Easter 4 – Walking by faith and not by sight – Vicar’s Update
Our Vicar Revd Samuel S. Thorp shares a personal update and spiritual reflection, drawing on his own experience and based on Isaiah 42:14-17, 50:4-11, Romans 4:13-5:11, and Luke 4:16-20.
Variations of this sermon were preached at all three services, the recording is taken from the 11am Service at Holy Trinity.
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JUST AS I AM, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind.
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down.
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Charlotte Elliot.
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THE KING OF LOVE my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
!n death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me.
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight.
Thy unction grace bestoweth:
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Henry Williams Baker
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BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there! The risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness.
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased with His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Saviour and my God,
With Christ my Saviour and my God.
Charitie L. Bancroft
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WE HAVE A GOSPEL TO PROCLAIM,
Good news for all throughout the earth.
The gospel of a Saviour’s name:
We sing His glory, tell His worth.
Tell of His birth at Bethlehem,
Not in a royal house or hall
But in a stable dark and dim:
The Word made flesh, a light for all.
Tell of His death at Calvary,
Hated by those He came to save.
In lonely suffering on the cross
For all He loved His life He gave.
Tell of that glorious Easter morn:
Empty the tomb, for He was free.
He broke the power of death and hell
That we might share His victory.
Tell of His reign at God’s right hand,
By all creation glorified.
He sends His Spirit on His Church
To live for Him, the Lamb who died.
Now we rejoice to name Him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
This gospel message we proclaim:
We sing His glory, tell His worth.
Edward J. Burns