Rick Lee James and Brannon Hancock lead worship at the Wesley Conference, opening with the St. Patrick's Breastplate as a Christian pledge of Christ's lordship. They perform an Advent hymn called "Watching, Waiting, Longing" and Brannon shares his testimony about losing two grandparents and two miscarriages, affirming his hope in the resurrection.
Chapters
By the Three-in-One, I rise today by power of faith that Christ was born to save, conquering death upon the cross and bursting from the grave.
Christ before me, Christ behind, Christ to guide me. Christ beside, Christ to comfort, Christ restore. Hallelujah, Christ is Lord.
I bind unto myself the power of His His redeeming love. The sweet well done of judgment hour. In Christ, this work is done.
Christ before me, Christ behind, Christ to guide me, Christ beside, Christ to comfort me. Christ restore. Hallelujah, Christ restore.
To myself the might of God to hold and stay. His ear to hear, his eye to see, his hand to guide the way. Against the demons' snares of sin that drive temptation's storm, the lust, the greed, the wars of men, Christ to hold his storm.
Come rise before me, rise behind. Christ, you guide me. Christ, beside. Christ, you comfort. Christ, restore. Hallelujah! Christ is Lord! Christ to conquer, Christ restore. Hallelujah, Christ is Lord.
Sing it!
Hallelujah, Christ is Lord.
That is our Pledge of Allegiance as Christians. Christ is Lord. Amen. Caesar is not. Good to know that, isn't it? Today, that was actually a song, uh, for St. Patrick's Day. That was written from St. Patrick's Prayer, the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick. So if some of you Recognize that. Christ before me, Christ above me, Christ behind me. St. Patrick is— I don't know if we're allowed to have favorite saints or not, but he's one of my favorites. I guess I know more about him than a lot of the other ones. Thank you for the opportunity to get to share some of these songs. These are all on an album called Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations, and all of these songs are available through Lifeway Worship., for congregational use, and we, we've done our best hopefully to help create some songs that help us at different times of the year throughout the church. This is one that is actually for a season that we just came through, Advent, and it's called Advent Hymn: Watching, Waiting, Longing. And, and some of you may know it already, and, and I'd love to have you sing along with us tonight. But Advent's good anytime. We sing this song at Easter at my church. To, you know, anytime we're referring to the coming of Christ, when he is coming. And we believe that Jesus is coming because Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ is coming back again. We truly believe that. So if you know the song or if you want to sing along with me, this is Advent hymn, Watching, Waiting, Longing.
<LYRICS>Heaven sent a child to save us, light for all to see. Helpless baby, mighty Savior.</LYRICS> Holy mystery, unto us a Son is given, born in Bethlehem. Lamb of God, the light of nations, God in flesh became. Watching, waiting, longing for the day when his people will glorify the name above all names. For the joy that lay before him chose our agony. Jesus bore the wrath of Calvary, washing sinners clean. Our Messiah, Christ our brother, Word of God in flesh. Loosed the chains that held us captive, broke the bonds of death. Watching, waiting, Longing for the day when his people would glorify the name above all names. So we wait with Expectation for his advent here. Bride of Christ, his word proclaim for all the world to hear. He will come in clouds descending at the trumpet sound. In the light of Christ our Savior, every knee He will bow. Born in a manger, dying on a tree, rising Easter morning to set his people free. We're watching, waiting, longing for the day. When all nations will glorify the name above all names.
That is Advent hymn. And more than ever before, I've been, I've been saying, come Lord Jesus, come quickly Lord Jesus. That's why I love singing songs like that. We're reminded that God is coming back. Not only is he present with us now, but he's coming back, and all this will be made right. This was a difficult, difficult year, the one that just went past for me. I lost two grandparents and two children because of two miscarriages that my family experienced. And I've been saying a lot the Apostles' Creed and being reminded but I believe firmly in the resurrection. I believe firmly that Jesus is coming back. And so I'm ready to worship tonight, and not only I'm ready to worship, I'm ready to offer an invitation to the world. We ought to run after lost people like they're candy. Throw out our arms to every daughter, to every son, to every tribe, to every tongue, and say, this is the invitation. This is a communion song. It's good for any Sunday, and it's the invitation to come to the table of the Lord.
To every daughter, every son, to every tribe and every tongue, this is the call, the heart of love. This is the invitation. The table spread with bread and wine, the life and blood of Jesus Christ. Take and eat. Raise and drink. This is the invitation. This is the table of the Lord. For everyone there There is a place. Taste and see that he is good. The bread of life, the cup of grace. This is the invitation. To every soul, both strong and weak, for every heart that dares to seek, to walk in dance, there is mercy. See, this is the invitation. This is the table of the Lord. For everyone, there is a place Taste and see that he is good. The bread of life, the cup of grace. This is the invitation. To every daughter, every son, this is where we belong. Taken deep. Raise and dream.
