Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . has conquered . . . Revelation 5:5
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Galatians 6:14
You have been very angry with your Anointed One. Psalm 89:38
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
Let the motto upon your whole ministry be - "Christ is All!" - Cotton Mather

Thursday, September 29, 2022

"That's My King!" Who Is The Healer Of All, Reversed The Fall, And Conquers Every Sickness Big Or Small!


The people recognized Him when He got to the shore
He's the miracle worker they'd come to adore
For signs and wonders they'd beg for more
But His identity as God they seemed to ignore
Yet to be reconciled to God He's the only Door
At that cross His precious life-blood He'd pour
On His bloodied back your sins He bore
And then rose from the dead to win the war
All beauty and good to perfectly restore
And grant us fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore!

That's my King!

Jesus is the center of attention
He's amazing and extraordinary in every dimension
Though He's eternal God, He made a lowly condescension
To save sinners from Hell and every contention
His beauty and love are without comprehension
And after He made His glorious ascension
He calls us to go and His Gospel to mention
In all of our lives it demands utter submission
And to every nation further extension
For the fame of His name in every dimension!
Jesus is available to all who see their need
He's quick to accomplish every good deed
For every repentant sinner He came to bleed
And in them plant His everlasting seed
So that they would believe His creed
And follow His lead to be fully freed!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Jesus came showing mercy and love
He's gentle and tender, just like a dove
He's the God Who is love that's come down from above!

When Adam fell into sin the whole world was lost
But at great personal cost
Jesus came to reverse the loss
And do even more at the cross!

There's nothing on earth that Jesus can't heal
No matter what's wrong or how bad you feel
If to Him by faith you make your appeal
He'll always work His perfect will
And give you what's best – that's the ideal
So don't go to Him to make a deal
But pour out your heart and before Him be real
And His perfect plan for your life He'll reveal!

That's my King!

Because of sin we get sick and die
But when it comes to specifics we don't know why
Sometimes if you lie, you may get pinkeye
But others like Job don't sin or defy
Yet sickness they get no matter how hard they try
So for righteousness aim high
On your own understanding don't rely
Trust in our God's endless supply
Of love that never runs dry
And into His fatherly arms always fly
For His mercy never cease to cry
And He'll make all things beautiful in the great by and by!

We long for a day of no more sickness, death, and pain
When the curse will be gone and nothing will be vain
To win this new day Jesus came to be slain
He had to suffer and die and be counted profane
Then rise from the grave, paradise to regain
He started everything we'll finally attain
But there's more to come so don't complain
The “already – not yet” theologians try to explain
When Jesus comes back there'll be a whole new domain
Where a new earth and new bodies this world will contain
Then all sin and death will have no more reign
Again the world will be sane
Over all the earth God's glory will forever remain
So believe Jesus Christ is worthy to obtain!

That's my King! That's my King!

He Satisfied Them All With Bread!


Tuesday, September 27, 2022

"That's My King!" In Matthew 14!


Your Life For Christ Might Leave You Dead
Because Of All He Did And Said
John The Baptist Came And Pled
Behold! The Lamb Of God You’ll Wed
He Takes Away Our Sin We’ve Read
The Bridegroom Saves From Hell And Dread
John Died For Christ And Lost His Head
For Christ Is Worth This Grim Bloodshed
Now He’s The Famous One Widespread
Who Took God’s Wrath And Died And Bled
Then Rose Alive To Death Behead
By Faith Alone He Saves The Dead
To Greatest Victory Jesus Led
In Him The Dead Will Live Instead
To Praise Our King His Fame We Spread!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Christ Is The Bread Who Satisfies
He Has Compassion, Heals, Supplies
All Our Desires Of Any Size
He’s The Good Shepherd Who’d Baptize
Our Hearts He Came To Circumcise
Creates From Nothing Analyze
In Genesis He’s God All Wise
Yet For Lost Sinners Agonize
He Bore God’s Wrath And Helpless Cries
“Forsaken!” All Alone He Dies
But In Three Days Our King Did Rise
Conquered Sin And Death And Lies
By Faith Alone We’re Just, Arise
It’s God Alone Who Opens Eyes
To Grant In Christ All Joys And Highs
So Come To Christ Who Satisfies
For He’s Our Everlasting Prize!

That's my King!

Christ Jesus Walked Upon The Sea
He’s God, I AM, The One In Three
Job Spoke Of Him And Now We See
Our God, Creator Make Wind Flee
Don’t Fear What’s Been Or Might Shall Be
Just Look To Christ, That Is The Key
He Rules O’er All By His Decree
He Bore God’s Wrath Upon That Tree
He Died And Rose To Set You Free
From Sin And Death And Hell Took He
So In Our Doubts To Him We Plea
Increase Our Faith To Great Degree
He’s Son Of God, Our Jubilee
We Worship Him On Bended Knee
He Fills Our Hearts With Joy And Glee!

That's my King! I wonder if you know Him today?!

All Who Were Sick King Jesus Healed
He’s The Sun Of Righteousness Our Shield
With Healing In His Wings Appealed
He’d Rise To Be All God Revealed
The Father’s Sword Of Wrath Was Wield
To Crush His Son Who’d Die And Yield
To His Father’s Will Unsealed
No Love Held Back Or Hid Concealed
And Then He Rose So Death Has Kneeled
To The God-Man Who Has Sealed
Our Saving Pardon All Things Healed
By Faith Alone Please To Him Yield
He Is All Joy And Hope Revealed!

That's my King! That's my King!

All Who Were Sick King Jesus Healed!

Friday, September 23, 2022

Wolf Shield

During the course of my life, my name was providentially changed to a name that means “Wolf Shield”. 

God knows what He’s doing!

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew‬ ‭7:15‬

Please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone.

You can watch the full version of American Gospel: Christ Alone with a free trial here.

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Jesus Satisfies The Desire Of Every Living Thing!

 

"That's My King!" Who Is The I AM HE; Who Passed By On The Sea; Makes Fears Flee; And Sets Hearts Free!


He's the waves of the sea walker
The no one ever spoke like Him talker
The hound of heaven love stalker
The all fear conquering blocker
The Galilee wind rocker
And the stand in awe disciple shocker!

He went up on the mountain to pray
His Father always showed Him the way
So He wouldn't go astray
But be faithful in all He'd do and say
His disciples He'd soon dismay
As He put on display
His beauty and power in glorious array
Which reached its climax when on that cross they'd slay
But He'd forever take away
All fear and every kind of decay
And all His children with good repay
For He rose up from the grave on the third day!

That’s my King!

The wind pushed the disciples back
The sea and sky were black
And they seemed to be off track
Strength to move forward they'd lack
But then they saw something that 'bout made them crack
God on the sea right now we'll unpack!

Job said it's God Who treads upon the wave
But that's how we see Jesus behave
Now He Himself is all the rave
For God so loved the world He gave
That He might save sinners who misbehave
Make them His slave
And grant them Him alone to crave!

That’s my King! Do you know Him?!

They saw Him walking on the sea
Showing His identity is key
He is the I AM HE Who alone can set you free
From needing any he or she
Because He Himself your all must be!

After He satisfied them all with bread
And sent the disciples on ahead
Upon the waters Jesus tread
And filled the disciples all with dread
But then He turned His head
And with conviction said “I AM!”
And that's what God to Moses said!
So let all your dread be dead and never spread
But put your trust in Him instead
For you know He bled and rose from the dead
To be the Church's perfect Head!

That’s my King!

Christ walked the seas before He'd die
Many question His passing by
They're wondering what and asking why
But if you have an Old Testament eye
“This is amazing!” you might reply
For it shows us Jesus is God Most High
Since it's God Himself Who passes by
When Moses in the rocks comply
Now God in flesh has now drawn nigh
So at these truths don't think and sigh
But drink deeply from His infinite supply
And to Him for grace and mercy cry!

The great I AM gets in the boat
By His Word the world's afloat
To show His identity Mark and Matthew wrote
He doesn't need your support or vote;
To Him alone all allegiance we must devote!

That’s my King! I wonder if you know Him today?!

If you trust Him then don't be afraid
He'll be your unshakable aid
And life giving shade
Your heart He'll invade
Just as you prayed
You won't be swayed
Even at the threat of a blade
Because to you unspeakable love He's displayed
With His life He paid
To that cross He was betrayed
In the tomb He was laid
But death He'd evade
And with glory is forever arrayed!

So don't harden your heart
You don't have to be smart
Just believe in your heart
And He'll set you apart
No matter what you've done, you'll get a fresh start
And He'll recreate your life like precious fine art!

That’s my King! That’s my King!

Friday, September 16, 2022

In God’s Heaven, His Mighty Heaven, King Jesus Reigns Tonight!


I love the song from the movie, The Lion King, called "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (Wimoweh). The word "Wimoweh" is a mishearing of the chorus of "uyimbube" which means "He is a lion" in Zulu.


What a great song that could be re-written all about the real Lion King - the King of kings - the LORD Jesus Christ - Who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! The chorus is:

He is a Lion! 
He is a Lion! 
He is a Lion!
He is a Lion!

Over and over again - He is a Lion! 

And since Jesus Christ is the conquering Lion Who reigns tonight and now and forever, we His children have NOTHING to fear! Nothing to fear tonight; nothing to fear tomorrow; nothing to fear forever!

And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." 
Revelation 5:5

I changed the lyrics of this song to be about Jesus Christ in the city of Philadelphia. It would make a great lullaby to sing to your children before bed. Check it out:

EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE
Umm Umm a way....
EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE
Umm Umm a way....
Wee-ooh wim-o-weh. Wee-ooh wim-o-weh.

Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh.
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh.

In God’s heaven, His mighty heaven,
King Jesus reigns tonight.
In God’s heaven, His perfect heaven,
King Jesus reigns tonight.

Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh.
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh.

In the city, the violent city,
King Jesus reigns tonight.
In the city, the needy city,
King Jesus reigns tonight.

Wee-ooh wim-o-weh. Wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh.
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
O-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh.

Hush, God’s children, don't fear, God’s children,
King Jesus reigns tonight.
Hush, beloved, don't fear beloved,
King Jesus reigns tonight.

Whuh whuh whuh wim-o-weh.
Wee-ooh wim-o-weh wee-ooh
Wim-o-weh wee-ooh wim-o-weh Wim-o-weh

EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE
Umm Umm a way....
EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE EE
Umm Umm a way....
Wee-ooh wim-o-weh. Wee-ooh wim-o-weh.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Celebrity Pastors For The Glory Of King Jesus!


I see a man cannot be a faithful minister, until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake - until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ. 
Robert Murray M'Cheyne

When I was at the 2012 Together For The Gospel meeting, there was a panel discussion on celebrity pastors. Dr. Carl Trueman was on the panel, cautioning against the perils and dangers of the celebrity pastor. While I certainly agree with his concerns and cautions (though his main concerns were how young, aspiring pastors wrongly idolize or rely upon these men and aspire to be like them), I wanted to ask him if he taught a “celebrity” church history class. In other words, did he focus on the pastors/theologians that no one had ever heard of, or did he cover Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and the many other “famous” figures in church history? After all, he did mention that Luther was the first celebrity pastor in Protestantism. Surely he teaches about the lives and ministries of celebrities in his church history class. (I am thankful and happy that in following T4G conferences, they did take Dr. Trueman's advice and add less well known pastors to the main teaching sessions).

One note on definitions: You can't make up your own definition of  “celebrity” and add to it all kinds of negative, unbiblical, sinful meanings. Words have meanings. It's unhelpful to make up a definition of a word that's really bad and then show how bad it is because you've defined it to be bad in the first place. I'm using the actual meaning of the word “celebrity” for this article from Webster's 1828 dictionary

Fame; renown; the distinction or honor publicly bestowed on a nation or person, on character or exploits; the distinction bestowed on whatever is great or remarkable, and manifested by praises or eulogies; as the celebrity of the duke of Wellington; the celebrity of Homer, or of the Iliad.

Dr. Trueman gave an example of how he uses the “celebrity” term in the T4G panel - he gave the German Reformer Martin Luther as an example. That's the same way I'm using the term in this article.

The Biblical and historical fact of the matter on celebrity pastors is this: The LORD sovereignly chooses to make people great in the eyes of the church and even in the eyes of the world for the purpose of making His own name great and to be a blessing to the world through the Gospel.

He did so with Abraham: “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.’” (Genesis 12:1-2)

He did so with Joseph: “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands . . . But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison . . . The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.” (Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23)

He did so with Moses: “And the LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh . . . .’” (Exodus 7:1)

He did so with Joshua: “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’” (Joshua 3:7)

He did so with David: “Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.’” (2 Samuel 7:8-9)

He did so with His own beloved Son: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

He did so with the preacher Paul mentions who was famous among all the churches for his preaching of the Gospel: “With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.” (2 Corinthians 8:18)

He’s done it with Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, and many other faithful preachers and theologians in our own day.

And He does so now with whomever He pleases: “The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.” (1 Samuel 2:6-8)

“For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” (Psalm 75:6-7)

Sadly, many celebrity pastors fall into sin and disqualify themselves from ministry. But other, lesser known pastors fall as well. Sinning pastors who fall and disqualify themselves from ministry are nothing new, whether they are well known or not. Surely there are particular temptations that come with being well known. And those temptations must be acknowledged, resisted, and put to death by the power of the Spirit for the glory of King Jesus. What the outcries against celebrity pastors may miss is the Biblical fact that our circumstances (fame/notoriety) are not the problem - our sinful hearts are the problem. Every pastor and every Christian, whether well known or not, must be diligent to put sin to death, pursue the glory of God alone, pursue and submit to Biblical church government, and submit to Biblical accountability. Being well known for the glory of King Jesus and for the purpose of spreading His fame is something God has caused to happen in history for the fame of His great name and is actually a gift from God that we should rejoice in and seek to steward faithfully for the glory of King Jesus! 

What should we do in light of these truths?

1. Let us remember that the LORD doesn’t need us:

“Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” (Psalm 135:6)

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1)

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24-25)

“God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” (Matthew 3:9)

2. Let us remember that the LORD grants all mercies, ministries, and positions in His Church as He sees fit:

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” (Romans 9:15)

“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 4:1)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ . . . But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose . . . But God has so composed the body . . . And God has appointed in the church . . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 24, 28)

3. Let us remember that the LORD delights in and lifts up the humble:

“The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.” (Psalm 147:6)

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:15)

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

4. Let us consider all other preachers (and people!) better than ourselves:

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

5. Let us seek the LORD to build our ministry or all is vanity:

“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

6. Let us forget about ourselves and exult in the glory, beauty, and satisfaction of Jesus Christ alone – Who is the greatest and most famous One, but was made nothing on that cross so that we might have all in all in Him!

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11)

If Christ is all to a pastor of any church, he will not be jealous of the celebrity status of others or the Gospel growth and success of other churches, but he will pray with as much passion and zeal for other pastors, churches, and ministries as he prays for himself and his own. So let us pray prayers like this . . .

Oh Father, please cause all the churches around me that preach the Gospel faithfully to grow to overflowing and become mega-churches like the church in Acts where thousands were added to their number in one day!

Please grant the faithful pastors around me to increase in influence for Jesus! Grant them to write the best-selling books that make much of Jesus, save sinners, edify the church, and glorify God! Please make these other pastors great like you made your servant Abraham great so that, like Abraham, they might be a blessing to the nations.

Please grant me to find as much joy in these other church’s Gospel success as if it were my own Gospel success! May their Gospel success only serve to increase my joy in Jesus and in the triumph of the Gospel in this world!

Oh Father, please do all this because, above all, I want Christ to be all in all in the world! May His name become great in the world, and if that happens through others and not me, then all praise be to You – just make Your name great through any and all lawful means! May Christ increase, and may I decrease! Please simply cause me to be faithful to all that You’ve called me to do!

Thank You, oh Father, for the faithful mega-church pastors and best-selling Christ-exalting authors! Thank You for the Augustines, John Calvins, Charles Spurgeons, Martyn Lloyd-Jones's, S. M. Lockridges, John Pipers, Mark Devers, Kevin DeYoungs, H. B. Charles's, R. C. Sprouls, Voddie Bauchams, Conrad Mbewes, and David Platts! Make more of them oh God, and spread the fame of Your great name through them! You are a Mega God! And You deserve for all peoples everywhere to bow down and worship You! Fill all Your churches to overflowing and save sinners by the billions!

Please do it for Jesus’ sake and for His glory! Amen!

God And The Gospel 

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-ManJesus Christ, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.