Tag Archives: The Church

Lord of the Church, We Humbly Pray ~ Hymn

Lord of the Church, We Humbly Pray

Lord of the Church, we humbly pray
For those who guide us in Thy way
And speak Thy holy Word.
With love divine their hearts inspire
And touch their lips with hallowed fire
And needful strength afford.

Help them to preach the truth of God,
Redemption through the Savior’s blood,
Nor let the Spirit cease
On all the Church His gifts to shower—
To them a messenger of power;
To us, of life and peace.

So may they live to Thee alone,
Then hear the welcome word, “Well done,”
And take their crown above;
Enter into their Master’s joy
And all eternity employ
In praise and bliss and love.

Words: Edward Osler, 1836

Isaiah 6: 5-8 ~

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

The Bride

 

From “Seeking Him Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival” by Nancy Leigh
DeMoss & Tim Grissom with Life Action Ministries, pg. 106/107;

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify
her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he
might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Eph.5:25-27

“Sadly many Christians today live as if they’ve forgotten about the wedding.
In one sense, revival could be defined as “the Bride getting ready for the
wedding”! It is the church (which includes every true believer) preparing to
meet her Bridegroom by becoming holy – cleansed of all that defiles.” If
this is the intent of our Savior for His bride should it not also be the
life long focus and motivation of every child of God.”

I don’t know about you but I (ELLEN) don’t think I’ve every considered my
life in the context of getting ready for the ultimate wedding. Yikes that
really struck me. Thank goodness I’ll have a white dress/robe because of
what Jesus did for me regardless of my failures. But I do want to be
motivated to be active in leaving behind whatever keeps me from being holy.
I like the part of the passage that talks about being without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing. The older I get and the more wrinkled and spotted
I become the more I appreciate that thought! 🙂 I know it’s deeper than that
but just let me fantasize a little!

Along these same thoughts and thnking about holiness I need to remember that
God is my standard and not other people. How do I measure up to what God
wants me to be?

Eph. 5:1-2; “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in
love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God.”