Grace

We are in a series on grace at church at the moment called "Extravagant Grace". It has been a real joy to open this topic up and give it some thought over the last few weeks.

Last sunday I spoke from Romans 6:1-2 "what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"

I love the fact that God gives us a grace that we can enter into salvation with, and remain in salvation with. Their is a grace for us to overcome sin! Praise God for that.

Sadly though, many people do not have this attitude. It wasn't that different in the Apostle Paul's day, hence the above verses! D.A. Carson comments on this. He says :-

“People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer and obedience to scripture, faith and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated”.

Let us decide to live in grace!

A song from the Heart

I am amazed at how a song can "grab your heart". "How Great Thou Art", "How I trust Him" (the song I want played at my funeral) and so many other great songs have the capacity to transcend time and move us toward God.

Lately we have been enjoying "Revelation Song" on Melissa Greene's (from Avalon) latest solo album. This song isn't new either. It was written by Jennie Riddle back in 1999 in her personal worship time. Pulled in various directions with changing nappies, cooking dinner, and the call of the Spirit to write a song, she did the latter. And while this song is simple in its chord work, it is lyrically profound in its portrait of God, using Ezekiel 1:26-28 and Revelation 4.

I was the worship leader at Mount Lawley Church on sunday (my first time since we planted there) and we did this song. It moved many of us (including me) to tears. Just a wonderful time of worship...

Here are some of the lyrics:-

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on Heaven's mercy seat

CHORUS Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be to You the only wise King

CHORUS

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power Breath, and living water Such a marvelous mystery

CHORUS

It is so important that we following the leadings of the Spirit. Whether it be in writing a song like this, or in studying scripture, witnessing to a friend, or being obedient in some way. These promptings that He gives us are so key to our spiritual walk. And when it comes to worship, I want to be moved by thoughts that remind me of just how big and wonderful our God is. He alone is worthy of our worship!