ALMIGHTY SAVIOR

El Shaddai, Almighty Father
Elohim, Almighty Lord
You have raised us by Your mercy
Through the Power of Your Word.

We lift high the Name of Jesus
Every knee before You bows
Heaven and earth proclaims Your glory
Holiness enthrones Your brow.

So in glad and full surrender
May Your blood remove all stain
So that through the Holy Spirit
Worship crowns Your Holy Name.

Spirit, clothe us in Your fullness
Melt the dross, ignite the Flame
That in body, soul and spirit
Holy, blameless, we remain!
B. Pent

NO CONDEMNATION

Condemned! I stood before the Judge in fear
His gavel bringing silence to the Court
The sentence for the broken Law was given
In horror I fell prostrate to the floor.

I pled to have my case somehow commuted
For deeds of charity that I had done
Then tried to show my deep religious fervor
By all the accolades that I had won.

But when His blaze of Glory fell upon me
There was no scale of measure to compare
For sin polluted all my human nature
And only filthy rags as proof to wear.

Then suddenly the weight of hell engulfed me
I could not look upon His holy face
But from a broken heart I cried for mercy
And from His throne there flowed redeeming grace.

The Judge stepped down and taking off His garments
The sinless Son of God in human flesh
Stood in my place before His Court of Justice
And paid the fullest price for all my sin.

So now in Christ there is no condemnation
Loves greatest sacrifice is all-complete
Praise floods my soul with love and adoration
And through the ages worship at His feet.
--B. Pent

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT -- Matt.5:7-9

If Christianity is to have relevance in our pagan society, the evidence must be seen in our character and conduct. Walking the talk is precisely the message Jesus was trying to get across to His followers. The first four Beatitudes deal with man's inner relationship with God. He must be aware of his spiritual bankruptcy, admit his need of a Savior and reach for His forgiveness. Only then can he be filled with God's righteousness. The last four Beatitudes reveal a changed character progressively demonstrated throughout life.

Jesus states in verses 7-9: "Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." His explanation is simple! A man who has God's righteousness will show mercy because mercy has been shown to him. He will seek to be pure in heart because heaven is only inhabited by pure people. That kind of a person will become a peacemaker.

What does it mean to be merciful? The basic meaning is to give help to those in need: the bereaving, the lonely, the helpless. It is not simply feeling compassion but showing compassion. The story of the Good Samaritan is Luke 10 clearly illustrates this truth. Everyone who passed by the wounded Jew turned away even though some may have felt compassion. But, it was the Good Samaritan who helped bring healing by getting involved. At the end of the story Jesus asks: "which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? (v.36). The religious leaders responded: "the man who had mercy on him.: Jesus then challenged them: "go and do likewise" (v.37).

When Jesus talked about the pure in heart, He was clearly exposing man's impure nature. The heart is the center of our personality. It is the control center of the intellect, emotions and will. Proverbs 4:23 warns: "above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." If we are not pure in heart we will only serve Christ out of selfish motives. That is why we need the daily cleansing that is clearly outline in I John 1:7 & 9. For only the pure in heart can serve out of pure motives and they will see God, here and in heaven.

It is obvious then, only those who have first tasted peace with God at the Cross and are filled with His righteousness who can become peacemakers. Man's best effort at peace might involve cessation from hostility or war but it is only temporary. God's peace brings harmony in the heart, in the home and in the world.

IN HIS PRESENCE

As I knelt before His presence
With my garments wrapped in shame
I could not look up to heaven
For I knew I was to blame.

Then the Lamb of God incarnate
Stood in robes of spotless white
As His holy justice vanquished
All pretence before His sight.

Then His words of love came flowing
From above the Mercy Seat
Where the nail prints of His justice
Offered grace for my defeat.

Tears of anguish broke upon me
Waves of guilt exposed my soul
As repentance ceased my wanderings
I became as white as snow.

Shouts of praise began to fill me
Freedom's song began to flow
As the honor and the Glory
Came to Christ Who loved me so.
--B. Pent