St Peters RC Church Hamilton

† OF VICTORY
“O death where is thy sting?
Where, grave, thy victory?
O keys of hell, why change
Ye hands at Calvary?
Lo, on that hill
God’s wrath was placed,
Our sins erased,
And death made nil.” Steven Popovich

Alleluia! This is our Easter promise
Fulfilled by the willing, loving sacrifice of Jesus.
He took our part from a heart
Longing to save His brothers and sisters.
No longer need we fear the enemy,
Nor the final adversary of death,
Of annihilation, our final, total separation from God.
This has been made an impossibility
According to the resounding victory at the †of Jesus.
“ ‘Your throne, O God is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
with the oil of gladness more than Your companions’.” Hebrews 1 v 8, 9
The goodness of Jesus, His holiness, made the perfect sacrifice.
Justice meted out thereby, the reign of the divine Son was begun
“The LORD of hosts is with us;
Psalm 46 v 7 The God of Jacob is our refuge,” always amongst us
By His purifying, faith waking, sanctifying Spirit.
Thereby there is no room for the interruption, corruption
Which death brings to blight us.
We simply have to claim victory at the † of Jesus,
A new life of fresh purpose offered us now unto eternity.
“As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; God will
establish it forever.” Psalm 48 v 8

“Our glory is great in Your salvation; honour and majesty You have placed upon us. For You have
made us most blessed forever; You have made us exceedingly glad with Your presence.”
based on Psalm 21 v 5, 6
Achieving all of this dearest Father, through our position as beloved children, adopted into Your
family as being siblings of Jesus, works in progress thanks to the Spirit.
based on We trust in Your mercy holy Father. We look to the †of Jesus and we realise that Your mercy is
Luke 1 v 50 inexhaustible, “Extending to those who fear You from generation to generation” even into
eternity.
“I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship...
Psalm 5 v 7, 8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness,” as I claim a share in the holiness of Jesus.
It is praying in His name I dare to ask to enter eternity, so as to praise and thank You forever
for all the blessings of life, but especially our Saviour.
Lead me onwards, upwards, homewards always aware that I need to be vigilant against satan’s
1 Peter 5 v 8 attacks as “...the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Thank You that both he and the final enemy of death have been victoriously defeated at the †,
Psalm 6 v 5 “For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who will give You thanks?”
“Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my
v 8, 9 weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication,” made in the name of Jesus.
Father, I believe that due to the †of victory, You “...will receive my prayer. Let all my
Cont enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled,” turned away, especially any fear of life or
death.
“Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say ‘I have prevailed
Psalm 13 v 34 against him (her)” for he has not. I look to the †.
“I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to You
based on v 5, 6 LORD, because you have dealt bountifully with us,” such profound, eternal blessings
emanating from Jesus’ †.
Gerard Thank You that due to the † of victory, “Let Him easter in us, be a dayspring to the
Manley Hopkins dimness of us, be a crimson cresseted east...”, sure hope of heaven. Amen.

07.05.18