From Alien To Citizen

From Alien To Citizen

 

Ephesians 2:19-22

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20. Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21. In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into the holy temple in the Lord. 22. In him you are also are being built together in to a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

 

As I was listening again to the message from Sunday, 8/8/2021 I am being reminded how before I knew Christ as my personal Savior, I was an alien in this world without hope, meaning I was a sinner that was not yet saved by God’s grace alone. Listening this morning I am reminded that for people that are not citizens of the United States, there is a process that one can go through to become a citizen of America. Now I don’t profess to know what that’s like because I am a natural born citizen, but I expect there are classes you would have to go through to learn history, language amongst other things to become a citizen of the United States.

 

Well, if you are without Jesus and therefore without hope you are an alien and stranger to the family of God. What I mean by this is you are a sinner and therefore belong to this world. Well unlike the process of having to go through to become a citizen of some nation, there are no classes that one would have to go through to become citizens of God. All’s one would have to do is believe in the all sufficient, all saving name and the power of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10: 9-10 says, 9. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

That’s right all you have to do is believe in Jesus. You can’t earn it or do anything to get it, just believe and confess as Romans 10:9 says. Jesus did all the work, there’s no more sacrifices to be made no more priests having to atone for the sins of the people, Jesus literally went to the cross, took on his back all our sin and shame, basically accepting the wrath of God for us, me and you, so that we can be citizens in the family of God. We are co-heirs with Jesus, what a way to live.

 

All my life, because of my upbringing,  felt as though I never belonged to anything. I tired football, baseball, rodeo, work, you name it I tried any and everything to belong. I even thought for a long time that I’ve sinned too much, done to much damage to ever be able to have the grace of God. What God spoke to my heart is only Jesus can save me and that I need to confess my brokenness to Christ and believe in him to be saved. Today Jesus is my Savior and Lord base on what Jesus did on the cross and only what Jesus did, as again what Roman’s 10:9-10 says.

 

If you are without hope, and an alien in this world, and would like to be a citizen in the family of God, you would like to belong to something more loving and powerful that anything in this world, put your trust in Jesus Christ, who is all sufficient and all powerful to save, and you then will gain an inheritance that no one or nothing in all creation, this world can take away from you. I love you and hope you trust Jesus today.

In His Service

Bart

 

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In Him I Stand Awed

I rely on my faith, to take off my mask

Where is your faith now, the devil would ask

I’m encouraged to stand firm, during this evil time

This mountain won’t move, I know i must climb

I have such little faith,I know I must trust God

He fills me with power, in Him I stand awed

As I live out my life, the struggles will come

I reach up for God’s hand, He knows the outcome

I struggle and struggle, i put on my mask

I started believing the lies, then fear set in to bask

Fear had it’s help, from the father of lies

My Lord opened His arms, as I sat and just cried

My Lord left His flock, to come search me out

He calmed all my fear, He settled my doubt

I was broken and shattered, I knew I was lost

He carried my burdens, all the way to the cross

So I dropped to my knees, where I weeped as I prayed

God answered my prayers, where my penalty’s been paid

He covered my sin, now I won’t be afraid

Forgiveness is a blessing, it’s sweet as pie

Jesus came to my to my aid, now I can stop believe the lie

He came as a ransom, He died on the Tree

He now lives in my heart, now I am set free

The struggle is real, and you that you’re lost

Come to the Savior, where He died on the Cross

Copyright All Rights Reserved Bart Hickey 2021

For Him Our Song We’ll Raise

For Him Our Song We’ll Raise

 

Let’s rejoice and rejoice

Let the Lord hear our voice

Let us worship and sing praise

For Him our song we’ll raise

 

Let’s have joy and more joy

For we are no longer satan’s toy

We sing praises to our God

Who looks past all our flaws

 

Let’s be glad and be glad

For our days are no longer sad

We worship the King of Kings

Forever His praise we’ll sing

 

Let’s be patient and kind

By His Word we renew our mind

His command we must obey

So, in His Presence we get to stay

 

Love is His command

He’s the Rock on which we stand

His love will cleanse our heart

That alone sets us apart

 

With love we get to serve

His mercy we don’t deserve

Lord, forever we’ll live for You

You make our desire true and true

 

Your Blood set us free

When You died on that cursed tree

We’ll forever be Your slave’s

Because You my Lord, conquered the grave

 

 

 

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2019

ON The Hill At Calvary

On the hill at Calvary

You died upon that cursed tree

I hid my life in shame and fear

I trust the One who draws me near

I cast my anxiety on the cross

You died for me when I was lost

My soul is free I will not die

I trust my Lord and not the lie

It’s when I put my trust in You

I know that You will carry me thru

From the beginning to the end

I’ll have Your Spirit that You did send

Your Spirit lives with-in my heart

Every day with You I start

You died upon that cursed tree

You died alone to set me free

I’ve been set free from guilt and sin

Never to go back again

It’s when I put my faith in You

You keep me awed in all You do

I bring my burdens to the cross

It’s in You I never get lost

My forgiveness come from faith in You

Grace thru faith is Your Truth

On the hill at Calvary

You died and rose, that’s what set me free

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2018

Lost In Darkness, Saved By The Light

Lost In Darkness, Saved By The Light

When I’m lost in sin and darkness

Then pain becomes my friend

The lie becomes all too familiar

Then the world becomes my trend

Evil is all around me

It seems the mark of all my sphere

It consumes my every lifestyle

It has a way of drawing me near

That was until Christ came and found me

He came to me when I was lost

He offered me the gift of salvation

By dying upon the cross

Now I’ve been forgiven

All because of Christ’s mercy and grace

My sin is never remembered

Not one single trace

I’ve been called out of darkness

Into God’s amazing light

I endure my trials and struggles

While Christ strengthens me in this fight

The devil comes to destroy

While Christ comes to save

I get my freedom from the Word of God

Then walking in all His ways

Now freedom is a choice

That I live out through each day

I study the Word of God

I submit to Him and pray

Life isn’t always easy

It can be simple in times at best

We learn to persevere in our struggles

As we endure through all the tests

Christ is our freedom

When life throws us a curve

He is always faithful

We can count on Him to not swerve

It’s love that He offers

By dying on that cross

He left the flock to save mankind

So we can be save and not be lost

Your Burdens In Exchange For His Grace

Know the Lord and He will know you

Obey His Word and know that He’s true

He’s faithful and kind for this I know

Walk in His ways and His Truth will show

Draw to the Lord and He will draw you in

He died on the cross to forgive all your sin

He conquered death and rose from the grave

He obeyed God so your soul He will save

Give Him your life and submit to His will

Your life will have joy that’s more than a thrill

He will give you His Spirit and guide your way

From His path you will never have to stray

Call out to God and He will give you His hand

He will free you from bondage so you can enter the land

He knows your struggles that hold you back

He’ll hold you close when under attack

When you want to hide behind a wall of fear

He’ll hold you in close and dry every tear

He will forever be your guiding light

By removing the scales to give you His sight

Now ask Him for strength to run this very race

Then bring Him your burdens in exchange for His grace

 

 

 

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved, 2011-2018

He Called Me Out Of The Grave

He called me out of the grave

From the sin in which I was enslaved

I’m now alive and free to live

All my sins He did forgive

He is my rock in which I stand

Now my life has a plan

My life has purpose as I live

A servants heart is what I give

Ask me how and this I say

He said, follow Me I know the way

I looked around, then counted the cost

I knew just then how I was lost

He said, on the cross I paid for sin

I knew right then the mess I was in

He changed my heart from inside out

He held me near when I was in doubt

He freed my soul from the devils grip

Now I’m free for the Lord to equip

Even though I am still flawed

Freed by Love from my God

I once was dead, now I’m saved

It was Christ who called me out of the grave

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved, 2011-2018

It’s You Lord

Lord, when I’m weary and broken down

Can’t pick my frown up off the ground

It’s Your love that You alone provide

So in my shame I no longer hide

 

When the world has me breathing hard

My character has then been charred

It is Your mercy that provides me grace

So I then can continue in this race

 

When I break down and give in to sin

Then rebel against the Spirit within

I get stuck and lost in pride

But Lord You never leave my side

 

I’m amazed and awed by You

How Your Word is always true

Even tho I wander and stray

You still mold me just like clay

 

It’s Your character You want to perfect

My ideas I still try to inject

But You Lord prune my ways

So on Your path I’ll always stay

 

When my scars are shining thru

And my flaws stick like glue

You freed me from my chains

So I no longer have to strain

 

It’s Your love You hung on that tree

Then died and rose for me

To free me from this fight

Then be my guiding Light

 

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved, 2011-2018

This Is God’s Story This Is God’s Song

A fool in his heart says there’s no God

We have to ask for grace because we are flawed

Sin entered the world thru rebellion of one man

Tho the redemption of one man God had a plan

In the likeness of man God sent His Son

Thru His death on the cross salvation was won

Forgiveness is what He extended to all

God’s grace is what covered the fall

If you believe in your heart not just your head

That Jesus is God and He was raised from the dead

Then you will be saved from death caused by sin

His Spirit will now come and live within

Have you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is God

Because His love on the cross covers over our flaws

This is fact, not fiction, not false, but True

It comes from the Word of God and He’s looking for you

If you have a question or burden deep down in your heart

Look to Jesus as Savior for He’ll give you a new start

This is God’s story, this is His song

It’s the Word I will preach all day the day long

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Amen!

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved, 2011-2018

Eclipsed By Glory

Eclipsed By Glory

We must never eclipse the glory of our God

Or show He doesn’t exist or He’s fake or a fraud

He’s true, He is kind, and He’s faithful to His Word

His message is the one that I hope you have heard

God came as a man to save all that are lost

He came with a message and ended on a cross

His message is this for all who wants to hear

His message is salvation and He says it very clear

He came, He died and was raise on the third day

To save us from our sin and heal us from our evil ways

He came to save, forgive and seal us with His spirit

This is the gospel message can you come and hear it

If you confess with your mouth, believe it in your hart

Jesus is Lord and He will give a new start

He was raised to life on the third day

To give us a new chance to walk in His ways

Christ loves us for this is what I know

This is a way of life not a game or a show

This is what one would call an inside job

The change in your hart can only be done by this God

He is alive this very day not a fake nor a fraud

He’s sovereign, He’s just He’s our one true God

© Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2017