Tag: Lo He comes with clouds descending

Sunday 16th November 2025

 “Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things. 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:44-49

“Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.” Luke 24:50-53 NLT

God our Father,

Promises, promises, promises. And You have kept them. Not all of them, but then we are learning to trust You for the ones to come, because You have been faithful in the past. Now the message of Your love is being preached to all nations. What a miracle that is! We personally have experienced our sins forgiven and the comfort and strength and power of Your Holy Spirit.

The ascension, mentioned in verse 51, is still celebrated 40 days after Easter and will be on Thursday 14th May 2026. So I been considering why it is so important to be recorded in Luke’s’ Gospel and again in His book of Acts. It officially ends Jesus time on earth being as a man and shows Him returning to the Father. It is the pause before He returns at Pentecost, this time available to all men equally by His Spirit. When he ascended they were filled with joy. Because they knew everything He had said was true, He was truly alive, and He was the Messiah.

We too need to have joy and believe. Jesus is seated at the Fathers throne and He is present with us by His Spirit (Hebrews 12:1-2). Sometimes I think I take Your presence, Holy Spirit, for granted but then when I worship and when I pray, Trinity hears and answers. And we believe the promise, You are with us by Your Spirit but Jesus is coming back one day just as the angel promised at Your Ascension (Acts 1:11). There will be an end to sin and death and a new beginning for those in Christ.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 16th November 2025
I remember the day this hymn made sense when I learned that Jesus was coming back! Am I ready?

Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain!
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on Earth to reign.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to a tree,
Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, With what rapture,
With what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars.

Yea! Amen! let all adore thee
High on thine eternal throne!
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Everlasting God come down.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley.

Friday 15th August 2025

“The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

“I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land,” Says the Lord; 3 “I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,” Says the Lord. 4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests—5 those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord, but who also swear by Milcom; 6 those who have turned back from following the Lord, and have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him.” 7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is at hand, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” Zephaniah 1:1-7 NKJV

Lord God of the future,

Another clear voice reminding Judah and Jerusalem that they will not get away with idolatry and ignoring worship of their own true God. He warns them that a great day will come when nothing can be hidden or covered over.

Yes. You, Lord had prepared a sacrifice. Since before time began,  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind . . . The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:1-4,9) Jesus.

Jesus spoke in a parable about giving invitations to a feast and that many would give excuses and not come. But His servants would go out to the highways and byways inviting others to come. (Luke 14:15-24). What a beautiful picture of the church going out to the streets around them inviting people to come and feast with You. Zephaniah was speaking to his present and our present and our future. God’s message is truly timeless. There is still to come a day of the Lord. When Jesus returns coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7).

So we humbly bow before You our God and Saviour and look to that awesome terrible day when You will come again. And we need not be afraid to see You face to face.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 15th August 2025
We had this just a month ago – but it bears repeating endlessly.

Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain!
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on Earth to reign.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to a tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars.

Yea! Amen! let all adore thee
High on thine eternal throne!
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Everlasting God come down.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Tuesday 15th July 2025

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.” Isaiah 9:1-3 NLT

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT

Holy God,

Incredible that this was written over 700 years ago that a child would be born, our wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Jesus. Isaiah never lived to see it but I believe He has now has met Him and had his well done. Amidst the many, many, many judgements and warnings from Isaiah, there are these beacons of hope and light. Just as we too see our dark warring world and see beacons of hope and light in Your promises. One day we will meet You face to face, at the end of this life or will see You if You come again before (Acts 1:11) (Revelation 1:7).

We see You now as through a glass darkly, Paul explains, but then face to face. We know You in part now but will know even as we are known. (1 Corinthians 13:12). That one promise is enough to feed on today . . . Seeing Jesus, knowing Jesus, You God, fully. How wonderful, how marvelous and my song shall ever be, how wonderful how marvelous is my Saviour love for me. You would not create, plan, forgive, give Yourself – unless You loved, love will love. Though we do not deserve it we receive Your love. We recognise our need of Your love and rely on Your love eternally. I bring my thanksgiving, my praise and my love a small offering to cast at Your feet in worship.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 15th July 2025
One day this will be. I love this hymn. I think the power of the music makes it soar.

Underneath is a second worship – more meditative but equally as relevant.

 Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain!
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on Earth to reign.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to a tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars.

Yea! Amen! let all adore thee
High on thine eternal throne!
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Everlasting God come down.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley