Hello OCBC family,

Psalm 149:1 says, “Praise the LORD!  Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!”  But, what about the old songs?  Well, the old songs were new once, and because our Lord is without time, the old songs are still new for Him.  He delights in the singing of His people; the songs from the hearts of the saints are a sweet aroma before Him.  Do I like the new songs?  Yes, I do.  Do I like the old songs?  Of course, I grew up with them.  The point is that the old and/or new songs must be biblical.  Our faith is a singing faith, therefore, we share our beliefs when we sing praises to God.  Our Lord told to the woman of Samaria, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), and Paul makes an echo with his words, “I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15b).  We should enjoy singing, but singing the right songs.  Our goal at Oak Crest is to worship the Lord with songs that exalt His name, using Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, and each one is based on the Bible.

This coming Sunday, in the evening service, we will have a special service.  We will study the evolution of the music for worship through the ages; not just study, but sing those songs as well.  Come, and let us have a wonderful time singing different songs with different styles, to learn how our brothers and sisters from the past worshiped our Lord.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your heart to God” (Colossians 3:16).

In His service,

Israel

Hello OCBC family,

Ephesians 3:19 says, “And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  This passage gave inspiration to Bernard of Clairvaux to write down the famous hymn “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”  The original title in Latin is “Jesu, dulcis memoria” and it has fifty verses.  Edward Caswall translated the hymn into English and selected five verses from the original hymn, 1-4, and 40.

 Bernard of Clairvaux, a saint and doctor, was born in 1091.  The son of a knight, Bernard grew up with wealth, power, and opportunities. Instead of pursuing these things in his adult life, however, Clairvaux abandoned his earthly luxuries and became a monk.  He was educated at Chatillon, where he was distinguished for his studious and meditative habits.

In this hymn, we can see how devote Bernard was to Jesus.  It is a poem of love to his Savior, an expression of joy for what the Lord Jesus has given to him and to us.  You may use this hymn as a prayer.

Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
nor tongue nor pen can show;
the love of Jesus, what it is,
none but his loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be thou,
as thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now,
and through eternity.

In His service,

Israel

Hello OCBC family,

Reading my devotional for my school, I read the passage of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, “To the Jews I became a Jew , to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law – though I myself am not under the law – to win those under the law.  To those who are without that law, like one without the law – no being without God’s law but within Christ’s law – to win those without the law.  To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak.  I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.  Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits” (HCSB).

Paul is telling us that when we share Jesus, we must to share Jesus alone and not our own culture.  Missionaries around the world tell others about this sweet message transform themselves into the culture that they are trying to share the message.  Missionaries and evangelist do things that they will do not do in a normal circumstance, but they do for the Gospel’s sake, and it is just because sinners must to hear the Good News.

Evangelism is the act of the Holy Spirit in the life of the sinners using believers who are willing to pay the price of preaching the Good News of Salvation.

This was the desire of Priscilla Jane Owens (1829 – 1907); she wrote several hymns for kids, but she is very popular for her evangelism hymn, “We Have Heard the Joyful Sound.”

1 We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to ev'ry land,
climb the steeps and cross the waves;
onward! 'tis our Lord's command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

2 Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, ye islands of the sea;
Echo back, ye ocean caves!
Earth shall keep her jubilee,
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

3 Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom,
when the heart for mercy craves;
sing in triumph o'er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

4 Give the winds a mighty voice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free;
highest hills and deepest caves;
this our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

May the Lord help us to share the Good News every day.

In His service,

Israel