The Weekly Encourager – April 6, 2012 – Good Friday Songs in the Night

I thought you might want to hear that the Lord is answering the prayers of His people. The Holy Spirit has been bringing long-forgotten praise songs to mind, without me even thinking about it. Last night (Maundy Thursday) I woke up in the middle of the night with a few words from an old chorus in my brain. I determined to keep dipping into memory from 35 years ago to see how much I could remember. Surprisingly, I filled it in one line at a time. It was almost as if the Lord was right there by my side, helping me out. An amazing experience.

Also running through my mind this week: snatches of last Sunday's sermon. Pastor Dave preached on Galatians 3:1-3, which includes Paul's question, “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Paul here is talking about salvation by faith alone rather than by our obedience to the Law and good works. As our pastor put it, “Not did you achieve, but did you receive?” That sentence struck me because it is so counter-cultural, especially in an achievement-oriented town like Washington. Everyone around me is trying to make it by any other method but faith. But Good Friday is about what Jesus Christ achieved for us, that we might receive the free gift of His love. As Dave said, Paul and the other apostles were “preaching the tree” - Christ crucified for us. Our life is a battle to rely on Christ alone by faith, not a battle to obey laws and do good works on our own. Do not be foolish, the Bible says, but be counted faithful.

Here are the old choruses that I remembered in the night watches.

And Jesus said,

Come to the water, stand by My side

I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;

I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried,

And I strove to remind you, that for those tears I died.

Here's the second one:

Freely, freely, you have received,

Freely, freely, give.

Go in My name, and because you believe

Others will know that I live.

True life is not what I achieve, but what I receive and pass on to others in the name of Christ. No matter what trial or sorrow is in my life, it's still Easter!

I've been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; I'm filled with the Holy Ghost, I am.

All my sins are washed away, oh praise the Lord!

A Blessed Good Friday to you, and Happy Easter!

Pastor David Coffin's sermon of April 1, 2012, “The Blessing of Abraham to the Gentiles” may be heard in full at www.newhopefairfax.org. Click on Resources, then Sermons to Hear.