Happy Thanksgiving

We sang in church this morning, Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Did you ever pay close attention to the words?

I did this morning. And wow, what theology comes forth from those words!

1 - Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

2 - All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

3 - For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

4 - Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

Do you get what it is saying in verse 3 and 4?

The Lord shall come and take His harvest home?

Did you see that?

Its talking about the Rapture! 1 Thess 4:17

Isn't that exciting?

And this was written in 1844 by Henry Alford.

In most of the great hymns of the church, we get a glimpse of the doctrine believed by the song writer.

When Charles Wesley wrote the words to: O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING was he desiring a choir of 1,000 voices or was he yearning to sing in tongues?

See Acts 2:4 and 1 Cor 14:15

When Martin Luther wrote the words to A mighty fortress is our God was Luther admitting to being a Pentecostal???

1 - A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

2 - Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

3 - And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

4 - That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Do you see that fourth verse: The Spirit and the gifts are ours?

Was Luther claiming to be a Pentecostal here?

It sure is something to think about!

I hope and pray your Thanksgiving will be Blessed.

Pastor Art