The Spirit’s Work

The filling of the Holy Spirit – the Word of God and the inner witness of the Spirit
Spirit of Christ, who opens up
God’s Word, to teach the Way;
and whispers I’m my Father’s child,
constraining me to pray.

Spirit of God, you teach of love,
and kindle it within.
We love to live by Christ’s commands,
though prone to fall to sin.

Oh, Holy Spirit, you have set
apart for godliness.
I hate corruption, long for God,
and greater holiness!

Your Word shows how we’re reconciled;
you bring us peace and joy;
– exalting Christ; – enabling those
whom you would now employ.

Help me to see when sin, neglect,
makes you withdraw and grieve.
I’ll search your Word, and test my heart,
confess, repent, believe.

O do not let me be deceived!
Come, Spirit, to infill,
and influence more fully all
my thoughts, and acts, and will!
Tune: Richmond by T Haweis (tune of ‘Fill Thou my life’)

Access to God

Ephesians 2:18
I stand amazed in the presence
of God: Father, Spirit, Son.
The Spirit brought me through Jesus
right up to the Father’s throne.
How marvellous, how wonderful:
access to a glorious place!
How marvellous, how wonderful:
God triune’s redeeming grace!

When glancing back at the quicksand
and bondage I knew before,
I realise how much the Father
had planned, and the Saviour bore.

And this the place of pure blessing,
and fellowship rich and love.
Oh, help me stay here communing,
– a foretaste of heaven above!
Tune: 87 87 87 87 irr My Saviour’s love by Charles H Gabriel
(tune of ‘I stand amazed in the presence
of Jesus the Nazarene’)

‘if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live’ Romans 8:13

Holy Spirit, gift divine,
precious treasure, you are mine:
mine to teach me by your Word, –
let your guiding voice be heard.

Holy Spirit, guest divine,
I would ever have you mine;
take the rubbish from my life,
sweep out idols, sin and strife.

Holy Spirit, furnish well,
holy home in which to dwell:
make my life to please you more,
on my heart engrave your law.

Oh, revealer of man’s sin,
recreating work begin;
bring to life that we may view
many now indwelt by you.

Tune: 77 77 eg Vienna by J H Knecht, or Aletta by W B Bradbury

and for children

Everyone who knows the Lord,
and is now a child of God,
God’s own Spirit dwells within:
he is holy, hating sin.

Changes in our lives he’ll make:
holy fruit for Jesu’s sake.
Love and joy and peace all grow
in each one that God loves so.

Patience, kindness, faithfulness,
(happy, when we’re more like this)
gentleness and self-control,
humbly doing good to all.

Christian life – talking

Tongues cause trouble all through life:
words bring peace or stir up strife,
cheer or sadden, hurt or heal:
inward state of soul reveal.

Men remember what I say,
and I must confess each day
ask forgiveness of my Lord,
for my every idle word.

Let my words be few and wise,
calm, controlled, and free from lies;
let me not conceal intent
by kind words I have not meant.

Words and winks can tempt and draw
men to disobey God’s law;
gossip’s words will cast a stain,
and the slur will long remain.

Do not love in words alone:
Christians by their deeds are known:
kindly acts and gracious tongue
show a work of grace begun.

Tame my tongue, and teach it, Lord
from the counsel of your Word.
Cleanse my heart, so that it may
guide my tongue in what to say.

Sh!

Little bit will turn the horse,
little rudder sets the course,
spark sets forest all aflame, –
tiny tongue is hard to tame!
Sh! are you lying?
Sh! cross or fooling?
Sh! God is hearing:
let Jesus hold your tongue!

Drink is spoiled by poison drop.
Does your tongue know when to stop?
Little words can harm or hurt,–-
just like arrows, germs, or dirt.
Tune: 77 77 +   ‘Jesus loves me’ by W B Bradbury

on John 10:40-43

The truth we tell is the same today
as the truth made known of old;
for if truth is truth it is here to stay,
and so must again be told.
O, let it be said, Lord Jesus,
what we spoke of you was true
.

And people want to be told the truth,
though they may not want to hear,
and may turn aside to the dreams of youth,
or may mock, despise, or jeer.

And who knows, one day they may see the Light,
and accept that truth they heard;
not changed by seeing a wondrous sight,
but by truth their hearts are stirred.

The word of truth is of Christ, the Lord;
of Christ, the Judge, the Lamb.
We must not add to his glorious Word, –
but the truth we must proclaim.

Ephesians 2:4

When dead in transgressions and slave to my sin,
with Satan my ruler unkind,
unable to break from the pathway to hell,
change the lusts or the thoughts of my mind:
Was it well, with my soul,
was it well, was it well with my soul?

When  I spent  my time at my latest delight,
rejecting, ignoring the LORD,
though sometimes ashamed, and perplexed, and cast down,
still I had no desire for his Word:

When bound by my habits, replacing true joy
with pleasures or gathering wealth, –
encouraged by lies from the tyrant of souls,
deaf to words that could bring lasting health;

But when, by God’s grace, I awoke to my plight,
perceived, heard his wonderful call,
put trust in the Saviour, reborn by his power, –
was it well? It was well with my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

2 Corinthians 4:6

In darkness, light was born,
created, shining out
from where before there had been none:
he spoke, and who dare doubt.

The law shines in to show
what we are like within,
but cannot change the things we do,
and pardon us our sin.

But gospel grace transforms
our darkness into light,
we’re counted just in Christ, now sons
who in his words delight.

And those who say they trust
they’ve kept the law right well,
should think again, – though it is just,
they’ve not obeyed it all.

But once in Christ we can
bear fellowship with God,
his glory does not frighten, burn:
we love to know our Lord.

Full access now, and free,
that never is denied,
for we have Christ, the password, key,
– in him all is supplied.

Romans 1:16,17

I’m not ashamed of the gospel,
the gospel of Christ, the Lord:
the power of God for salvation –
his mercy and love outpoured.
How marvellous! how wonderful!
gospel way has been made known!
How marvellous! how wonderful!
Righteousness by faith alone!

I’m not ashamed of the gospel
which comes from the Perfect One,
though people misrepresent him,
and all he has said and done.

I’m not ashamed of the gospel
that offers a gift so good:
new life, peace, pardon and power
for living the way we should.

I’m not ashamed of the gospel
– for people in every place,
for men and women and children –
the gospel of love and grace.

Are you ashamed of the gospel,
or think that it is ‘absurd’?
True faith receives Christ, takes refuge.
Be wise and believe his Word!