Bowling Green Covenant Church

Continuation of the Galatians series, on Galatians 5.25-6.5

 

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Easter Sunday, 2008. HE IS RISEN! (He is Risen Indeed)

 

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O God of my Exodus,

Great was the joy of Israel’s sons,
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy when the Redeemer’s foe
lay crushed in the dust.

Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell,
and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives forever.

He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave free,
and triumphant over sin, Satan,
and death.

Show me herein
the proof that His vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s scepter is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is leveled.

Give me the assurance that
in Christ I died,
in Him I rose,
in His life I live,
in His victory I triumph,
in His ascension I shall be glorified.

Adorable Redeemer,
Thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as Man of sorrows
wast crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.

Once,
no shame more deep than Thine,
no agony more bitter,
no death more cruel.

Now,
no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious,
no advocate more effective.

Thou art in the triumph car
leading captive Thine enemies behind Thee.

What more could be done than Thou hast done!

Thy death is my life,
Thy resurrection my peace,
Thy ascension my hope,
Thy prayers my comfort.

–from The Valley of Vision

Heavenly Father,

Thou hast led me singing to the cross
where I fling down all my burdens and see them vanish,
where my mountains of guilt are leveled to a plain,
where my sins disappear, though they are the greatest that exist,
and are more in number than the grains of fine sand;

For there is power in the blood of Calvary
to destroy sins more than can be counted
even by one from the choir of heaven.
Thou hast given me a hillside spring
that washes clear and white,
and I go as a sinner to its waters,
bathing without hindrance in its crystal streams.

At the cross there is free forgiveness
for poor and meek ones,
and ample blessings that last forever;
The blood of the Lamb is like a great river of infinite grace
with never any diminishing of its fullness
as thirsty ones without number drink of it.

O lord, for ever will Thy free forgiveness live
that was gained on the mount of blood;
In the midst of a world of pain
it is a subject for praise in every place,
a song on earth, an anthem in heaven,
its love and virtue knowing no end.

I have a longing for the world above
where multitudes sing the great song,
for my soul was never created to love the dust of earth.

Though here my spiritual state is frail and poor,
I shall go on singing Calvary’s anthem.

May I always know
that a clean heart full of goodness is more beautiful than the lily,
that only a clean heart can sing by night and by day,
that such a heart is mine when I abide at Calvary.

–from The Valley of Vision

God of all Good,

I bless Thee for the means of grace;
teach me to see in them Thy loving purposes
and the joy and strength of my soul.
Thou has t prepared for me a feast;
and though I am unworthy to sit down as guest,
I wholly rest on the merits of Jesus,
and hide myself beneath His righteousness;
When I hear His tender invitation
and see His wondrous grace,
I cannot hesitate,
but must come to Thee in love.

By Thy Spirit enliven my faith rightly to discern
and spiritually to apprehend the Savior.
While I gaze upon the emblems of my Savior’s death,
may I ponder why He died, and hear Him say,
‘I gave My life to purchase yours,
presented Myself an offering to expiate your sin,
shed My blood to blot out your guilt,
opened my side to make you clean,
endured your curses to set you free,
bore your condemnation to satisfy divine justice.’

O may I rightly grasp
the breadth and length of this design,
draw near, obey , extend the hand,
take the bread, receive the cup, eat and drink,
testify before all men that I do for myself,
gladly, in faith, reverence and love, receive my Lord,
to be my life, strength, nourishment, joy, delight.

In the supper I remember His eternal love,
boundless grace, infinite compassion, agony cross, redemption,
and receive assurance of pardon, adoption, life, glory.

As the outward elements nourish my body,
so may Thy indwelling Spirit invigorate my soul,
until that day when I hunger and thirst no more,
and sit with Jesus at His heavenly feast.

–from The Valley of Vision

Just a reminder that the Edwards will be having a reception for our missionary partner in Kenya, Harmon Parker on Saturday. Those interested in hearing an update on Harmon’s ministry of bridge building and the unrest in Kenya are invited to a special reception at the home of Bruce and Joan Edwards (1156 Dakota Court, BG; 419.352.2869), Sat., March 22, 6:30-8:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served.

Please note: Child care is not available. Children age 16 and up only please.

BG Covenant Church Office
419-352-8483

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service 2008

 

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Incomprehensible, Great and Glorious God,

I adore Thee and abase myself.
I approach Thee mindful that I am less than nothing,
a creature worse than nothing.

My thoughts are not screened from Thy gaze.
My secret sins blaze in the light of Thy countenance.
Enable me
to remember that blood which cleanseth all sin,
to believe in that grace which subdues all iniquities,
to resign myself to that agency which can deliver me
from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Thou hast begun a good work in me and canst alone continue and complete it.

Give me an increasing conviction of my tendency to err,
and of my exposure to sin.

Help me to feel more of the purifying,
softening influence of religion,
its compassion, love, pity, courtesy,
and employ me as Thy instrument in blessing others.

Give me to distinguish
between the mere form of godliness and its power,
between life and a name to live, between guile and truth,
between hypocrisy and a religion that will bear Thy eye.

If I am not right,
set me right,
keep me right;

And may I at least come to Thy house in peace.

Message given by Pastor Malanga 3-09-08, based on Galatians 5:22-23

 

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