Songs We Sing: "he Lives" Series

SONGS WE SING: HE LIVES

John 14:1-6, Hebrews 9:11-15, Psalm 139:7-8

#helives

SING ‘HE LIVES’

SERIES INTRODUCTION

This morning we are continuing a sermon series that will go from now until right before Easter. The series is called: “The Songs We Sing.” Part of worshipping God is singing. It has always been that way. The Bible isn’t a songbook, but there are at least 185 songs in the Bible. There are songs about battles, coronations, funerals, cities being sacked, and seas splitting up. There are songs that praise God for His attributes. 150 of those songs are in the book of Psalms, but there are also two other books full of songs in the Old Testament: The Song of Solomon and Lamentations.

A powerful song we find in the Bible happens in Judges 5 after a great battle where a general named Sisera faces off against the people of Israel and ends up with a life ending headache. God is with Israel and totally wins the day and shows for Israel that is just how the manna crumbles. The judge Deborah sings of God’s victory. I love how the song ends:

READ JUDGES 5:31 (ESV)

“So may all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But Your friends be like the sun as He rises in His might.”

Part of worshipping God is singing. As worship, it matters what words are sung to God. The best worship songs focus on praise for God’s character. The best worship songs help us lament what is going on inside us and connects our feelings to God. The best worship songs focus on praise for God’s character and then lift us up because of Who God is in our lives.

SONG WE SING: HE LIVES

The hymn “He Lives” (number 164 in our old dusty hymnal) was written by a man named Alfred Ackley who lived from 1887 to 1960.

CONTENT…imperfectdust.com/blogs/news/hymn-highlight-the-story-behind-he-lives [adapted]

Alfred Ackley was born in 1887 in Pennsylvania and showed great musical potential as a child. His father was a musician and taught him all he knew. Alfred went on to study music in New York City, and eventually went to the Royal Academy of Music in London where he played the cello and piano. He also learned to compose music.

Alfred later returned to the United States to attend Westminster Theological Seminary. After he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1914, he became a pastor in Pennsylvania, but he never stopped writing hymns and music.

Eventually, Ackley was called to preach in California. It was while preaching in California that he encountered a young Jewish man that challenged Alfred Ackley by posing the question, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” Ackley responded with passion by saying, “He lives! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands!” That wasn’t really the end of it.

Later that week, with this conversation still circulating in his mind, Ackley woke and began shaving to prepare for church that day. He was listening to a special Easter broadcast on the radio as he dressed when he heard a well-known preacher address the listeners.

What he heard him say made him furious!

“Good morning!” The preacher began. “It’s Easter! You know folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned His body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!”

Ackley shouted at the radio set and some say he threw it across the room causing his wife to hear the commotion. His wife checked on him and encouraged him to pen out his frustration in the form of music. After returning home from preaching a passionate Easter Sunday sermon, Ackley did just that.

He wrote the words and composed the music to the classic hymn we know and love today as “He Lives.” In some hymnals it is also known as “I Serve a Risen Savior.” The lyrics answered the question of that young Jewish man posed to him and challenged the preacher on the radio with Truth.

“HE LIVES” LYRICS (OPTIONAL)

Verse 1:

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

Verse 2:

In all the world around me, I see His loving care, And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing will come at last.