Hear Ye Him! (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

October 24-28, 2015

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen Deuteronomy 18:15

Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. Acts 3:22

This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’  This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Acts 7:37-38

“Here we are at the very heart and center of the Christian message. The purpose of Christian preaching is to call men and women to listen to the Lord Jesus Christ.” Martyn Lloyd Jones, p. 140, Studies in the Book of Acts, Volume Five, Triumphant Christianity

One principle that is found throughout the scriptures and given by the grace of God to all who have been brought to life through the merit of Christ alone is the desire that others hear Him! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.

 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

Let us be faithful as those who are used to sow or those who are used to water to trust that He is not only able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, but that He will in His time. He can take that which has lain dormant for years and bring forth a plenteous harvest as He speaks! Hear Ye Him!

Have you heard the mighty chorus

Of the prophets gone before?

Can you hear our Father speaking,

Listen to the One adored?

And the Spirit now within you

Testifying to the fact,

It is Christ who sealed our pardon

And some day He’s coming back!

Hear ye Him!

Son of God and Son of Man.

Hear ye Him!

Doing what no other can,

Speaking life into the dead

To show there is no other way.

Hear ye Him! Hear ye Him!

In this world of fancy answers,

Tolerating every choice,

There is One above all others,

We do well to hear His voice.

In the midst of all our failures,

How compassionate our Friend,

As He promised to be with us

For His glory to the end.

Hear ye Him!

Living waters now He gives.

Hear ye Him!

All in all because He lives.

And He makes us more than conquerors

Through every test of life.

Hear ye Him! Hear ye Him!

Now if you have some questions

And are burdened in your mind

You must see what He reveals

By His own Word and you will find

He has answered your particulars

Before you even ask

And will strengthen you in spirit

With His presence in your task.

Hear ye Him!

Who moves mountains by His name.

Hear ye Him!

Who makes weaknesses our gain,

With a heart that’s filled with new desires

To seek His smiling face.

Hear ye Him! Hear ye Him!

So with this simple song

We have but one thing left to say.

Let us not exalt His servants

O’er the Master of the day.

Who Himself has made the sun to shine

In valleys and the peaks

Of the highest mountains

Glorifying Christ alone, who speaks.

Hear ye Him!

Reigning high above the stars.

Hear ye Him!

Who has proven with His scars,

There is nothing that can separate

From His eternal love.

Hear ye Him! Hear ye Him!

O God, You are worthy of Praise (New Chorus)

Michael E. Wood

September 1, 2015

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18

“As God does nothing but aims at His own glory thereby, Proverbs 16:4; so no act of God towards His people, wherein He intends not their good, and as such becomes the subject of their thanksgiving.  Hence we are bid ‘in everything give thanks’. O what a copious theme hath God given His people to enlarge their meditations upon – ‘in everything!’ The whole course and series of divine providence towards the saints is like a music-book, in every leaf whereof there is a song ready pricked for them to learn and sing to the praise of God.”

“It is not a library makes a scholar, but wisdom to observe and gather the choice notions out of his books. None want (lack) mercies to bless God for. Divine providence is a large volume, written thick and close with mercies from one end of our life to the other; but few, alas have a heart to read in it, and fewer have wisdom to collect the choice passages of it for such a holy purpose as this.”  William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p 449, 463

Praise is an essential part of ‘all prayer’ for the child of God. As we learn from Him through His Word to see various nuances of His kindness toward us in every kind of providence, we are thereby strengthened by His Spirit to give thanks in everything and more readily render Him the praise He is due.

O God, You are worthy of praise,

For the least of the mercies You show us!

How great is the sum of them all,

All life You unfold as a chorus;

With measures which fit us each day

Promoting Your praise all the way.

O God, You are worthy of praise,

For the least of the mercies You show us!

Fill Mine Eyes

Michael E. Wood

August 25, 2015

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!   Psalm 84:11-12

“Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of spiritual, but spiritual mercies for themselves, and not for temporal advantages….. Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of spiritual blessings, and not their own…. The Christian, when praying for temporal things, should desire them for helps in his way and passage to heaven.  I do not say it is unlawful to desire life, health, and other comforts of this life, for the suitableness that these have to our natural affections, and to supply our outward necessities; but to desire them only for this is low and base, it is the mere cry of the creature.”  William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p.428

The preceding quote may seem out of place in relation to the following prayer, as the heart of this poetic prayer is toward God Himself.  Yet, from past experience as well being in the process of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it seems that we by nature can easily fall into expecting temporal blessings as a result of our pursuit of knowing God. Yes, He promises to His children that no good thing will He withhold from those that walk uprightly, but we all have need to allow and accept from Him what He defines as good, as He is our chief Good.

Fill mine eyes with Thine own glory

Through Thy Word, O Help me see

More of You for Thine own pleasure;

Draw me by Thy Spirit’s plea.

Not for comfort or for temporal

Gains that profit not, or last:

In beholding more Thy beauty

Of Your image, darkly cast;

Help me run the race with patience,

Joyfully, till home with You,

With Your splendor thus transcending

All redeemed in every hue.

Drawn from Emmanuel's Springs.

Michael E. Wood

July 17, 2015

 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,    Colossians 1:3-6

 … whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   John 4:14

One of the amazing things about the grace of God is that it never ceases to be amazing. Once we have been made anew by the Spirit through the sacrifice of Christ, our transcendent, triune God uses His written Word through the various means of grace which includes preaching, teaching and reading to refresh us with the living waters of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. We are stirred with love both for Him and the brethren, being made to know what that looks like on a practical level with the continued amazement of His grace to the praise of His glory.

We thank You for the power

Of Your Word to stir afresh

Our souls to see the grace

By which You do as one enmesh

Our lives together for the praise

Of Your own glory there

In heaven as on earth You work

Your will in all who share

The nature You have given when

You called us forth to birth.

The new creation joined by Christ

To magnify Your worth.

And as You by Your Spirit

More Your mysteries unfold,

Oh, help us to proclaim the truth

In love and yet as bold

Ambassadors of life and light

Which Your salvation brings

Oh, Father God, through songs of praise

Drawn from Emmanuel's springs.

To Make You Content

Michael E. Wood

May 12, 2015

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

It’s pretty amazing how we can think we are content until something as simple as the telephone lines going down for a couple of days not only impacts our use of the phone but also access to the internet and makes us realize how dependent we have become on technology in our current culture in the western world. For some this could apply to their use of cell phones. For others perhaps it is access to your favorite television programs. The degree of stress could likewise be intensified if you have a business contingent on these services.

In no way am I advocating that we should sit back and do nothing to reconcile our situation, but what I am asking is how does something of this nature make us feel?  Do we find ourselves in a sense of despair, because we don’t know what to do with ourselves? Are we driven to make unwise decisions to rectify the situation?  How do we react to those with whom we are reliant for help in our particular situation?  Do we have the peace which passes understanding, the self control to take responsibility not only for our actions but for the manner in which we address others, and the joyful patience to wait on the Lord and find contentment in the present circumstances?

When the phone doesn’t work and the lines are all down

Then trust in the One in Whom grace doth abound.

And do what you can as you wait for repair,

Rejoice in the truth, staying not in despair.

Refocus on things which you have as gift

As the mercies in Christ will alone you uplift

To restore such a joy by His Spirit to take

A hold of His promise to never forsake

Or leave you adrift in this short little trial

But cause you to look on His face with a smile.

For nothing that’s good will He ever withhold

To make you content as a sheep of His fold.

For no earthly loss can come close to compare

With the glory awaiting His children to share.

So thank Him and praise Him in all things below

And give Him the glory, Who has you in tow,

Unfolding the way as you cast every care

Upon Him who promised your burdens to bear.

 Five years have passed,
Oh, how quickly they’ve flown.

As one we give glory to

Him who has owned

Our marriage to show

Himself mighty to save

And sharpen His image

As He did engrave

Our names on the palms

Of His hands at the cross

To count earthly gain

For His name as a loss,

And be found in Him

As together we seek

To know Him and love Him

Who blesseth the meek.

With much more to learn

In a settled embrace,

Oh, help us dear Father

Continue to face

All that You send

By Your sovereign decree

To make us like Jesus

And He alone see

Exalted in glory:

The smile on His face;

The treasure You give

By indelible grace.

Happy Anniversary Wifey!

May 18, 2015

Happy Mother's Day

It’s hard to think how quickly

Now the days just seem to fly,

With thoughts of you in moments

For your good as they pass by.

And none can stop the clock

As it keeps ticking on its way

But thankfulness springs forth

As we await a brighter day

When all of life’s investments

Will be clearly seen to show

That you did what you thought

Was best to help us children grow

Into the men and women that

You hoped we would become.

May love proceed from all,

Expressed by this your oldest son.

We Love You MOM!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Life has Conquered Death

Michael E. Wood

April 5, 2015

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15 

Just call us strange if you like, but that’s OK. God moves in a mysterious way, His mercies to behold. While on the one hand you can read of my wifey’s discovery Easter Sunday morning here: http://thewoodssecretgarden.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-love-when-things-like-this-happen.html, on the other hand, as she showed me the tiny new growth coming out of the vine, it appeared to me to be growing out of the place in the appearance of the cross the feet would have been nailed. The gospel passage from Genesis 3 came to mind and the following words began to flow concerning the fulfillment of God's promise to the serpent and the victory of Christ overall.

The serpent’s head was crushed

And Life has conquered death.

The darkness is o’ercome

By the Spirit of God’s breath.

“Live”, Christ says to all

Who hear His word in fear,

 And justified we’re made to come

And worship drawing near.

United with the Vine

Whose purpose to declare

God’s glory overall has shined

As He our sins did bear.

Rejoice then in His love

And walk in faithfulness

As these are gifts He gives

In His own gift of righteousness.

And when our day is done

While looking in His face

We’ll give the rightful praise

Unto the glorious God of grace!

O, Glorify God for His mercy!

Michael E. Wood

December 13, 2013

While rummaging through various note sheets, I found these little tidbits which had never been posted.

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,  and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said,” Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”  And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”  Romans 15:9-12

O, Glorify God for His mercy!

Sing praise and His honor proclaim,

Rejoicing with all of His people

As He rules by His infinite Name!

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That which we do with Your glory in view

Is the means that You give to now magnify You!

Though appearance counts nothing as seen now by men,

It’s the smile of Your face that is worth more than when

The plaudits and honors are vainly poured forth

To distract us from setting our course on true north,

Where Your greatness and glory, O Christ, will come due

When we see, in Your likeness, we are made all anew!

He Poured out His Life (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

January 24-25, 2014; February 10, 2015

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:10-12

With so many changes and challenges over the past year, writing poetry and songs have taken a back seat to other more pressing issues.  Having written several verses but never feeling quite comfortable with the results over a year ago, I was given some time to rehearse, to edit and to add anew verse resulting in the following.

He poured out His life that we might have entry.

The veil of His flesh was broken and torn.

He offered His blood which speaks as the sentry

And He is the door, through which we’re reborn:

Forgiven, restored to enter the presence

Of God as the Father, majestic, with awe!

In Christ we are welcomed, boldly approach Him

And praise the Almighty, who saves from the fall.

He is our peace, our shield, and defender,

Exhausting the wrath, which would have been due.

And none would approach, but grace overcoming

Our sin and our death brought His glory in view.

The eyes of our hearts were opened to see Him,

Who was and He is, and still is to come.

His glory and might revealed in ascending

Up back to the place of which He was from.

He is our wisdom and purifier.

The Father through Him did words to us give.

His promises great, have made us partake of

The nature divine, so through Him we live.

Oh, Father we praise You, rich in the mercies

By which You have loved and made us alive,

Together with Christ and raised to the places

Whereby we may You, alone glorify!

Your Spirit of grace and all supplications,

We ask of You, Father now to supply

Afresh to partake in boldness proclaiming

The blood of the cross through which we draw nigh.

Oh, help us to seek Your prize set before us,

Though weakened by flesh, Your glory pursue,

And trust in the strength that comes in beholding

Your beauty which stirs our affections for You.

And then on that day, when like Christ we will be

Admiring in awe, His glory as seen.

With ears hearing praise beyond that imagined

And hearts made to feel what we never had dreamed.

Forever with angel voices, we’ll praise You.

A new song we’ll sing, Father, Son, Holy Ghost,

Empowered by love that grows, never ending,

Enraptured with Christ, as the Head of the host!

Things Which Seem Distressing

Michael E. Wood

August 20, 2013

 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, Philippians 1:12

How often do many of us as followers of Christ in America lose our focus in the midst of what seemed at the time to be very distressing circumstances only to be rebuked in our spirit when we consider what others are called to endure?

When the apostle Paul was carried along by the Spirit to write to the church at Philippi, he was in prison awaiting trial. In the midst of not knowing with absolute certainty whether the ensuing days would bring about his demise, he used every opportunity for the advancement of the gospel.                             

 How are you doing out there?

He takes those things which seem distressing

To bring forth a richer blessing,

Turning all out for our good

Though far from us yet understood.

For though we may seem now deterred

By circumstance: His voice is heard,

Proclaiming freedom through our bonds

To hearts He opens and responds

Unto the faithful gospel call

That Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

Forgive me when my love does not

Excel and intercede

With prayers for other saints

Who suffer far and greater needs

Than I can now imagine with

My comforts and my pride

Which yet distract in moments

When I hear not what they cried.

Show mercy and love loyalty

To all you have in view.

For You alone are Judge of all

The hearts You have made new.

And give to them that measure

Of Your grace that You know best

Fits for each occasion

Of Your children seeking rest.

In Christ alone give comfort

And the strength to burdens bear

Exactly as You portioned

To display Your glory there

In the midst of trials

As You make Your presence known

To show them that You love them

And You own them as Your own.