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, February 18, 2021

"That's My King!" In Matthew 5!



Up The Mountain Jesus Went
The Greater Moses God Has Sent
To Teach What His Word Really Meant
The Poor In Spirit Blessed Content
Helpless Apart From God They're Spent
They Cry To Him By Grace Repent
Christ Died And Rose This Grand Event
Bought Mercy Now God Will Relent
From Condemnation Hell's Torment
And Give Us Peace Through Christ's Advent!

That's my King!

Jesus Mourned For Sin Abhorred
But He Had None To Be Explored
For Our Sins That We Have Whored
He In Sadness Took God's Sword
Of Justice He Was Slain, Ignored
Man Of Sorrows Wrath Was Stored
No Comfort When God's Anger Soared
He Paid The Debt We Can't Afford
Then Rose Our Everlasting LORD
To Be Forever Loved, Adored
We Worship Him With One Accord
And Mourn He'll Bless With Rich Reward!

That's my King!

Jesus Humble, Gentle, Meek
Lived And Loved And Served Unique
With Compassion Helped The Weak
Words Of Grace Alone He'd Speak
Yet Suffered Pain He'd Cry And Shriek 
He Died To Take Our Curse So Bleak
Then Rose The First Day Of The Week
So Trust In Him Love's Highest Peak
His Meekness You Will Learn And Seek!

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

Christ's Blood And Righteousness Alone
Can Heal And Save The Lives We've Blown
For All Have Sinned And Evil Sown
But Christ Obeyed And Did Atone
Though Hungry He'd Not Change That Stone
Then Thirst And Die With Pains Unknown
He Rose Now Death Is Overthrown
You Cannot Make It On Your Own
Trust In Him He's On The Throne
He's King Of Kings The God-Man's Known
As Everlasting Cornerstone
A Hungry Thirst In You He'll Clone
For Righteousness As He Has Shown!

That's my King!

Jesus Most Blessed Is Mercy's Foundation
Showed Mercy To All And Won Admiration
Fed, Healed, And Saved A Broken Creation
Raised Up The Dead Conquered Death's Condemnation
Yet At The Cross He Took Our Damnation
For Us He Suffered God's Anger Conflagration
He's God's Propitiation The Perfect Oblation
Then Rose From The Dead To Save Every Nation
The Grave And All Death Received Cancellation
Trust In The LORD To Receive This Salvation
By Faith Alone There's Justification
Then You'll Show Mercy As Christ's Blood Relation!

That's my King!

Jesus Lived With Purest Heart
Did All Things Well Right From The Start
His Thoughts And Mind And Every Part
Are Beautiful Like Finest Art
In Death He Made Our Curse Depart
Then Rose To Tear All Death Apart
Trust In Him With All Your Heart
His Purity Impute, Impart
You'll See God's Face And Life Restart
And Every Sadness Will Depart!

That's my King!

Jesus Christ Is The Greatest Peacemaker
Who Came To Save From Every Peacetaker
He's The Everlasting, Impossible Waymaker
Who Made All Wrongs Right – Our Loving Caretaker
Yet Was Abused As A Demon Troublemaker
He Died And Rose The Liberation Earthshaker
Trust In Him Every Sinful Lawbreaker
He'll Save You From Being An Evil Peacefaker
And Make You A Son, A True Child, His Peacemaker!

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

Jesus Faced The Supreme Persecution
Righteous He Was, Sin's Only Solution
From Glory On High To Low Destitution
He Knew No Sin Yet Became Our Pollution
Beat Down And Mocked Our Pure Substitution
God's Wrath He Endured At His Cross Execution
And Paid For Our Wicked, Sin Prostitution
Rose Up Alive Causing Death's Dissolution
Faith Alone Secures Full Absolution
We Follow Him In Holy Revolution
Even At The Cost Of Our Own Persecution
Because He's Our All – The World's Resolution
The Kingdom Is Ours We're A Blessed Institution!

That's my King!

Jesus Is The Salt Who Wins Preservation
If Not For Him We'd All Face Damnation
Deserving God's Judgment And Wrath Conflagration 
He Took God's Curse Our Propitiation
And Died To Give Us Eternal Salvation
Then Rose Killing Death Our Justification
By Faith Alone There's No Condemnation
Now We're The Salt As God's New Creation
Redeemed From Every Tribe And Tongue And Nation
All For His Glory And Praise Adoration!

That's my King!

Jesus Is The World's Eternal Light
He Can't Be Hidden Out Of Sight
He Loved And Preached And Did What's Right
He Died And Bore God's Wrathful Smite
Was Crushed Under His Cursing Might
Then Rose And Conquered Death's Dark Night
The Son Has Risen Shining Bright
Now No More Condemnation Fright
By Faith In Him We Are The Light
We Shine For Him In The World's Sight
In Him We Find Our Chief Delight
Our Good Works Others Shall Ignite
To Give God Glory Hearts Unite!

That's my King!

Christ Won't Abolish But Fulfill
Accomplishing God's Perfect Will
No Jot Or Dot Will Pass Until
All In The Law Is Done And Still
He Died For Wicked Men Would Kill
He Suffered For Our Sinful Thrill
Then Rose New Life In Us Instill
As Salt And Light Up On A Hill
The Law Is In Our Hearts With Zeal
In Christ The Law We Shall Fulfill!

That's my King!

Christ Is The Better Everything
Fulfilling All The Prophets Bring
He Died To Take God's Judgment Sting
Then Rose Eternal Life's Wellspring
All God's Promises Shall Ring
True And Yes In Christ Our King
By Faith Alone To Him We Cling
Our Sin Behind God's Back He’ll Fling
With Joy He Makes Us Shout And Sing
All Sadness, Pain, And Death With Sting
We Shall Forget While Worshiping!

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

Christ Cares For Details To The Dot
In God's Scriptures There Will Not
Be One Small Stroke Missed In His Plot
All Accomplished – None Forgot
For Jesus Died And Took Our Lot
Then Rose To Cleanse Our Every Blot
By Faith Alone In Christ We've Got
A Righteousness Without One Spot
In Christ Good Works We'll Do A Lot
And By His Spirit Live Each Jot
All Sin And Evil Boycott
And For God’s Glory We'll Burn Hot!

That's my King!

Christ Died And Rose To Save Us All
Murderous Angry Men Who Brawl
Those Aborting Children Small
Loss Of Tempers Make Us Fall
Into Hell Just Like Them All
Christ Never Sinned In Anger Raw
Yet Took God's Angry Wrath Fireball
For All Our Sinful Rage Like Saul
Then Rose To Save From Angry Maul
By Faith Alone In Christ Wrote Paul
With Righteous Robes In Christ Stand Tall
Our Hearts Are Changed As God Would Call
And Brought Down Every Anger Wall
Now In Patience We'll Love Y'all
Even Those Who Rub Us Raw
Because The Christ He Is Our All
Who Will Forever Hearts Enthrall!

That's my King!

"But I Say!" Is King Jesus' Claim
No One Ever Spoke The Same
He Taught Our Hearts Are Oft To Blame
We Kill And With Our Anger Maim
And All God's Wrath In Hell Inflame
But God In Flesh Our Sin Became
And Jesus Took God's Wrath Who Came
To Die And Rise To End Our Shame
To Kill Our Anger, Make Us Tame
To Make Us Loving Was His Aim
So Trust Alone In His Great Name
All For God's Eternal Fame!

That's my King!

Jesus Gives The Gift Of Peace
Making Sin And Judgment Cease
Through His Life And Death Decrease
But Resurrection Life Increase
All Conflicts Cease And He Wins Peace
And From Sin's Bondage Does Release
So Trust The Son The Prince Of Peace
In Christ You'll Be God’s Masterpiece
And Reconcile To Him Increase!

That's my King!

Jesus Our Faithful Husband Pure
Without A Hint Of Lust For Sure
He Lived The Perfect Life For Your
Salvation Died And Rose Secure
So Turn From Lust It's All Manure
By Faith In Purity Endure
For Christ Our Beauty Does Allure
He Satisfies And Makes Us Pure!

That's my King!

Christ Will Never Divorce His Bride
He Loved And Served And For Her Died
Then Rose Ensuring She'd Abide
In Him Forever By His Side
So When We Marry He's Our Guide
By Faith Alone We're Justified
And Selfish Pride Is Mortified
So Husbands Never Leave Your Bride
And Wives Be Faithful Don't Divide
In This The Christ Is Glorified
His Name Be Praised By All Worldwide!

That's my King!

Jesus Spoke What's Good And True
He Is The Truth – The God-Man Jew
Who Lived And Spoke Like No One Knew
And Our God Swore To Send Him To
Bear God's Wrath For Me And You
He Died To Hell And Sin Undue
But Now He's Risen – Death Is Through
By Faith Alone We're All Made New
Reflecting God In All We Do
We Tell The Truth And Lies Subdue
In All His Glory We Pursue!

That's my King!

Christ Gave Us More Than Tooth And Eye
God's Perfect Justice Magnify
We Take And Take "For Me!" We Cry
But He Gave All For Sinners Die
And Bore God's Wrath Forsaken Why
So It Is Finished Risen High
Now Death Shall No More Terrify
By Faith Alone He'll Justify
Our Heart's He'll Change And Purify
All Selfishness We'll Crucify
To Give And Give And Glorify
Our God Alone Will Satisfy!

That's my King!

Christ Loved His Enemies Though We Hate
And Turned From God Like Reprobate 
In This Is Love He'd Demonstrate
The Wrath Of God In Fullest Weight
Would Fall On Christ To Devastate
He Died For Sinners Rose Up Great
To Change Our Hearts And Kill Our Hate
By Faith Alone New Life Create
And In His Love We Satiate
Now Love Like Him Who'd Liberate
Our Perfect Father Imitate
Who Loves The Good And Bad Who Hate!

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

Saturday, February 6, 2021

"That's My King!" By S. M. Lockridge


He is my most favorite preacher ever outside of the Bible: Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge was the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA, for over forty years. He died and went to be with his King Jesus on April 4, 2000.

S. M. Lockridge was born March 7, 1913, in Robertson County, Texas, the oldest of eight children and son of a Baptist minister. A graduate of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, he worked for two years as a high school English teacher. In 1940 in Dallas, he felt led to preach. In 1941 he married Virgil Mae Thomas, but they never had any children. In 1942, he accepted his first pastorate at Fourth Ward Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. In August 1952, he was named pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA, where he served until retiring in 1993. During Dr. Lockridge’s tenure at Calvary Baptist, his ministry touched the lives of thousands of people. He preached at crusades, revivals, religious rallies, and evangelistic conferences around the world. He held doctorates and numerous honorary degrees and was often sought as a public speaker, even after he retired in 1993. He served as a guest lecturer at numerous schools and universities and was on the faculty of several others, including the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. Dr. Lockridge was also very active in the civil rights movement. (This biography was taken from this video from Woodville Baptist Church - Cardiff, UK.) 



This is a short testimony he gave at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA (It's the only video footage I've ever seen of him):


This YouTube channel has compiled many of his sermons as well.

In a sermon on the word "Amen" from the Lord's prayer, Dr. Lockridge broke out into a glorious description of the Lord Jesus Christ known as "That's My King!" I heard one pastor say it may be the most listened to sermon [clip] in modern church history because of how many times it's been listened to and downloaded from the internet. Outside the Bible, it is the most glorious, powerful, amazing, beautiful, wonderful description of Jesus Christ I have ever read or heard. Nothing outside the Bible, prayer, and the local church has helped me fight depression, loneliness, sadness, self-pity, selfishness, fear, anxiety, and all manner of other sins more than this glorious description of Jesus Christ. It has helped me fix my eyes on Jesus – "the Founder and Perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2) – like almost nothing else!  

His "That's My King!" poem and his "It's Friday, But Sunday's Coming!" poem have inspired me to write other poems based on books of the Bible (the first was this one from the book of Hebrews) and based on other topics (many compiled in this book). Almost every sermon I've ever preached has been influenced by Dr. Lockridge because I try to end my sermons with a poetic exultation in Christ.


Dr. Lockridge is my favorite preacher outside the Bible because he preached this greatest poem and description of the LORD Jesus Christ ever written by man (outside the Bible) that you will ever read or hear. And here it is:

Whoever heard of a Kingdom without a King?

Everybody's got a King!

Who is your King?

If when I ask you “Who is your King?” – you ask me Who is mine.

You got a minute?

My King is the only One qualified to be King!

My King has always been King!

You know these other Kings, they were born a prince and had to wait till their father died or their mother, if she was the ruling monarch, wait until she died and then become king!

But my King was born King!

In fact the Bible says He's a Seven Way King!

He's the King of the Jews – that's an ethnic King!

He's the King of Israel – that's a national King!

My King will let you know who's who and what's what!

My King always has been King and always will be King!

He's the King of righteousness!
He's the King of the ages!
He's the King of heaven!
He's the King of glory!
He's the King of kings,!
And He is the Lord of lords!
Now that's my King!

Well David said the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork!

That's my King!

My King is the only One of Whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love!

My King is a sovereign King!

No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supplies!

That's my King!

Nobody can keep Him from saving me!

I don't care what you tell Him about me – He knows me!

No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing!
He's enduringly strong!
He's entirely sincere!
He's eternally steadfast!
He's immortally graceful!
He's imperially powerful!
He's impartially merciful!
He's the greatest Phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world!
He's God's Son!
He's the sinner's Savior!
He's the Centerpiece of civilization!

That's my King!

What I like about Him – He doesn't need me, and He doesn't need you!

He stands alone in Himself!
He's august!
He's unique!
He's unparalleled!
He's unprecedented!
He's supreme!
He's preeminent!
He's the loftiest Idea in literature!
He's the highest Personality in philosophy!
He's the supreme Problem in higher criticism!
He's the fundamental Doctrine of true theology!
He's the cardinal Necessity of spiritual religion!
He's the only One qualified to be an all sufficient Savior!

That's my King!

He's the Miracle of the age!
He's the Superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him!
He's in every way able to satisfy every need – your need and mine!
He's the only One able to supply all of our needs simultaneously!
He can hear all of us pray at the same time!
He supplies strength for the weak!
He's available for the tempted and the tried!
He sympathizes, and He saves!
He's the Almighty God Who guides and keeps all His people!
He heals the sick!
He cleanses the lepers!
He forgives sinners!
He discharges debtors!
He delivers the captives!
He defends the feeble!
He blesses the young!
He serves the unfortunate!
He regards the aged!
He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meek!

Now that's my King! Well! Do you know Him?!

Do you know Him?! Do you know Him?!

That's my King!

My King is the Key to knowledge!     

He's the Wellspring of wisdom!
He's the Doorway of deliverance!
He's the Pathway of peace!
He's the Roadway of righteousness!
He's the Highway of holiness!
He's the Gateway of glory!
He's the Master of the mighty!
He's the Captain of the conquerors!
He's the Head of the heroes!
He's the Leader of the legislators!
He's the Overseer of the overcomers!
He's the Governor of governors!
He's the Prince of princes!
He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords!

That's my King! Is He yours?!

What I like about Him . . .

His office is manifold!
His promise is sure!
His light is matchless!
His goodness is limitless!
His mercy is everlasting!
His love never changes!
His Word is enough!
His grace is sufficient!
His reign is righteous!
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light!

I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable!

He's indescribable!
He's incomprehensible!
He's invincible!
He's irresistible!
I'm trying to tell you, the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him!
You can't get Him out of your mind!
You can't get Him off of your hand!
You can't outlive Him, and you can't live without Him!

That's my King!

The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him!
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him!
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him!
Herod couldn't kill Him!
Death couldn't handle Him!
And the grave couldn't hold Him!

That's my King!

He always has been, and He always will be!
I'm talking about He had no predecessor, and He'll have no successor!
There was nobody before Him, and there'll be nobody after Him!
You can't impeach Him, and He's not gonna resign!

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

This book: That's My King!: Meditations on the Christ Who is All in All was written in honor of Dr. Lockridge and his poetry for Jesus.

This is my favorite video of Dr. Lockridge preaching this poem.


This is my second favorite video of his poem (a shortened version).





You can listen to the whole sermon from which this poetic description comes from here.

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.