JAN 16, 2020

Bible Reading: John 3:1-7

Memory Verse: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

Sing the hymn “I hear Thy welcome voice” on page 103. This hymn was written by Lew­is T. Hart­sough, at a re­vi­val meet­ing in Ep­worth, Io­wa. For many years there was this unbelieving merchant man who married a strong Christian woman. He often physically abused her especially after he had been drunk with alcohol. Against all advice to divorce him, she kept praying and trusting God for the salvation of his soul. Then, God showed up. Shortly af­ter this hymn was writ­ten, while it was be­ing sung by a large con­gre­ga­tion in Wash­ing­ton DC, the merc­hant man stopped to lis­ten. It had been twen­ty years since he crossed the thresh­old of a church.

The con­gre­ga­tion were on their feet and sin­ners were pass­ing to the al­tar for pray­er. Stan­za af­ter stan­za of this hymn was sung, with in­creas­ing in­ter­est. The Ho­ly Spir­it so pressed the Lord’s claims that he surrendered to Jesus. This hymn be­came his favorite. He sang it in his home, on the street, and in his store. It seemed a spe­cial in­spir­a­tion to him. One morn­ing, about two weeks af­ter his con­ver­sion, as he start­ed for his store, his wife, hav­ing ac­com­pa­nied him to the door to say good-bye, heard him singing this hymn again and again. A few mo­ments later the door-bell rang. She an­swered it in per­son, on­ly to find that men were bear­ing home her hus­band’s dead bo­dy. He had slipped on the icy pave­ment and was in­stant­ly killed.

 The mem­o­ry of those last words of song that fell up­on her ears, as he tr­iumph­ant­ly sang, I am com­ing, Lord, to Thee, was to her a last­ing com­fort. It is a new year dear reader; will you hear the voice of Jesus today? Death did not give the merchant man a pre-notice. Jesus’ precious blood is flowing from Calvary and calling you for the cleansing of your sins. Tomorrow may be too late. Right now dear reader, surrender your life totally to God, the magnitude of your sins notwithstanding. Now is the appointed time of your salvation.

Quote: Life is short, death is sure, sin is the reason, but Jesus is the cure.

Prophetic Decree: I rebuke powers contending with the souls of men, in Jesus name.

Prayer Focus

Say: Dear Jesus, Today I obey your welcome voice that calls me, Lord, to Thee, for cleansing in Thy precious blood That flowed on Calvary. Take my sins away. I surrender my life totally to You as my personal Lord and saviour. Deliver me from the yoke of sin, flesh and the world. Help me to be steadfast, immoveable, fruitful and always abounding in You, now and forever more. Amen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 12-15

Hymn:

I hear Thy welcome voice

That calls me, Lord, to Thee,

For cleansing in Thy precious blood

That flowed on Calvary.

Refrain

I am coming Lord!

Coming now to Thee!

Wash me, cleanse me in the blood

That flowed on Calvary!

Refrain

Though coming weak and vile,

Thou dost my strength assure;

Thou dost my vileness fully cleanse,

Till spotless all, and pure.

Refrain

’Tis Jesus calls me on

To perfect faith and love,

To perfect hope and peace and trust,

For earth and Heav’n above.

Refrain

’Tis Jesus who confirms

The blessed work within,

By adding grace to welcomed grace,

Where reigned the power of sin.

Refrain

And He the witness gives

To loyal hearts and free

That every promise is fulfilled,

If faith but brings the plea.

Refrain

All hail! atoning blood!

All hail! redeeming grace!

All hail! the gift of Christ our Lord,

Our strength and righteousness.

Refrain