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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By The Power Of Jesus

By The Power Of Jesus

 

Every chain has been broken

By the power of Jesus

I hear the chains a fallin

By His power He frees us

 

When I was in prison

Chained to these walls

The prison of my mind

Where I fall and I fall

 

Every chain has been broken

By the power of Jesus

I hear the chains a fallin

It’s by His power He frees us

 

I was stuck in this prison

Where there was no getting out

I would hear the voices in my head

Where they would do nothing but shout

 

Every chain has been broken

By the power of Jesus

I see the chains a fallin

By His power He frees us

 

I heard a new voice

Whispering in my ear

Come to Me My child

Let Me draw you in near

 

I will open up your heart

Then come and live inside

You’ll want to live with me

You’ll never ever have to hide

 

Every chain has been broken

By the power of Jesus

I see the chains a fallin

It’s by His Power He frees us

 

 

Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2021

Thank You For Being My Friend

This Poem was written on June 18, 2021 and is the very first poem written to my wife. This poem is a tribute to the strength, peace and love that she exhibits thru her relationship with Christ. She has always been an example of doing the right thing even when I don’t want to. She has also been my rock in showing me what it means to trust and turn to Christ in the storms of life. Christ is finally my solid rock and Mary has shown me this. This is a tribute to my wife Mary.

 

Thank You For Being My Friend

 

Thank You for being a friend

In my mind we will never come to an end

We walk thru the valley together

With You there will always be a forever

 

Thank You for being a friend

Your love never comes to an end

You would give your life in place of mine

You walk thru pain and never whine

 

Thank You for being a friend

You stuck by me thru thick and thin

Your smile is as addictive as wine

Nothing ever dulls your shine

 

Thank You for being a friend

You’re a great example of not following the trend

You give and give but never seem to take

You’re a servant of Christ who is never ever fake

 

Thank You for being a friend

You’re an example of hope and that doesn’t end

I see the Spirit that lives in you

Your spirit is love and that shines thru

 

Thank You for being a friend

I know your love has no end

Your encouragement come from your heart

Your personality is as beautiful as art

 

Thank you for being a friend

You speak your mind and never pretend

You’re as strong as an ox that’s not beat by the plow

Thru a lot of pain you stuck with me somehow

 

Thank You for being a friend

You will die for your beliefs till the bitter end

I watched you grow and get closer to Christ

I also watched satan try to take you for a heist

 

Thank You for being a friend

You’ve been an example of being a friend

With that being said and all this being penned

From the bottom of my heart

Thank You For Being My Friend

 

 

Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2021

Oh Lord, I Come To You Today

Oh Lord, I Come To You Today

 

Oh Lord I come to You today

On my knees I humbly pray

It’s my sin that wants to act out today

Oh Lord, help me find another way

Lead down the narrow path that’s straight

I want to enter into Your Pearly gates

From my sin You died to set me free

I draw close to You so the devil has to flee

You came and conquered death

That gave me my first new breath

Oh Lord, as I struggle now

Help me put my feet to the plow

I was in chains and you set me free

Now in Your presence I want to be

I want to walk with You in the cool of night

Oh Lord, forever show Your Light

As an example You washed my feet

So I can share Your hope down on the street

The gospel helped me respond in such a way

That I never want to stumble and stray

Oh Lord, be my guiding light

Help me to stand firm in this fight

As I bring my burdens to the cross

Thank God, I’ll never again be lost

You gave Christ to be my solid rock

I’ll forever be in Your flock

 

 

CopyrightBy Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2021

Christ Breaks Every Chain

Christ Breaks Every Chain

 

You died on the Tree to break every chain

Even the sin of addiction that causes all my pain

 

The freedom from sin that opens up my heart

You died on that cross to give me a new start

 

I once was lost in the world and going to the grave

I heard Your message and knew You came to save

 

It was me that dropped to my knees

You called my name then pulled me from the weeds

 

I confessed all my sin it is You that forgives

You gave me life now forever with You I will live

 

Heavens my home I’m temporarily in this shell

You came to this earth to save me from hell

 

Now when I look in the mirror it’s You I want to see

I’m reminded that it’s You that set me free

 

You washed my feet then sent me out to serve

I read Your Word to help me not to swerve

 

You put me on a mission that helps build my faith

I share Your Gospel it tells how you came to save

 

So if you are lost and broken all’s you do is want to hide

Drop to your knees confess your sin then Jesus lives inside

 

Your heart is where Christ wants to live

A new life is what he wants to give

 

So if you’re asking why Christ had to die

To free us from God’s wrath so we won’t have to die

 

He sent me out to share how He came to give hope

I share God’s message of how He saved me from all the dope

 

I’ve been set from all the guilt and shame

Christ died on the tree so that we can believe His Name

 

So if your lost and all you want to do is die

Believe in Jesus’ Name so you won’t have to believe satans lies

 

 

Copyright By Bart Hickey, All Rights Reserved 2021

 

 

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

We Stand On The Promises of God

We Stand On The Promises Of God

 

Sometimes we stumble, then sometimes we fall

It’s out of the darkness that we have been called

It’s because of Gods mercy that we receive grace

Then we are given power to run this very race

It’s thru struggles and trials that we endure pain

On the just and unjust, my friend, it does pour rain

We have been freed from the bondage and slavery to sin

Oh how I thank God, who freed us from the hell we lived in

We have received Christ’ love, now we can walk in His ways

On this path of righteousness, we walk and not sway

We are indwelled with His Spirit, He now is our only guide

We can lean on His promise that He’ll never leave our very side

Thank God for His Truth, thank God for His Word

Thank God for Jesus Christ and the fact He never swerved

We are called to grow disciples from the Word of God

The gospel is what frees us from our very flaws

We can live in Christ’s salvation and the freedom He alone provides

We stand on His promise that He’ll always be at our very side

Christ is our refuge from the evil in this land

When we struggle or fall He’s always here to lend a hand

We sing out Hosanna, we sing to Christ in praise

All on account that Christ has been raised

I Am Saved By His Grace

I Am Saved By His Grace

I want to walk with my Lord

I want to walk in His ways

It’s my desire to be an example

Of His love in every way

He is tender in mercy

He’s faithful to provide grace

He provideth my strength

To endure in this race

When I feel all alone

Can’t see anyone there

I reach up for His hand

Because I know that He cares

He is mighty in power

Yet gentle to the touch

His love conquered death

Because He loves man so much

When I live out His precepts

It’s freedom He gives

I’m no longer in bondage

To the slavery that I lived

When I lived for the world

I was evil at best

My heart seemed hardened

As it beat in my chest

I’m a disciple for the Lord

As I walk in His ways

I obey His Word

So I don’t have to stray

I can count on His mercy

I am saved by His grace

He’s faithful to His Word

His Truth I live to embrace

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

When The Cross Was Being Raised

When That Cross Was Being Raised

 

God, You are awesome in Power, You are awesome in love

To all who believe, Your love fits like a glove

I stand in awe, I stand in reverent fear

When I stray away, You draw me ah so near

I’m amazed by Your mercy, I’m amazed by Your grace

All because of Your death I get to run this very race It was the flock that You left to search me out when I was lost

It is hope that You brought when You died on the cross

You are conquerer over death by being raised from the grave

Salvation is offered to all who are being saved

Forgiveness is freely offered after confessing my sin

Death no longer has a sting by the hell I was in

I belong to Your family, I’m an heir with the king

Oh death where is your victory, Oh death where is your sting

I kneel in Your presence, thru boldness I come to Your throne

I live here on earth but heaven is my home

My life has a purpose, to bring You honor and praise

It was Christ that brought You glory when that cross was being raised

I have a message to tell, it’s all about Your grace

How You provide hope to a convert that enters this race