House of the Lord - January 2022

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The imagery of the church throughout Scripture is vast, giving us great insight into who we are as the people of God. As the New Israel of God (Gal. 6:16) finding its rest in Christ, the church is given the voice of gladness (Jer. 33:10-11) as it worships in the house of the Lord. Surely this can shape our approach to singing praises to God in weekly worship. But there’s a bit of a double meaning here. At the same time the church is being built up as a spiritual house of the Lord (1 Pet. 2:5) through Jesus Christ. This means that the covenant promises of God, all the way back to the Garden, through Noah, Abraham, Moses and David find their fulfillment in God’s relationship to Christ (Jer. 31:31-33; Matt. 26:28) and his body (Col. 1:18), the church (Gal. 3:29). God dwells in you and with you through Christ and his Spirit.

Here’s what this means: if you are in Christ, you have access at any moment to an endless tap of the joy of Christ! John 15:11 - “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” FULL JOY! Despite your circumstances, trials, losses, and persecutions, your joy may be full in Christ. In fact, it’s even through those things that Christ is stirring up in you unending joy as you share in his sufferings to the glory of God (Rom. 8:17; 1 Pet. 4:13). We don’t ignore the brokenness in and around us in this life, but we are called to rejoice in and through them with a sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15) as they prepare for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:17)! In Christ we are forgiven, accepted, and redeemed by his grace. Hallellujah, there’s JOY in the house of the Lord!

-Jonathan

House of the Lord

Written by Jonathan Smith & Phil Wickham

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
We worship the God who was
We worship the God who is
We worship the God who evermore will be
He opened the prison doors
He parted the raging sea
My God He holds the victory

Chorus
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
There’s joy in the house of the Lord today
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
Our God is surely in this place
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise

Verse 2
We sing to the God who heals
We sing to the God who saves
We sing to the God who always makes a way
'Cause He hung up on that cross
Then He rose up from that grave
My God’s still rolling stones away

Bridge
We were the beggars
Now we’re royalty
We were the prisoners
Now we’re running free
We are forgiven accepted
Redeemed by His grace
Let the house of the Lord sing praise

© 2020 Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Cashagamble Jet Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]), Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

CCLI Song #7168995 | CCLI License # 193208

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Lovingkindness - October 2021

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One of the deepest pains we experience in this life is that of betrayal. In a breach of trust, we are hurt by the unfaithfulness of another. Sometimes we even see it in ourselves. The truth is, we've all proven to be unfaithful to God. Yet, the precious truth remains that God is immovably faithful to Himself and to us, His people.

God's faithfulness is expressed by the Hebrew word "hesed", an all encompassing quality that may be translated as lovingkindness, steadfast love, mercy, or faithfulness. This is an identity marker God reveals to Moses in Exodus 34:6, which becomes a vital creed of who God is that Scripture repeats over and over again. The word "hesed" appears in the Psalms over 150 times and in every verse of Ps. 136 alone! It is the subject of praise (89:1), dependence (109:26), confession (Ps. 51:1), comfort (36:7), identity (30:4), forgiveness (86:5), and more. God's lovingkindness is what His people cling to as the very foundation of His promises. So, it's no surprise that it fills their lips in song.

And how is this lovingkindness shown most vividly? On the cross, when God Himself in Jesus Christ went to the uttermost length to prove His faithfulness to us: "the greatest gift there ever was of lovingkindness." May God's lovingkindness be an abundant subject of our worship.

-Jonathan

Lovingkindness

Written by Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, & Matt Redman

Lyrics: 

Let praises now awake the dawn
We’ll greet Your mercy with a song
Your people stand and sing for all
Your lovingkindness

You’ve carried us in faithfulness
Upon the paths of righteousness
Our gracious King You’ve crowned us with
Your lovingkindness

How great is Your lovingkindness
O God of goodness
Our joy forever to sing the glad refrain
Of grace that saved us
Of sweet forgiveness
O how great is Your lovingkindness

You lift us with a Father’s hand
You shelter us with Your commands
What heart could fully comprehend
Your mercies endless

You lead us through the shadows deep
Where doubts trace every step it seems
But as the darkness breaks we’ll see
The morning promise

A life laid down to rescue us
With arms outstretched upon the cross
The greatest gift there ever was
Of lovingkindness

© 2020 Integrity Worship Music, Said And Done Music, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Getty Music Publishing, Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.), Messenger Hymns

CCLI Song #7160872 | CCLI License # 193208

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Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor - September 2021

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Trials in this life sure can knock us around and the storms are often massively relentless. With waves crashing on every side we're all looking for something to ground us, something sturdy to cling on to. Emotional ups and downs drain us and tempt us to despair. Sickness and pain leave us writhing for relief. Relational tensions discourage us from truly trusting. Internal turmoil leads to self-loathing and depression. External abuse makes us angry and defensive.

Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). The Bible describes Jesus as the only constant amidst the storms. He is the immovable anchor for all those who trust Him. The thing about anchors is that the bigger the storm, the more tightly they cling. So it is with Jesus, who holds us all the tighter until he ushers us into our eternal rest.

-Jonathan

Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor

Written by Matt Papa & Matt Boswell

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
Christ the sure and steady anchor
In the fury of the storm
When the winds of doubt blow through me
And my sails have all been torn
In the suffering in the sorrow
When my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

Verse 2
Christ the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won
Deeper still then goes the anchor
Though I justly stand accused
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

Verse 3
Christ the sure and steady anchor
Through the floods of unbelief
Hopeless somehow O my soul now
Lift your eyes to Calvary
This my ballast of assurance
See His love forever proved
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

Verse 4
Christ the sure and steady anchor
As we face the wave of death
When these trials give way to glory
As we draw our final breath
We will cross that great horizon
Clouds behind and life secured
And the calm will be the better
For the storms that we endured

Tag
Christ the shore of our salvation
Ever faithful ever true
We will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

© 2015 Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Getty Music Publishing, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Messenger Hymns | CCLI Song #7045331 | CCLI License # 193208

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