Category: The Gospel

The Incarnation

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The angels look on in great wonder,
God’s people are filled with great awe,
for all that exists had its being
from him whom the wise men adore!
Amazed! amazed!
through faith understand, be amazed!
and marvel, with wonder:
let Jesus for ever be praised!

The Ruler of all, in the manger;
and soon he’d be hated, instead
of glory and worship and honour,
with nowhere to lay down his head.

God’s wisdom and gracious atonement,
his covenant made with his Son,
the great condescension of Jesus
in taking on weak human form.

He humbled himself as a servant
and suffered, obedient to death,
the death on the cross as an offering
that we might receive the new birth.
Tune: 98 98 + ‘Redeemed” by W J Kirkpatrick

Praise for the plan of salvation

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Ephesians1:3–14
What a wonderful plan of God for me
to be chosen for his praise, –
to be holy, blameless, his love proclaim,
child of God through endless days.
Praise his glory,
praise his glorious grace,
praise his great and glorious grace.
For it cost him, cost him,
cost so much to him,
to redeem and purchase me.

What a wonderful grace of Christ to say
he would come and shed his blood.
And he brought me in from the power of sin,
gave me insight to his Word.

And how wonderful that he seals his own –
his deposit, guarantee, –
Spirit lives within, keeps us for our King,
for that blessed eternity.
Tune: 10 7 10 7 + eg Grace Divine by William H Doane (607 Grace Hymns)

Dread or Desire

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What the wicked dreads will overtake him;
what the righteous desire will be granted. Proverbs 10:24 (also vv.25, 27-30)

All wickedness brings secret dread;
though perpetrators seem content,
can’t see with certainty ahead –
exposure or revenge prevent.

Their hopes will one day come to naught.
God’s ways, and laws which will protect
those who his righteousness have sought,
will ruin those who Him reject.

But those who seek his righteousness,
desire what’s good, in patience wait;
they will receive, – God’s faithfulness
will grant their blessed eternal state.

How wonderful when dread is gone,
replaced with wholesome, good desires:
a wicked heart transformed by God
and now to righteousness aspires.

Calls of Wisdom and Folly

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Wisdom calls, with much to give –
“food” enriching, “wine” to live,
understanding to discern:
ways of peace and safety learn.

Folly’s call is loud, with glitter,
sweet attractions that turn bitter,
thrills unlawful (others pay), –
ignorance can’t stay away.

Wisdom calls aloud in the street … whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. Proverbs 1:20,33 and ch.9

Rags to Riches

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“Replace those clothes so soiled and worn,
with rich, clean garments that adorn.
So famished, that you pigswill crave:
the Prince adopts you! and will save
from such a life, that Monster’s slave,
by ‘friends’ impoverished, and bled,
who later disappeared, well fed;
the riches you will now enjoy
no rust or scoundrel can destroy;
receive a strength secure, and ‘eyes’
that understand, and grow more wise,
a ‘Husband’ trustworthy and kind,
brings satisfaction, peace of mind,
and helps you use your talents, gifts;
– you’re loved, and liked (your spirit lifts),
respected, thanked, fulfilled, worth while
your life and labours, no more vile;
a sense of purpose and a view
that stretches through the troubles true,
and knows that happiness will yet
remain supporting, and will get
still better, fuller, richer, sweeter,
and truly be ‘for ever after’ ”.

The Defeat of the Archetype

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A spirit of the Great King’s court,
had mutinied, sedition taught,
and sought to cause much trouble, fear,
amongst the subjects; he would steer
them from the rule and care so kind,
and make them of rebellious mind;
but soon they found their master new
a harsh slave-driver, monster too
– the only way they could be freed
was if the King’s own Son agreed
to take him on, fight to the death,
– the guilty then could have new birth,
be freed from this tyrannical rule,
and realise they’d each been a fool,
and glad to find they could return,
receive acquittal none could earn
and what is more, the battle won,
he lives forever, their Saviour-Son.

Jesus clears away the additions to scripture

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He spoke to the needy and lost,
and witnessed whatever the cost,
not harshly to stir into hate, –
but they killed him outside of the gate.

Their system of rules he refused,
– their rules had made many confused;
the Scriptures that God had revealed
beneath human rules were concealed.

True meaning of Scripture they missed,
else they would have welcomed, and kissed
the Son, but they hated his claim,
rejecting his wonderful name.

Tune: 88 88 (anapaestic?)

Freedom!

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Freedom from oppression,
cruel domination,
manipulation, exploitation,
– universal greed for gain;
freedom from the pace and stress, –
peers-pressuring excess;
freedom from imprisoning chain,
and from all ill-health, and pain;
freedom from my guilt and shame,
self-convicting, well-earned blame.

Freedom from the pull of habit,
– want to quit, but cannot snap it:
paradox, that strength for progress
comes with heavenly bonds of service:
quickened aptitude,
grace and gratitude.

Some have had to fight, with gun,
those who kill, enslave and maim;
some have had to flee, and run
to a place where once again
they their families may feed,
worship God, with godly creed, –
from coercion, and the greed,
of those power-abusers, freed.

Perfect freedom: coming kingdom,
perfect law, and no-one poor,
never crime, nor aggravation,
universal full submission
to that perfect legislation;
harmony, and satisfaction.

Testimony to personal release

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“O son, you know my life was such a mess,
– brought others, and myself distress;
you know things now are so much better,
since, by God’s grace, I broke that fetter,
and found the freedom for a life
that doesn’t injure children, wife;
and so you know why now I urge
you, – follow his good ways, and purge
away temptations fierce, by grace,
(the things you saw your Dad embrace),
and care for family and friends,
with work, and trust, and make amends
where possible, for wrong, but pray,
– for God’s full pardon none can pay,
procured by Christ on that good day;
and with his Spirit’s help his way
you’ll walk, in freedom, loving all
these precious guidelines, firm foundation.
So study his communication
beneficial, – you’ll not fall,
as I did into deadly thrall.”

based on passages like Proverbs 1:1-19; 4:1-17

Opportunities and Opposition

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Acts 19:8-41
Great opportunities to spread the Word,
great opposition when it’s heard
by those who do not want to change,
which is so sad, and very strange,
and then they often tell such lies,
about the message they despise,
and get more angry if their purse
grows light because of righteousness,
for some want just an easy brush
with truth, a gloss that will not touch
the core, the heart, their life’s direction,
and some would like to use his name
to give them honour, skill and fame.