Christ Jesus Came Through The Incarnation!

Christ Cleans From All That Sins Defile!

Christ Jesus Makes True Worship Real!

Jesus Christ: The First And Greatest Missionary!

Christ Jesus Must Get All The Praise!

Christ Says To Pastors "Preach The Word!"

Christ Jesus Walked The Worthy Way!

Christ Jesus Moves Saint Paul To Pray!

The Greatest Honor In All The World: To Be Beaten To Death For Christ!

Christ Jesus Calls Us All To Meet!

Christ Jesus Is Our Fascination!

Christ's Bride Makes God's Great Wisdom Known!

"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!

"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!

Jesus Is The Waves Of The Sea Walker!

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.

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!

Christ Jesus Walked Upon The Sea!

 

Jesus Is The Bread Who Came Down!

Jesus Is The Bread That Was Broken!

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.

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!

Christ Is The Bread Who Satisfies!

 

In Jesus Christ God's Grace Appeared!

Your Life For Christ Might Leave You Dead!

"That's My King!" In Matthew 13!

Christ Jesus Is And Sowed The Seed

He Is The Word We Are To Heed
The Greatest Sower Who Will Plead
Repent And Trust And You’ll Be Freed
From Sin And Hell, It’s True Indeed
For Jesus Took God’s Wrath Decreed
To Save Our Souls He’d Die And Bleed
Then Rise Again To Life He’d Lead
He Won’t Let Satan Truth Impede
The Rocky Soil He’ll Change With Speed
All Thorns He’ll Crush And Cleanse And Weed
He’ll Make Good Soil Guaranteed
By Faith Alone We’re Just And Feed
Upon His Word, He Is Our Creed
We’ll Bear Much Fruit In Word And Deed
For Christ Is All! Our Every Need!

That's my King!

Christ Jesus Gives The Eyes To See

The Ears To Hear, The Hearts To Be

All That God Commands With Glee

In Parables Christ Spoke So He

Would Hide The Secrets Lest They’d Flee

From Their Sins, Be Healed And Free

Yet Those He Chose Like You And Me

He Gives The Secrets That Are Key

To Knowing Him In Deep Degree

He Died For Us Upon That Tree

To Buy Our Faith, Desires To Flee

From Sin To Live As His Decree

He Rose Alive, We Bow The Knee

Confess Him LORD, The One In Three

By Faith Alone We Now Can See

He Saved Our Souls And Set Us Free!

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

Christ Jesus Rids Of Every Weed

He’s Son Of Man Who Sows Good Seed

God’s Children Of The Kingdom Freed

From Sin And Hell By Greatest Deed

He Bore God’s Wrath, He’d Cry And Bleed

He Died And Rose, Life’s Guaranteed

By Faith Alone We’re Just Indeed

Every Sin And Evil Breed

That Jesus Holiness Impede

Will Be Cast Out In Fire Concede

There’s Weeping, Gnashing Teeth Decreed

But Righteous Ones Who Christ Do Heed

Shine Like The Sun, Their Father’s Seed

So Trust In Christ With Earnest Speed

For He Alone Meets Every Need

All Other Joys He Will Exceed!

That's my King!

Christ Jesus’ Kingdom Starts Out Small
Like Mustard Seed, But Then Grows Tall
Birds Come And Nest, All Nations Call
The Kingdom Leaven Spreads To All
Each Prophecy Fulfilled, The Gall
And Wrath Of God, He’d Curse And Maul
His Own Loved Son, His Judgment Fall
Christ Died And Rose To Death Recall
Now He’s Our All And Does Enthrall
His Grace Shields Us Like A Great Wall
So Good Alone On Us Befall!

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

Christ Jesus Is The Treasure Great

We Will Sell All And All Else Hate

Compared To Him Who’s Joy Innate

To Live Is Christ For He’ll Elate

To Die Is Gain For He’s The Gate

To Greatest Joys We Await

He Died And Rose There’s No Debate

A Whole New People To Create

Who Find In Him Our All And Wait

On Him, His Word, He Cuts It Straight

He Shall Forever Fascinate

In Him All Pleasures Culminate

He Is The Kingdom’s Treasure Weight

So Trust The Son And Contemplate

His Boundless Beauty Celebrate!

That's my King!

Christ Is The Pearl Of Greatest Price

No Other Lover Can Entice

In Each Desire He’s All Suffice

He Took God’s Wrath In Sacrifice

He Died And Rose For Every Vice

So We Are Cleansed If We’re Born Twice

All Things For Good He Works Precise

Down To The Detail His Device

He Gives Commands Not Mere Advice 

And Fills Your Life With Pleasure Spice

So Trust The Son Who Paid The Price

You’ll Be With Christ Our Paradise!

That's my King!

Christ Jesus Astonished All Who Heard

His Wisdom’s Great, Their Hearts Were Stirred

His Mighty Works Confirm The Word

Offense They Took, Their Hearts Absurd

His Father Gave These Things Transferred

For He Himself Is God The Word

No Honor From His Home Conferred

A Killer To His Life Preferred

He Suffered All God’s Wrath Unheard

He Died And Then Rose Up The Third

Now Rules And Reigns O’er All Occurred

By Faith Alone No Wrath’s Incurred

So We Are Free And Undeterred 

To Trust, Obey His Every Word

For Our Whole Life He’ll Undergird

And Be Our Joy Never Deferred!

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

Christ Jesus Astonished All Who Heard!

Christ Jesus Saves From Furnace Fire!

 

My First Wedding, The Naval Academy Chapel, The Gospel, Answered Prayer, And A Faithful God

 

Photos by Karen Santilli Photography

This picture is a testimony to God's faithfulness in answering prayer - me preaching the Gospel at my first wedding ever in the Naval Academy Chapel. Thank You LORD! 

Christ is all!

In 2011, before I came to the first and only church God has called me to pastor (Olney Baptist Church), I visited the college I attended (a small trade school on the Severn River I sometimes tell people): The United States Naval Academy. During my visit, I walked through the chapel again. I remember sitting there on the first Sunday of Plebe Summer: that's the summer when the upperclassmen leaders treat the freshmen really harshly for 6 weeks like a military boot camp. I was crying my eyes out and asking God to please help me through this military indoctrination! 

As I walked through the chapel again in 2011, I was moved by God to pray and plead with Him to allow me to preach the Gospel in this place someday to the multitudes of people who could fit in this humongous building. I really thought this actually happening would be impossible, but you pray it because our God can do the impossible! As John Newton wrote:

Thou art coming to a King

Large petitions with thee bring

For His grace and power are such

None can ever ask too much!

It's also always good to keep praying, no matter how long it takes, and do not lose heart.

Photos by Karen Santilli Photography

After my visit, I moved up to Philadelphia and began my pastorate in Olney. A year or so later, I got a message from a friend I went to college with, Greg Chestnut. He told me that he and his fiancée, Anastasia, had been listening to my sermons, and they would love for me to officiate their wedding and preach the message. They drove up to Philadelphia so we could meet and discuss the details. 

Get this: they were going to be married at the Naval Academy Chapel! And, they told me they would love for me, in my wedding message, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ because that's the message they wanted all of their friends and family to hear. I was amazed at God's kindness to me! God had answered my prayers! I was going to get to preach the Gospel in the Naval Academy Chapel - and it would be my first wedding ever! My parents even came for the occasion.

God is good!

God is faithful!

God answers prayers!

God knows best!

And He answers our prayers even better than we ask!

Trust Him. Trust Him. Trust Him. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

On April 20, 2013, (as you can see in the first photo above) God answered my prayer and allowed me to preach the Gospel (a message like this one) to many souls in the Naval Academy Chapel. May He continue to bear fruit from the preaching of the Gospel and through the faithful prayers of His people. Oh Father, please let me preach the Gospel there again someday soon! For Jesus' sake, Amen!

Please hear the amazing Gospel message in this documentary: American Gospel: Christ Alone.

You can also watch the full version of this documentary here with a free, 3 day trial. 

Related Articles

On Evangelism: Go To Hell! and Titanic: John Harper's Last Convert

Christ Is The Pearl Of Greatest Price!

Elisabeth Elliot Grew Up Less Than Four Miles From Where I Live!

Yesterday I was excited to learn that one of my favorite authors and Christian role models grew up less than four miles from where I live. Elisabeth Howard (later Elisabeth Elliot) grew up at 103 West Washington Lane in the Germantown area of Philadelphia. I took a field trip today to see what I could see and to meet who I could meet. Sadly, the home she grew up in is no longer there, but I got a picture with all of her books I own in front of the property where the house used to stand. A neighbor near the house kindly took my picture, and I was able to give her two of Elisabeth's books. I was also helped by another young man who lived nearby, and I was able to give him a book on the cross, a Gospel tract, and send him several of Elisabeth's books through the mail. His mom made a comment to the effect that this encounter we had was sent from God. God uses everything. Praise Him! Please pray that all of these people will read the books and pursue Christ as Elisabeth did. 

In the picture above, her home is the left side of the duplex - the picture is from her book, The Shaping Of A Christian Family. Elisabeth wrote: "Over the front door bell button hung a little copper plate with these words:

​Christ is the Head of this house,

The unseen Guest at every meal,

The silent Listener to every conversation."

Above is the property today. Only half of the duplex is still standing (101 West Washington Lane). The home where Elisabeth lived (103) had to be removed because of an unsafe collapsed wall from 2007, according to License and Inspection records. Google Street view shows it came down between 2014 and 2018. 

In one of her talks, Elisabeth noted that when she was three years old, she sat in this house and heard the testimony of Betty Scott Stam. Betty was headed to China to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Later, Elisabeth heard from her father that Betty, along with her husband, was beheaded in China because of their bold witness to Jesus Christ and His life, death, burial, and resurrection. Betty's radical prayer was answered by God:

Lord, I give up my own plans and purposes, all my own desires, hopes and ambitions, and I accept Thy will for my life. I give up myself, my life, my all, utterly to Thee, to be Thine forever. I hand over to Thy keeping all of my friendships; all the people whom I love are to take second place in my heart. Fill me now and seal me with Thy Spirit. Work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, for to me to live is Christ. Amen.

 

This photo of Elisabeth is taken from the article, "Peaches In Paradise: Why I Love Elisabeth Elliot" written by John Piper on the occasion of her departure to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on June 15,  2015.

The three photos above are of Sister Lena and I at "Birdsong" - this is the name of the home Elisabeth Howard grew up in at 3 Maple Avenue in Moorestown, NJ, after they moved from the Germantown home when Elisabeth was about 9 years old. This home is about 12 miles from where I live in Olney. Jim Elliot came to visit Elisabeth here on Christmas break in 1947 while they were at Wheaton College.

Above is a photo of the five widows and their children. Elisabeth's husband, Jim Elliot, along with four other missionaries, were speared to death by a tribe in Ecuador that they were trying to reach for Jesus Christ. After her husband's death, Elisabeth and her young daughter, Valerie, went to live with the very tribe and men who killed Elisabeth's husband in order to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They departed for this mission on October 6th, 1958. Below is the letter she wrote to her supporters two days before she and her daughter left:

Eventually, many in the tribe came to faith in Jesus and began to follow Him. Elisabeth wrote this about her marriage to Jim and his death:

"Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him" (Isaiah 25:9) was the verse given us on our wedding day. We could not have waited in peace had we known that our marriage would last only 27 months. But God gives us our "daily bread" (Matt. 6:11; Luke 11:3), enough grace for a day at a time. When Jim died in January of 1956 the grace was there. He had gone with four missionary friends to take the gospel to a tribe called Auca, but they were taken for cannibals and speared to death.

Books were asked for then. The whole world was interested in that story, and that is how I began to write. I was a missionary before I married Jim and there was no reason to stop being a missionary when he died. I went ahead with the work we had been doing in the Quichua tribe, fitting in the writing whenever I could find the time. An opportunity came to go and live with the Aucas — I had "asked for it," I had prayed, "Lord, if there's anything you want me to do about them, show me, I'm yours," and He took me up on it. Of course I did not really expect Him to. I was a widow with a 10-month-old child. What could I do that five men did not do? But we went. Rachel Saint, the sister of one of the missionaries killed, went too. After two years in an Auca settlement Valerie and I went back to the Quichuas, then returned to the United States for her schooling when she reached fourth grade (Love Has A Price Tag, Pages 8-9).

She wrote this poem while in college:

Perhaps some future day, Lord,

Thy strong hand will lead me to the place

Where I must stand utterly alone;

Alone, Oh gracious Lover, but for Thee.

I shall be satisfied if I can see Jesus only.

I do not know Thy plan for years to come.

My spirit finds in Thee its perfect home: sufficiency.

Lord, all my desire is before Thee now.

Lead on no matter where, no matter how,

I trust in Thee.

As this article notes: "Thirteen years after Jim’s death, in 1969, she married a professor at Gordon Conwell, Addison Leitch, who was 18 years her senior. Three years after they married, he was diagnosed with cancer. He died less than a year later." Then, she married her third husband, Lars Gren, who was nine year her junior and a seminary student. You can read about her final days here, and watch memorial services for her at Wheaton College here and at Gordon College here.

Her books and lectures have helped me in some of my darkest times in life. Some of her other books include:

1. Passion And Purity: Learning To Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control (I have probably read this book more than any other book besides the Bible. She gave several talks on this same topic here.)

2. Quest For Love: True Stories Of Passion And Purity

3. A Path Through Suffering: Discovering The Relationship Between God's Mercy And Our Pain

4. Shadow Of The Almighty: The Life & Testament Of Jim Elliot

5. Through Gates Of Splendor

6. The Path Of Loneliness: Finding Your Way Through The Wilderness To God

7. Discipline: The Glad Surrender

8. Let Me Be A Woman 

9. Elisabeth Elliot's two-part biography, Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, and part 2, Being Elisabeth Elliot, was written by Ellen Vaughn

You can find all of her books here, and many other resources on her website here. You can learn more about Jim's death for the sake of the Gospel here.

By God's grace, may we follow Jim and Elisabeth as they followed Christ!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

To learn more about the glorious Gospel of King Jesus that captivated both Jim and Elisabeth's hearts, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the whole documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.

To learn more about Elisabeth Elliot and her remarkable story, see:

Through Gates Of Splendor

Beyond The Gates Of Splendor

Elisabeth Elliot Foundation Videos

Family Life Interview, Part 1

Family Life Interview, Part 2

The Howard Family at their home in Germantown, PA

Jim, Elisabeth, and Valerie

Elisabeth and Valerie

Elisabeth and Addison Leitch

Elisabeth and Lars Gren