Straight to the Heart Ministries

Targeting The Heart

"...And they sung a new song..." Friday, December 19, 2008

In the book of Revelation 5:9 the Word of God reads, "And they sung a new song, saying Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals therof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation:" It will be the most amazing moment, perhaps of all eternity, when the Lord Jesus takes the book in hand and all of heaven begins to sing, "THIS NEW SONG"! The important thing here is that we already know what the lyric of the song will be, we do not know the melody or the harmonies of this song. The lyric? Yes! Rev. 5:9, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book..." WHY? "for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation:" Oh The CROSS! The BLESSED CROSS! THE WONDERFUL CROSS! We will praise the Lamb of God, the precious Lord Jesus Christ for his atoning work at the CROSS! "FOR THOU WAST SLAIN!" This is the lyric of the NEW SONG that the redeemed will sing! I believe we will also sing other great songs as well, one being the great work of George Frideric Handel, "HALLELUJAH CHORUS"! ***His father tried to discourage his musical interests, preferring that he enter the legal profession. But it was the organ, harpsichord, and violin that captured the heart of young George Frideric Handel. Once, accompanying his father to the court (home) of Duke Johann Adolf, George wandered into the chapel, found the organ, and started improvising. The startled Duke exclaimed, "Who is this remarkable child?" This "remarkable child" soon began composing operas, first in Italy then in London. By his 20's he was the talk of England and the best paid composer on earth. He opened the Royal Academy of Music. Londoners fought for seats at his every performance, and his fame soared around the world. But the glory passed. Audiences dwindled. His music became outdated, and he was thought of as an old fogey. Newer artist eclipsed the aging composer. One project after another failed, and Handel, now bankrupt, grew depressed. The stress brought on a case of palsy that crippled some of his fingers. "Handel's great days are over" worte Frederick the Great, "his inspiration is exhausted." Yet his troubles also matured him, softening his sharp tongue. His temper mellowed, and his music became more heartfelt. One morning Handel recieved by post a manuscript from Charles Jennens. It was a word-for-word collection of various biblical texts about Christ. The opening words from Isaiah 40 moved Handel: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people..." On August 22, 1741, he shut the door of his London home and started composing music for the words. Twenty-three days later, the world had "MESSIAH". "Whether I was in the body or out of the body when I wrote it, I know not," Handel later said, trying to describe the experience. "MESSIAH" opened in London to enormous crowds on March 23, 1743, with Handel leading from his harpsichord. King George II, who was present that night, surprised everyone by leaping to his feet during the "Hallelujah Chorus." No one knows why. Some believe the king, being hard of hearing, thought it the national anthem. No matter--from that day audiences everywhere have stood in reverence during the stirring words: "HALLELUJAH! FOR HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER!" Handel's fame was rekindled, and even after he lost his eyesight, he continued playing the organ for performances of his oratiorious "MESSIAH" until his death in London, April 14, 1759.*** ***Source of this complete story, THEN SINGS MY SOUL by Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee*** Yes we will sing a NEW SONG but I also believe that we will one day sing the "MESSIAH" in it's entirety, with great attention placed on this great work of George Frideric Handel, inspired by the Word of God and the divine Holy Spirit. This Christmas enjoy the Christmas music that God has given to us, it will bring great joy and peace to your heart! Singing for my "MESSIAH", Evangelist Marc Cheney

"...that your joy may be full..." Thursday, July 03, 2008

In the book of I John 1:4 the Word of God reads, "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." The Apostle John had a very unique closeness to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was one of the two sons of Zebedee. Called as a very young man to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He wrote the gospel of John, I, II and III John and the book of Revelation. As an old man he was abandoned on the Isle of Patmos. When I wrote the word "closeness" earlier, please allow me to explain. The Apostle John was a part of the inner circle of Christ Jesus. He was an eye-witness of every major miracle our Lord Jesus performed. The Lord Jesus always took three diciples with Him. These three were the inner-circle. They were Peter, James and JOHN. John is mentioned last because he was the youngest of all the disciples. John is considered by Biblical scholars as the disciple that mentions the LOVE of God more than any other. At the last supper it is the Apostle John who leans over on our Lord Jesus bosom as an act of his devotion, closeness and love. (John 13:23, John 19:26, John 20:2, John 21:7, John 21:20) These scripture references refer to the disciple "WHOM JESUS LOVED". I John 1:1-4 reads, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." Knowing the Apostle John and his close friendship and fellowship with the Son of God, these words jump off the page of the Bible to me. OH WHAT GREAT JOY THIS BRINGS TO MY HEART! I travel all over the country, I meet and see a host of Christian people. I wonder though, where is the joy in their hearts? Most Christians are caught up in the things of this world that only bring temporary happiness, not fullness of joy. The Apostle John declares in I John, "THAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING..." What was from the beginning? The Apostle John tells us in John 1:1-3 which reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Who is the Apostle John talking about? None other than the LORD JESUS CHRIST! The song goes, "If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart!" If you belong to Jesus Christ and He belongs to you, WHERE IS THE JOY? I'm not talking about fleeting happiness, but fulness of JOY! "Brother Marc, I bowled a 237 game the other day, and I'm happy about it!" "Brother Marc, I went hot air ballon riding and it was great!" Fleeting happiness? "Brother Marc, I've got a brand new sports car and it is fantastic!" Wait till you get your first ding in it? The happiness will be gone! Things and activities cannot bring lasting JOY! Fulness of JOY is in a PERSON, The LORD JESUS CHRIST! JOY is a result of whom we are FELLOWSHIPPING with. Joy comes from fellowshipping with brethren of like faith and biblical beliefs. Debbie and I were visiting a church last Lord's day in Bossier City, Louisiana and the pastor invited me to sing in the Sunday night service. I had never been to this church before but we felt right at home and the reason? I John 1:3, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have FELLOWSHIP with us: (God's family at the Mid-City Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana) and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." I received a phone call from a pastor in Kenya, Africa yesterday. He invited me to come to Kenya and minister in a evangelistic crusade there. He had seen my web-site and called me after praying much about it. How can that happen? Because we both are FELLOWSHIPPING with the same Heavenly Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! I John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have FELLOWSHIP one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." True Christian Fellowship brings lasting JOY! I relate to the great scottish preacher because often he spoke to smaller crowds, Rev. George Matheson wrote the hymn, "O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO." "O love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. I give Thee the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow, may richer, fuller be. O light that follow'st all my way, I yield my flick'ring torch to Thee. My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in Thy sunshine's blaze its day, may brighter fairer be. O joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be. O cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee. I lay in dust life's glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red, life that shall endless be." Rev. George Matheson became a powerful and popular preacher in the Scottish village Innellan. Despite his flourishing ministry, there was one winter's evening when the Sunday night crowd was miserably small. George had worked hard on his sermon, but the empty chairs nearly defeated him. Nevertheless he did his best, not knowing that in the congregation was a visitor from the large St. Bernard's Church in Edinburgh, which was seeking a pastor. As a result, in 1886, he was called to St. Bernard's where he became one of Scotland's favorite preachers. "Make every occasion a great occasion," Matheson later said. "You never tell when somebody may be taking your measure for a larger place." The fullness of JOY, comes from the BEGINNING, that is the FIRST and the last. It is not found in possesions, activities, popularity but rather in a PERSON, the divine, and precious Son of God, Jesus Christ! Where is the JOY in your life Christian, the closer you are to Jesus Christ in your relationship (Bible study) (Example: The Apostle John) and fellowship (prayer life) the greater will be the fullness of JOY in your life! Your friend & servant in Christ, Marc Cheney

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