"The Other Side of the Cross"

Today's services were blessings in so many ways;

A packed house in both services! Thanks to the many folks who came to the Early Service, there was plenty of room in the Late service and that turned out to be a good thing. We had a lot of visitors in the Late Service!

My voice! When I went into the church at 6 AM, I was pretty well convinced that I was going to have to struggle through both services. I've had a pretty bad cough and severe hoarseness all week. When the Deacons prayed for me before the first service, one of them asked the Lord to, "..give John clarity of speech." This was my main concern, that I be able to bring the message without becoming a distraction to what the Lord had given me to say. It was a blessing to hear this prayer rise up without mentioning it to the Deacons. Miraculously, I believe, my voice cleared up in BOTH services as soon as I stepped up to the pulpit and stayed that way throughout the sermons. It was actually better in the Late Service than the Early one. As soon as I stepped down from the platform, the coughing and raspyness returned. God is good!

Our Worship Team! They did a fantastic job and the Lord moved in our worship! Ron Scruggs, John Boswell and Jason Pakkala wrote a song just for this service. I shared with Ron, about two months ago, that my theme for Easter would be, "The Other Side of the Cross" and asked him to think about a song based on that idea. As Ron prayed about it, the Lord led him to ask John B and Jason to collaborate with him. This is what they came up with:




On the Other Side of the Cross words & music by John Boswell, Jason Pakkala and Ron Scruggs

Beaten, torn, His life poured out
A handful mourn, while mockers shout
They pierced His hands, His feet, His side
God’s only Son, they crucified

Without sin to call His own,
Laid to rest, behind a stone
All seemed lost, no hope found
In sin, it seemed that man was bound

… But that was then and this is now…

On the other side of the cross, He is risen!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!
All rejoice in Jesus’ name, ’cause nothing is the same!
On the other side, His crimson tide, can wash away your sin!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!

Born in sin, my life my own
Justified upon my throne
A heart of stone, rolled in place,
I saw no need for saving grace.

I saw no need for saving grace.

(Repeat Chorus 1)

Then my heart was pierced by love,
Amazing grace from God above,
Born again, I sing His praise.
Behold the Lamb who took my place!

Behold the Lamb who took my place!

On the other side of the cross, He is risen!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!
All rejoice in Jesus’ name, ’cause nothing is the same!
On the other side, His crimson tide, has washed away my sin!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!

All rejoice in Jesus’ name, ‘cause nothing is the same!
On the other side, His crimson tide, has washed away my sin!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!
On the other side of the cross, He lives again!

It is a great song and God has been lifted up and honored by the commitment of these men to write it and the diligence of the Worship Team to bring it in a manner that honored Him.

What most folks did not know was this: When Bob, Ron and I met last week to plan out the final details of the service, I shared with them that I would be speaking out of Luke 24 and concentrating on the two people who were walking on the road to Emmaus. Ron said, "I wrote a song a number of years ago that might work." He sang it for us right there in Panera! It was one of those Holy spirit moments and I knew immediately that we were to use it. Here are the words God gave Ron a long time ago:

Ransom For My Sin
Words and music by Ron Scruggs

As I was walking down the road,
I felt a quiet inspiration in the breeze,
I wasn’t walking on my own,
It’s like the Lord was gently tugging on my sleeve,

Hide in your heart, the Word of God,
And the Truth will make you free,
Salvation can’t be earned or bought,
Without the Man from Galilee,
We need only trust in Him.

I’d give up everything I’ve got,
To have the gift He gave to me,
The Lamb of God knows what I’m not,
And all the things I’ll never be,
Still He died and rose again,
To pay the ransom for my sin.

Jesus died and rose again.
He paid the ransom for my sin.

The kids! Watching the smiles and wide eyed anticipation of the kids as they lined up in the staircase before singing their song was a precious blessing. It was great having them take part in the service!

The details of these services were set in stone from before the foundations of the Earth. God had control of every facet of both services from the songs to the visitors to the children to my voice.....every detail!

Let's do our part now and lift up in prayer, the Worship Team. They are, every one of them, the warrior-prophets who go before us into battle. As their giftings continue to rise up, we need to cover them and their families in prayers for their protection, provision and peace.

Let's also pray for all those folks who were visiting, that the seeds of the Gospel that were planted in their hearts and spirits today would take root, grow strong and bear fruit for the kingdom of God!