The Name of The Son of God

Michael E. Wood

July 20, 2012

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:13-15

While contemplating the question of what a name speaks of, and most especially as the answer to that question is in reference to the name of the Son of God, the words in poetry form came to mind.

His Name is not a mantra that we speak mechanically,

Nor do we make a claim that you should trust Him magically.

And life eternal is not only that of which He gives

But dwells within the heart of everyone who knows He lives!

His Name speaks of His character, by which He lived and died,

As even on the cross; He there, the Father glorified.

And as He now lives interceding for all those; the called,

We trust in Him as justified, and more with Him enthralled!

In Him alone we have this hope that we shall one day be

Like Him, as then glorified, His face we shall then see.

And so with confidence we ask, according to His will

For strength to purify ourselves with knowledge to fulfill

The purpose unto which we are, the chosen to the praise

Of God the Father and the Son revealed at end of days!

Sparks of Praise Continued: Remembrances Part 5

Random thoughts written on three by five cards without dates ascribed:

You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, “No one sees me”;
your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart,
     “I am, and there is no one besides me.” Isaiah 47:10

  

Can you hear the voice of Him,

The Shepherd of the sheep,

Who for us laid down His life,

And He our souls doth keep?

Oh Holy Spirit, we bid You come

Convey the glory of God's Son!

It is the grace of God which reigns

By Jesus Christ our Lord

Unto eternal life through

Righteousness no more ignored.

For as He has revealed Himself

As Light God had appointed,

We’ve come to see by faith alone

He is God’s One Anointed!

Let everything that now hath breath

Proclaim His sacrificial death-

Which did indeed propitiate

The wrath of God, for glories sake!

Sparks of Praise Continued: Remembrances (Part 4)

Michael E. Wood

August 7, 2011

A Declaration of the True Heart of the Gospel
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26

God made man and man rebelled,

Whose rightful place would then be hell.

But God in His mercy and grace designed

A way to save men before there was time.

August 14, 2011

 Revelation 4

Sparked by a sermon preached, “The Summons John Received” by Robert Briggs

Forgive me when my heart repines

And causes me more to Thee resign.

August 21, 2011

The Things John Sees, and the Song John Sings

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:8

To revel in Your grace and love

Is that which my heart seeks above

To know Your presence without sin

When made complete by Christ within

Redemption Accomplished and Redemption Applied

Our God Fills Every Thing (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

June 29-July13, 2012

Though words can not express but in part the glory and the beauty of our God, I am so thankful that our Father, by His Spirit, chooses to give His children the pleasure of seeing Him by faith in this life with the promise that we will behold His glory in the face of His Son; our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen

The Man who walked on water

And calmed the stormy sea,

Is the God of all creation,

Who lives and pleads for me.

For by His blood we’re purchased

As His salt and light to be,

The vessels of His mercy,

That others will Him see.

The heavens can not hold Him,

Who gives us every breath,

Yet He came to earth so lowly

And He conquered sin and death,

To vindicate the justice

Of the Father, showing breadth

Of love so pure and holy,

The height, the width, and depth.

Oh Jesus come now quickly.

More firmly fix our gaze,

By the light of Your own presence

For Your glory all our days.

Oh fill our thoughts and passions

With Your truth, yet more amazed,

As we grow into Your likeness

By the grace where You are praised.

Oh Father of compassions

May Your love and loyalty

Be the banner of our heartstrings

By Your Spirits perfect plea,

To sow beside all waters

With Your joy expectantly,

As You bring forth the harvest

Bearing fruit eternally.

Holy Spirit guide with wisdom

In the kingdom of our King.

Fill our hearts with love and praises

Till we stand anew to sing,

As one with all the nations,

When the Festal shout will ring,

Never ending, as the glory

Of our God fills every thing.

Never ending, as the glory

Of our God fills every thing.

Grace From Heaven’s Throne

Michael E. Wood

July 13, 2011

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

This past week I have had the pleasure of both preaching from Psalm 19 along with the continuation of reading through Studies in The Sermon on The Mount by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  Lloyd-Jones quotes George Muller as writing the following, There was a day when I died, utterly dead, died to George Muller and his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.

Thus the following thoughts in prayer came to mind...

Much more than what I say or do

Lord, make my heart more true

That even in my thoughts intent

All praise will go to you.

For as You search me; painfully

I must confess that now

I see more need to die to self

And only You know how

To lead me by Your Spirit

And the words that I now hear

To walk in all true holiness

And live with You in fear.

Thank You for the fact that

Not a moment do You leave

But work to cleanse me from my sin

And more than I perceive.

And though at times it seems

That only tears You give for meat,

The blessing surely follows

As You guide me to complete

The work that You began

When first You brought me to the cross

To see my sin you carried

And exchanged eternal loss

For the life that I now live

With no claim of my own

But ask that You would fill me more

With grace from heaven’s throne

Sparks of Praise Continued: Remembrances, Part 3

April 22, 2011

Thoughts on Mortification of sin:

We must not be concerned only of ourselves, but our concern must be for God.

Why do you seek to mortify “this sin”?  Because it troubles you and takes away your peace?

Yes, but you have neglected prayer and reading? Vain and loose is your conversation with other things? Jesus Christ bled for these also! Why do you not set yourself against them?

“We must hate all sin as sin and not just that which troubles us. Love for Christ because He went to the cross and hate for sin that sent Him there is the solid foundation for true spiritual mortification. To seek mortification only because a sin troubles us proceeds from self-love.” John Owen

As every day we celebrate

Our risen Lord and Savior,

His glory is made manifest

By praise and our behavior.

May 29, 2011

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.  “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ Revelation 2:1-7

 Upon preaching a message from the proceeding passage, Pastor Robert Briggs made the first statement below and I simply finished it with poetry.

Local churches come and go

And yet the Church will stand.

For Christ has purchased all

Appointed by the Father’s hand.

June 19, 2011

Give grace to sow beside all waters

That the fruit of sons and daughters

May be seen around Your table

By Christ Jesus who is able

To present before the Presence

Of Your glory and Excellence

As faultless with exceeding joy

The ones You kept to show Your glory!

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12, 13

Do you worship approval; acceptance of others,

Or true to our God and the sake of our brothers,

Lay down your life by the faith of our Lord,

That He may gain praise: He alone is adored?

Sparks of Praise Continued: Remembrances 2011

Michael E. Wood

March 3, 2011

Though I be a lesser light

Than those now gone before,

My aim with sincere faith remains

The same as those of yore.

For as I have been chosen

To reflect the Greatest Light,

May God be glorified in me

Through Christ who gave me sight.

March 25, 2011

Can you say that you were saved

When for sin is what you craved

With no thought for God to honor,

His Holy Name, you brought dishonor.

Satan’s strong to make pervert

The scriptures to those not alert

And his poison thus remains

Flowing freely in the veins,

Diluting all who in their pride

Walk the way that’s broad and wide.

March 27, 2011

 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:15-18

 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.   All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."  John 16:12-15

Pastor Robert Briggs preached, “The Central Aspect of The Spirit’s Ministry in the Life of the Believer as Spoken by Christ.”

Oh One who now declares the truth

Of all we have by grace

Received to know and love the Light

Of Glory’s Precious Face.

Oh come and tell us more afresh

Of what we now can bear

That Jesus may be magnified

As life in Him we share.