John Hellen

Trust and Obey

See words and hear tune at http://nethymnal.org/htm/t/r/trstobey.htm 

Hear song on you tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98_uwooblA

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

This beautiful song sums up, in two words, what we must do to please God and obtain His blessings. Just Trust and Obey.

Trust is imperative because it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb 11:6). Jesus said if we have only the faith of a mustard seed, we can move the mountain (Matt 17:20). We all face our mountains be it external circumstances that are trying us or problems with controlling our flesh, but if we go to God in faith and repentance, He will be faithful and forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), and whatever we pray for, believing in faith, we will receive (Matt 21:22). God will bless those that trust Him—“O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you” (Ps 84:11-12). If we trust the Lord and lean not on our own understanding, God will lead us in straight paths (Prov 3:5-6). How many times do we try to do things our way and by our self will without consulting God, and then flat on our face, and then cry out to God, and, in His great mercy He lifts us up? If we consult God, the Spirit of Truth will guide us in all things.

Obedience is also crucial to please God. See the scripture quotes, below:

Be watchful and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. (Deut 12:28)

If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15). Jesus says if we love Him, we must obey Him.

If you obey My commands you will remain in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. (John 15:10)

My command is this: love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12). Jesus gave us this commandment and the other commandment, of course, was to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and spirit.

But He said, Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28). Apparently, Jesus agrees with Deut 12:28!

And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. (1 John 3:22). So, we receive if we believe (TRUST) as stated in Matt 21:22, and also receive if we OBEY. Therefore, just do as the song says and Trust and Obey. There really is no other way. Do not get caught up in the debate of obedience vs. faith. It’s not trust or obey,  but both of the above that we need to please God.

So, how can we make ourselves be more obedient? Hint: in Ezek 36:27, God says: I will put my Spirit in you to cause you to obey my commandments. We need to fan the flame of the Holy Spirit daily so He can help us to walk in the Spirit and overcome the flesh. We fan the flame of the Holy Spirit by prayer, repentence, and reading the Word daily.

Thou, Oh Lord

Please click on the following link to see the fabulous song “Thou, Oh Lord”   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y284YvkYrZo

God Hears Our Heartfelt Cries

If we cry out to God with our whole heart in a spirit of repentance and faith, He will hear our cry and deliver us from the trials that besiege us and the pit we have fallen into. We need to cry out with repentance, faith, a pure heart, and with praise and thanksgiving. The lord will forgive us, redeem us, and save us from the pit of destruction. See the passages, below.

The first passage, Psalm 3, is the Psalm from which the above song is derived almost word for word, from the Kings James translation.

Ps 3: 1-5 David had sinned with Bathsheba. Because he turned away from God, he underwent many troubles. He was fleeing from his son, Absalom, who was trying to kill David and replace him as King. In this Psalm, David repented of his sins and turned back to God. He cried out to God. God heard his cry and became a shield for David. God delivered David from his oppressors, and restored him to his former glory. If we cry out in trust, the Lord he will lift us up and be our shield. He will restore and sustain us.

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. 2Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. 3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.  4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 46: 1-3 God is our strength. He will protect us through all our trials and storms and calm the waves just like Jesus did when the vessel carrying Jesus and his disciples was in the midst of a great storm. But we must cry out in faith and not fear. Remember when Peter was walking towards Jesus on the water, he had no problem until the wind kicked up and he took his eyes off of Jesus, looked at the world around him and began to fear. Then he began to sink and Jesus held him up saying to Peter, ye of little faith. So we must cry out to the Lord but not in a mindset of fear. See the passage, below for further emphasis on the importance of an attitude of faith.

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 If we trust the Lord and not ourselves, He will deliver us from our troubles.

9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead:  10Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

Psalm 40: 1-4 David waited on the lord. He cried out to God. God answered David and delivered him from the slimy pit. God set David’s feet upon the solid rock. David loved the Lord. He put all his trust only in God. He sang praises to the Lord.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Isaiah 38: 9, 17-18 The King confessed his bitterness to God. God cleansed him of all his prior sins, and delivered him from the pit of corruption. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, forgives our sins, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9).

9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and then recovered of his sickness:  17Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou has in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.18For the grave cannot praise you, death can not celebrate you: they who go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth.

Psalm 103: 1-5 David praises the Lord. He agrees, with all his soul, that God is the only one who can redeem us from destruction (deliver us from the pit) and can renew our strength.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.  2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  3Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;  4Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with love and kindness and tender mercies;  5Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I BLESS YOUR NAME

In prisoners’ chains
With bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain began to sing
Their chains were loosed
And they were free

I bless Your Name, I bless Your Name
I give You honor, I give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
I bless Your Name, I bless Your Name

Some midnight hour
If you should find
You’re in a prison in your mind
Reach out and praise
Defy those chains
And they will fall
In Jesus’ NameWEB SITES FOR THIS SONG

We bless Your Name, We bless Your Name
We give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name, We bless Your Name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjc8wWb-CkI      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBDLMgQ7ojM&feature=related   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYuosfwiHeY

STUDY THE SCRIPTURES BELOW AND SEE HOW THEY APPLY TO THE LESSON OF THIS SONG. SEE HOW SOME GREAT MEN OF THE BIBLE TRUSTED IN THE LORD AND WERE FREED FROM THEIR CHAINS AND TRIBULATIONS.

ACTS 16:20-33 God will free you from your chains if you cry out to Him in praise, song and prayer. Paul and Silas did not grumble or complain. They did not tremble in fear. They sang and prayed to the Lord and God set them free. The prison keeper was so moved that he asked them how he could be saved, and they told him to believe on Jesus. Then the jailor and all his family were saved.

20They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”  22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized

DANIEL 3: 13-30 The three Jewish men trusted in God with such strong faith that they defied the King’s edict and willingly went into the fiery furnace. They trusted in the Lord, and He delivered them totally. Not only that, but Jesus, the Son of God, was present with them inside the furnace. So marvelous was their faith and so  glorious was the manner of God’s deliverance, that the King acknowledged that the Lord was the one and only God.

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.”  25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God.”  26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

COMMENTS—IF WE PRAY AND PRAISE GOD AND SING TO HIM IN TIMES OF TROUBLE HE WILL DELIVER US—HE WILL DELIVER US FROM THE MIDST OF TRIBULATION –AND LIKE THE SONG SAYS HE WILL FREE US FROM THE CHAINS OF OUR MIND THAT CAN IMPRISON US JUST LIKE A REAL PRISON CAN—HE WILL REPLACE OUR FEAR AND ANXIETY AND WORRIES WITH THE PEACE OF GOD AND WITH HIS LOVE THAT WILL ENTER OUR HEARTS.

QUESTION? WHO WAS THE FOURTH MAN THAT GOD SAW IN THE FIERY FURNACE—HE CAST IN ONLY THE 3 YOUNG MEN BUT THEN A FOURTH MAN APPEARED—WE SEE THAT THIS MAN IS THE “SON OF GOD”, WHICH THE KING HIMSELF TESTIFIES TO—THE KING SAW JESUS IN THE FURNACE MANY YEARS BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN

QUESTION TO EVERYONE READING THIS STUDY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF FACED WITH A SITUATION LIKE SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO? WOULD WE HAVE ENOUGH FAITH TO ACT LIKE THEY DID OR TO SING AND PRAISE GOD AS PAUL AND SILAS DID? IS OUR LACK OF FAITH A BARRIER TO EXPERIENCE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE MIRACLES GOD WANTS TO DO FOR US?

I recently saw “The Revelation Song,” performed on You Tube, along with a video showing the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the lyrics also superimposed.

Here is the link to the You Tube Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbx8ua1B1p4

Here are the lyrics in a condensed form:

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing: Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!

(Chorus)

The classic songs and hymns teach many basic Bible truths. They are based on solid scriptures from the Bible and teach us valuable lessons. Take the song “When Jesus Comes.” Click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLW09Fx7Qdw  to see it sung by George Beverley Shea in 1968 at a Billy Graham crusade. The song shows how the blind beggar could not see, but when Jesus, the light of the world, came he instantly healed the man. When Jesus comes He will wipe away our tears, heal us, and if we accept him as Savior, He will give us eternal life and peace of mind. The Gospels are full of miracles performed by Jesus including healing of the blind, lame, and deaf, and even the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus is called the light of the world who shines in the darkness of our souls to set us free. He will take away our gloom and fill our life with God’s Glory, and we will be filled with the Holy Spirit which will help us stay close to God and develop good fruits such as love, faith, patience, goodness, etc. All is changed when Jesus comes to us and we accept him. We become new creations, and sons of God.  Things still will go wrong, but we will be able to have peace through the times of trouble, knowing God will never forsake us.

Miracles still happen today if we pray in total faith with a pure heart. God heals. He gives us peace. He provides for our needs.

By John Hellen author of  The Bible is No Fairy Tale!