Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 'EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.'" Luke 3:4-6, NASU

In 1973, the year of my high school graduation, the movie Godspell hit the theatres. In my senior year, attending Columbus High School (Catholic) in Waterloo, Iowa, I went and saw it. Somewhat out of curiosity, but mostly because I liked some of the songs I was hearing on the radio. Though I didn’t care for every scene or song, I still think the Lord used it to reach ones who didn’t attend church or synagogues. At least I hope it did.

So why write about a secular movie production, or a play on Broadway, which it also was? Because even in these types of artistic displays, our God is reaching out to get the attention of those He has created. After all, He even used a talking donkey to speak His word, because that was what was available.

And yet even today in 2019, He is still using the words, “prepare ye the way of the Lord” (listen to the movie version below). I woke up one morning, and during preparation for the Sunday morning congregation gathering, during which I would help lead worship as a vocalist, the song came into my head. And it happened to be the start of Passover week, and on the Gregorian calendar, Palm Sunday. This was the historical day Jesus (Yeshua) rode into Jerusalem on a colt (donkey also), as the people hailed His kingship. Only to later, in that same week, witness His crucifixion.

I also recall the song I have sung many times as a worship leader, written by Forrest Richard Betts and recorded by Robin Mark, the wonderful worship leader from Northern Ireland, on his Revival in Belfast album (1999), entitled simply, “Revival.”

I remember it well, as I loved to sing the lyrics beginning the song, without instrumentation:

“I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.”

The song also had a special impact on me, being within the year my Dad passed onto heaven, having suffered through lymphoma cancer, and my Mom telling me some of the lyrics struck her, particularly, “to the widow walking through the veil of tears.”

And now Paul Wilbur, on his latest CD release in March 2019, Roar From Zion, includes an old favorite of almost everybody, Days of Elijah, which includes, once again, the words, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord1” (and he also has the worship team sing it in Hebrew.)

I say all that to say this. 

If we haven’t already begun, now is the time to prepare ye the way of the Lord.

As the Lord was speaking in the 1970s and the 1990s through these two songs, He is yet again speaking, loud and clear for those who have ears to hear, that now is certainly the time we as believers need to be preparing for His coming revival, that which will be manifested with millions of the lost coming into His salvation, making entry into His kingdom.

Through powerful, consistent, gathering together in prayer, be it two or three, or full congregations at one time; through the proclamation of His truth as recorded in His Word, the Torah, the Bible, in written and spoken realms (especially social media!); in addition to producing godly movies, singing Spirit-led songs, and taking back the lost ground that we as believers allowed the enemy to take while we have been on our watch; in all areas of education, medicine, government, the arts, and every area of life that touches our spirits, souls, and bodies.

The Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is calling out to us and wanting to proclaim it through us, “PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!”

We don’t have five or ten years anymore to sit back and do nothing. Today is the day. Now is the time.

So now think on this.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. And the Lord knows, I hope to have the opportunity to sing “Revival” once again. Loud and clear!

You can listen here to the 1973 movie version: Godspell'sPrepare Ye (the way of the Lord)

Robin Mark’s worship song: Revival

Paul Wilbur's Roar From Zion album: Days of Elijah

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Now Think On This #411 - in the year of our Lord 04.14.19 – “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” – Sunday 7:07 pm

Revial Lyrics – Robin Mark

I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears

Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!

Songwriters: Forrest Richard Betts

Revival lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

LoveMusic! - Robin Mark - Days of Elijah (Lyric Video)

Days of Elijah

Robin Mark

Aug. 31, 2017

Greetings LoveMusic! listeners,

Back in the day, 1994 to be exact, Robin Mark wrote a song that has now been sung literally all over the world, in English, Spanish, Koren, Russian, Polish, Japanese, etc. What an impact it had on the hearts of Christians during their church worship services! (Robin tells how it all came about later in this blog.)

Then when Paul Wilbur recorded the song for the live recording during the ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) Feast of Tabernacles celebration on Integrity Music's Jerusalem Arise CD in Jerusalem, Israel in 1999 (Paul Wilbur at Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem) it really seemed to take off around the world. After all, over 100 nations were well represented at the first Jubilee celebrated in Israel in more than 2,000 years.

Proclaiming the soon glorious return of Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, the song brought revival to our hearts, as we gave praise and worship to the Living God of Israel.

At the last trump (shofar) Jesus will return. We all can count on that!

Be listening, 

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Charlott, North Carolina

You can listen to when we did it in church! Click here: Days of Elijah - Steve & Laurie Martin, All Nations Church worship team

Robin Mark on the writing of Days of Elijah:

I have had quite a few people asking me for an explanation of the roots and meaning of the words and themes contained in “Days of Elijah” since I wrote the song way back in 1994.

The song is generally and principally a song of ‘hope’. The themes it explores are to do with the fact that, although raised a Methodist, I attended a lot of Brethren or Gospel Hall meetings as a small boy and somehow the theology of Old Testament stories and characters being, either as themselves or by their actions, ‘types’ or ‘examples’ of Christ and the Church got stuck in my head. That is, even though they were historical factual people, living in the old covenant days, their actions and characters can be used to teach and represent the character of God under the new covenant and they continually and repeatedly point to Christ. People call this “Typology” or “Typical” analysis of the scriptures.

Firstly the song came from watching a television “Review of the Year” at the end of 1994. This was the year of the Rwandan civil war tragedy which claimed 1 million people’s lives, and also when the first ceasefires in N.I. were declared. On this TV review were a lot of daft stories, happy stories, serious stories, and then absolutely devastating stories like the Rwandan situation. As I watched the review unfold I found myself despairing about the state of the world and, in prayer, began asking God if He was really in control and what sort of days were we living in.

I felt in my spirit that He replied to my prayer by saying that indeed He was very much in control and that the days we were living in were special times when He would require Christians to be filled with integrity and to stand up for Him just like Elijah did, particularly with the prophets of Baal. “These are ‘Elijah’ days”. Elijah’s story is in the book of Kings and you can read how he felt isolated and alone in the culture in which he lived. But God told him to stand up and speak for Him.

We also needed to be a holy and just people and hence the reference to the “days of your servant Moses”, meaning that righteousness and right living was important in all our attitudes and works. Now, we are under grace and not under law, but the righteousness that comes by faith can be no less than the moral law that Moses brought direct from God. It has not been superseded. In fact Jesus told us that our “righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees”, who were the most ardent followers of Gods laws as presented by Moses. Jesus was after righteous, servant hearts, of course, that desired to live holy lives for Him.

“Days of great trial, of famine, darkness and sword” is a reflection of the apparent times in which we live when still thousands of people die every day from starvation, malnutrition and war. In the midst of it all we are called to make a declaration of what and who we believe in.

The second verse refers to the restoration of unity of the body, what Jesus prayed for – “that they may be one even as I and the Father are one…” by reference to Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of the valley of the dry bones becoming flesh and being knit together. There are lots of interpretations of this picture, but one of a united church rising up in unity and purpose, is a powerful call on us in these days.
The restoration of praise and worship to the Church is represented by “the days of your servant David”. Some folks use the term “Restoration Theology” to describe this restoring of attributes to the church. But in the song it’s mainly a picture of worship.

Of course David didn’t get to build the structural temple (that’s why the word in the song line is “rebuild”), that was left to Solomon his son, but David was used by God to introduce a revised form of worship, praise and thanksgiving into, firstly, his little tent which he pitched around the Ark of the covenant (the presence of God) and then the temple that Solomon his son built.

This worship, unlike the Mosaic Tabernacle, involved many people being able to come into Gods presence and worship him openly. (In Moses time only one man, the high priest, could enter the Holy of Holies, once a year. David’s tent was a picture of how Christ would enable us to come right into Gods presence, through his sacrifice, and worship openly there).

If you search carefully through the Book of Amos (chapter 9) you will find reference to this “Restoration of David’s Tabernacle”. In Acts this prophecy was used to explain, at the council of Jerusalem, why the “Gentiles” should be allowed to become Christians and worship their saviour without all the legal requirements of the Jewish law.

It is also accepted among restoration theologians that this refers to restored Praise and Worship. The physical temple was “Solomon’s”, David’s “temple” was a little tent but you and I are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It sounds complex, doesn’t it, but if you just understand that the line in the song refers to Praise and Worship before the presence of God just like David enjoyed, then that’s all there needs to be to it!

Finally the “days of the Harvest” point towards what is the purpose of the Christian to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. By the way “The fields are as white in the world” is from the old King James version and means, their ripe for harvest.

These are the themes of the verses – Declaration, Righteousness, Unity and Worship. I chose to express these thoughts by reference to the characters that represented these virtues in the Old Testament. It is in essence a song of hope for the Church and the world in times of great trial.
The chorus is the ultimate declaration of hope – Christ’s return. It is paraphrased from the books of Revelation and Daniel and the vision that was seen of the coming King and refers to the return of Christ and the year of Jubilee. Theologians and Bible commentators believe that Israel never properly celebrated this particular 50th year jubilee, and that it will only be properly celebrated when Christ returns. That might be true but I reckon that a Jubilee is an apt description of what happens when Christ comes into anyone’s life at any time; debts are cancelled and a captive is set free.

These thoughts were in my head when I came to church early one Sunday in 1995. We have two services and the Pastor spoke during the first service on the “valley of dry bones” from Ezekiel. I took a prompt from this and, in the 30 minutes between the services, wrote down the words and chords in the kitchen of our church building and we sang it, as a body, at the end of the second service.

How do you express the sense that these might be days, not of failure and submission, but of the sort of resilient, declaring, even arrogant trust and hope that Elijah had in his God? That these are not days of God stepping back and allowing the world and the church to roll uncontrolled towards eternity, but rather days when he is calling on his body to make a stand, to offer right praises and to declare that He is totally in control. Well, I reckon you may write the words “These are the days of Elijah” and “These are the days of David”. I’ve used word pictures and Biblical characters to make that expression, but this is no different from many of the great hymn writers and even David himself.
I presented the song to the church that day with a short word of explanation, and we sang it as our worship.

Now the rest, I suppose, is history. There is no mechanism (conspiracy theorists take note!) within the church for making people sing a particular song, or for increasing it’s use in the national or international church body. As far as I was concerned the song was for our congregation, on that day and at that time. God obviously had other ideas and it is now sung almost world-wide.

Grammatically, there may even be the odd aberration, but thankfully the church has forgiven me that particular shortcoming.

I must make it clear that I did not set out to write an overly complex or “secret” song, and I hope the testimony above bears that out.

There is a post script to this story for those who (by letters to me!) believe the song means something entirely different. A few years ago I was privileged to be in Israel at Yom Kippur for a celebration with hundreds of Messianic Jews. A very kind, gentle and humorous messianic brother had a bit of fun arguing with me that I, as an Irish Christian, could never have written a song which explores some of the themes that many (non-replacement theology here!) Jewish believers believe are the themes and indications of Christ’s return. The Spirit and Power of Elijah in the Church, The restoration of Israel to righteousness in Christ (David’s fallen tent), The restoration of praise and worship (David’s tent also!) and the unity of the body particularly with a renewed and redeemed Israel under Christ.

For me, I only know what I wrote. I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it was His desire to say something more than I personally intended and to do more with this song than I first considered.
It is an unusual song, for sure. All of these restored things like Justice, Righteousness, Integrity, Unity, Praise and Worship and Revival are considered by many to be a herald of the last days and Christ’s return. Personally I don’t know – I believe I wrote what God was telling me to write and He seems to have used the song in many ways for many people.

I hope the explanation is clear. The song is, perhaps, a little complex – but I can assure you that this was not deliberate. I have written lots of simple, straightforward hymns and songs covering lots of themes. This song seems to have been used particularly by God in the ministry of Praise and Worship and the themes and pictures it uses seem to have been grasped by God’s people all over the world.

Robin Mark – Days Of Elijah Lyrics

These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord!"

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh,
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah, hey!

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

YouTube video above: RobinMarkVEVO

Published on Jul 2, 2015

Music video by Robin Mark performing Days of Elijah. (C) 2014 Integrity Music Category
Music
License
Standard YouTube License
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LoveMusic! - Garments of Praise - Robin Mark live worship from Northern Ireland

Garments of Praise

Robin Mark

Live worship from Northern Ireland

Robin Mark

Aug. 16, 2017

Dear LoveMusic! listeners,

When we first featured a song by Robin Mark, Revival, it rose to the top of our chart as one of your favorites. Not surprising, for we need revival in our countries. And now is as good a time as any.

What does then follow revival, in our hearts and souls, is the real desire to honor and worship even more the Living God of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus). HE IS REVIVAL, and when His Holy Spirit comes, we do put on the garment of praise.

Our prayer is that revival is working in your life, and you too are putting on the garments of praise to replace discouragement, disappointment, distrust, and disillusionments. We all have had them. We can get His victory through them as overcomers do.

We all need Jesus. Come Lord, bring revival, and we shall indeed put on the garments of praise!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Charlotte, North Carolina

USA

Thank you, Robin Mark, for your ministry!

Help Love For His People continue to keep bringing you LoveMusic! We also send monthly funds to pastors and Israel-supporting ministries in international lands - with free teaching materials. Financial support for families in Jerusalem, Belfast, UK and Lahore, Pakistan continue monthly. We count on you. Even a gift of $5 helps!  Thank you.

Please donate online safely here, through our website. Click here: I want to bless others.

A USA tax-receipt will be provided for each online gift and check.

Checks can be sent to:

Love For His People, Inc.

P.O. Box 414

Pineville, NC 28134

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Above video: YouTube: ChristianMusicDemand  Published on Jun 25, 2008

Here is one with the lyrics: Garments of Praise with lyrics

LoveMusic! - "Revival" by Robin Mark from Northern Ireland - with lyrics

"Revival" 

Robin Mark 

Northern Ireland

 - with lyrics 

Robin Mark

Aug. 11, 2017

Greetings LoveMusic! listeners,

Beginning in 1983, through the next 20 years, HosannaMusic! (a division of Integrity Music in Mobile, Alabama with Michael Coleman, Executive Director) was putting out great worship CDs. They produced over 200 live recordings during that time. 

Don Moen (one of the best of the very best!), Kent Henry, Randy Rothwell, Billy Funk, Ron Kenoly, Darlene Zschech, Martin Nystrom, Paul Wilbur, and Lenny LeBlanc were some of the ones we listened to for many years, as their CDs came monthly in the mail through subscription. (I was a subscriber from the very beginning cassette in 1983. Still have them all!) 

I remember from 1987-1990, Glenn Selby (grandson of Bible teacher Derek Prince) and I both worked at Derek Prince Ministries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We would be "anxious" to see who got their cassette/CD first in the mail with each live recording. Then one, or the other, would be a bit jealous I still think, if the other got it first!

Robin Mark from Northern Ireland certainly made his "mark" as one of the worship leaders with Integrity. I loved his music! (Still do. Just bought his latest one, entitled "The Great Hurricane".) Remember Days of Elijah, Garments of Praise, Jesus, All For Jesus and When It's All Been Said and Done? Robin Mark. Our All Nations Church worship team sang them often, especially Days of Elijah and this one we feature today, Revival.

Thank you, Robin, for your wonderful years of leading the world in worship. Maybe I'll meet you when I travel to Ireland next May! (Jim Clint, our good friend in Northern Ireland, I am sure knows you!)

Be blessed in your blessing others as you listen in worship to Jesus. 

Revive us, Lord!!!

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People

Charlotte, North Carolina

USA

Help Love For His People continue to keep bringing you LoveMusic! We also send monthly funds to pastors and Israel-supporting ministries in international lands - with free teaching materials. Financial support for families in Jerusalem, Belfast, UK and Lahore, Pakistan continue monthly. We count on you. Even a gift of $5 helps!  Thank you.

Please donate online safely here, through our website. Click here: I want to bless others.

A USA tax-receipt will be provided for online gifts and checks.
Checks can be sent to:
Love For His People, Inc.
P.O. Box 414
Pineville, NC 28134

We'd love to keep in touch with you. 

Sign up here: Love For His People Contact Form

Laurie and I led the All Nations Church worship team in the late 1990's.

Here is our version of Robin Mark's Revival.

Click here: Revival - Steve & Laurie Martin, All Nations Church worship team

Robin Mark Video above: worship4christ2012  YouTube Published on Oct 1, 2012

From album Revival in Belfast.

Robin Mark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robin Mark
Born	1957 (age 59–60)
Origin	Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Genres	Contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)	Singer, musician, songwriter, composer
Instruments	Vocals, piano, acoustic guitar
Years active	1990–present
Website

Robin Mark (born 1957) is a Northern Irish Christian singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Mark has written several songs sung throughout the world. He is best known for his songs "Days of Elijah", "Revival", "All for Jesus", "The Wonder of The Cross", "Not by Might" and many more. He has released thirteen albums in total with sales of over two million worldwide and has won the GMA's international award.

Though known within the United Kingdom and throughout Canada and Europe from the early 1990s, it was not until his 1999 live album Revival In Belfast that Mark became known in the United States, Australia and the rest of the world. His signature song, "Days of Elijah", has proven popular since 1996. His album Revival In Belfast, released in 1999, remained high in both the Christian retail charts and billboard charts for many years. It was still at number 39 five years later on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart in 2004.^[1]When the follow up album Come Heal This Land was released in 2001, it went straight to number one in the Christian Retail Charts in America. Robin became the first artist from the UK to accomplish this feat.^[2]

Robin Mark is also the worship leader in his home church Christian Fellowship Church (CFC) in East Belfast.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[edit]

Studio recordings

• Not By Might (1993)
• Days of Elijah (1996)
• This City, These Streets (1998)
• Sanctuary (2000)
• Songs & Hymns (2005)
• East of the River (2007)
• John Wesley & Co. (2012)
• Liberation Praise (2014)
• The Great Hurricane (2016)

Live recordings

• Room for Grace (1997)
• Mandate - All for Jesus (1999)
• Revival In Belfast (1999)
• Mandate - Men of Faith (2001)
• Come Heal This Land (2001)
• Revival in Belfast 2 (2004)
• Mandate: Experiencing God (2006)
• Arise: A Celebration of Worship (2006)
• Mandate 2007: Living the Adventure (2008)
• Year of Grace (2009)
• Fly (2011)
• 
  

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