16 Nov 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a great high priest, a Sunday afternoon stroll, access with confidence by the faith of him, all God has done for us, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, an high priest who can sympathize with our problems, assurance of being heard by God, be a good christian witness, cannot walk, come boldly to the throne of grace, come boldly unto the throne of grace, come to seek and to save, come unto me, confession of faith, Daniel Herbert, dare not talk, do much better with Jesus than without Him, ever was the same, faith, faith doesn't make it easy, faith makes it possible, feel and know, fellowship, find grace to help in time of need, find rest unto your souls, freedom of speech before God, gentle and humble, give thanks, guilt and sin, he makes alive, hears the sigh or groan, hold fast our profession, holy spirit, I am meek and lowly in heart, I will give you rest, I'm lame, in all points, in whom we have boldness, Jehovah is the sinner's friend, Jesus Christ, Jesus fills the throne, Jesus the Son of God, lay your load at Jesus feet, learn of me, LOVE, makes the blind to see, makes the dead to hear his voice, mercy, my burden light, my yoke is easy, passed into the heavens, plead what he has done, poor bankrupt souls, praise, preach good tidings unto the meek, proclaim liberty to the captives, receive forgiveness, relying upon Christ, renewed confidence, set the prisoner free, sincere and heartfelt version, sincere repentance, some soul may say, spiritual strength, stopped my mouth, sweet sacrifices of praise, take my yoke upon you, temptation can be a reality apart from sin, tempted as we are, that which is lost, the hell of sin within, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, the Lord will take you in, the opening of the prison, the right of entering into god's presence, the selfless sacrifices of Jesus, the sinner lost He came to save, the Son of man, the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, the unsearchable riches of Christ, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears, those he kills, though lost and blind and lame, to be tempted by Satan, to gain God's ear, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach good tidings to the meek, to them that are bound, truth, we may obtain mercy, wisdom, with confident humility, worship, ye wretched sinners come, yet without sin
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
One more Sunday to add to our long list of them my fellow believers, which means another time to go to the Lord’s sanctuary to fellowship with other believers; that’s to sing, praise, worship and give thanks for all our good God has done for us, and has promised to do in the future. In return for our praise, worship, and thanksgiving, we receive forgiveness, renewed confidence, faith and spiritual strength, so that we can go back out into the workday world this week and be a good Christian witness for Christ.
And today for our song of worship, we have a beautiful Christian hymn whose words were penned way back in 18 something by Daniel Herbert (1751–1833) with music written by Clint Wells and Brian T. Murphy, in 2004. The song is most appropriately titled ‘Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace.’ So, since we’re invited to do that, let’s do it nuh, offering up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a mid-tempo, scintillating, sincere and heartfelt version.
Singing: ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet, And plead what He has done. How can I come? Some soul may say, I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth, I sigh, but dare not talk. Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; and those He kills, He makes alive; He hears the sigh or groan; Poor bankrupt souls, Who feel and know, the hell of sin within; Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in. Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in…the Lord will take you in…Yes the Lord will take you in…take you in.’
And that’s for certain sure my faithful brethren! If we go boldly to the throne of grace our good God will surely take us in! And why is that a sure thing, you ask? Because the Lord’s Word itself tells us to do so. Listen to this most enlightening scripture from the author of Hebrews:
‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into (through) the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (confession of faith). For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with our infirmities (weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:14-16)
What a delightful, encouraging and uplifting scripture my fellow believers! That’s why we can go to the throne of grace boldly, which means with confident humility, not arrogance! For our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our new high priest, experienced temptation here on earth like we do, yet never sinned, therefore He can sympathize with what we go through, and thus encourages us to come to Him seeking mercy and grace.
One point the scholars make here is that ‘Temptation can be a reality apart from sin.’ In other words, though Jesus could not sin, He was well able to be tempted, as we see from when the Holy Spirit led Him directly after His baptism by John the Baptist, into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. (Matt. 4:1)
Then there’s this other scripture from Bruh Paul to the Ephesians, where in talking of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ, he says: ‘In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (in) him.’ (Eph. 3:12) And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘This verse affirms that Christians have boldness (freedom of speech before God) and access (the right of entering His presence) with confidence (assurance of being heard by God) by the faith of him (through relying upon Christ to gain God’s ear).’
Yes friends, all that we have comes through the selfless sacrifices of Jesus! Without Him, we’d have nothing! We certainly could not go to the throne of God with the assurance that we’d be heard. That’s why it’s so foolish not to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. Just look at what the song says we can do because of him: Wretched sinners that we are; we can still come and lay our burdens at His feet. And why is that? As the song further says: ‘Though lost, and blind, and lame, Jehovah is the sinner’s friend. And ever was the same.’
And that’s the gospel truth my brethren. For even when we were yet sinners God would not turn us away if we came to Him in sincere repentance. And if you don’t believe me, then listen to this most wonderful invitation issued by Jesus to all and sundry. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
Oh my people, what a beautiful invitation to come to Jesus and receive all the good stuff He has lined up for those who believe in Him. And no, it won’t just be a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, but you will certainly do much better with, than without Him. That’s a proven fact!
The song says, ‘The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the captive free.’ And that’s exactly what the scriptures tell us. Jesus Himself said this: ‘For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ (Luke 19:10) Then the prophet Isaiah, said this about Him. ‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath appointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek (poor); he hath sent me to bind up (heal) the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.’ (Is. 61:1)
And remember that day in the synagogue when Jesus read those words from scroll, (Luke 4:18-19) what He said afterwards? ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears (hearing).’ Luke 4:21) That just goes to show that all the words of the song are ever so true, and we’d be real foolish not to accept all that Jesus has to offer us. So please, let’s be wise and accept Him as Lord and Saviour…right now! Much LOVE!
…Faith doesn’t make it easy…but Faith surely makes it possible…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
10 Aug 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a need is something that's necessary to sustain life, a want is a desire wish or aspiration, an adverse outcome, be filled with the Spirit, be not drunk with wine, blessed is the man that endures temptation, bowing here, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Christians, cling to Him, come boldly to the throne of grace, come unto me all ye that labour, death, dissipation, doctrine, dysfunction, excess, faith, fearfully and wonderfully made, feel alone, feel desperate, find grace, find rest unto your souls, for all things, for my yoke is easy, gentle and humble, giving thanks always, god formed us in our mother's wombs, God is all that we need, God knows our thoughts, God wants us to run to Him, heavy laden, holy spirit, I am free, I am meek and lowly, I confess, I find my rest, I need you every hour, I will give you rest, I'll fall on you Jesus, in the fear of God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, indisputable truth, Jesus Christ, keep our faith going strong, learn from me, Lord I need you, LOVE, making melody in your heart to the Lord, making the most of every opportunity, mercy, my burden is light, my hope and, my one defense, my righteousness, needing Christ as much as ever, not as fools but as wise, obtain mercy, practical advice, praise, receive the crown of life, redeeming the time, sacrifices of praise, salvation, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, spiritual songs, submitting yourselves one to another, take my yoke upon you, teach my song to rise to you, thanksgiving, the amazing truth, the BIBLE, the gospel truth, the great invitation, the infallible truth, the Lord hath promised to them that love Him, the Lord's sanctuary, the vicissitudes of life, to help in time of need, trust him at all times, truth, turbulent times, understanding the will of the Lord, walk circumspectly, we cannot hide from God, when he is tried, when I cannot stand, when temptation comes my way, where grace is found is where you are, where sin runs deep, where you are Lord, whetehr it's painful or hard, wisdom, without you I fall apart, worship, you are the one that guides my heart, your grace is more
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
And since today is a bright and sunshiny Sunday friends, hot like those of the recent past, and also with a heat warning, it means that all roads lead to the Lord’s Sanctuary – hope they are air-conditioned. (smile) We go there to offer up praise, worship and thanksgiving, and to receive His amazing grace, mercy, strength and joy, to help us handle the vicissitudes of the upcoming week. And today we begin our worship with a marvellous and most appropriate contemporary Christian song for these tough and turbulent times. It is simply titled, ‘Lord I Need You.’
And that is the indisputable truth, for in these ungodly and scary times, we need the Lord more than ever. However, before we get into the song, since we are talking about needing God, I believe it would be helpful to define ‘a need.’ So, here’s an interesting definition from this commentary.
It says, ‘A need is something that is necessary for an organism to live a healthy life. Needs are distinguished from wants in that, in the case of a need, a deficiency causes a clear adverse outcome: a dysfunction or death. In other words, a need is something required for a safe, stable and healthy life (e.g. food, water, and shelter) while a want is a desire, wish or aspiration.’
Now, taking that definition of a need into consideration, saying that we need the Lord is certainly another indisputable truth. For without Him in our lives, leading, guiding, and protecting us, we would surely die, both physically and spiritually! Oh yes, He is certainly someone we need to help our human organisms lead a healthy life. (smile) And now that we know what a need is, let’s offer up our sacrifices of praise through this beautiful and most timely song, in an uplifting and lively version, like that done by the renowned Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
Singing: ‘Lord I come, I confess Bowing here, I find my rest Without You, I fall apart You’re the one that guides my heart (Chorus: Lord, I need You, oh I need You Every hour, I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You) Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more Where grace is found is where You are And where You are, Lord I am free Holiness is Christ in me (Chorus)
So teach my song to rise to You When temptation comes my way And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You Jesus, You’re my hope and stay (Chorus. Lord, I need You, oh I need You Every hour, I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You You’re my one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You.’
And as we said before that is the indisputable truth! And not only the indisputable one nuh, but also the gospel truth as well as the infallible one…and any other serious truths out there! (smile) Yes my people, God created us and still controls us, therefore we need Him big time. And if we read Psalm 139, Bruh David’s Praise to the All-Knowing God, we will see how He formed us in our mother’s wombs, knows our thoughts, and everything we’ll say before we even say, we cannot hide from Him, and above all how ‘fearfully wonderfully’ we’re made. So how can we not need Him eh?
Then, we see, the chorus in the song confesses our need for the Lord every hour as our “one defense, my righteousness.” Meanwhile the first verse talks about finding rest in God, and without Him, we’d fall apart. That’s very true, and recalls Jesus’ Great Invitation to cover just such needs. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
And all who hear that invitation and don’t accept it, they are certainly crazed in the head! For there’s nothing like it to be gained from anyone else. And as the chorus tells us how badly we need the Lord, the second verse let’s us know that ‘Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more Where grace is found is where You are And where You are, Lord I am free…’
And where is the Lord’s grace found? The author of Hebrews reminds us: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16) Yes friends, grace can be found most abundantly at the throne of grace!
Then the last verse declares: ‘So teach my song to rise to You When temptation comes my way And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You Jesus, You’re my hope and stay’ Oh my fellow believers, it’s like James says: ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that LOVE him.’ (James 1:12) And to help us endure the temptation, these practical scripture verses from the pen of Bruh Paul to the Ephesians could be our guide.
‘See then that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time (making the most of every opportunity), because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph. 5:15-21)
That’s the good thing about Bruh Paul, he doesn’t only fill us with doctrine, but always gives some practical advice on how to integrate it into our lives. And we’ll end with this testimony from an unknown believer. He testifies: ‘God has used this song so much in my life over the past couple months. There are moments when we feel desperate, when we wonder why, we feel alone, we are so joyful, we feel so blessed…or we ask that God would show us what He wants from us and how to live.
And that’s where these words touch my heart so much…”Lord, I need You, oh I need You. Every hour I need You. My one defense, my righteousness, oh God how I need You.” He is ALL that we need. That’s what He wants from us. For us to run to Him, cling to Him and trust Him with everything we’re going through. Whether it’s painful and hard, or joy filled and exciting! We need Him!’
And that’s the amazing truth, my brethren! So let’s keep our faith going strong by needing Christ as much as ever! Much LOVE!
…when you have Christ…you don’t need anyone or anything else…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
20 Oct 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all ye that labour and are heavy laden, as the manner of some is, as ye see the day approaching, assurance of being heard by God, Bible, Christ as a son over his own house, come boldly to the throne of grace, come to seek and save, come unto me, confidence by faith in Christ, draw near with boldness, encouraging, exhorting one another, faith, fellowship, find grace to help, find rest unto your souls, freedom of speech, gentle and humble, god, guilt and sin, have stopped my mouth, he that built all things is God, holy spirit, I will give you rest, in time of need, in whom we have boldness, Indian summer, Jehovah is the sinner's freind, Jesus Christ, Jesus fills the throne, know the hell of sin within, lay your load at Jesus feet, lean of me, LOVE, makes the blind to see, meek and lowly in heart, mercy, my burden light, my yoke is easy, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, obtain mercy, pay our sin debt in full, poor bankrupt souls, reassuring, salvation, set the prisoner free, sweet sacrifices of praise, sympathize with our weaknesses, take my yoke upon you, that which was lost, the great invitation, the Lord will take you in, the Lord's Sabbath, the right of entering into god's presence, the sinner lost He came to save, the Son of man, touched with the feeling of our infirmities, truth, was in all points tempted like us, was without sin, we have not a high priest, wisdom, ye wretched sinners come
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And another beautiful Indian summer day is in the offing for the Lord’s Sabbath. That makes it even more encouraging and intriguing for us to make our way to His sanctuary to give Him praise and thanks for all His many blessings and to fellowship with other believers, as it is right to do. The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms: ‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:25)
And it is necessary to pray on one’s own, but worshipping together gives the chance to encourage each other, to strengthen and stir up each other which can only be gained by fellowshipping together. And having said all of that, let’s get right to our song for today. It’s one we all know and like, with the apt title of ‘Come Boldy to the throne of Grace.’ Yes, it’s very encouraging and reassuring, so let’s offer up sweet sacrifices of praise in a sincere, soulful, mid-tempo version of this marvellous song.
Singing: ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet, And plead what He has done. How can I come? Some soul may say, I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth, I sigh, but dare not talk. Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; and those He kills, He makes alive; He hears the sigh or groan; Poor bankrupt souls, Who feel and know, the hell of sin within; Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in. Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in…the Lord will take you in…Yes the Lord will take you in…take you in.’
And that’s no lie my brethren! If you come boldly or confidently to the throne of grace, our ever-faithful God will surely take you in. That’s one thing about Him, He never turns away anyone who comes to Him in all sincerity and truth. And what’s the basis for this confidence? It all springs from these Bible verses in Hebrews.
‘For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses), but was in all points tempted like as we are (but one who was tempted in every way that we are), yet was without sin. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain (receive) mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:15-16)
Oh friends, isn’t it wonderful that we have a high priest who can empathize with our problems, because He also faced them, but was without sin, thus was eligible to die on the cross at Calvary and pay our sin debt in full? It most certainly is! That means we can take any problem to Him and He will understand. There are also a couple of other scriptures that encourage us to have confidence and boldness in our faith.
This one also comes from Hebrews. ‘For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after (afterward); But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.’ (Heb. 3:4-6)
Yes my people, every one else is a servant in someone else’s house, but Christ as the Son of God, has His own house to which we belong, if we continue to be confident and faithful to Him. And this scripture from the passage in Ephesians that speaks about the Unsearchable Riches of Christ also encourages us to have boldness and confidence. It says: ‘In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (in) him.’ (Eph. 3:12)
And the scholars explain it thus: ‘This verse affirms that Christians have boldness (freedom of speech before God) and access (the right of entering His presence) with confidence (assurance of being heard by God), by the faith of him (through relying upon Christ to gain God’s ear).’ We certainly can’t ask for any more than that my fellow believers. But the wonderful thing about our God is that He gives us more through Christ Jesus, even though we don’t deserve it.
And if we look at the statements of the song, they all claim that we are lost, blind, lame, unworthy, sinners, guilty etc., not worthy to come to Jesus, but there are many facts to the contrary. Remember what Jesus Himself said? ‘For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.’ (Luke 19:10) He is also the friend to each and every sinner. Was from the beginning, and will be until the very end. But this one line tells the whole story ‘Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet.’
For what does Jesus offer to those who are overburdened? The Great Invitation! ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
Yes my fellow saints, that’s Christ invitation to all and sundry to come to Him, regardless of your woes. There’s no one He will refuse. So please, let’s take advantage of the invitation today nuh, and go to Jesus for help, whatever kind of help we may need, because He is the ONLY ONE who can solve all our problems, and will certainly not turn us away, despite our sorry plight. In fact, the sorrier our plight, the more Jesus desires us to come to Him for help. Let’s never forget that! Much LOVE!
…Jesus is only a sincere plea away…for help
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
17 Mar 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a great high priest, a song of life, access with confidence by the faith of him, Bible, by the blood of Jesus, Christ is faithful, come boldly to the throne of grace, draw near with a true heart, faith, faith doesn't make it easy, faith keeps us anchored to Jesus, faith makes it possible, find grace, freedom of speech before God, god, grace, hard heartedness, he is that faithful that promised, hold fast our profession, I am the way the truth and the life, in full assurance of faith, in whom we have boldness, Jehovah is the sinners freind, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus fills the throne, LOVE, makes the blind to see, mercy, obtain mercy, our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, set the prisoner free, the Lord will take you in, to help in time of need, truth, was in all points tempted like as we are, wisdom, ye wretched sinners come
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And the sun was also a strong warrior yesterday friends, holding off the dark clouds and their precipitation until the early evening hours. Hopefully it will be able to do the same thing on this the Lord’s day, as we make our way to His sanctuary to sing, praise and worship Him, and in return get bountiful shares of His everlasting LOVE, grace and mercy! And all of God’s people said, ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy to we the underserving children of men!’
And today we’ll open with this marvellous song titled ‘Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace, with lyrics penned by Daniel Herbert in 1838 and music written by Clint Wells and Brian T. Murphy in 2004. It’s basically a song about life, a sinner’s life, who, through faith, can find relief at God’s throne of Grace. And as somebody so wisely said: ‘Faith doesn’t make it easy; faith make it possible.’ And that’s the indisputable truth, because without strong and courageous faith in Christ Jesus, getting to the throne of grace would be impossible, since it’s ONLY through Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, can one get close to Almighty God.
So, having ascertained that only through faith in Christ is it possible to approach the throne of grace, let’s sing a nice, soulful, heartfelt, mid-tempo version of the song, letting all and sundry know the amazing power of knowing Christ. Singing: ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet, And plead what He has done. How can I come? Some soul may say, I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth, I sigh, but dare not talk.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free. Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; and those He kills, He makes alive; He hears the sigh or groan; Poor bankrupt souls, Who feel and know, the hell of sin within; Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in. Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in…the Lord will take you in…Yes the Lord will take you in…take you in’
Oh friends, there is everlasting truth in those words! Once you come to the Lord in all sincerity, He will take you in. You can never get too low, lost, sinful or ungodly that He will refuse your sincere advances. That’s because His LOVE was so great for us, and it pained Him to see us going to hell in a handbasket, (smile) so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to earth to be crucified and pay for our abominable sins. And from whence comes this amazing promise? Right from God’s unadulterated and ever-true Word, the Bible.
Listen to the author of Hebrews. ‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into (through) the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (confession). For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (our weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ (Heb. 4:14-15) Oh my faithful brethren, that’s the beauty of living for Jesus; He knows exactly what we go through on this vile and ungodly earth, because He also experienced the same vile temptations and evil, but never succumbed to it because of His inherent godliness.
So when we go to Him with all our worries, pains and problems, He knows just how much we’re hurting, and has the remedy for our ailing souls and bodies. That’s why the author of Hebrews continues thus: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16) Now, those are what you call uplifting words, words that encourage and uplift both our souls and our faith, knowing that there’s a place we can safely go to find help in our times of need.
And one of the most important privileges we have by being followers of Christ is that we don’t have to go begging for help, but boldly, confidently but humbly. And Bruh Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, while talking about the unsearchable riches of Christ, tells us in no uncertain terms: ‘In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (in) him.’ (Eph. 3:12) And the scholars explain that most important scripture thus: ‘This verse affirms that Christians have boldness (freedom of speech before God) and access (the right of entering His presence) with confidence (assurance of being heard by God) by the faith of him (through relying on Christ to gain God’s ear).’
Furthermore, the author of Hebrews in telling us about the house of Christ, writes: ‘For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after (afterward); But Christ as a son over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.’ (Heb. 3:4-6) Now another translation of that last verse puts it a little plainer. ‘But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.’
Oh my brethren, that serves as a serious warning to not doubt God’s promise. And if you read the rest of that section (vs. 7-15) you’ll find that the writer of Hebrews uses the disbelief and hard heartedness of Israel as examples of doubt, and not listening to God’s warnings, even under the godly leadership of Moses and Joshua. Then there’s this last scripture from the Book of Hebrews warning us to hold fast our faith.
‘Having therefore, brethren, boldness (confidence) to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus (the room in the temple separated by a veil or curtain, where only the high priest could go once a year to make atonement for the people’s sins), By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering (for he is faithful that promised.’ (Heb. 10:19-23)
There’s nothing left to say friends, except, let’s take it all to heart and be totally encouraged and uplifted by all the wonderful scriptures we’ve heard this Sunday morning, and go home and put them into action in this upcoming week! Much LOVE!
…faith is the anchor that keeps us anchored to Jesus…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
10 Sep 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a joyful time, a passionate and comforting call, come and find mercy at Christ's feet, come boldly to the throne of grace, Daniel Herbert, find grace to help in time of need, free offering of saving grace, go boldly into the world, he is able to succour them that are tempted, he makes the blind to see, Jehovah is the sinner's freind, Jesus fills the throne, LOVE, negative circumstances, poor bankrupt souls, set the prisoners free, the feeling of our infirmities, the sinner lost He came to save, voices of sacrificial praise, we have boldness and access with confidence, we may obtain mercy, without Christ we are nothing
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And then it was Sunday once again; the day of the Lord, where believers flock to His sanctuary to participate in fellowship and worship with others of the same beliefs. And what a joyful time that usually is; with singing and praise, thanksgiving, and an overall renewal of the spirit and confidence of God’s people, so that they can go boldly into the world in the upcoming work week and make Jesus known to whomever they meet. And it just so happens that today’s opening song is one which also speaks of going boldly.
It’s most appropriately titled ‘Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace.’ And that’s exactly how we should go to the Father; boldly, that’s confidently, not afraid or cowed, but also with humility and reverence. So, let’s offer up our voices of sacrificial praise in a soulful, heartfelt, mid-tempo version of the song, written by Daniel Herbert (1751 – 1833), a congregational minister who served at Sudbury in Suffolk. It is a passionate and comforting call to all who feel the weight of their sin to come and find mercy at the feet of Christ.
Singing: ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet, And plead what He has done. How can I come? Some soul may say, I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth, I sigh, but dare not talk. Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; and those He kills, He makes alive; He hears the sigh or groan; Poor bankrupt souls, Who feel and know, the hell of sin within; Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in. Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in…the Lord will take you in…Yes the Lord will take you in…take you in’ And if you come with a sincere heart, He certainly will take you in my brethren.
Now what is all this talk about coming boldly to the throne of grace, and where does it come from eh? The author of Hebrews stirs it up when he talks about Jesus, our great High Priest. He writes: ‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into (through) the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (confession of faith). For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (our weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:14-16)
And is that ever a most important scripture, my people! Why? Because first it highlights, the similarities between us and Jesus our great High Priest in heaven. Just like we are tempted, so was He down here on earth, but He was without sin. That therefore allows Him to sympathize, or better yet empathize with our weaknesses. You know that we can all sympathize better with others if we’ve been through, or experienced tough situations like theirs.
A lot of times we claim to understand the heartaches and problems of others, but we truly don’t, because we have never experienced their kind of negative circumstance. But Jesus surely experienced our temptations, that’s why He’s qualified to handle our cries for help and succour. And the author of Hebrews tells us that earlier on: ‘For in that he (Jesus) himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (aid) them that are tempted.’ (Heb. 2:18)
As the song so rightly proclaims: ‘Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free.’ And that is the gospel truth my brethren! Jesus Himself said so in John’s gospel. ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17)
Yes friends, that was Jesus’ major purpose for coming to earth: to save poor, lost sinners like you and I. And if you don’t accept His free offer of saving grace then, unfortunately, you are not blessed with godly wisdom. For without Jesus in your heart, and you in His, your eternal destination will undeniably be hellfire and damnation, in cozy companionship with Satan and his evil cronies. Now, if that’s the kind of eternal ending you desire, then go right ahead and refuse Christ’s free offer of saving grace.
It’s like Bruh David writes in Psalm 14: ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.’ (Ps. 14:1a) And believe me, there is an overwhelming abundance of fools on the earth right now! But as for me and my house, we will gladly accept God’s free saving grace, and serve the Lord, now and forever more!
And if you still don’t believe that we can go to God’s throne with confidence, then listen to Bruh Paul, as he explains to the Ephesians about the Unsearchable Riches in Christ. He writes: ‘According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (in) him.’ (Eph. 3:11-12)
And the scholars offer this explanation of the last verse. ‘This verse affirms that Christians have boldness (freedom of speech before God) and access (the right of entering his presence) with confidence (assurance of being heard by God) by the faith of him (through relying upon Christ to gain God’s ear).’
Yes my fellow saints, ALL that we have from Jehovah God is based on what Christ has done, for without Him, we are NOTHING! Please, let’s never forget that, and thus live accordingly! Much LOVE!
…through Christ’s great sacrificial work on earth…the Father has opened up heaven to all who believe in His Son…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
16 Oct 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: access with confidence by the faith of him, an abomination on to the Lord, bankrupt souls, Christian walk of life, come boldly to the throne of grace, find grace to help in time of need, freedom of speech before God, hold fast our profession, holy of holies, Jehovah is the sinner's friend, Jesus can empathize with our suffering, know the hell of sin within, LOVE, obtain mercy, sacrificial voices of praise, spilled His sinless blood on Calvary, the eternal purpose, the feeling of our infirmities, the great invitation, the sinner lost He came to save, the sympathetic Christ
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
So friends, Sunday, that day of peace, rest and fellowship, has rolled around once again. It’s interesting to note how quickly it seems to come back. Perhaps that’s because the Lord knows how badly we need to fellowship together and receive His awesome grace and mercy to renew our souls and spirits, while we offer up to Him the thanks and praise He so richly deserves.
And looking forward to Sunday ought to be one of the joys of the Christian brethren, although some of us find going to church on Sunday an irritating inconvenience, a pain in the neck that just disrupts our sleeping program. Well then, find a church that gathers at a later hour, so you won’t be inconvenienced, (smile) because gathering with other believers in worship is a rather important aspect of the Christian walk of life.
Anyway, for those of us gathered today, let’s open the proceedings with the usual song of praise. Today’s number is one titled ‘Come Boldly to The Throne of Grace.’ That’s something the Good Book advises us very often to do, but so many of us still refuse to do it. Let’s see if we can’t persuade a few more to do so by singing the song. Therefore, in a sincere, mid-tempo, harmonious riddim, let’s offer up sacrificial voices of praise.
Singing: ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet, And plead what He has done. How can I come? Some soul may say, I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth, I sigh, but dare not talk. Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; and those He kills, He makes alive; He hears the sigh or groan; Poor bankrupt souls, Who feel and know, the hell of sin within; Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in. Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in…the Lord will take you in…Yes the Lord will take you in…take you in.’
Oh my people, there’s absolutely no doubt about that last line. Anytime you go boldly to the throne of grace, the Lord will ALWAYS gladly accept you, NEVER turn you away, for He’s in the business of saving souls. What does the song say? ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free.’
And that’s the gospel truth my brethren. Listen to how Jesus puts it nuh. ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) Glory Hallelujah! Thank God for Jesus! Because it’s through His selfless work down here on earth that we can now go boldly to the throne of grace, that’s right to the Father’s throne and ask for mercy and forgiveness.
Hear how Bruh Paul wrote it to the church at Ephesus, when talking about God’s plan from the vey beginning of time. ‘According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (in) him.’ (Eph. 3:12) Yes my fellow believers, as the scholars explain, we do ‘have boldness (freedom of speech before God), and access (the right of entering His presence) with confidence (the assurance of being heard by God) by the faith of him (through relying upon Christ to gain God’s ear.’
That’s surely wonderful news, because before Jesus came and spilled His sinless blood on Calvary, only the high priest could venture into the holy of holies, had access to the mercy seat in the inner sanctuary of the temple, one day a year to seek forgiveness for the people. But Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension tore down that veil, that large curtain in the temple that supposedly hid the Lord from His people. Now all who acknowledge Christ’s name can boldly and confidently go themselves before the Father.
However, there’s one very important thing we ought to note. We can go to the Father in boldness and confidence, but NEVER in arrogance or pride, ALWAYS humbly, because as Cousin Sol reminds us in Proverbs, the Father still dislikes arrogance, pride or haughtiness; they are all an abomination to Him. (Prov. 6:16-17) So please don’t be fooled by those words ‘boldness’ and ‘confidence,’ they don’t give you a carte blanche approach to God, freedom to behave however you want, you still have to mind your p’s and q’s. (smile)
Now listen to a more detailed explanation of that ability to go directly to God by the author of Hebrews, as he talks about the sympathetic Christ. ‘Seeing then we have a high priest that is passed into (through) to the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (confession of faith). For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (our weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ (Heb. 4:14-15)
Ah mih people, that’s what so great about Jesus, He personally knows what it’s like to suffer the trials and tribulations found down here on earth, so He has the ability to empathize with us in our suffering. No other deity has that ability. That’s why we can carry our burdens, our problems, anxieties, whatever is troubling us to Him. Remember too His Great Invitation, for those who labour and are heavy burdened to come to Him for rest. (Matt. 11:28) So we’re being very foolish if we refuse to carry our troubles to Him who suffered like us, though without sin, and thus understands what trouble is all about.
But here is the scripture that wraps it up tightly nuh, as the author of Hebrews ends his writing on the sympathetic Christ. ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16) And my fellow saints, with the absolute mess that our world is currently in, I don’t think there’s ever been a time in New Testament History that we’ve ever needed God’s grace and mercy like we so desperately do right now!
So please, let’s turn our sincere steadfast attention to the heavenly throne nuh, and seek that grace and mercy we so badly need if our world is to be saved from total destruction. Much LOVE!
…only God’s saving grace and mercy…can improve mankind’s lot…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ
20 Mar 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a comforting call, celebrating the Lord's day, come and find mercy at Christ's feet, come boldly to the throne of grace, find grace to help in time of need, he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, he that cometh to God, I am the way the truth and the life, I was glad when they said unto me, in God's gates and courts, in sincerity and truth, Jesus fills the throne, Jesus the Son of God, know the hell of sin within, let us go up into the house of the Lord, let us hold fast the profession of our faith, let us therefore come boldly, must believe that he is, no one comes to the Father but by me, poor bankrupt souls, praise and thanksgiving, that we may obtain mercy, the best thing that's ever happened to us - Jesus Christ, the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ, the Lord will take you in, the sympathetic Christ, to all who feel the weight of their sin, touched with the feeling of our infirmities, unto the throne of grace, was in all points tempted like as we are, we have a great high priest, without faith it is impossible to please God, ye wretched sinners come, yet without sin
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Ah chuh! It looks like another wet and cloudy day is in the offing…but it’s better than a white and snowy one though! (smile) Anyway it’s Sunday, so we are celebrating the Lord’s Day with praise and thanksgiving in His gates and courts and physically gathering in His sanctuaries to encourage and rejoice with other believers, like we haven’t been able to do for two long years because of the Covid 19 virus! And all God’s people gave a loud and thankful shout of Glory Hallelujah!
Yes friends, it’s oh so good to be able to go into God’s sanctuary again, reminiscent of the opening words of Psalm 122 titled – Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – where Bruh David declares: ‘I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go up into the house of the Lord.’ (Ps. 122:1) Oh there’s nothing better than gathering in God’s house to sing and praise His holy name, to give thanks and receive in return His refreshing renewal of all our energy; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual!
And that’s why this Sunday morning, the first day of spring, we are going to take a leap of faith and sing this re-energizing song “Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace” written by Daniel Herbert (1751 – 1833), a congregational minister who served at Sudbury in Suffolk, England. Why? Because, as one commentator wisely opines: ‘It is a passionate and comforting call to all who feel the weight of their sin to come and find mercy at the feet of Christ.’ Oh my people, I couldn’t put it any better!
So, with sincere hearts and voices let’s go boldly to the throne of grace, offering up our sacrifices of praise in a mid-tempo but ever so soulful and heartfelt version of this marvellous song. ‘Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come, and lay your load at Jesus feet, And plead what He has done. How can I come? Some soul may say, I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth, I sigh, but dare not talk.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost, and blind, and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s friend, And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice; He makes the blind to see, The sinner lost, He came to save, And set the prisoner free. Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; and those He kills, He makes alive; He hears the sigh or groan; Poor bankrupt souls, Who feel and know, the hell of sin within;
Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in. Come Boldly to the throne of grace; The Lord will take you in…the Lord will take you in…Yes the Lord will take you in…take you in’
Yes my faithful brethren, of that fact you can be totally assured; the Lord will NEVER turn away anyone who comes to Him in sincerity and truth! He sent His only begotten Son to earth to save us miserable sinners, so why then would He turn away any of that ilk who come to Him for rescue eh? No reason whatsoever! Remember He doesn’t want to lose even one soul to the enemy, so He will not refuse the sinner’s plea for mercy and grace. And there’s this magnificent and reassuring passage of scripture which tells it all, all about the sympathetic Christ.
The author of Hebrews explains it thus: ‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into (through) the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession (confession of faith). For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:14-16)
Oh my fellow saints, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the best thing that’s ever happened to us! Wow! In His earthly sojourn He suffered all the temptation that we are currently experiencing, but without committing any sin, thus, He can now empathize with what we are going through and doesn’t have to point fingers at us in condemnation, but instead offers us reconciliation and righteousness. As Bruh Paul says in the opening verse of that marvellous Chapter 8 of Romans: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ (Rom. 8:1)
So, once we recognize our frailties, our weaknesses and sins and come to Christ for forgiveness, He doesn’t condemn us, but cleanses us and clothes us in His Holy Spirit to enable us to walk a better walk with Him as our steadfast focus. And please remember that it’s only through Christ’s death and resurrection, and in His holy name that we are even able to go to God’s throne, because God cannot stand sin. And Bruh Paul says it in Ephesians: ‘According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of (in) him.’ (Eph. 3:11-12)
Yes, it was God’s eternal purpose to redeem our sinful souls through Christ Jesus and thus give us bold and confident access to His holy presence. But please, let’s not forget that it’s only through Christ, and in His name that we can enter God’s throne room. That reminds us of Jesus words to Thomas, the doubting disciple: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me.’ (John 14:6) And Hebrews corroborates it: ‘But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm unto the end.’ (Heb. 3:6)
Oh my people, all we are talking about is only possible if we hold on tightly to the hope and faith we profess, that we boast of in Christ Jesus. For as they say, Faith doesn’t make it easy, faith makes it possible. Yes, it’s only with sure faith that we can ever hold firm and endure unto the end. And there is no better way to end today’s proceedings than with this wonderful verse of scripture from Hebrews. ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ (Heb. 11:6)
That’s it my fellow saints! There’s no use talking about God unless we sincerely and strongly believe that He exists and also bountifully rewards those who actively seek Him. And hopefully, that’s why we are gathered here today…in faith, to seek His awesome presence! Much LOVE!
…if you know of Christ…and don’t sincerely LOVE Him…then something’s seriously wrong with you…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
06 Dec 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: another comforter, come boldly to the throne of grace, come to terms with the situation, divine help, enjoy the benefits of our hard labour, entertainment-oriented society, find grace to help in time of need, I shall pray the Father, I will come to you, I will not leave you comfortless, Jehovah Rapha, LOVE, make a living, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, only in concert with Jesus, pray, renewing our spiritual selves, sincerely seek your face, stay on the straight and narrow path, step out on the good foot, thank you for life and strong faith in Christ, that we may obtain mercy, the God of All Comfort, the God who heals, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the wheel of life, turn from our evil ways, we can't fight Satan alone
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The wheel of life has been spun friends, and it has stopped on the number 1. That means it’s the first day of the workweek, that marvellous day we call Monday! And instead of a loud cheer, a great sigh rises up to heaven, because Monday means laying aside our weekend endeavours, or lack thereof, and getting up and getting a move on so we can make a living and enjoy the benefits of our hard labour. (smile)
Ah my people, it has been that way for a long while, but because we are now such a flaky, entertainment-oriented society, we cannot get used to it. And a further word of warning, it will continue thus for some time yet, so we might as well come to terms with the situation and stop making our lives miserable every Monday morning.
The simple fact of the matter is that we know it’s coming, so why not prepare for it, by renewing our spiritual selves with other believers, either at a physical church or through technology, then toning down the Sunday evening activities and getting a good night’s sleep, so we won’t wake up tired and grumpy to begin the new workweek.
It’s said that the first day of the week sets the tone for the remainder of it. And if that’s true, when we begin Monday on a less than stalwart note, then the rest of the week will probably follow suit. So, it’s to our advantage, as Brother James Brown would say, to step out on Monday on the good foot. (smile) And if we have Jesus in our lives, that should not be a problem, since getting us prepared to face each day is one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit. But we have to listen and pay attention to its guidance and direction if we want to benefit from its power.
Unfortunately though, too many of us fail to rely on the Spirit of God dwelling within us, thus our lives are not as joyful and contented as they can be. Remember Jesus words of comfort to the disciples: ‘And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide in you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:16-18)
And the scholars explain ‘Comforter’ thus: ‘The Greek word ‘parakletos’ literally means “one called alongside to help,” hence the idea of a comforter. The Holy Spirit is called another comforter because this is also one of Christ’s titles (1 John 2:1, translated “advocate”). Illustration: The Father is also known as the God of All Comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). Though those in the early church often endured persecutions, they found their comfort in the Holy Spirit (Act 9:31). Application: Today, Christians can find comfort in the Holy Spirit when trials come. (First Ref. John 7:37-39; Primary Ref. John 14:16-18)
Yes friends, the Holy Spirit is there to help and guide us through every aspect of our lives. And I’m wondering here if we don’t use the power of the Holy Spirit because we aren’t persecuted today like the early believers were. Remember, the scholars said above that in times of persecution the early church found comfort in the Holy Spirit. Maybe that’s why we’re so lackadaisical and reticent in using the third arm of the Holy Trinity that dwells within us; life is just too good, so we feel we don’t need Him.
But that’s a fallacy perpetrated by the enemy, my brethren. Once we are in this evil and ungodly world, we need the power of the Holy Spirit, every minute of every day, because that’s the only way we can consistently stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternity with Jesus. We definitely can’t do it on our own, so please don’t let the enemy lead us astray thinking that’s possible. If Jesus needed the help of the Father when He was here on earth, so too do we need heavenly help to solve our earthly problems. We can’t fight Satan on our own. He’s too deceptive and cunning for our small and finite human minds to overcome. Only in concert with Jesus can we do it.
Please, let’s remember that nuh, and don’t try to live life on our own, because the enemy will just blow us away without us even knowing it. That’s why we must never be too proud to ask for help, especially the divine kind. And with the numerous serious problems we are now experiencing, I think this is as good a time as any to do as the Good Book directs us: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16)
So, as one humble, but confident voice let’s offer up our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems.
Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems.
And Father, we pray that you will ease the pain of the many who are suffering from negative situations. Please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’
And now, if we truly want our land to be healed and our problems solved, then we need to pray, repent and turn from our evil ways. Much LOVE!
…it’s not wise to refuse divine help…when it’s readily accessible…when it dwells within us…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
21 Nov 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: cast your every care on him, come boldly to the throne of grace, commit thy way unto the Lord, discouragement, every woe He sees and feels, feed my sheep, find grace to help in time of need, for God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, he shall bring it to pass, He will pardon you today, I am the good shepherd, John Willard Peterson, no one understands like Jesus, obtain mercy, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, the Lord upholdeth him with his hand, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, trust also in him, without sin
John 10:11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
It’s that time again my brethren, Sunday morning, where we gather to worship our wonderful God, to sing His praises, hear His refreshing and enlightening Word, and give Him much thanks for His awesome LOVE and compassion towards us, His most undeserving children. But that’s the kind of God we serve and worship. And today’s opening song is a not so old hymn, (smile) as compared to some others we sing, written by John Willard Peterson (1921-2006), in the early years of his ministry, and aptly titled ‘No One understands like Jesus.’
And believe me friends, that’s the indisputable truth! And why shouldn’t it be true eh, since He is God whose thoughts and understanding are incomparable, and when you add the fact that Jesus Himself underwent all the stuff that we go through down here on earth, it certainly adds up to a wealth of understanding. That’s why Hebrews can tell us: ‘For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (who cannot sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:15-16)
Anyway, enough talk, time to do some singing. And in our usual harmonious and soulful manner let’s offer up our sacrifices of praise to heaven and our marvellous Godhead. ‘No one understands like Jesus. He’s a friend beyond compare; Meet Him at the throne of mercy; He is waiting for you there. (Chorus: No one understands like Jesus When the days are dark and grim; No one is so near, so dear as Jesus– Cast your ev’ry care on Him!) No one understands like Jesus; Ev’ry woe He sees and feels; Tenderly He whispers comfort, And the broken heart He heals.
(Chorus) No one understands like Jesus When the foes of life assail; You should never be discouraged; Jesus cares and will not fail! (Chorus) No one understands like Jesus When you falter on the way; Tho’ you fail Him, sadly fail Him, He will pardon you today. (Chorus: No one understands like Jesus When the days are dark and grim; No one is so near, so dear as Jesus– Cast your ev’ry care on Him! Cast your every care on Him, Cause no one understands like Jesus.’
You can say that again my people: ‘No one understands like Jesus!’ (smile) And there seems to be an interesting and heart-felt story behind the writing of this song, as there usually are behind many of our favourite tunes. Mr. Peterson appears to have been quite involved in Christian music and tells the story thus: ‘”At one time I had a responsible position with a well-known gospel ministry. One day a supervisory position opened up in my department. I was led to believe that I was to be promoted to this position. I was thrilled and challenged by the prospect of a new joy. But I was by-passed, and a man from the outside was brought in to fill the position.
There followed days of agonizing heart searching. It was all I could do to keep from becoming bitter. One night I had occasion to spend an evening with the man who was brought in for “my” position. For some reason or other, though otherwise a very pleasant fellow, that night he became quite caustic in some of his remarks to me; and I was deeply hurt. Later that evening, after returning home, I was sitting in our living room thinking about the events of the past days and about the bitter experiences of that evening. I began to feel very alone and forsaken.
Suddenly, I sensed the presence of the Lord in an unusual way and my mind was diverted from my difficulties to His faithfulness and sufficiency. Soon the thought occurred to me that He fully understood and sympathized with my situation–in fact, no one could ever completely understand or care as did He. Before long, the idea for the song came and I began to write. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Ps. 55:22).
And Peter, who witnessed the perfidy of Judas, echoed his words: “Casting all your care [anxiety] upon Him, for He cares [is deeply concerned] for you” (I Pet. 5:7). Discouragement gripped him. He felt alone and forsaken, and was tempted to become bitter, until he began thinking about the great compassion of the Lord. Who cares? He does!’
Yes friends, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ does care deeply about us, else why would He leave the joys and comforts of heaven and come to earth in human flesh to suffer the humiliation and abuse He did eh? These awesome words of His speak plainly of caring. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (Jon 3:16) There was no reason for the Father to do that, except that His LOVE and compassion for us was so great, He couldn’t just allow us to lose our souls and end up in Hades with Beelzebub.
So Jesus’ coming to earth was all about caring. And the Good Book tells us in so many instances of God’s care and concern for us. Let’s check out a few nuh. Mr. Peterson mentioned a couple. The first one being the words of Bruh David from Psalm 55 – A cry against deceitful friends – where he declares in no uncertain manner: ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer (permit, allow) the righteous to be moved (shaken).’ (Ps. 55:22) and if you are a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then it’s imperative that you believe those words!
Then there was Peter, who experienced Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, as well as his own, when he thrice denied knowing Christ, having been forewarned by Christ that he would do it. And when the cock crowed and Jesus looked around at Peter, he must have wished the earth could open up and swallow him, the shame he felt. (Luke 22:55-62) But the Lord not only forgave Peter, but also encouraged him, ‘Feed my sheep.’ (John 21:15-19) And Peter rose to be one of the leaders of the church.
All of that caring and compassion of Jesus, must have compelled him to write: ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet. 5:6-7) And that’s the gospel truth friends! Peter experienced it, so he could testify to it. Likewise, many of us have also experienced the Lord’s care and compassion in our normal everyday lives, but you know what, in these turbulent and dangerous times we need to seek His care and compassion even more than usual, since the world is in such turmoil.
And Psalm 37 – the true state of the wicked – has a couple of interesting verses that we should all take hold of. ‘Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass…The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.’ (Ps. 37:5, 23-24)
Oh my fellow believers there’s no doubt whatsoever that Jesus cares for us. How else can you interpret these words of His: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) My fellow saints, please ponder those words today, and see if they don’t add up to a tender and heartfelt caring on the part of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Much LOVE!
…no one understands…or cares…like Jesus…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
08 Aug 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living
Tags: access by one spirit, come boldly to the throne of grace, come unto me all ye that labour, every hour I need thee, fellow citizens with the saints, find grace to help, I am meek and lowly in heart, I will give you rest, in time of need, in whom I will trust, learn of me, Lord I need you, LOVE, make hay while the sun shines, my burden is light, my fortress and my deliverer, my one defense, my righteousness, my yoke is easy, take my yoke upon you, that we may obtain mercy, the great invitation, the horn of my salvation, The Lord is my rock, the Lord's Day, trust Jesus with everything, where sin runs deep, you're my hope and stay
Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Sunday, Sunday, glorious summer Sunday! Another day for coming together to sing and praise and dance before our marvellous God! Now why would we refuse to do that when He’s been so good to us down through the years eh? There’s no reason whatsoever not to come together on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day and worship Him. So let’s do that right now by opening with this wonderful Christian contemporary song of praise written by a group of young people including the singer, Matt Maher, who first made it popular. The song is aptly titled ‘Lord I Need You.’
And do we ever! But today we are going to do the version by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, because it’s more lively and uplifting with a full congregation like ours singing. So, in a moderate tempo, in full soulful gospel mode, let’s raise our sacrifice of praise to heaven. ‘Lord I come, I confess Bowing here, I find my rest Without You, I fall apart You’re the one that guides my heart (Chorus) Lord, I need You, oh I need You Every hour, I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You)
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more Where grace is found is where You are And where You are, Lord I am free Holiness is Christ in me (Chorus) So teach my song to rise to You When temptation comes my way And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You Jesus, You’re my hope and stay (Chorus. Lord, I need You, oh I need You Every hour, I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You You’re my one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You.’
Yes my fellow believers, without a doubt, we do need our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And this song brings that need home to us in spades. As one commentator explains: ‘A need is something that is necessary for an organism to live a healthy life. Needs are distinguished from wants in that, in the case of a need, a deficiency causes a clear adverse outcome: a dysfunction or death. In other words, a need is something required for a safe, stable and healthy life (e.g. food, water, shelter) while a want is a desire, wish or aspiration.’
And from that definition of a need, we certainly do need Jesus. Just look at the first verse, where we are singing about finding rest in Him, and otherwise falling apart. It takes us right to that magnificent invitation Jesus offered during His sojourn here on earth. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn (of) from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
Oh my brethren, nothing can be better than that invitation to one who is in desperate need of rest, comfort and succour! And this is not a one and done thing, but a continual need. As the website Godtube tells us: ‘This song confesses our need for the Lord every hour as our “one defense, my righteousness.’ Yes people, the Lord is our major point of defense.
As Bruh David so vividly and confidently notes in Psalm 18 -Thanksgiving for deliverance. ‘I will LOVE thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength (rock), in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (stronghold). I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.’ (Ps. 18:1-3) And if it’s one thing Bruh David never spoke from is hearsay; he always had personal experience to back him up. So, if he says it’s so, then it is so! (smile)
And if you don’t believe Bruh David, then let’s turn to the New Testament, where the author of Hebrews encourages believers. ‘For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ (Heb. 4:15) That means Jesus knows all about out earthly problems and can appreciate our hardships, because He also experienced them down here, but was without sin.
And with that knowledge, the author of Hebrews continues thus: ‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16) Please note those last few words friends –‘in time of need.’ Yes, it’s by going to the throne of grace, where Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand advocating on our behalf, that our needs can best be met! Please let’s keep that uppermost in our minds nuh, because it’s for our benefit, not Christ’s.
And Bruh Paul acknowledges that fact when he wrote to the Ephesians. ‘For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.’ (Eph. 2:18-19) So, if you belong to the household of God the Father, where is the best place to go for help in time of need eh? We willingly go to our earthly fathers, who can only help us so much, why not go to our heavenly Father, to whom ALL things are possible.
And we’ll close with this beautiful testimony regarding our song today. One lady says: ‘God has used this song so much in my life over the past couple months. There are moments when we feel desperate, when we wonder why, we feel alone, we are so joyful, we feel so blessed…or we ask that God would show us what He wants from us and how to live.
And that’s where these words touch my heart so much… “Lord, I need You, oh I need You. Every hour I need You. My one defense, my righteousness, oh God how I need You.” He is ALL that we need. That’s what He wants from us. For us to run to Him, cling to Him and trust Him with everything we’re going through. Whether it’s painful and hard, or joy filled and exciting! We need Him!’
And that’s no lie my fellow saints! So please, let’s take our need for Jesus seriously, and make hay while the sun shines nuh. (smile) Much LOVE!
…in need or in want…heaven is the best place to look for help…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
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