We say, “Thanks be to God!” the way someone who has just heard the greatest news in the world would say it. Our gathering together is because of the saving work of Jesus Christ and this is the greatest news the world has ever known.
Thanks be to God, who has called us into this place to show to us his steadfast loving-kindness in Christ Jesus. Now hear your call to worship. This is God’s Word:
The Steadfast Love of the Lord – Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness (steadfast loving-kindness) and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
© 1923 Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company / Thomas Chisholm & William Runyan / CCLI#1888005
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
all I have needed thy hand hath provided –
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
The Father has shown himself faithful. He has shown to us his steadfast loving-kindness. His tenderness toward us shows how incapable we are of showing kindness to others so we find ourselves condemned in our rebellion. Here now God’s Word and find yourself in this story:
The Wrath of God – Zechariah 7:8-12
And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Public Domain / I. Watts & L. Mason / CCLI#1888005
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down;
did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
The story of David and Mephibosheth is a great example of what it means to be a good king. A good king is marked by his generosity toward others. Find yourself the poor cripple in this story, in need of Kingly generosity:
A Good King – 2 Samuel 9:1-7
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”
Let us read this together, confessing our sins together as one body:
Corporate Confession
Father of Lights, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast loving kindness, you have bound yourself in covenant to us, promising by your eternal power to
redeem us for your own sake, to see your appropriate wrath appeased by the blood sacrifice of your only son Jesus Christ. In our repentance we turn from
our sinful ways seeking your loving arms that you may hold us to your bosom and bestow on us by your Holy Spirit, the affections of Christ. Amen.
Jesus, Thank You
© 2003 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity's Hosanna! Music) / P. Sczebel / CCLI#1888005
The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend,
the agonies of Calvary.
You, the perfect Holy One, crushed your Son,
You, the perfect Holy One, crushed your Son,
who drank the bitter cup reserved for me.
Your blood has washed away my sin. Jesus, thank you.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied, Jesus, thank you.
Once Your enemy, now seated at your table, Jesus, thank you.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied, Jesus, thank you.
Once Your enemy, now seated at your table, Jesus, thank you.
By your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near.
Your enemy you've made Your friend.
Pouring out the riches of your glorious grace,
Pouring out the riches of your glorious grace,
your mercy and your kindness know no end.
Lover of my soul, I want to live for you.
This is the kindness of God, that he would send his Son to pay our ransom and to free us unto acts of loving-kindness. In this freedom Jesus calls us to follow him. Now hear his loving words and do not turn away but run to Him:
The Great King – Mark 10:17-22
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Jesus What a Friend for Sinners
Public Domain. J. Wilbur Chapman & Rowland Hugh Pritchard. CCLI#1888005
Jesus what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul;
friends may fail me, foes assail me,
he my Savior makes me whole.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
he is with me to the end.
Jesus what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in him;
tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
he my strength, my vict’ry wins.
Jesus what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
storms about me, night o’ertakes me,
he, my pilot, hears my cry.
Jesus I do now receive him,
more than all in him I find;
he hath granted me forgiveness,
I am his and he is mine.
Now if you have—even with the weakest faith—seen the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ, then know with confidence in the power of the resurrection that your sins, past present and future are forgiven and just as you are seated at the right hand of the Father, in Christ, you may now be seated.
No comments:
Post a Comment