Howdy,
When I wrote about “A week from hell” earlier in the week I should have included the statement “Oh hell!”
Well, not really the statement. More so the phrase, as presented in a Matt Maher song, which we’ll get to here in a moment. It’s a song I heard today and saw the lyrics on screen. In church.
Since my Dad and Uncle Donnie decided to be “on the road again,” moving their visit from Turlock with us to Madera and Fresno to spent some time with a couple of my brothers and their families, today we took the opportunity to follow them south and attend a Sunday morning service in Madera at my youngest brother’s church The Well Madera.
Pastor Dave — though I’m much more accustomed to calling him David or Dave-o when we’re messing with it — gave a great message to highlight and clarify the Gospel of our Great God, showing our hopeless separation from God in sin and His substitutionary salvation for us in Jesus Christ. And Pastor Dav — Pastor Hawes — that’s pretty cool! Pastor Hawes. Dave’s becoming like Rich Mullins or C.S. Lewis or something: two amazing Kingdom guys who had a slew of names used with remarkable familiarity, admiration, and love in various segments of their astounding lives and wide-ranging ministries.
But, David, before you get a big head, let’s be honest, really Jasper and Titus just wanted to make the trip with Grandpa Bill and Great Uncle Donnie in the motorhome.
It’s so good, life so clear, when the truth of the Gospel is preached, aligning mind and spirit with what is important. What is reality. Realigning and rejuvenating.
The gospel shows you your plight (unredeemed without God), your position (without or, better, with: and thus in God’s mercy, grace, and justified righteousness), and your purpose with a promised future.
It was great to be there this morning, as my little kid bro preached a Biblical sermon, skillfully communicating a comprehensive reality of heaven and hell.
And the service ended with the Matt Maher song Christ is Risen. Which made me think of my earlier post about heaven so overshadowing hell with its eternal Light and good gifts from the Father of lights. Because Matt Maher (and Mia Fieldes) write more than just “Oh hell!”
It’s: “Oh hell! Where is your victory?”
Because we know: “Oh death! Where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
“Christ Is Risen”
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for usChrist is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaimChrist is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the graveChrist is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the graveOh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he’s alive! he’s alive!Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the graveRise up from the grave …
(Written by: Mia Fieldes and Matt Maher)
Christ has done it, so rise up from the grave …
—Billy
Reading. Writing. Living.
Word Count: 63,556 / On Pace: 65,450 / Year’s Goal: 200,000
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