PRAISE YE THE LORD Tune "MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE" 664.6664 Words by: JIM BYRD
1. Praise ye the God of grace, Who gave to Christ a race. Vast multitudes; Chosen By His decree, Christ’s work at Calvary, From sin would set them free, Praise ye the Lord.
2. Praise ye the Son of God, Who on this earth has trod. Our Substitute; Charged with iniquity, Died for us willingly, Gave us His purity, Praise ye the Lord.
3. Praise ye the Spirit’s light; He came into our night; Revealing Christ. Grace poured into the soul, His blood has made us whole, Jesus we now extol, Praise ye the Lord.
4. Praise ye the Trinity, The holy Godhead three, Honor His Name. Soon in eternity, All of His family, Shall sing with unity, Praise ye the Lord.
"Teach me to do Thy will: for Thou art my God; Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy name’s sake: for Thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble." (Psalm 143:10-11)
SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY: MORNING: HEBREWS 11:30-40 EVENING: JOHN 7:1-13
"MAGNIFY THE LORD" "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:3) To "magnify the LORD" is to ascribe greatness and glory to Jehovah, the ever existent "I AM," our eternal Savior. None can truly worship and exalt the Lord from their hearts except those who have been made by the Holy Spirit to know something of their utter unworthiness and insignificance before this great and glorious God and who have been made to rejoice in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial, substitutionary work of redemption by which God is both a just God and a Saviour. There is no praise on earth like that which arises from sinners who prostrate themselves at the throne of grace under a sense of their own guilt and who by faith embrace the gospel word that they are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ because of the Redeemer’s work of reconciliation. Though vile and wicked in ourselves, God has already, for Christ’s sake, forgiven us of all our transgressions. With confidence in the blessed Savior and His cross-death and resurrection, therefore, let us join our hearts together to magnify and exalt the Name of our great and glorious God believing His Word that all of His people are "accepted in the Beloved," and that it is all "to the praise of the glory of His grace." –Pastor Jim Byrd
LETTER TO A FRIEND The following is an excerpt from a letter written by John Newton to an unnamed friend, written sometime in 1769: I received a letter from you which mentions dear Mrs. ****’s case, a very trying one; but in this likewise we see the Lord’s faithfulness. Our own experience and all that we have observed of His dealings with others, may convince us that we need not be afraid to intrust ourselves and our dearest concerns in His hands; for He can and will make everything work for good. How little does the world know of that communion which is carried on between heaven and earth; what petitions are daily presented, and what answers are received at the Throne of Grace! O the blessed privilege of prayer! O the wonderful love, care, attention and power of our great Shepherd! His eye is always upon us; when our spirits are almost overwhelmed within us, He knoweth our path. His ear is always open to us; let who will overlook and disappoint us, He will not. When means and hope fail, when everything looks dark upon us, when we seem shut up on every side, when we are brought to the lowest ebb, still our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. To Him all things are possible; and before the exertion of His power, when He is pleased to arise and work, all hindrances give way and vanish, like a mist before the sun. And He can so manifest Himself to the soul and cause His goodness to pass before it that the house of affliction shall be the golden hour of the greatest consolation. He is the fountain of life, strength, grace and comfort, and of His fulness His children receive according to their occasions...we have therefore cause for continual praise. The Lord has given us to know His name as a Resting-place and a Hiding-place, a Sun and a Shield. Circumstances and creatures may change; but He will be an unchangeable Friend. The way is rough, but He trod it before us, and is now with us in every step we take; and every step brings us nearer to our heavenly home. Our inheritance is surely reserved for us, and we shall be kept for it by His power through faith. Our present strength is small, and without a fresh supply would be quickly exhausted; but He has engaged to renew it from day to day; and He will soon appear to wipe all tears from our eyes; and then we shall appear with Him in glory.