2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | Thee Apprentice "Amazing Grace" Poem

 

2014 Thriving Frequency Conference with Eric Mason, D.A. Horton, Jerome Gay and more at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA from October 17-18

Last year, some folks from Emmaus City had the privilege to spend a weekend in Philadelphia at the 2013 Thriving Summit, hosted by Epiphany Fellowship. This year was just as powerful and they added in some breakout sessions as well. And Thee Apprentice, a spoken word poet, was the MC, and Doxa, Epiphany's worship in song band, led the music. The 2014 conference as a whole proclaimed Jesus as King in cities every which way. Here are links to previous posts:

• 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | Thee Apprentice "Who Am I?" Poem 
• 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | The Anthem by Planetshakers performed by DOXA from Epiphany Fellowship
• 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | Leadership in the City

 

As mentioned above, Thee Apprentice, a spoken word poet, was the MC of Thriving Frequency 2014. After a passionate welcome, John Barlatier, aka Thee Apprentice, shared one of his poems, "Who am I?" Later in the conference, he also shared another piece of poetry entitled, "Amazing Grace" after singing it. In his humility, he readily admitted that he doesn't have a great singing voice. But that made the introduction all the more powerful as he readily declared that it is God's amazing grace whereby he receives his approval. 

Thee Apprentice's "Amazing Grace"

Spoken Word Performance Poetry Lyrics

(starts at 1:51 after he sings)
 

They threw me into the fire,

Turned it up seven times higher. 

Funny thing is 

The ones that threw me in got consumed

And I didn’t even perspire.

I’m listening for God’s voice

Like the cops listening in on The Wire,

For the prize to the high calling

Is to what I aspire.

Look,

I admire diamonds

Because they’re made under pressure.

What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger

Or is just a refresher.

Maybe I need a refilling

Deliverance or a good healing,

Be led by the Spirit

And stop appealing to my feelings;

Be aware of what I attract

And what I find attractive.

I got to try this or reject that

Before I attach it.

Roses are beautiful,

But they still have thorns like a cactus.

If sin was a profession,

Some church folks would be sued for malpractice.

Look,

God didn’t save you from it

So you can do it more.

He didn’t deliver you from the pimp

So you could become a church whore.

Some people never experience afterwards

Because they always revert to before.

But before I go back to what I was

I give God a little bit more.

Amazing grace!

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost

But now I’m found.

Was blind,

But now I see.

Now I’m restored,

In one accord,

Sharpening my sword,

I’ve learned some stones

Will cease in my life

When I throw Jonah overboard.

I’m saved by grace,

And not by face,

I learned to drop the weights

As I run this race.

God is my foundation,

My base,

My support,

My brace.

I’m clay in the Potter’s hand

And He’s making a vase,

He’s filling my cup

Until it runs over.

I’ve matured from milk to meat

And I’m no longer in need for a stroller;

I’ve realized I’ve matured

Only because I’ve endured.

Salvation isn’t a sprint,

It’s a marathon,

And your life is on tour.

There is now no condemnation,

So just embrace your salvation.

Amazing grace is always with you

Even in the midst of your temptation.

Where sin is, grace is,

That like a vaccination

protects you from yourself

And your lustful imagination.

Look,

We’re all drawn away

By our own lusts and enticements.

The enemy only presented a pizza

Because he knew you wanted a slice.

He’s “precising” his maneuvers,

He knows the flesh is our vice,

But I’m like Paul praying,

Not once, not twice, but thrice.

God answered and said that

His grace is sufficient

And the reason it’s so amazing is because

He’s omniscient.

He’s omnipresent,

He’s immutable,

He knows we’re deficient.

That’s why He filled us with His Spirit

Because He will make up the difference.

His strength is perfect in our weakness.

Our calling is in our uniqueness.

Victory is manifest when our enemy

Thinks he defeats us.

He thought the battle was won

When he hung the King Jesus,

The Rabbi,

Whose life and death was the lesson.

But He was the Teacher.

Thee Apprentice?

I’m learning life’s lessons

And my Lord is the Teacher.

My poems are the lessons I’ve learned

And I’m using to reach you.

Look,

I don’t mean to preach at you,

But this amazing grace,

It will keep you.

It will keep you like David

After he messed up with Bathsheba.

Look, 

Samson messed up with Delilah

And ended up bored, blind, and bound.

But even in the prison his hair began to grow

Because grace always abounds.

Look,

Jonah, in his disobedience,

God let him drown.

He orchestrated that he would be

Swallowed up by a whale

And spit out on dry ground.

See,

Grace only gives us the opportunity to

Repent.

But don’t think that because it’s so amazing

That there’s no consequence.

We’ve still got to deal with the results of our actions.

Look,

Jonah was swallowed up

Because of his reaction.

Samson was bored, blind, and bound,

Because of where he found satisfaction.

David, he lost his firstborn

Because he had a fatal attraction.

Shall we continue with sin

So that grace may abound?

God forbid.

It’s through grace that we receive salvation

And are given the opportunity to really live.

Look,

I live for Him

Because He died for me.

I ain’t got it all together

But His grace,

It covers me.

It’s sufficient
Where I’m deficient.

It secures my insecurities.

I need it just as much at the mountaintop

As I did in my obscurity.

I need it just as much at the mountaintop

As I did in the valley low.

I need it especially

To bestow this poem

From any plateau.

I need it to flow.

I need it to crow.

Amazing grace!

I need it like Peter after the cock crowed!

I need it like Saul on the Damascus road!

It’s amazing!

God blinded him for three days,

And allowed the revelations to overflow.

Whoa.

His grace is so amazing,

I can’t believe it’s not butter.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good

Is what I utter.

See,

I don’t care if you have a speech impediment like Moses

And you stutter.

But God, He will use you

With your Caribbean accent

To spread His message

To your father and your mother.

He’ll extend it to everyone

Regardless of what you have done.

Just receive the free gift of salvation

Offered through His Son.

Sin is a burden on your shoulders

And you’re carrying a ton.

Those things that overcame you,

God,

He’ll allow you to overcome.

He’ll make you the head and not the tail,

He’ll put you above and not beneath.

Anything outside of God’s will

Will have you twisted, sweating like Keith.

Don’t be curious,

His grace isn’t mysterious.

I know you want a lot of things,

But this is one thing you need.

I’m serious.

Opportunities all around,

And you don’t have time to waste.

So before the bell rings,

Make sure you embrace

His amazing grace.

God bless.

 

Next post: 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | Discipleship through the Church and Counseling in the City

– Sully

Email Me | Facebook Us | Join Us | Support Us