This Week at Hope – The Blessing to Be Before the Face of God Alone
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On Sunday, we will return to Nehemiah and be equipped again on how God rebuilds worship in the city. One of the most helpful qualities of the man Nehemiah, is that he is before the face of God in all situations. Whether he is before a king or the people or his enemies, His gaze is upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He draws his wisdom, strength and comfort from heaven. There are three things I would like to highlight from our text on Sunday – Nehemiah 2:9-20. First of all, we will observe a man who is beholding the face of God – the greatest blessing of being alive in Jesus. Second, we see a pattern for how we should survey the damage in our lives. On Sunday I’ll give several practical helps on this matter from our text. Third, it is plain that Christ builds His kingdom where the enemy is. Enter Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. Yet, he gates of hell cannot prevail against it. We are building the kingdom of heaven over-top the wicked city. And, we have this treasure in earthen vessels that our strength comes from the Lord, and He will perfect what he began in us by His grace.
Please pray for the ministry at Carillon on Thursday night led by the Keiths and the Hillmans…
Pray for the ministry at the abortion clinic on Saturday morning.
On Wednesday, Prayer will be held at the Brown’s Barn
On Sunday evening, Paul Carrington will continue his instruction on the Baptist Confession section on, “The Law of God.”
- O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
- Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
- The Power of the Cross
- He Will Hold Me Fast
- I Love Thy Kingdom Lord
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace
Jesus! the name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears
‘Tis life and health and peace
He breaks the pow’r of cancelled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me
Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind, behold your Savior come
And leap, ye lame, for joy
My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread thro’ all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name
Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A foll’wer of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flow’ry beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
The Power of the Cross
Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Now the daylight flees; now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death; life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.
He Will Hold Me Fast
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight,
When He comes at last!
I Love Thy Kingdom Lord
I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The church our blessed Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
I love Thy church, O God.
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And written on Thy hand.
If e’er to bless Thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skills forsake,
This voice in silence die.
Should I with scoffers join
Her altars to abuse?
No! Better far my tongue were dumb,
My hand its skill should lose.
For her my tears shall fall
For her my prayers ascend,
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.
Jesus, Thou Friend divine,
Our Savior and our King,
Thy hand from every snare and foe
Shall great deliverance bring.
Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield
And brighter bliss of Heaven.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace
Jesus! the name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears
‘Tis life and health and peace
He breaks the pow’r of cancelled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me
Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind, behold your Savior come
And leap, ye lame, for joy
My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread thro’ all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name
Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A foll’wer of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flow’ry beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
The Power of the Cross
Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Now the daylight flees; now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death; life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.
He Will Hold Me Fast
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight,
When He comes at last!
I Love Thy Kingdom Lord
I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The church our blessed Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
I love Thy church, O God.
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And written on Thy hand.
If e’er to bless Thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skills forsake,
This voice in silence die.
Should I with scoffers join
Her altars to abuse?
No! Better far my tongue were dumb,
My hand its skill should lose.
For her my tears shall fall
For her my prayers ascend,
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.
Jesus, Thou Friend divine,
Our Savior and our King,
Thy hand from every snare and foe
Shall great deliverance bring.
Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield
And brighter bliss of Heaven.