The Bible says in Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper.” Many preachers, gospel singers and Bible teachers have emphasized this text to us. We all know about the enemies that assail us. So we sing this in our songs. We rejoice at what seems to be a guarantee that weapons will not overthrow us.
The song says:
We’ve Come This Far By Faith
Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His Holy Word
He’s Never Failed Me Yet
Remembering is an important part of preaching. In some ways we are seeking to help the people recall the magnificent stories of both the Old and the New Testament. But we are not only seeking to recall to mind things that happened to other folks. No we are seeking to “remember” that the stories of the Bible are magnificent templates through which we can see the power and glory of God in our own lives.
Yes our future can and will be changed as we participate in the stories, but this song that has been so prominent in the Black Church reminds us that as we tell the stories, we must connect our story to the Bible story. We must remember what God has done. For God hasn’t stopped taking people through Red Seas. No God hasn’t stopped freeing people from slavery. Yes God still comes to us like Abraham and tells us of a promised land where God is leading us. And yes, God is still in the resurrection business as God still revives us to live hopeful and powerful lives in the present.
The preacher can never lose track of the importance of memory. And neither can the preacher lose track of the importance of connecting God’s faithfulness to a new day that is only possible because “God has never failed us yet.”
This spiritual begins completely centered on the singer’s need of Jesus and prayer. While the singer does not really get into why prayer is needed, one can easily imagine reasons. Perhaps it is because the singer is a poor weak sinner like all of us. Thus, the singer could be talking about need to overcome sin. Maybe the singer is talking about needing strength to overcoming evil and evildoers in this life. The singer might be talking about the need for personal forgiveness of sins. Maybe the singer is just talking about receiving comfort in the storms of life.
Whatever the reason, the singer is talking about personally needing prayer. This spiritual does not point at others needing God even though they do. The singer of this spiritual simply says, “I need prayer.” Lest the hearer misunderstand, the singer explicitly identifies many others, but then goes back to the original statement, “I need prayer!” The singer seems to be saying, “I am not looking at brother, sister, or anyone else, I recognize that I need prayer.”
It is interesting that the singer has been mistreated in life, but the singer does not point the finger at others. In many cases, we have been wronged and sometimes we are called to do something about it, but before you can respond to evil, you have to recognize your own weakness in the face of it.
While a comprehensive look at other spirituals will show that sometimes the sins of other folk are referred to, this spiritual reminds me that at some point I have to get to the point of recognizing that I need prayer. In addition, that knowledge at some point will overshadow the weakness of others and what they did to me. That knowledge will propel me to personally “get right.” That knowledge will propel me to take the “spec out of my own eye.” That knowledge will help me to sing, “It’s me, It’s me, It’s me oh Lord, Standin in the Need of Prayer.”
Oh Lord, I ask that you would continue to give me the recognition of my own need of prayer. Help me to not get so caught up in the weakness and sins of others that I lose touch with the recognition of my own need. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Devotional #2
Have you Got Good Religion. Cert’ly Lord
Have you Got Good Religion. Cert’ly Lord
Have you got good Religion.
Cert’ly, Cert’ly, Cert’ly Lord
This is a very upbeat and sure spiritual. The singer not only emphasizes the fact of a difference between good and bad religion, but it also shows a certainty that the singer possesses this good religion.
This spiritual features a questioner and an answerer. The questioner crys, “Have you got Good Religion,” the answerer answers unashamedly and without equivocation, “Cert’ly Lord.” The questioner asks again, “Have you got Good Religion?” The answerer excitingly answers by shouting, “Cert’ly Lord.” The questioner asks one final time, “Have you got good religion?” The answerer uses repetition in the final answer, “Cert’ly, Cert’ly, Cert’ly Lord.”
The singer of this spiritual knew the importance of knowing that Good Religion was possessed. Today I must face the very important question, “Do I know that I have good religion?”
If I do not have this knowledge, I will live in uncertainty. I will not have the solid rock of purpose beneath me. I cannot live the spiritual life without knowing that I have good religion.
John wrote his book so that I, as the reader, can know that I have eternal life. The singer of this spiritual knew of the possession of good religion. John wanted his readers to know they had good religion. Do I know that I have it? By God’s grace,
I can know.
One cannot read this spiritual without recognizing the genuine joy that comes from the singer. The singer knows that good religion is possessed and is sure of that possession. When the strength of these facts hits the singer, joy comes forth.
As the sinner, the singer recognizes that the singer does not earn this good religion that is possessed. This is evident from the knowledge that comes from other verses, being redeemed and being baptized.
The singer knows that good religion is not deserved, but that does not change the fact that it is possessed. This knowledge cannot help but bring triumphant joy which is demonstrated the shouting of, “Cert’ly, Cert’ly, Cert’ly Lord.”
If you got good religion, and you know you got good religion, then the joy of celebration will break forth. All too often sober and restrained demeanor is seen as the epitome of religion. Nevertheless, when the facts of the Gospel are clearly stated and the people realize their own need for something greater than themselves and finally, the people recognize that God has provided that something, then joy will break forth. This celebration is demonstrated in the myriad of ways that God’s people celebrate God, but it will break forth.
One must be careful to base the celebration on truth and not error. The singer is sure of the good religion possessed before the shouting. The singer has been to the pool and been redeemed.
The singer is not celebrating for show. The singer knows the death that is deserved, but the singer knows of the salvation that is presented. This salvation calls forth praise.
Do I allow the truth of salvation to permeate me to the point of celebrating that good religion? Do I enjoy the life of Salvation? I can and I should.
Oh Lord, I ask that you would break the shackles of conformity that keep me from celebrating the good religion that you have given to me. Thank you for the good religion. Help me to feel and to celebrate the good religion. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Implicit in this spiritual is an important point: there is a difference between good and bad religion. The slave knew about bad religion for daily the slave was forced to look upon the master who was practicing bad religion.
One might ask what is the difference between good and bad religion. Well there are many differences, but one of the keys is that bad religion is always stated, but not really practiced.
One of the reasons that the singer of this spiritual could be sure of the POSSESSION of good religion is that the singer PRACTICES good religion. This can be seen in the fact that the singer has gone to the pool and been redeemed in other verses.
Is my religion good or bad? Do I have a vital growing relationship to truth, or do I have a dead religion that is merely stated? Good religion can sustain someone, but bad religion is a sham that is waiting to be uncovered. Bad religion merely states theological facts, but good religion will demonstrate those same facts in a Godly life.
Do I have the genuine article, or do I have a sham? Do I have Good Religion?
Oh Lord, I ask that you would turn me from merely a hearer or a stator of the truth, into a doer of the truth. I ask that you would turn my bad religion into good for your name’s sake. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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