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Thursday,
January 14,
2021
"The Church
Triumphant"
Message summary: Wherever you
live and whatever the conditions, rejoice today in
this wonderful promise, "The gates of hell shall not
prevail". And then rejoice when you see the lamp
shining in a dark place, "until the day dawns and
the morning star arises in your hearts. The church
is triumphant, alive and well"!
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
Listen
to this message on your audio player."Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
Our
daughter Ester came downstairs the other day excited
about a brand new song she had just heard. She liked
it because it strikes a chord of victory and because
several singers she likes participate such as
Michael Tait. We listened and immediately realized
it wasn't a new song but was introduced in the early
seventies while we were seniors in high school!Ester
has been troubled, like most of us, at the news and
the heightened state of uncertainty and turmoil in
our nation and world. It's hard for her to
understand. Well, actually it's hard for most of us
to understand but it is helpful when we have a
knowledge of man's fallen condition and rebellion
against God.
The
song was premiered live when she got a notification
so she understandably assumed it was new. The song
was "The Church Triumphant" by the Gaithers and many
of our old-timers will recognize the title. But this
was a Zoom version so it seemed new and includes a
variety of singers new and old. We'll link to it
below.
Today's
first text will be familiar to many. It is our
Lord's Word to Peter following his great confession
of faith when he proclaimed, "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God".
Jesus responded to this confession with a great promise: "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Nearly two thousand years have passed since Jesus initially made the promise to Peter and the early disciples and God's truth still marches on. Today the true church continues to make this proclamation, which is at the heart of the Gospel. In fact it is the very foundation on which Christ built His church.
Many years later Peter wrote to the church, "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church, though at times it seems otherwise. And that's been the case all through church history. We are reminded in our very day of the forces of hell seeking to destroy the church. The hateful, venomous threats and violent actions of the enemies of Christ are quite evident.
Jesus responded to this confession with a great promise: "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Nearly two thousand years have passed since Jesus initially made the promise to Peter and the early disciples and God's truth still marches on. Today the true church continues to make this proclamation, which is at the heart of the Gospel. In fact it is the very foundation on which Christ built His church.
Many years later Peter wrote to the church, "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church, though at times it seems otherwise. And that's been the case all through church history. We are reminded in our very day of the forces of hell seeking to destroy the church. The hateful, venomous threats and violent actions of the enemies of Christ are quite evident.
Again
today we especially consider our oppressed and
persecuted brethren in many parts of the world, as
well as those within our own country. Please
God, strengthen and remind them of Your promise:
"The gates of hell will not prevail".
We
especially pray concerning the many ways the church,
here in the US and around the world, has been
impacted these last nine months. Encourage our
leaders and our fellow believers today and bring
unity to your church.
Wherever you live and whatever the conditions, rejoice today in this wonderful promise, "The gates of hell shall not prevail" and recognize the Church triumphant. And then rejoice when you see the lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Be encouraged today!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Wherever you live and whatever the conditions, rejoice today in this wonderful promise, "The gates of hell shall not prevail" and recognize the Church triumphant. And then rejoice when you see the lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Be encouraged today!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, today we pray for Your people
all over the world; some who are enduring great
persecution for the cause of Christ. Grant to them a
mighty infusion of strength and assurance. Remind
them of the prayers being offered on their behalf
from Your people and from the One who is ever
interceding. We pray Your blessings on those who
serve in hard places and who may be discouraged as
well as those going through tough times in their own
personal life. Remind us all of Your promise that
"the gates of hell shall not prevail". In Jesus'
name we pray, Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"The
Church Triumphant" Video This is the
song Ester was excited about we
mentioned in the message above! Zoom
song with Ben Backus, Francesca
Battistelli, Harper Bovi, Laurie Crouch,
Jim Cymbala, Christine D'Clario, Gloria
Gaither, Bill Gaither, Gaither Vocal
Band, Kathie Lee Gifford, Jack Graham,
Natalie Grant, Mark Lowry, Toby Mac,
Mandisa, Martins, Jody McBrayer, Pastor
Mike, Jr., Nicole C. Mullen, Sandi
Patty, David Phelps, Wintley Phipps, Mac
Powell, Joel Smallbone, Michael W.
Smith, and Michael Tait
I
always liked the narration in this song
and it especially touched me as I
listened this time Video cued to
narration
"The
Church Triumphant" Video Bill
Gaither Trio (1977) Here's how it
sounded when we first got married!
"Great
Is Thy Faithfulness" Video Austin
Stone Worship
This
version adds two verses to the great
hymn unfamiliar to most written
by John Piper:
I
could not love Thee, so blind and
unfeeling;
Covenant promises fell not to me.
Then without warning, desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee.
I have no merit to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in Thy mercy, how pleasing Thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy.
Covenant promises fell not to me.
Then without warning, desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee.
I have no merit to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in Thy mercy, how pleasing Thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy.
Mark
Lowry (one of the musicians seen in the
Church Triumphant Zoom song) along with
Brooksyne and our friend Fran Book at a
concert about 7 years ago at the
American Music theater.
Finally
today: During
the last 9 months many churches have
held services using Zoom. For those who
enjoy satire this Babylon Bee article is
pretty funny. "Theologians Find
Going To Church Via Zoom Will Only Get
You Access To Heaven Via Zoom"
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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