Bow the Knee at Calvary

A New Song by Michael E. Wood
December 1, 2010

Proverbs 1 begins with the words, "The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel"

How amazing it is that God speaks His Word through men. The King of Glory, Jesus Himself, by the power of His Spirit speaks through sinners like us to bring many sons to glory. It is He who planted the ear that causes us to hear the voice of His Word, uniting our hearts as one unto His Own glory and praise. How oft I am amazed as He uses the members of His church, both local and universal, to build up one another in the faith to proclaim the glories of His grace in ways that we may not even be aware of at a given moment in time. Some times when I write, I can think of a number of people He has used to bring about the understanding of the things of which I write. Some are people of whom I have known for years, and could readily give credit to for the influence they have had; others are those of which I have met in a moment of time and cannot recall their names, while yet others have impacted my life of whom I may never or will never meet while here on earth. And then, of course, there are those who have impacted those whom God has and continues to use to direct me to Himself. And what about the countless number of those that have beforehand beheld the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and are in His presence at this very moment.

No wonder Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world." And thus, I will glory in my Redeemer and to His praise this new song is written!

Through words of men our God doth seek
The souls of men and to them speak.
As those who once His law had spurned,
And thought that glory could be earned.
And thought that glory could be earned.

(Chorus)
Oh bow the knee at Calvary.
Tis Christ who came to set us free.
To know His love and Majesty.
Redeemed; Proclaim His Victory!
Redeemed; Proclaim His Victory!

For though all men may speak of peace
It is His Word that gives increase
And He, His Word, He shall fulfill
As God alone Is Sovereign still!
As God alone Is Sovereign still!

(Chorus)

His Mighty Spirit now unfolds
His Word of grace through men of old
And breathes new life into those dead,
To hear the voice of Christ, our Head!
To hear the voice of Christ, our Head!

(Chorus)

His great compassion is our theme,
Who loosed our tongues, gave grace to sing.
For by His mercies we are told,
"Fear not! I'm with you! Now be bold!"
"Fear not! I'm with you! Now be bold!"

(Chorus)

Our Father gives instruction to,
And seeks His Own, though they be few.
Delivers from eternal loss.
Our dept was paid upon the cross!
Our debt was paid upon the cross!

(Chorus)

As God our Father wisdom gives,
That to His glory we may live,
That all may see His Majesty,
And bow the knee at Calvary!
And bow the knee at Calvary!

(Chorus)

Note from Dianna: This is a most beautiful song. One that I believe is timeless and will be song by generations upon generations. I wish those reading could hear the beautiful melody that accompanies these words.

By His Mighty Spirit

Michael E. Wood
November 17, 2010

While coming to a close in reading, "The Holy Spirit" by John Owen, the following words came to mind.

Oh what dangers are a lurking
If we think to kill a sin,
If by faith we're not abiding
In the truth of Christ within.
So beyond imaginations
Or emotional sense: Appeal
To the love of Christ shown for us
By His death upon the hill.

For by means of death He changed us
To pursue by faith His purpose
To bring honor to the Father
That extends beyond the surface
Of a life lived only outward
By His Mighty Spirit in
Hearts that know Him to be Holy
As He speaks now peace within.

Though my love now fails to offer
All unto His perfect will,
Yet I cling unto His promise
More like Christ He'll make me still.
Thus with courage I now grapple
Strengthened by His Spirit's might
That in all things I may seek Him
And be pleasing in His sight!

You Give Us the Faith

Michael E. Wood
November 19, 2010

It is of a surety that God leads His dear children by the continual washing of the water of His Word by the power of His indwelling Spirit uniting our hearts as one to fear His Name. The following poem comes from a culmination of expositional preaching from the Beacon Baptist pulpit through the book of 2nd Peter, a reminder from a Wednesday night Bible study at Immanuel Baptist (2nd Peter 1:5-7), a small group study led by an elder from Soaring Oaks through the book of Galatians (Galatians 3:11-18), along with thoughts by John Owen on The Work of The Holy Spirit.

Oh help us to know our propensities,
That we may know more the immensity
Of Your Almighty Sovereign grace
Which caused us to know and to seek Your face.

Being made righteous, it's now evident
You gave us the faith to believe and repent.
As this is the way of our life now anew,
Oh help by Your Spirit, in all to please You.

For Christ hath redeemed from the curse of the law,
Fulfilling all written for those You would call.
In Jesus to know and receive the great blessing
You promised to Abraham. Now we're confessing
We need You more daily, so humbly we plead
And trust through Christ Jesus, You'll meet every need.

As offspring we thank You for our inheritance.
Your Spirit through Christ gives more repentance--
That holy and righteous forever we'll be;
Conformed to His image as to Him we flee.

The Tests of Life--Our Soul Refines

Michael E. Wood
November 18, 2010

As Pastor Robert Briggs of Immanuel Baptist in Sacramento, California was closing out a message on "The Reality of Challenges with Spiritual Immaturity", he read from 2nd Peter 1:5-9.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

This took me back in time while at Beacon Baptist as Pastor Barkman began preaching through this book of the Bible, and the following thoughts came to mind. The first stanza was written during the devotional message during prayer meeting with its conclusion finalized later at home.

Much easier now to say the words,
Than live them when the test occurs.
Which tempt us to remove our gaze,
From Him Who saved by grace amazed.

And thus our God in love reminds,
The tests of life our soul refines;
To cause us to dig deeper still
Into His Word to know His will.

For we are not made perfect yet.
So firmly let our minds be set
On all He shows that pleases Him.
Oh, Praise His Name with all of them
That He has chosen to behold
His face more precious than was told.

The Savior is Singing o'er me

Michael E. Wood
November 17, 2010

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Having pondered this passage from time to time, it occurred to me while listening to a message preached by Reddit Andrews that my Savior was singing o'er me through the preaching of His Word. I cannot recall the content of the message, and perhaps some of it has to do with God's particular design for me, but there in the midst of worship it was as though the sermon had taken on the sound of music as Christ was exalted in His Beauty, for He has put a new song in my heart, even praise unto our God, many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

As I think back over the last few years of my own life, God has used many of His servants, here below and those who have gone before us, to sound His praise and to exalt the glory of Christ through the faithful preaching of His Word--of which I trust He has used not only to bring forth the fruit of a life that has been changed for His glory; but, continues to be manifest in new songs and poems.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached joyfully.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.

On now hear His voice,
Who has made you His choice.
This grace upon us He has showered.
For His life He did give,
For His glory we live,
By His Spirit we now are empowered.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached faithfully.
God in man as He sits at the Father's right hand,
Interceding for all He commands.

Sometimes with rebukes
And sometimes with reproofs,
He speaks as He knows all my heart.
And yet patiently
As His love sets me free,
And from Him I shall never depart.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached joyfully.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.

With those gone before
We shall never ignore.
His sweet counsel He speaks from above.
Because of His cross
We will count all else loss,
As He answers all things in His love.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached faithfully.
God in man as He sits at the Father's right hand,
Interceding for all He commands.

We Boast Not in Self

Michael E. Wood
November 19, 2010

While pondering 2nd Corinthians 5:4-21, and having concluded what I thought would be simply a couple of paragraphs was enlarged while in the process of typing, and thus by the enabling power of His Spirit may God be merciful to use the simplicity and weakness of my own words to magnify His power. For our sake he made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

God gave us His Spirit--The Guarantee;
That all which is mortal may swallowed be--
Up by life, though now we still groan;
Yet always good courage God gives to His own.

Though while in the body we have not arrived--
We make it our aim to please with each stride;
He Who Is Just to Whom we'll appear;
Receiving of Him of Whom we now fear.

For what we now are, to God is known.
Our hope to your conscience He has shown.
We boast not in self or outward appearance;
But only of Christ and heart adherence.

His glory alone has made us new creatures.
His love now controlling to take on His features.
And His ambassadors we have become,
As God, through us, directs to the Son.

Oh, now unto God be reconciled.
For life in this world is just for a while.
All else will be found to be empty and vain--
If you come not to Him In Jesus Name.

To Be More Like Jesus

Michael E. Wood
November 6, 2010

While pondering Romans :26,27 and 2nd Corinthians 3 the following poem came to mind.

Your Spirit, Your permanent glory unfolds
To give us such hope wherein we are made bold.
Removing the hardness of minds which were veiled
When all on the cross through our Savior was nailed.

With words now unuttered Your Spirit now groans
Interceding now perfect By Christ Who atoned
Transforming our members to know of Your mind,
To be more like Jesus, Whose glory we find

Exceeds all the glory when bound by the law
Which held us then captive, and by it were awed.
This freedom You gave us, removing the curse
As we in our Savior our sins were immersed.

And buried by mercy beholding Your face,
We praise You in awe of Your glorious grace.
Now raised by Your Holy omnipotent call
To life everlasting, redeemed from the fall.

Oh help us Dear Father pursue all Your truth
Made faithful to show by indelible proof,
Commending ourselves to the conscience of men
That only through Jesus, Do You save from sin.