Tag: Royal Banner

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A Reunion of Veterans…Nov. 9th

2014 posterWe are blessed to live in a country that honors those who served to protect and defend our nation’s freedom. Regardless of the branch of service, men and women have been fighting for American’s interest for decades, laying down their life if necessary believing in the cause! And every year on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month we stand tall to honor our veterans. Many of us, whether we have served or not, come together as a sort of reunion to thank these veterans and remember their service.

But consider for a moment the soldiers who stand and defend (or have stood and defended) the cause of Christ? They lived and died serving the King of Kings. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us a brief list of those ‘heroes’ of old, the veterans who faithfully served in the Lord’s Army. Today, you and I are still fighting the battle between good and evil (Ephesians 6:10-20). As we strive to be faithful soldier’s of the cross let’s look forward to our reunion. Next time one of our soldiers comes home, welcome them with open arms, and in the same way we anticipate ‘A Reunion of Veterans.’

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, November 9, 2014

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” – 648

Are you willing to take a stand for what you believe in? When someone comes asking if you believe in the Bible, are you taking a stand for truth or are you not too sure? Some might think this song is intended to be sung standing up, a little like ‘on your feet soldier.’ But whether you’re sitting or standing, you soldiers of the crosssing about your decision. Will you stand up for what is right, or are you content to sit back and see what happens. We begin this morning singing, “…Ye soldiers of the cross; lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.” Before we end this service we’ll sing again of the royal banner and our responsibility to ‘march on.’

“Am I a Soldier of the Cross” – no book

This old spiritual song asks a basic question. It’s a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question that only you can answer. Are you a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb? The one who says “YES” knows the answer to this question as we sing; “Is this vile (wicked) world a friend to grace to help you on to God?”  The world is no friend to God, but soldiers of the cross know this … where are our friendships? Are we friends with the world, or are we soldier’s of the cross?

“Freely, Freely” – 635

We read in Matthew chapter 10 the words of Jesus as He commissioned His followers, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” God forgave us of our sins and adopted us as His children. Our cost for this adoption was nothing. From His own hand we have freely received the hope of eternal life. Will we give that same hope away to a lost and dying world? Soldiers often do more than fight, we also free the oppressed. “Freely you have received, freely, freely give!”

“The Battle Belongs to the Lord” – 749

What a great thought of assurance for any soldier to know the battle is over. To hear the news…we’ve won! In Christ we know that to be true and so together we sing this song before our lesson; “In heavenly armor we’ll enter the land, the battle belongs to the Lord! No weapon that’s fashioned against us will stand, the battle belongs to the Lord. And we sing…Glory, Honor, Power and Strength to the Lord…”

“I Am Coming, Lord” – 923

As we offer the invitation, thinking about the reunion of God’s veterans, we offer a plea to those who have not yet joined the fight. Standing on the outside looking in, never knowing the joy of serving in the Kingdom, many will leave this life unaware of a reunion of God’s veterans. Or perhaps a soldier has gone AWOL and deserted his post, it’s never too late to come back. It is Jesus who ‘calls me on to perfect faith and love, to perfect hope and peace and trust, for earth and heaven above.’ This may be the time for you to say, “I am coming, Lord!”

“Lamb of God” – 176

One of the last things we’ll do this morning is offer the Lord’s Supper. Whether it’s early in the worship service or held back to the end, we’ll remember our Lord’s death burial and resurrection this morning as we sing about the Lamb of God. Follow the thought found in the second verse of this song, ‘Your gift of love they crucified, they laughed and scorned Him as He died, the humble King they named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God.’ Turn your mind to Lamb and remember His sacrifice.

“There’s a Royal Banner” – 627

Just as we began our worship time together singing about His banner, we’ll close lifting high the royal banner. Perhaps the thing we should come away with as we sing this closing song is the fact that God’s soldiers are ‘marching on!’ Soldiers of the cross eagerly anticipate the resurrection day, and in so doing we count everything but loss. Live your life looking forward to a Reunion of Veterans.

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A Theology Written in Blood…August 4th

drop of bloodChristian’s understand and believe that faith is based on an eternal promise, an everlasting covenant.  And as we consider a covenant, it’s logical to conclude that it should be confirmed in writing.  But one written, confirmed, with blood?  Obviously a holy promise, a divine theology, that is written in blood must be of the highest importance.  Since blood is essential to life, it’s no surprise that this covenant is indispensable for our eternal survival as well.  Simply stated, without blood…we die!

Remember Romans 3; “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith.” Thanks be to God for this theology, written in blood!

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, August 4, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Nothing But the Blood” -902baptism2

‘What can wash away my sins?’  A question many have sung for years, and we know the answer, ‘…nothing, but the blood of Jesus.’  When we sing the third verse take note of the second line in the verse, ‘naught of good that I have done…’  Translated; of all the good things I have done in this life, ZERO of that can atone for my sin.  Nothing can bring us to God except the blood of Jesus.

“There is Power in the Blood” – 903

As part of this short medley we’ll continue our thought about the blood of Jesus and His saving power.  We continue with another question.  Not what can wash away my sin, but a question of do you want your sins to be washed away?  ‘Would you be free from the burden of sin?’  Is so, the blood of Jesus can cleanse you.

“In Christ Alone” – no book

A song of admonition that we’ll sing as we prepare our minds to partake of the Lord’s supper.  A memorial of His death, burial and resurrection.  As verse one consist of recognizing our Cornerstone, solid ground and Comforter, verse two takes us from His birth to His crucifixion.  Those who know this song cherish the third verse.  As we begin singing softly of His burial, our voices ‘burst forth’ as we sing of His resurrection.  The final verse gives us assurance in Christ as we sing, ‘No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand…’  This video features one man’s voice, harmonizing together to the glory of God.

“Nearer Still Nearer” – 478

Following the Lord’s supper we’ll sing this hymn expressing a strong desire to stay ‘close to (His) Thy heart…’  Listen to the words you’re singing and you’ll notice that the nearer we draw to God, the further we draw away from sin and its folly (foolishness).  Would that we willingly resign, give up, all of life’s pleasures, pomp and pride so that we draw nearer…still nearer to our God.

“There is a Redeemer” – 287

We sing the affirmation of this contemporary hymn/spiritual song as we proclaim, “There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son…” Melody Green wrote, and we sing, a song of thanks to God.  “Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son and leaving with us the gift of Your Holy Spirit…until (the work) our work on earth is done.”  Maybe we should be asking ourselves, ‘How am I doing with my work?’

“There’s a Royal Banner” – 627

Before we listen to the lesson Robert has prepared for us, we’ll sing about our mission as Christians.  The purpose of this ‘song before the lesson’ is found in the second verse.  ‘Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell, make the glorious tidings known; of the CRIMSON BANNER now the story tell, while the Lord shall claim His own…’  In Exodus 17, after the Amalekites are defeated, we read, “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner…” The banner is a symbol from the battlefield.  As soldier’s of Christ we too have a symbolic banner; one that’s crimson, blood red.  Do you fly this banner in your life?

“There’s a Fountain Free” – 909

Perhaps one of my favorite invitation songs has the chorus ask the question, “Will you come to the fountain fountainfree?”  When we consider the words of Jeremiah the prophet we better understand the fountain; “O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:13)  It’s interesting to me that 3 times the author writes ‘hasten’ (come quickly) to the fountain.  Yet sadly, in this ‘fast-paced world’, the ‘living stream’ is the one place many are slow to approach.

“There is a Habitation” – 860

Leaving this morning we’ll encourage each other with these simple words; ‘…I long to see heaven!’  How ready are you for the Lord’s return?  Is the abode you seek eternal?  The heavenly city we seek has a foundation that’s firm and eternal.  One we can anticipate because of the atonement we have through the blood of Christ.