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