “Put on Love”; an exposition by Gregory N. Barkman on the above passage, the following words came to mind.

God saw us in our filthiness

And yet He chose to love

Without condition on our part

In heavens courts above.

He said now live! And washed us

With The might of His right arm

And saved us from the wrath that

Would have brought eternal harm.

And though we know this well

We often stray as though adrift

Forgetting that our anchor holds

Which jolts us back to lift

Our praise and thanks to Him

Who ever keeps us and reminds

Though frail we are and weak,

It is Himself, He to us binds.

What more then could I render

But by actions that I show

That others would be captivated

By His love and know

That He alone has wrought the change

Which brings me to embrace

Them as they are that they might see

The glory of His face!

Almighty God Triune!

Michael E. Wood

August 21, 2012

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3

One never gets too old to enjoy the simplicity and the power of the gospel of Christ.

Sometimes you need to just be still

And know that God is God.

In Him alone the peace is found

Whereby your feet are shod

With excellence and happiness

Which from Him you received

That others may then hear in truth

Good News from Christ believed!

The sincere milk of His own word

Shall never lose its taste

To those who see that He is good

And not go out in haste.

So Savor every moment and

With Him alone commune,

Who clothes you with Himself,

Who is Almighty God triune!

In Perfection, You Adore ( New Song)

Michael E. Wood

August 14, 2012

While sitting out on our balcony, the music of a hymn of which I could not name at that moment came to mind. I later found it to be the tune of, “Still Sweeter Every Day”, by W.C. Martin, 19^th Century, and C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946. Thus a new song was given to another old hymn tune.

My heart was overburdened with my sin and full of strife,

And angry at the God of glory who had given life.

In ignorance I could not see until He gave the grace

To see my Savior took my sin and suffered in my place.

God’s truth there met with mercy, at Calv’ry to partake

Of holiness which only comes to us for Jesus sake.

  

From glory unto glory now I grow in strength by grace

Though there are times my visions clouded from the smiling face

Of Him who loves me as I am and for me intercedes.

His blood e’er cleanses me from sin and meets all of our needs.

He works all things together for good for all that love

Him, as the called and justified, and glorified above.

  

And when in heaven He shall wipe away all of our tears,

We’ll glory in the Lamb who conquered sin and all our fears.

Each moment will be greater as we see with perfect eyes

The One who was, and is, the Christ; our everlasting prize!

We long to worship You Lord, both now and evermore.

To see You in Your glory, in perfection, You adore!

Gods Glory Thus We Shall Proclaim!

Michael E. Wood

August 13, 2012

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  Romans 10:14-17

"'If you can stay out of the ministry, stay out.' You should only be in the ministry when you cannot stay out of it; when you can no longer refuse; when you have to give in as it were, and you stop resisting. That is the call; that is the sending. It becomes inevitable. You cannot do anything else."   Martyn Lloyd-Jones commenting on a quote by C.H.Spurgeon

Pastor Robert Briggs preached a devotional message on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, from Romans 10:14-17 which was used to cause me to investigate more thoroughly the meaning of the text.  Thus, while spending several hours in research, the following words came to mind.

Are you called by men or sent

By God’s choosing and are leant

As a gift through God’s own Son?

A gospel herald of the One,

Who in time now speaks to men

To show He is Yeah and Amen!

Discernment Christ will give to fill

The knowledge of His Father’s will

To all appointed and made plain

That it is He that doth ordain

To open up by Sovereign choice

The scriptures that men hear His voice.

The Holy Spirit shall confirm

Though we as men be but a worm;

The message which before was sealed,

The power of the cross revealed,

To know and love Him as He is

To all He has alone made His.

Stand firm then in the faith Oh men

Who know Him as He’s always been

The same today and yesterday,

Forever Light, and Life; The Way;

The Truth embodied for one aim:

God’s glory, thus we shall proclaim!

To Be Like Jesus (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

August 7-8, 2012

I am often amazed how God uses men both from the present and from the past to stir my heart afresh in praise to Him. During the early part of my day while reading “Studies in The Sermon on the Mount”, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones I came across the following statement, “’The day will declare it’, says Paul, as if to say: It is all right. I am going on with my ministry, I am doing everything with my eye on that day; people may criticize and say this or that about me, but I shall not allow that to worry me. I have delivered myself and my whole eternal future into the hand of the Lord my Judge, and the day of His judgment is going to make everything manifest.”

As we are thus exhorted to examine ourselves by His written Word in the light of that coming day, may He who is worthy of all praise continually move within our hearts by His Spirit and cause us to do all that we do to the glory of God.

Oh what a story! The God of glory,

Reveals Himself now through sacred page

As by His Spirit the myst’rys given

To know and love Him through every age.

For by His pleasure He had determined

The darkness would not the Lamb conceal.

To all appointed by His Anointed

His presence in us He has revealed.

Eternal purpose is that which led Him;

The One true Savior of all mankind

And by His grace we have now been given

God’s gift so perfect to know His mind;

To be like Jesus who once was riven

From God the Father when crucified

And by His blood now we are forgiven

And live to see Him when glorified.

And so we walk now with this assurance

Though groaning oft with remaining sin.

We shall put off all, while looking to Him

Who suffered for us, that Him we win.

Oh Hallelujah, to You our Savior;

To whom all glory and praise shall be!

The greatest pleasure in every measure,

You give to praise Thee eternally!

So when that day comes, when with the angels

We shall sing strains of immortal praise.

We’ll worship You then in spotless garments

And glory in You by whom we’re raised!

Oh come Lord Jesus, we as Your bride say

And by Your Spirit on You we call.

We long to worship with all creation

And bow before You, The Lord of all!

The Battle We Fight Daily

Michael E. Wood

August 1, 2012

Upon awakening early Wednesday morning, knowing what my schedule would be like for the day, and not feeling as though I was as well equipped as I would like to be, the following words came to mind.

Oh the joy that we possess now,

Though we feel our sinful strains

And we war by faith to honor

Him who is our King who reigns.

Now the battle we fight daily

Looking to our Sacred Head

For we know that He is living

And we reckon we are dead

To sin which before had bound us

And the law we could not keep

But the power of Gods Spirit

Has now made us human sheep

Of the fold which hears our Master

As He speaks and leads us out

By still waters and green pastures

To lie down in till the shout

Of final vict’ry is then given

To all those who in His train

Rise as those who more than conquer

And with Jesus ever reign!