He Came from Glory, Glory Above

The ocean, vast and shimmering blue,

Speaks of the Lord’s great Love for you;

He came from glory, glory above

To show you just how much He loves…      1

He came from glory, glory above!

Oh, wonderful story, story of love!

Story that never, ever will end,

Story of our Saviour… (Refrain)               

The King saw His people in distress,

By sin and sorrow, in slavery pressed;

He came from glory, glory above

To show them just how much He loves…    2

His royal vesture, in splendid array,

He graciously cast them all away!

He came from glory, glory above

To show us just how much He loves…        3

He left the streets of gold behind,

Walked in the dust of humankind;

He came from glory, glory above

To show the poor how much He loves…     4

Creator of all became carpenter’s son,

Veiled in fleshed was the Holy One;

He came from glory, glory above

To show the world how much He loves…   5

He came to Calvary’s lonely Hill

Outside the gates of Jerusalem;

He suffered, died, was crucified;

From sin’s weight, He did not hide…

He came from glory, glory above

The Universe saw His Love…                  6                 

He’s coming again from glory above!

He’ll take us to His Kingdom of Love

Story that never, ever will end;

Story of our Saviour… (end with this )       7                

Jesus Christ: Fountain of Grace

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace

Freely flowing in the desert place;

You have freed me from my sins,

From the walls that shut me in!

I will praise Your Name forever!

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace;

How I long to see your glorious face!

You have freed me from my sins,

From the walls that shut me in!

Now my life will blossom like the rose for You

And my deeds will speak of my love for You,

Fountain of Grace!

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace

Your streams of Love envelope the world;

You have saved them from their sins,

From the walls that shut them in!

Let the sons of Abraham come together

To drink from the Spring of Living Water

That they may never die, but live forever

Oh, Fountain of Grace!

Let them seek, let them find You

When they search with all their hearts!

Let them know You, let me tell them

Of the Fountain I have found!

Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace!

You have freed from their sins,

From the walls that shut them in!

All nations are blessed in You oh Lord...

Jesus...

Son of David...

Fountain of Grace...

Everlasting Saviour!

Fountain of Grace, Everlasting Saviour...

Encouragement For Leaders in Exodus 6

Moses, deeply troubled, sought solace in consultation with God. The children of Israel refused to believe  the message that God had seen their distress and planned to deliver them from the tyranny of Pharaoh.  At first excited by the news, they had expected instant deliverance which, when it did not materialise, resulted in utter despair. They began to rationalise and blamed Moses and Aaron for  making their situation worse. They were content to be Pharaoh’s “servants”, yet God declared that they were  His “people” (Ex 5:1, Ex 5:15-16).

God instructed Moses to tell Pharoah to relent from his enslavement of Israel. Moses, discouraged and dejected from his first encounter with the proud monarch of Egypt, replies (paraphrase): “Israel itself won’t listen to me; why should Pharoah listen to me. I can’t even speak properly.”

Sometimes the ministers of God are faced with the same dilemma. The very people to whom they bring glad tidings of freedom in Christ are the ones who reject the message. They have become accustomed to the slavery of sin, or are just in a comfort zone from which they refuse to move.

After years of being told what to do, and how to do it, slaves understandably fear freedom and the opportunity it brings. The open prison door is a step into the unknown for a prisoner who has been held captive for years. It is not unheard of that prisoners sometimes commit petty offences to get back into prison, just to experience the familiarity of the routine it affords them. Sometimes they commit suicide in advance of their impending pardon and release. “Stockholm syndrome”, a term coined after a major bank robbery in Stockholm, is a psychological phenomenon where captives bond with their captors, developing feelings of familiarity and sympathy for them. Elements of this can also be observed in victims of abuse, who sometimes defend their abusers or refuse to move away from them.

Moses was the perfect candidate for God to use to deliver Israel from Egypt. He was educated in Pharaoh’s own house, yet also identified with the people of Israel. When Moses was told to go back to Egypt by God, he was told that the men who sought to kill him were dead. However, there may have been people in Pharaoh’s royal court who did not seek to kill him, but were acquainted with his upbringing as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses may have been to them an item of mockery and ridicule. After all, who in their right mind would relinquish a place in the royal house of Egypt, choosing instead to be the spokesman of an enslaved nation suffering from Stockholm Syndrome? So it is with ministers of Christ who relinquish wealthy lifestyles or worldly living to proclaim the Gospel of freedom. They may be mocked and      ridiculed by those closest to them, yet God approves for them the honour of employment in His service.

It was God’s arm that would pluck the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, yet He would accomplish this through the rod of Moses. By the time Israel left Egypt, that humble rod would be more feared than the scepter of Pharaoh himself. God would refer to Jesus Christ our King, Saviour, Great Prophet and Good Shepherd as “a prophet like Moses”. (Deut 18:18, Ex 7:1-5, Jn 6:14, Acts 3:22-23)

Exodus 6-You will be My people and I will be your God

Moses, deeply troubled, sought solace in consultation with God. The children of Israel refused to believe  the message that God had seen their distress and planned to deliver them from the tyranny of Pharaoh.  At first excited by the news, they had expected instant deliverance, which when it did not materialise, resulted in utter despair. They began to rationalise and blamed Moses and Aaron for  making their situation worse. They were content to be Pharaoh’s “servants”, yet God declared that they were  His “people” (Ex 5:1, Ex 5:15-16).

Neither Moses, nor the children of Israel knew the time-frame of the plan that God had set in motion. He planned not only to deliver Israel from Egypt, but also to answer Pharaoh’s defiance and   arrogance, showcasing His glory to all Egypt. Moses and Aaron had approached Pharaoh in Ex 5:1with a “Thus saith the LORD.”   Pharaoh regarded himself as the supreme authority, for he        responded in Ex 5:10 with a “Thus saith Pharaoh” when denying the Israelites straw to make bricks. His arrogant cry in Exodus 5:2 was as follows: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and, moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

God was about to answer Pharaoh’s arrogance. In Ex 6, He declares  “I am the LORD.” Neither the Israelites, nor the Egyptians knew the significance of His Name. The Patriarchs knew it at face value, but it’s significance they did not appreciate. God had revealed Himself to them as a God of Promise, a God of Covenant. Now, God planned to make it personal. His personal Name, Yahweh (translated LORD) was mentioned in Gen 2:4 for the first time, after the creation was completed; before then He was referred to just as “God”. God was about to reveal Himself to His people as the God of completion, the God of momentum, the God of deliverance, the God who doesn’t just make promises but keeps them! As for Pharaoh,  he would know the supremacy of God when he would personally be forced to let Israel go because of God’s great acts of judgment on Egypt (Ex 6:1-2).

God had a reason for extending his timeline of deliverance. It was in grace to the Egyptians that He did so, so that they would truly also get the opportunity to know Him. God desires that all people would know Him and experience the joy of being His people. He does not turn away anyone who chooses to come to Him. God wants to be your God, and you to be His people. Israel was to be a showcase to the nations, that they would leave behind their idols and follow the true God (Is 49:6).

Today, God through Jesus Christ His Son, is still calling in Matt 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” God wants to show you personally what His Name means. He wants you to be free from the things that enslave you.  He desires to grant you eternal life and a new name. People may have labeled you and written you off, but God wants to claim you as His own. Satan wants to keep you his slave; God wants to make you His son/daughter. It’s your decision.

Will you answer God’s call today? (Rev 21:7, Rev 2:17).

Your Way, oh God, is in Your Sanctuary

I think of Your sanctuary

While journeying in the desert place;

It feels like an oasis in the vastness of the open space...

In the day the sun beats down on me

And in the night, the tempests roll;

The thought of Your Sanctuary keeps me warm in the cold...

Your way Oh God, is in Your Sanctuary!

Scene of everlasting Grace!

At the altar of sacrifice, where the Lamb took my place...

In your Sanctuary I am accepted, just as I am

Yet I am changed forever!

Washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb...

You have brought me to your Table

In the presence of my foes;

Bread of Heaven, your sufficiency I will know...

You put a light in my heart that cannot be quenched

Fuelled by your Spirit,  seven times perfect!

By Your unending Love, I know I am sent

To tell of Your Grace  in the Sanctuary above

Where Your Prayers are ascending

In the incense of Love,

Where Your Blood is the plea of mercy for me

Where the curtain is torn,  the obstructing veil gone!

Where You have freed me to approach the Throne NOW

With my cries of  anguish and my tears of joy

With a sense of wonder, basking in Your Glory;

Your Law stands forever, it’s the foundation of  Your Throne!

Your Way, oh God, is in Your  Sanctuary...

Scripture ref:  Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?  (Psalm 77:13)

Exodus-Is this really deliverance?

The Israelites were standing on the brink of  deliverance, or so Moses thought. God had promised to deliver them from Egyptian slavery. The message of impending deliverance had been favourably received by the Israelites and an air of expectancy  enveloped the Israelite camp.

In the excitement of it all, Moses and Aaron had forgotten that God had already predicted Pharaoh's reaction in Ex 4:21. Pharaoh would not let the people leave, not until a great display of God’s power would force him to drive them from his land.

Exodus 5:1 calls God the “God of Israel”. He was the God of Israel (formerly Jacob), but now He identifies Himself as the God of Israel, a nation of slaves. Pharaoh's response to Moses and Aaron’s entreaty is one of sheer arrogance. “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go.” As far as Pharaoh was concerned, he was the  ruling monarch in Egypt and his peopled revered and worshipped him as the son of god. Why should he submit to a god of a slave nation? After all, if  their God was so powerful, why did He let them become slaves in the first place? Pharaoh made the mistake of identifying Israel with their God. Israel may have been weak, broken down by slavery, but their God remained strong. Pharaoh had forgotten that the reason for their slavery was precisely because their God had blessed and multiplied them exceedingly!

Pharaoh's response to the request for release of the people of Israel was to increase their workload and refuse them assistance to gather supplies to meet their daily quotas.  They were no longer given straw to make bricks, but were dispersed across Egypt to look for their own straw with no commensurate reduction in their work quotas. The leaders of Israel were put to a test; their faith in God was tried and they were found wanting.  The magnificent cities in Egypt were silent testimonies that the Israelites were not lazy; they were being falsely accused by Pharaoh as an excuse for him to increase the intensity of their persecution.  Even Moses and Aaron were told harshly to “go back to work”.

The faith of the Israelite leaders took strain under  Egyptian abuse and they accused Moses and Aaron of “making them stink in the sight of Pharaoh.” Little did they realize that they had always been so in the sight of Pharaoh. It was easy to look with nostalgia at the past, calling it the “good old days” but they were ever really that good?

Deeply troubled, Moses went to God and questioned the reason for His sending him to Pharaoh. The disappointments in his commission did not drive him away from God, but rather made him run to Him for answers and solace.  In our day, there is precious little time to worship God. If we don’t make time, we  often find ourselves overwhelmed by work and the cares of this world, having neglected our daily devotions. As knowledge is increasing, people are scurrying to and fro, just as the prophet Daniel predicted.  Do not let satan use work, cares and the burdens of this life to distract you from worshipping God. It was his method of choice in Exodus, and it is now too. Let the Word of God sink into your heart and don’t let distractions choke it out of you. Deliverance may not be easy, but it is sure because God has promised it.

Scripture refs: Exodus 5, Luke 8:14

How to make the best of 2013

Having finally entered into the New Year, I decided it might be a fitting time to outline some tips on how we can make the best of 2013.  I hope you find them encouraging and helpful.

-Put God first in your life and seek Him for guidance in your decision - making. (Ps 119:105, Ps 37:23)

-Embrace a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people of faith. (Num 13:30, Num 14:6-10)

-Decide on the legacy you would like to leave behind. Your legacy will impact on the vision you have for your future. Remember, legacies are not comprised solely of things of monetary value but rather the priceless treasures of eternity. (Prov 13:22, 1Pet 1:3-5, James 5:1-7, Luke 12:13-21)

-Write down your visions and break them down into manageable goals for the year. Break each goal down further into action plans for easy implementation. Set dates for each task to easily keep yourself on track. (Prov 29:18, Hab 2:2)

-Commit time in your schedule for the important things in life. Letting your busy schedule intrude into your devotional time is akin to spiritual suicide; it will negatively affect every other area of your life. (Matt 6:33)

-Next to God, the most important thing in your life is your family. Remember, a man’s wealth or happiness is not found in the multitude of material things he possesses. Commit uninterrupted time in your schedule for those you love. (Eph 5)

-You CAN say “No!” Count the cost every time  you overcommit. Delegate wisely. He who accepts help when he needs it, is wise. Only a foolish man attempts to do everything himself. (Eccles 4:9-10)

-Prioritize your tasks to ensure that you spend the most time on those that are most important. This will help you keep focused and prevent you from getting overwhelmed or unduly stressed.

-Don’t discount small beginnings. Remember what Jesus said about the mustard seed?(Matt 13:31-32, Lk 17:6)

-Celebrate your successes! Small goals achieved give you greater faith to tackle the bigger things in life.

- Learn from your failures and use them as stepping stones to success! Experience is a great teacher and trials result in patience and endurance. (James 1:1-3)

 -Take care of your health. Without it, you will not achieve anything you plan to accomplish. It is a precious gift of God often trivialized by the world and oftentimes only appreciated once it’s gone. Eat your veggies! Drink enough water. Work smart, so you can play hard! Remember to take 10,000 steps a day or carve out half an hour a day to exercise. Don’t over-indulge; although it may not seem serious, gluttony is a sin. (Is 58:3-8, 13, Prov 23:21)

-Resolve to use all your talents and to learn something new each day. (Matt 25:14-29, 1 Cor 12)

-Don’t look for faults in others, but focus on what YOU can control! Time spent gossiping is a waste of time! Don’t give the enemy room to plant the seed of hypocrisy in your life, because it will destroy your witness for Christ. Be true to God, and honest with yourself!(Lk 6:41-42)