Please help us raise the funds needed to print. In-Tune training course for Christians in music ministry. t.co/afjpKwRo9a via @FaithLauncher Here is a sample taken from a chapter of my book: Lets read through the words to the amazing hymn by Isaac Watts that remind us so clearly of the ultimate act of submission so that we could be restored sinless and redeemed. When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride Forbid it Lord that I should boast Save in the death of Christ my God All the vain things that charm me most I sacrificed them to His blood See from His head His hands His feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down Did ere such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown Were the whole realm of nature mine that were a present far too small Love so amazing so divine Demands my soul my life my all This is one of the most well-known hymns based around the crucifixion of Jesus. The hymn was inspired by Galatians 6:14: May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. What most people do not know about this hymn is that in the earlier publications of the hymn, there was an additional verse which Isaac Watts later removed to give us the hymn as we know it today. His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads oer his body on the tree; Then am I dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. It is generally thought that Isaac Watts removed this verse so that the person singing the hymn would concentrate on their response to the crucifixion rather than on the crucifixion itself. We all respond to the crucifixion of Jesus and it is generally thought that there are two responses. We either accept it and see how our sins were paid for, responding with repentance and thanks, or we reject it and continue to live our lives without Jesus, going our own way refusing Gods grace and mercy. I have, however, seen a third response to the cross of Christ and it is a response that is self-centred and repulsive. In order to reach people with the Gospel who enjoy many different sub-culture genres of music, God raised a Christian music alternative so that our ministry bands can build a bridge to the people in the mainstream music scene giving us evangelists who are accepted and heard by people unreachable by the mainstream church. Unfortunately this has also created a band wagon for Christians who are not remotely interested in reaching the lost to jump onto, in the hope of using the Christian music scene to give their band a following and to satisfy all their ambitions. They use the cross of Christ for their own purpose, prostituting the name of Jesus for their own gain. My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Our material desires put aside and our pride replaced with humility, a real desire to serve Jesus with our music. Our desires for those big stages, album deals and notoriety sacrificed to the service (doulos) of Jesus, All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrificed them to His blood. We are called of God to take up our cross and follow Jesus. This means that we are called to die to self in absolute surrender
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 12:30:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015