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Why Should the devil have all the good tunes?

September 27, 2023

Why Should the devil have all the good tunes?

In all we have considered about John Wesley and George Whitefield’s great work of field-preaching it is necessary to consider the contribution of Mr. CHARLES WESLEY.   Charles is the younger brother of John’s and worked side-by-side his brother John in the revival sweeping The United Kingdom. His contribution to the revival was in both preaching and composing hymns that articulated experiences and beliefs of an awakened people to God's work in their lives..

It is alleged that Charles’ brother John quipped, “why should the devil have all the best tunes?”  This quip seems to have made the rounds from Martin Luther, William Booth, Roland Hill and others.  But this quip embodies the spirit of those involved in revival work as they sought to have hymns that reflected the wonderful work of revival. Why not have wonderful songs for God's wonderful work.

The truth is that CHARLES WESLEY wrote some 6,000 poems in his lifetime that have become much loved hymns by Christians all over the world. And Charles’ hymns did connected to some great tunes.

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Path To Pentecost (13)--May 11

May 14, 2025

A Condition for being filled on a continual basis The blog yesterday showed that Ephesians 5:18 exhorts us to be filled with the Holy Spirit on a continual basis. The present verb "filled" makes this clear. I also stated that a way to experience this continual work of The Holy Spirit (being under the influence of The Spirit) is based on humility. Humility is the experience of realizing that I do not have the internal power to be the person that I see in God's Word. Humility is the acknowledgement that I need God's Spirit to live the life of following Jesus. It is the humble person who can experience this continual influence of the Holy Spirit. That is because the truly humble person has a right assessment of their own need and a right assessment of God' provision. The proud person cannot receive much from God because the proud person does not assess that they need anything or at least not much from God. This is not a failure of God's power it is a failure of one not recognizing one's need. In this notion of being humble enough to experience God's continual presence of The Holy Spirit I remember a verse from Jesus' brother, James. James 4:5-6 reveals God's contrast in response to the proud and to the humble. Note in vs 5 about God's yearning "over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us." Then James gives a contrast between the humble and the proud we see that God gives "more grace" (vs. 6). How can God give more grace.....well I want to suggest that God can give more grace to the humble because the humble have more capacity for grace. Think of it, a humble person is open to receive from God because they do not assume that they are capable in their own strength. Note also that the continual influence of The Holy Spirit would be impossible for the proud. God opposes the proud (vs. 6) because they do not recognize their need of God's Holy Spirit. REFLECT: So, instead of denying your inability and need for more grace, embrace it. God has "more grace" for you. This is life in the the continual influence of The Holy Spirit

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