Lord’s Day, Vol. 4 No. 22
(1) Rock of Ages
– In the Fury of a Storm
Augustus Toplady, born in 1740, was converted in a barn in an Irish village at age sixteen after listening to a sermon. He became a minister and editor of The Gospel Magazine.
Toplady was in a field in England in 1776 when suddenly a violent storm broke out. He was far from town and shelter, but saw a large rock and hurried to it to find some relief from the brunt of the storm’s fury. In the rock, he found a crack into which he could fit. He entered it and was sheltered.
While waiting out the storm, Toplady reflected how Christ who is called our Rock of Salvation, was broken that we might find in Him shelter from the coming judgment. On a card he found at his feet, he wrote the poem that began with the words, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.”
This renowned hymn, born in the fury of a storm, eloquently voices our prayer for our salvation in the Lord and security for the believer. May it be the petition of our heart.
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee,
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Could my tears forever flow,
Could my zeal no languor know,
These for sin could not atone,
Thou must save, and Thou alone:
In my hand no price I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown.
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
[Extracted and edited from Songs in the Night by Henry Gariep]
(2) Email from a Webcast Listener
The following is an email that was received from a webcast listener.
“Dear Pastor Lek,
I discovered your church on Sermon Audio this Sunday morning. (5-15-2016 EST)
You are a breath of fresh air and located in a wonderful mission field.
As for me, I came to Christ in 1979 but have only become familiar with Reformed theology about ten years ago by the grace of God through John MacArthur’s ministry www.GTY.org and the Master’s College & Seminary in California.
This theological position and understanding of God’s Word (KJV) have taken me to a new level of faith and understanding of Him, based primarily on His sovereign grace in salvation and otherwise. It’s a marvelous thing to know that He manages all things through the creator and sustainer Jesus Christ. It is also a producer of that “peace that passeth all understanding” in Philippians 4 and in knowing the blessing of Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.“
Oh if Christians could only understand that truth and this truth as well, Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.“
Wow! It’s so amazing to me how much He has willingly revealed to us in His Word.
So I just wanted to thank you for (from what I can see so far) faithfully preaching and teaching that Word there in His church at Singapore.
Lord Bless you all!
Sincerely yours in Christ
Todd
PS: I live in Woodsville New Hampshire USA. Isn’t the Internet an amazing tool…
For some good… For some others, maybe not so much…
Thanks for your time reading this. :)”
My reply:
“Dear Bro Todd,
Appreciate your email. It is an encouragement to hear that you are listening in to our webcast in New Hampshire. Will share your good thoughts with our members here. Indeed, it’s amazing this internet tool!
God keep and strengthen you.
With love,
Aik Wee”
Please continue to pray for the Lord’s blessing on the ministry of His Word to His honour and glory! Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee