“Amazing Grace”
Titus 2:11
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men”
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.
When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun
Hymn Story
Imagine with me back to the year 1746. A ship is docking on the
coast of West Africa. Its purpose is to snatch unsuspecting people and
sell them as slaves in the far off countries. The captain of this ship is known
far and wide for his debauchery, vulgarity and blasphemy. But one day in 1748,
while reading the book "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis, our
captain comes face to face with his sin and turns his life over to Jesus,
the Savior of sinners. Our captain is John Newton. After his conversion and
dedication to Christ, he became a pastor and hymn writer. His most famous
of hymns, "Amazing Grace", is a testimonial of his conversion to Christ.
Newton’s tombstone (penned by himself) tells it all: “John Newton, clerk,
once and infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the
rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored,
pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had so long
labored to destroy.” Even though his health failed and his memory
deteriorated at the age of 82, Newton declared, “My memory is
nearly gone, but I remember two great things: that I am a great sinner,
and that Christ is a great Savior!”
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am:
and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;
but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I,
but the grace of God which was with me.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
We are what we are because of God’s grace.
Our growth is in God’s grace.
"Blessed Assurance"
1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Hymn Story:
" Blessed Assurance" was composed by two of the most prolific
Christian hymn writers in history. The lyrics come from a woman with
over 8000 hymns to her credit and the music comes from the organ of a
lady with over 500 hymns to her credit. Fanny Crosby herself said…,
“My friend, Mrs. Jo-seph F. Knapp, com-posed a mel-o-dy and played it
over to me two or three times on the pi-a-no. She then asked what it said.
I re-plied, “Bles-sed as-sur-ance, Je-sus is mine!” This hymn is still being
played on the church organ in thousands of churches today.
Despite being blind, Fanny Crosby’s impact on Christian hymns was
tremendous. She once described how her blindness affected her songs.
"I verily believe that God intended that I should live my days in physical
darkness so that I might be better prepared to sing His praise and
lead others from spiritual darkness into eternal light. With sight I
would have been too distracted to have written thousands of hymns."
Without Fanny’s faith and Phoebe Knapp’s organ, songs such as
"Blessed Assurance" would have never been written.
1 John 3:19
And hereby we know that we are of the truth,
and shall assure our hearts before him.
1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
"Have Thine Own Way Lord"
Matthew 6:10 Have Thine Own Way, Lord! (1) Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! (2) Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own Way! (3) Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! In 1902 the author of this hymn text, Adelaide A. Pollard, Jeremiah 18:2-6 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Thou art the potter, I am the clay!
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, Yielded and still.
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord. Wash me just now,
As in Thy presence Humbly I bow.
Wounded and weary, Help me, I pray!
Power- all power- Surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
was herself experiencing distress of soul during this time. It appears
that it was a period in her life when she had been unsuccessful in
raising funds to make a desired trip to Africa for missionary service.
In this state of discouragement, she attended a little prayer meeting
one night and was greatly impressed with the prayer of an elderly woman,
who omitted the usual requests for blessings and things, and simply
petitioned God for an understanding of His will in life. Upon returning
home that evening, Miss Pollard mediated on the story of the potter,
found in Jeremiah 18:3-4. Then I went to the potter’s house, and
behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he
made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made
it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Before retiring that evening, Adelaide Pollard completed the
writing of all four stanzas of this hymn as it is sung today.
thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house,
and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that
he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made
it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel,
cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay
is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel
"Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing"