Devotional Sermon for the Lord's Table
Using "The Hymnal: for Worship & Celebration" (NBC - CCL #383788)
Special Thanks to hymnary.org - a great resource of hymn information
"What Wondrous Love Is This!" Hymn # 177
Sing vs. 1
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
To appreciate diamonds, we need black velvet to contrast their glory. To understand Wonderful Love, we need to understand the curse that had to be endured for God's love to be released in our lives. In Galatians 3:13, Paul says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree.'" Paul was quoting Deuteronomy 21:23. People who were executed (by stoning) could be put on display for the day by hanging them up on a tree. God required that the bodies be buried by evening or it would defile the land. The person hung on that tree was cursed. Paul is telling us that God cursed His Son for our sakes.
"He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21).
The Father said, "…this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased…" (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).
Yet, God "…Spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all…" (Romans 8:32)
What kind of wonderful love is this? What kind of a sinner am I, that God would have to do all this to spare me…to save me…to bring me into His family and keep me forever?
Paul said, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…God commends / demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son…" (Romans 5:6-10)
Sing vs. 2
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
The purpose of our great salvation is to bring honor and glory to the one who saved us.
"That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." (Ephesians 1:12)
"…That you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:" (I Peter 2:9)
We are saved from sin so that we can worship and serve our Lord all of our lives and for all of eternity.
Sing vs. 3-4 followed by # 457 "I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord" (Psalm 89:1)
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb
Who is the great "I Am,"
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free,
I'll sing and joyful be,
And thro' eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
And thro' eternity I'll sing on.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing, I will sing.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing the mercies of the Lord.
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness,
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus!" # 198
When we sing of the mercies of the Lord, we are talking about the things that we do not receive - i.e. the penalty and curse for sin. When we sing of the grace of the Lord, we are talking about the good things of God that we do receive from Him. So, mercy is not receiving what we do deserve and Grace is receiving what we do not deserve.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).
Sing vs. 1-3
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Refrain:
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for me, for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
Praise His name!
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. [Refrain]
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled.
By its transforming power
Making him God's dear child.
Purchasing peace and heaven
For all eternity;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. [Refrain]
This hymn uses the word "reaching" when describing grace. Other religions, teach people how to reach God and how to try and please Him. The message of grace teaches that God has reached out to us. And He is still reaching out to people today.
Knowing the darkness and cursedness of our sin helps us to appreciate the wonderful grace of Jesus. The mercy of God took away the guilt of sin. The grace of God has given me power and authority over the control of sin.
Romans 5:2 tells us that by grace we stand. II Timothy 2:1 tells us that we are able to be strong in the grace which Christ gives. God's grace is an inexhaustible resource for those who follow Christ. Romans 5:21 says, "…As sin has reigned unto death, even so [shall] grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
We love Him because He first loved us (I John 4:19). By the Grace of our Lord Jesus, we have Wonderful Peace! "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5:1)
"Wonderful Peace!" Hymn # 500
Sing Vs. 1-3
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O'er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain:
Peace! peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above;
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul;
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll. [Refrain]
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus' control;
For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul. [Refrain]
Jesus spoke of our future relationship with Him through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27). The world promises, but does not actually give peace. Rather, the world stirs turmoil and strife. As Jesus told of the trouble in and from the world and the cost of being a follower of Christ, He ended with the words. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).
To meditate means to talk within, to your soul. You need to have honest talks with yourself. Is something bothering you? Are you restless inside? The world tries to prescribe ways to make peace in our external environment - solving problems in the world, between nations, or in our society. God's peace starts on the inside - between yourself and Him. The last verse is designed to help you invite yourself into the realm of God's peace. Do you have this peace?
Sing vs. 5
O my soul, are you here without comfort or rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make the Savior your friend when the shadows grow dark;
Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime. [Refrain]
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