Tag: I raise a hallelujah

Wednesday 25th June 2025

“And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. 4 For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.” 6 So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 7 Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that you, my lord Elijah?” 8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’” 9 So he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?” 1 Kings 18:1-9

God who still speaks,

I do not like conflict. Sometimes it cannot be avoided and then it makes me feel ill. I cannot imagine being told to go and give an antagonising message to someone who already hates me enough to want me dead! You did not make it easy for Elijah. And then poor Obadiah caught between a rock and a hard place.

Suddenly Elijah met him. The suddenly’s of God! Obadiah could not avoid Elijah because You, God wanted this meeting to happen. Obadiah was a good man (who had hidden your prophets secretly in a cave) but in service to King Ahab. Obadiah looking for water suddenly discovered Elijah. Should he tell Elijah that Ahab was looking for him or Ahab that he had seen Elijah? It is not pleasant when one of God’s suddenly’s brings us into a difficult situation. Help us in conflict, to as Paul says in Ephesians, put on the whole armor and stand. Not make the situation worse and not cower but just speak the truth in kindness.

Elijah does not die but has a later opportunity to face down King Ahab. And Obadiah? He lives to see the downfall of his wicked employer. Obadiah is scared and is honest about it. Elijah reassures him he will not let him down and not leave him to face the King alone. Sometimes we are forced to turn up and speak up and we may be scared. Help us know when a suddenly comes from You and it is time to speak because You are our strength and shield (Psalm 28:7).

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Worship Wednesday 5th June 2025

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Repeat above . .
Sing a little louder!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

Lyrics: Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs.

Friday 18th April 2025

“After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.” 4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake! 6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!” 10 So the Philistines fought desperately and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.” 1 Samuel 4:3-11 NLT

God beyond the symbols and buildings,

Before I met You, Lord, I think I did believe a little in lucky charms, St Christopher’s and touching wood . . . but now I see they are just things and it is a lie of the enemy to turn us away from You, the source of all help.

It is sad that even believers sometimes put there trust in the rituals or the symbols or the church building and altar. Of course You are in the building, You are omnipresent. The only place You are absent is the place we call hades or hell, the outer darkness (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Here in 1 Samuel the children of Israel are trusting in the Ark which represented the presence of You God with them. And when they saw it they raised an almighty shout of joy that made the ground shake. But it is a little like a man dying for a drink trusting in the bottle and not the water within it!

It does us good to meet together to worship, your Spirit speaks to us often when we are turned to You in services or taking communion. But it is You, the living God who we have a relationship with not bricks or bread and wine. The holy Ark was captured but not You, God. They had to learn over and over again where to put their trust. Keep our faith from wandering from You the source of all we need, all we have and all that is to come. We will raise our praises and hallelujahs to You alone.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 18th April 2025
I raise a hallelujah to the Lord. I will put my faith and hope Him.

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

Chorus . . .

Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder!

Chorus . . .

Lyrics: Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs 2019