Never Once - Matt Redman

Why Sing This Song?  

I have often pictured singing this song as I grow weary fighting the battles of life.  Some big - some small - just life.   It gets hard at times.   Sometimes victory - far too often - defeat.

Often in those times I feel alone.  Sometimes abandoned by God.  I look for Him, but can't find Him.   I pray, plead to "feel" Him - but yet, remain unmoved.  But still, I battle on.  It is what we are supposed to do.  Struggle, battle and if we fail, get up - seek forgiveness and enter back in to the battle.

Then there are the times we look over our shoulders at where we have been.  The battles, the heart ache, the times when we didn't think He was there.   It is then we see Him.  

We were never alone.  

Though we did not see Him - He was there.   

Though we did not sense Him - He was there.  

We were never alone.

We sing this song when we become discouraged thinking that God has forsaken, forgotten us.  We become discouraged and disillusioned when we allow our emotions to rule our thinking rather than turning to the Words of God and His Spirit to rule our thoughts. 

God has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6,8) 

We are never alone.  

Every step – every challenge – every victory – every tear -  He is there.  

We are never ever alone!

Lyrics:  Never Once

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

I Am Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

Lyrics

Seems like all I could see was the struggle  - Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son

Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be I am redeemed, I'm redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"

I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet
Chorus

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me 'Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same

And a hope that will carry me home
Chorus

I am redeemed, You set me free So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be
Jesus, I'm not who I used to be 'Cause I am redeemed
Thank God, redeemed

Biblical Principles

We have been slaves to sin – But we are freed by Jesus  – John 8:34-36

We were Children of Darkness – but now we are Children of the Light – Ephesians 2:1-9

God forgives our failures and remembers them no more – Hebrews 8:12

We have been Redeemed by Jesus death, burial and resurrection - 

Ephesians 1:7-8

We can sing this song to be reminded that God has forgiven our sin.

We are pure in Christ.  He has given us a new nature.  Whenever we are reminded of our sin – rest assured it is not Jesus.  It is either ourselves or Satan trying to remind us of what we were.   But it is no longer what we are!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Light of the World - Here I am to Worship

Here I Am To Worship - Lyrics

Light of the world, You step down into darkness. Opened my eyes let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you hope of a life spent with you.

 And here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you're my God,
You're altogether lovely, Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days, Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came to the earth you created. All for love's sake became poor.

I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

No I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

And here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you're my God,
You're altogether lovely, Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.

Biblical Principles This Song Teaches

Jesus is the Light of the World – John 8:12

Jesus Emptied Himself – Step from Light to Darkness – Philippians 2:5-11

We are spiritually Blinded until He opens our eyes – 2 Corinthians 4:4

Worship – Recognize His Excellence

Bow Down – Recognize His Majesty

Altogether Lovely – Recognize His Purity

Altogether Worthy – Recognize His Worthiness

Altogether Wonderful – Recognize His Limitlessness

King of all Days – Recognize His Power

Humbly You came – Recognize His Humanity

Recognize that He alone is worthy of true Worship.

He is God and We are not.

Notes for the Night

What is Worship?

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."  John 4:24 (NIV)

Is Worship Limited to God?  What else can we worship?

For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world.

1 John 2:16 (NIV)

What is it called when we “Worship” anything other than God?   Idolatry

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

Worship leads us to Love God with all that we are and serve others.  

Anything short of that isn’t true worship

I Saw the Light - I'll Fly Away - Crowder

Lyrics:

I wandered so aimless life filled with sin

I wouldn't let my dear savior in

Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night

Praise the Lord I saw the light.

I saw the light I saw the light

No more darkness no more night

Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight

Praise the Lord I saw the light.

Just like a blind man I wandered along

Worries and fears I claimed for my own

Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight

Praise the Lord I saw the light.

I was a fool to wander and a-stray

Straight is the gate and narrow the way

Now I have traded the wrong for the right

Praise the Lord I saw the light.

I saw the light I saw the light

No more darkness no more night

Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight

Praise the Lord I saw the light.

 Biblical Principles This Song Teaches

Jesus is the Light of the World - “I saw the Light”      John 8:12

Living an Aimless Life Without Christ - “I’ve Wondered so aimless life felled with sin.”                    1 Corinthians 9:24-27

We Are to be the Light - “I saw the Light” - Matthew 5:14-16

On Day We’ll Fly Away - “I’ll Fly Away” - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Why Sing This Song?

This is an old song written by Hank Williams Sr.  We as followers of Jesus have adopted it and enjoy “Hoe-downing” it greatly.  It reminds us that without Jesus there is no hope, no direction and we are lost and aimless without Him.   It also reminds us that we are to live our lives in such a way that people see “The Light” in our lives and give glory not to us - but to God.

Finally, I’ll Fly Away reminds us that one day all the difficulties here on earth will be over.  Even if we die and “Fly Away” to see Him or He comes back and take those who follow Him home to be with Him.   There is that great hope of spending and eternity with Him!

I Am - Crowder

Lyrics:

There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to Amazing Grace
Take me in with your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go, never leave my side.

I am, Holding on to You.
I am, Holding on to You.
In the middle of the storm,
I am Holding on, I am!

Love like this, Oh my God to find!
I am overwhelmed what a joy divine!
Love like this sets our hearts on fire!

This is my Resurrection Song
This is my Hallelujah Come
This is why to You I run

There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to Amazing Grace

Biblical Principles This Song Teaches

The Unlimited Love of God

“No Place His Love Can’t Reach”   Psalm 139:7-12; Romans 8:38-39

Peace that God Brings through His Comforter

 “No Place Where We Can’t Find Peace - Like and Orphan Child” John 14:18 & 27

The Presence of God in All Things “

Never Let Go, Never Leave My Side” - Hebrews 13:5-6

Security of God Holding On To Us“

I AM Holding On To You” - Exodus 3:14; John 10:29

Why Sing This Song?

Singing this song reminds us that God’s Love is greater than all we will ever face or anything we can ever do.  It was His Love that Saved us - His Love that Secures Us - His Love that will Deliver Us to Himself one day.

This song reminds us that we have Peace in Him but we must choose to rest in that Peace.  If we do not experience the Peace He gives, we are trusting in ourselves rather than Him.

This song informs us that not only are we holding onto Him, but more  importantly, He is holding on to us.  When our grip is weak, His grip is strong!  We are secure because of Him!