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Who Is On the Lord’s Side

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus saveth marches on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own lifeblood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, vict’ry is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band;
In the service royal, let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, wilt Thou keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!

Frances Havergal, 1877
Read Exodus 32:21-26

(The call has gone out. Have we answered it? If we have answered it, are we faithful to that call? Are we fighting the good fight, or are we letting others shoulder the burden? We cannot let up. The consequences are eternal.)

Too Discouraged to See God at Work

By Paula 2 Comments

Exodus 6:9 “When Moses told this to the Israelites, they were too discouraged and mistreated to believe him.” (CEV)

Moses told them God had heard.
He was marshaling His mighty power on their behalf, fulfilling His promises, pouring out His grace.

And they couldn’t see it.
All they knew was their situation and how it left them.
Discouraged.
Despondent.
Beaten down.
Broken.

They couldn’t see His hand in their circumstances,
and yet, He was doing far more than they asked.

Is He working on my behalf in ways I can’t see?
Is He working on your behalf in ways you can’t see?

Yes.

Don’t believe me – pray like Elisha 2 Kings 6:17 “Open my eyes that I may see.”

Intercession: For Sin and Sinners

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

Intercession for sins and sinners title graphic

Intercession is going to God on someone’s behalf. It a holy privilege and duty, not to be taken lightly. It is strenuous and it can be messy. But it is one of the greatest ways we can minister and show love to others. We have learned from Nehemiah and his BURDEN for others, and from Daniel and his IDENTIFICATION with those for whom he was interceding. Elijah modeled how to pray for those who are sick, and Hezekiah showed us how to pray when trouble comes. Today we’ll look to Ezra and learn a less popular prayer – for sin and sinners.

Ezra was a priest who had returned to Judah with a group sent to repatriate the land after seventy years of Babylonian captivity. It isn’t long before some situations come to Ezra’s attention. These situations put the people on the very same track that landed them in captivity- not remaining pure, flirting with idolatry, intermarriage with pagans and so forth. As a good, conscientious, caring priest Ezra intercedes for the people. His prayer is recorded in Ezra 9:6-15.

Mourning for sin precedes the prayer. In verses 3-5, look at how Ezra responds to the news that his people are falling into the same trap of sin. He tore his clothes. He pulled his hair out. He pulled out his beard. He sat down dumbfounded the rest of the day. He didn’t eat or anything else. And in verse 4, he had influence on others, who also mourned the sins reported.

Do we mourn sin? That is, do we mourn the assault on God’s holiness? Or are we more likely to excuse it, to minimize it? “We’re still in a sinful body so we can’t really stop it from happening.” Or perhaps mourn the consequences we face because of our sin? Or do we use the sin of others to self-righteously feel better about ourselves? Let’s be like “all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel” and follow Ezra’s example of mourning for sin.

Ezra identifies with his people. Daniel did this too. Ezra doesn’t claim to be sinless. “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you,” Ezra 9:6. Nor does he whitewash what his people have done in the past. “From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today.” Ezra 9:7 He very plainly confesses the sin. “For we have forsaken your commandments, … do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity. Ezra 9:10, 12.

Ezra leaves the outcome in God’s hands. He doesn’t make demands on God’s mercy. In verse 14, Ezra says, “Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?” Ezra 9:14. Rather, Ezra trusts God’s grace since he was able even to approach God with this petition. “O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, … Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.” Ezra 9:15

When we begin to understand sin, we abandon any notion of pride or rights. But we also begin to glimpse what a wonder the grace of Almighty God is.

As believers in Christ, a kingdom of priests, let us see interceding for sin, for ourselves or others, as an urgent duty. Let us seek the recognition of God’s holiness and let us have faith in His ability and timing to bring punishment and restoration.

There Is a Rock in a Weary Land

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

There is a rock in a weary land,
Its shadow falls on the burning sand,
Inviting pilgrims as they pass,
To seek a shade in the wilderness.
Then why will ye die?
O why will ye die?
When the sheltering rock is so near by,
O why will ye die?

There is a well in a desert plain,
Its waters call with entreating strain,
Ho, every thirsting, sin sick soul,
Come, freely drink, and thou shalt be whole.
Then why will ye die?
O why will ye die?
When the living well is so near by,
O why will ye die?

A great fold stands with its portals wide,
The sheep astray on the mountain side;
The shepherd climbs o’er mountains steep;
He’s searching now for His wandering sheep.
Then why will ye die?
O why will ye die?
When the shepherd’s fold is so near by,
O why will ye die?

There is a cross where the Savior died;
His blood flowed out in a crimson tide,
A sacrifice for sins of men,
And free to all who will enter in.
Then why will ye die?
O why will ye die?
When the crimson cross is so near by,
O why will ye die?

W. E. Penn, 1887
Read Isaiah 32:1-6

Christ as a rock is one of my favorite images in Scripture, and “There Is a Rock in a Weary Land” picks up Christ our shelter and Christ the fountain of living waters. How could anyone reject Him? Have you sought that shelter? Have you has that thirst quenched? Do you know anyone who needs that same relief?

Are We Willing?

By Paula 4 Comments

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Mark 1:40-41

We aren’t lepers, but we have junk that eats away at us.

Junk that makes us feel like outcasts, like we are unwelcome, like we don’t belong.

But here’s what we do. We put words in Jesus’s mouth.

“This is what you deserve.”

“This is your punishment.”

“Things are never going to get better, never going to change.”

That’s a tragedy.

The reality is, if we have the boldness to approach the King of Kings, look how He responds.

He is moved with compassion.

He stretches out His hand.

He touches us.

He says, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Be healed. Be restored.

He is willing.

Often more willing to answer than we are to ask.

Just As I Am

By Paula Wiseman

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings within and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken ev’ry barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Charlotte Elliot, 1836
Read Colossians 1:21-23

(There is no other way to approach Christ. We cannot bring anything that will gain us more influence or more consideration. We have His invitation. That is enough. Have you come to Him?)

Who Is On the Lord’s Side

Too Discouraged to See God at Work

Intercession: For Sin and Sinners

There Is a Rock in a Weary Land

Are We Willing?

Just As I Am

Encounters Series

Covenant of Trust Series

Foundations Series