We just celebrated the power-full victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, risen and reigning! Now, those of us who trust in Jesus for salvation can look forward with hope to our eternal life with Him! We’ll join the everlasting song!
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (Rom. 8:11 ESV).
But when evil threatens us, when suffering lingers long, when losses become permanent, when we feel like we can barely hang on through crisis after crisis, we need His indwelling power…now.
So, let’s praise Him for His power! This kind of “praise interruption” can be His “empowering” gift to help us keep going as we wait for the glorious day we see Jesus!
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!
(“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” Perronet, E., 1780)
Let’s cling to His promised power as we suffer and, by the work of the Holy Spirit, let’s join the everlasting song…now!
Crown Him Lord of all, joining the everlasting song when persecuted
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Mt. 5:10-12 ESV).
Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
extol the Stem of Jesse’s rod,
and crown him Lord of all!
If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name (1 Pet. 4:16 ESV).
Praise our Lord for His powerfully saving and sanctifying grace as we suffer
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed of the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV).
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions
but for the will of God (1 Pet. 4:1-2 ESV).
Praise our Lord for His powerful love to us as we suffer
Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! (Lam. 3:19 ESV).
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall…
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39 CSB).
go, spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all!
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands (Jn. 3:34 CSB, emphasis added).
All hail Jesus’ unchanging character as victorious Lord of ALL!
Resist [your adversary, the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world (1 Pet. 5:9 ESV).
Let every kindred, every tribe,
on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Pet. 5:10 ESV, emphasis added).
Join the everlasting song, along with every other suffering believer from throughout history!
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13 ESV)
O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall;
we’ll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all!
To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Pet. 5:11 ESV).
Join the everlasting song as we share Him with others, in this suffering world
It’s funny…God has already powerfully brought much healing to my physical body, now five months out from brain surgery! But suffering as a believer in this fallen world has worsened in other ways. And I’m hearing from others who are being persecuted for our faith while serving Him in their walk as believers. So, I’m praising our triune God for the power of Jesus’ name!
Using the book He had me write before my surgery, here’s my prayer for both of us, as we both hail the power of Jesus’ name into our suffering.
Father, help us to share Your power found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, with those who don’t believe in Him. For “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12 ESV). Help us to remember that Your Word tells us that everyone suffers in this earthly life, but we suffer within this appointed historical time of Your redemption.
By Your power, You are right now opening eyes,
so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus] (Acts 26:18 ESV).
Stir us all, Lord, away from any defeated despair, self-righteous pride, or fear of future suffering…and toward heightened, deepened love for You and others, in new and unique ways.
Could this be part of Your call to us today, precisely because we are suffering?
Help us to hail Your powerfully risen and eternally reigning name, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Material adapted from Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering: A Devotional Bible Study Prayer Journal, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2023
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