WORSHIP THRU THE WEEK: October 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009

WHAT KIND OF MAN?

TEXT: MATTHEW 8 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=matthew8&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE

“TOUCH”

Coming down from the mountainside where he had been teaching those who believed in him, a man with leprosy, in humility on his knees called Jesus his Lord and said he believed Jesus had the power to heal him if he wanted to. Jesus, doing what others would consider unthinkable, touched the diseased man as he told him he wanted to heal him saying, “Be cured!” at which point the man’s leprosy was gone. After this, Jesus told the man not to tell anyone what had happened but instead to follow the law of Moses by showing himself to the priest and offering a gift so that he could be officially declared cured and restored to society.

“FAITH”

Entering Capernaum, the commander of many Roman soldiers came to Jesus asking him to help his servant who was lying paralyzed and suffering at home. When Jesus said he would go home with him to heal his servant, the commander told Jesus he didn’t deserve to have him come to his home but he believed all Jesus needed to do was speak his words of healing right where they were in order for his servant to be healed. He went on to explain the basis for his belief in Jesus’ authority to heal by describing how as a Roman commander he knows the meaning of authority because when he speaks to his men, he speaks to them with the authority of the emperor behind him and therefore they obey – indicating to Jesus that he believed when he spoke he did so with the authority of God behind him such that if he “said the word” the illness his servant was suffering from would obey him and leave his servant well. Jesus was amazed when he heard this and said to his followers he had not seen anyone in the nation of Israel with faith as great as this Roman commander who was a gentile. He told his followers that when the great Messianic feast occurs with the patriarchs there will be many people gathered from across the gentile nations who will come to take their places in the kingdom of God but those who think they are subjects of the kingdom merely because they are from the nation of Israel will be thrown out into the darkness where they will suffer eternally.

“FULFILLMENT”

Coming to Peter’s house in Capernaum, seeing Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with fever, Jesus touches her hand at which point her fever left and she got out of bed and welcomed Jesus into her home.

That evening, many people were brought to where Jesus was and he drove evil spirits out of the demon- possessed and healed those who were sick in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about what the Messiah would do when he came, “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

“COST”

Seeing the crowds around him Jesus gave orders to cross over to the other side of the lake as a teacher of the law told him he would follow him wherever he went. Jesus responded to the teacher by telling him that following the Son of Man involved living homeless unlike even animals of the earth like foxes (who have holes) and birds (who have nests). When another disciple said to Jesus he needed to go and bury his father before he could follow him, Jesus told the man that following him comes above everything else and that those who are spiritually dead can bury their family members who are physically dead.

“WHAT KIND OF MAN?”

After getting into the boat with his disciples, a severe storm develops as they cross the lake, threatening them as Jesus sleeps. Waking Jesus up in a panic, the disciples tell him to save them, fearing they are going to drown. Jesus tells his disciples they have “little faith” as he asks them why they are so afraid – getting up and commanding the wind and waves to calm down – which they do just like the illness the commander’s servant had did when it obeyed Jesus’ words. The disciples were amazed at “what kind of man” Jesus was that not only demons and illness obeyed his word, but the larger forces of nature controlled by God did as well.

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY”

Arriving on the other side of the lake in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men, who were so violent no one would travel near the tombs they lived in, came to meet Jesus. When the demons immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God they feared being prematurely destroyed before the end of times and so asked Jesus to cast them into a large herd of pigs. When he granted this the demons went into the pigs, the pigs went off the steep bank into the lake and died, those tending the pigs reported what all that had happened in town, and the town’s people came to see Jesus, but after seeing him pleaded with him to leave their region because they were frightened by who he was.

PRINCIPLES

1. MATTHEW TOLD HIS FIRST CENTURY READERS THAT JESUS WAS THE CHRIST (MESSIAH), THE SON OF GOD.

2. HOW DID MATTHEW TELL HIS FIRST CENTURY READRS THAT JESUS WAS THE CHRIST (MESSIAH), THE SON OF GOD?

MATTHEW TOLD HIS FIRST CENTURY READERS THAT:

A. Jesus' touch had the power to heal a leper.

B. Jesus’ word had the authority to heal a Centurion’s servant from afar.

C. Jesus’ touch had the power to heal Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever.

D. Jesus' word had the power and authority to drive out demons.

E. Jesus’ healings fulfilled Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy about him.

F. Jesus’ words had authority over the winds and waves.

G. Jesus’ identity as the Son of God was immediately recognizable by the demons.

H. Jesus’ word cast demons from two men into a herd of pigs.

I. Jesus’ holiness was frightening to the people of the Gadarenes.

3. MATTHEW TELLS US TODAY THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST (MESSIAH), THE SON OF GOD.

4. HOW DOES MATTHEW TELL US TODAY THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST (MESSIAH), THE SON OF GOD?

MATTHEW TELLS US THAT:

A. Jesus’ touch has the power to heal us today.

B. Jesus’ word has the authority to heal us where we are.

C. Jesus’ touch has the power to heal us of our fevers.

D. Jesus’ word has the power to drive out our demons.

E. Jesus’ healings continue to fulfill Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy about him.

F. Jesus’ words have authority over the storms in our lives.

G. Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is immediately recognizable by demons today.

H. Jesus’ word will cast the demons in our lives away where they too can be put to death.

I. Jesus’ holiness can be frightening today too when it stands next to sin and the demonic, but ultimately is not to be feared because he has overcome both for us through his death on the cross and through his resurrection from the grave.

PRAYER

Our Father, we praise You that it is by Your Son’s will that we are healed through Your power and authority.

Our Father, we thank you and give You praise for the power and authority Your Son has given to heal in His Name.

Our Father, forgive us for our lack of faith, for fretting in the midst of the storms in our lives when You are right there beside us. Help us with our unbelief.

Our Father, we thank You for Your Word, through Isaiah the prophet about the Messiah and what he would do when he came, that he would take up our infirmities and diseases and that we would know who the Messiah was by his doing this.

Our Father, we thank You that our biggest infirmity, death, has been overcome, has been healed by Your Son’s death and resurrection, his sacrifice for us, his taking our sins upon himself so that we may live eternally.

Our Father, we thank you that those things in life that we fret over and the demons in our life that plague us that bind our lives and keep us imprisoned in a tomb can be cast away by a mere word that is said in the name of Your Son.

Our Father, today whatever is binding us from the past, whatever has deeply hurt us, whatever issues we struggle to let go of, whatever anger that lingers inside, whatever anxiety or panic there may be, we say in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ that it “Go” and that it be gone from this point on and that the complete calmness that came over the lake after Your Son rebuked the storm come into our hearts and minds to replace the fret and the demons that have been holding us hostage.

Our Father, help us to remember that our battles in this world also take place on a spiritual level so that the issues and conflicts we experience in this world have a spiritual connection as well and thus we are in need of Your protection from spiritual demons in addition to those in our lives that are psychological and physical in nature.

Our Father, we raise these petitions in the Name of Your Holy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

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Friday, October 30, 2009

WORSHIP THRU PRAYER

PSALM 63:1-2; 5-7

O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. Amen.

PSALM 150

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
For ever and ever. Amen

Thursday, October 29, 2009

WORSHIP THRU CREED

The Definition of Chalcedon (451)

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood;

One and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed* of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

*a reference to the Nicene Creed

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

WORSHIP THRU PRAISE

Click on "Play full song here" to Hear Entire Song

For Unto Us A Child Is Born (from Messiah by G.F. Handel) - Oregon Bach Festival Choir & Orchestra

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

WORSHIP THRU CONFESSION

“Confession” – (adapted from the Greek Orthodox Church Divine Liturgy)

Lord, have mercy.

Holy God, You dwell among Your saints. You are praised by the Seraphim with the thrice holy hymn and glorified by the Cherubim and worshiped by all the heavenly powers. You have brought all things out of nothing into being. You have created man and woman in Your image and likeness and adorned them with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to us and do not overlook our sins but have established repentance as the way of salvation. You have enabled us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to stand at this hour before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the thrice holy hymn also from the lips of us sinners and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship and serve You in holiness all the days of our lives.

For You are holy, our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us .

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessed are You on the throne of glory of Your kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

With all of our soul and with all our mind, we say:

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord Almighty, the God of our Fathers, we beseech Thee, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we beseech Thee, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Furthermore we pray for this country, its ruler, President Obama, its people, civil authorities and armed forces.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Furthermore we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of the sins of the servants of God.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord our God, accept our fervent supplication from Thy servants, and have mercy upon us according to the multitude of Thy mercies; and send forth Thy compassion upon us and upon all Thy people, who await the rich mercy that cometh from Thee. For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

We give thanks unto Thee, O Lord God of the Powers, Who hast accounted us worthy to stand even now before Thy holy altar, and to prostrate ourselves before Thy compassion for our sins and errors of the people. Accept our supplications, O God; make us worthy to offer unto Thee prayers and supplications, and bloodless sacrifices for all Thy people. And enable us, by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, to call upon Thee at all times and in every place; that hearing us, Thou mayest show mercy upon us according to the multitude of Thy goodness.

Help us, save us have mercy upon us and protect us, O god, by Thy grace.

Lord, have mercy.

For unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Monday, October 26, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE WORLD

“Blessing”

May the Lord grant you to see where you are
lacking, that you might have everything; May He
grant you a vision of your poverty, that you might
be rich beyond measure. May He show you that you
are destitute so that you may be filled with fullness
of His supply. Amen

Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:8

Sunday, October 25, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE BODY

“Preparation”

To participate in the Lord’s Supper you will need a piece of bread and a small cup of juice or wine.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 says, “Therefore, whoever eats and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Apostle Paul’s threefold instruction in preparing for the Lord’s supper includes:

1)Warning against coming to the Lord’s Supper in a irreverent and sinful way.

2)Undergoing self-examination before partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

3)Understanding the true nature and purpose of the Lord’s supper.

The Great Thanksgiving

"Prayer"

The Lord is with us.
And with his spirit.
We lift up our hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right for us so to do.

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should
at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
holy Father, almighty, everlasting God.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the
company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious
Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

All glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for
that thou, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus
Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who
made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full,
perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for
the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy
Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that
his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again.

For in the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread;
and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his
disciples, saying, “Take, eat, this is my Body, which is given for
you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, after supper, he took the cup; and when he had
given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of this;
for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for
you, and for many, for the remission of sins. Do this, as oft as
ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the
institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
we, thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here before
thy divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we now
offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to
make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious
death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable
benefits procured unto us by the same.

And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to
hear us; and, of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless
and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts
and creatures of bread and wine; that we, receiving them
according to thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution,
in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers
of his most blessed Body and Blood.

And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to
accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most
humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and
death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood,
we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our
sins, and all other benefits of his passion.

And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves,
our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living
sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee that we, and all
others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may
worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son
Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction,
and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and
we in him.

And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins,
to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept
this our bounden duty and service, not weighing our merits,
but pardoning our offenses, through Jesus Christ our Lord;

By whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world
without end. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold
to say,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

"The Breaking of the Bread"

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
grant us thy peace.

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful
Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold
and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather
up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord
whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore,
gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ,
and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him,
and he in us. Amen.

"The Gifts of God for the People of God"

We take them in remembrance that Christ died for
us, and we feed on him in our hearts by faith,
with thanksgiving.

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for us,
preserve our body and soul unto everlasting life. We take and eat
this in remembrance that Christ died for us, and we feed on
him in our heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for us,
preserve our body and soul unto everlasting life. We drink this in
remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for us, and we are thankful.

“Prayer”

Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee
for that thou dost feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the
spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy
Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of
thy favor and goodness towards us; and that we are very
members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the
blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs,
through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom. And we humbly
beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy
grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do
all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end.
Amen.

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep
our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of
God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be
amongst us, and remain with us always. Amen.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE WORD

"HEARING & LIVING"

TEXT MATTHEW 7 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=matthew7&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE

“Judging & Discerning”

Jesus tells his believers that if they go around self-righteously judging others, they will be judged by God and He will use the same standards on them as they use when they self-righteously judging others.

Jesus asks his believers if it makes sense to judge their neighbor for something they are doing wrong when unknowingly or unconsciously they themselves are doing a similar wrong thing but to an even greater degree. He tells his believes that they can’t go around saying to some one something like, you are sinning by your adulterous relationship, when they are struggling greatly with the sin of lust themselves. He tells them to do so turns them into hypocrites and that before trying to help someone with a sin they are struggling with, they need to learn that the sin they see in the other person helps them to become aware of their own sin so they can first do something about so they can then help their neighbor with their sin.

Jesus then warns his believers to discern who they share the sacred and precious news of the kingdom with because if they share it indiscriminately, those who are cruel and evil may end up turning on and doing them great harm.

“Ask, Seek, Knock 4 Gold”

Jesus tells his believers if they ask His Father, He will provide for them; if they seek His Father, they will find Him; and if they knock, the door to the kingdom of heaven will be opened by his Father. He tells them that everyone who asks, His Father receives; everyone who seeks His Father, finds Him; and everyone who knocks on the door to the kingdom of heaven, will have it opened for them by His Father.
Jesus contrasts for his believers earthly fathers, who despite being sinful beings, never deceive their children by giving them stones or snakes when asked for bread or fish; with their Father in heaven, who because He is holy will most certainly give good gifts to those who ask Him for them.
So in giving to others like their heavenly Father does, Jesus tells his believers that in everything they do they are to do things for others as they would like others to do things for them and that this way of treating one another summarizes what the Law and the Prophets say.

“Narrow vs Wide

Jesus tells his believers they must enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate by following the narrow road that leads to it that only a few people find, in contrast to the broad road that leads many people to the wide gate of destruction.

“False Prophets & Messiah”

Jesus goes on to tell his believers to watch out for false prophets who can lead them down the broad road to destruction. He describes them as disguising themselves as shepherds, making themselves appear as if they are looking out for the welfare of the flock, while in reality they are evil wolves whose only interest is in leading the members of the flock astray one by one so they can devour them with the goal of destroying the entire flock. Jesus tells his believers these false prophets can be identified by what their ministry produces. He tells them that the ministries of false prophets produce nothing of value for the kingdom of heaven; they are like thornbushes or thistles trying to bear grapes or figs – something that’s just not going to happen – such that eventually, like nonproductive trees, they will be cut down and destroyed.

Jesus goes on to tell his believers that not all who call on him as “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, that only those who do the will of his Father will enter. He tells them that in addition to calling him “Lord” many people will tell him on the day of Judgment that they prophesied, cast out demons, and performed many miracles in his name, but he will them “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” because although they called on him as an earthly Lord and did all of these things in his name as Messiah, they never did his Father’s will which was to fully believe he was the Christ, the Son of the Living God and have faith in what he had done.

“Foundational Authority”

Jesus ends his words to his believers on the mountainside by telling them that whoever hears his words and lives them out is like a wise man who built his house on a foundation of rock so that it is able to withstand bad weather when it comes in contrast to a foolish man, who having built his house on sand, loses it when it crashes down during a storm.
Having finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at Jesus’ teaching because of its inherent authority, being used to the authority the teachers of law had because of their academic positions.

PRINCIPLES

1. The Gospel Writer, Matthew, told his First Century audience that Jesus told
his believers that hearing and living out his word produces a firm
foundation for life.

2. What did Matthew say that Jesus told his believers a firm foundation for
living does?

3. What does Jesus tell us as believers today a firm foundation for living does?

4. A firm foundation for living helps us to:

- not self-righteously judge our neighbor

- discern who we share the Good News of the kingdom with

- go to the Father in prayer

- treat others as we would like them to treat us

- know there is a narrow path to the kingdom

- know there are false prophets who lead down a wide path to destruction

- be able to identify the ministries of false prophets

- know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God

- know that Jesus’ authority was from above

PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You and give You praise for Your Son’s words to us from the mountainside.

Our Father, we thank Your Son for fulfilling the word of the Law through these words and by what he did for us.

Our Father, forgive us when we self-righteously judge our neighbor, forgive us when we do not treat our neighbor as we would like them to treat us, forgive us when we do not come to you in prayer as you call us to.

Our Father, help us to discern those who would turn on and harm us for sharing the Good News of your Kingdom and to be able to identify the fruitless ministries of false prophets in this world that can lead us and others down the wide road to destruction.

Our Father, help us to know with certainty in our hearts that Jesus is the Christ, and Your Son , for You are the Living God; and help us to know with certainty in our hearts that Jesus is both our Lord and Savior so that we will have no worry about which road we’ve been on or what gate we are at on the Day of Judgment .

Our Father, we thank you for the authority from above Jesus had when he was on earth and we thank You for the authority of Your Holy Word.
And, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we raise this prayer to You today.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Friday, October 23, 2009

WORSHIP THRU PRAYER

Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Forsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God.
Forsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God.
Make haste to help me,
O Lord of my salvation.
Be not far from me, O my God.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
Forsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God. In Jesus Name. Amen

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
For ever and ever. Amen

Thursday, October 22, 2009

WORSHIP THRU CREED

THE ATHANASIAN CREED

Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic faith.

Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally.

Now this is the catholic faith: We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.

For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another.

But the deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty.

What the Father is, the Son is, and so is the Holy Spirit.

Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit.

The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite.

Eternal is the Father; eternal is the Son; eternal is the Spirit: And yet there are not three eternal beings, but one who is eternal; as there are not three uncreated and unlimited beings, but one who is uncreated and unlimited.

Almighty is the Father; almighty is the Son; almighty is the Spirit: And yet there are not three almighty beings, but one who is almighty.

Thus the Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God: And yet there are not three gods, but one God.

Thus the Father is Lord; the Son is Lord; the Holy Spirit is Lord: And yet there are not three lords, but one Lord.

As Christian truth compels us to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords.

The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten; the Son was neither made nor created, but was alone begotten of the Father; the Spirit was neither made nor created, but is proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Thus there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three spirits.

And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than the other; but all three persons are in themselves, coeternal and coequal; and so we must worship the Trinity in unity and the one God in three persons.

Whoever wants to be saved should think thus about the Trinity.

It is necessary for eternal salvation that one also faithfully believe that our Lord Jesus Christ became flesh.

For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man.

He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother -- existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body; equal to the Father in divinity, subordinate to the Father in humanity.

Although he is God and man, he is not divided, but is one Christ.

He is united because God has taken humanity into himself; he does not transform deity into humanity.

He is completely one in the unity of his person, without confusing his natures.

For as the rational soul and body are one person, so the one Christ is God and man.

He suffered death for our salvation. He descended into hell and rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

At his coming all people shall rise bodily to give an account of their own deeds.

Those who have done good will enter eternal life, those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.

This is the catholic faith.

One cannot be saved without believing this firmly and faithfully.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

WORSHIP THRU PRAISE

Ask, Seek, Knock
Scott Hutchinson
Psalms & Songs

Click on "Play full song here" within music box to Hear Entire Song

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK - SCOTT HUTCHINSON

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

WORSHIP THRU CONFESSION

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Glory be to God on high.
And in earth peace towards men of good will.
I praise thee.
I bless thee.
I worship thee.
I glorify thee.
I give thanks to thee for thy great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly King
God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive my prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right of the Father, have mercy upon me.
For thou only art Holy. Thou only art the Lord. Thou only art the Most High.
Thou only, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art Most High in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Time for Silent Reflection and Confession

O God, I come to celebrate that your Spirit is alive and
present all around me and within me. Forgive me when I
ignore its life and power. You bring me hope for today and
tomorrow. Forgive me for dwelling on mistakes of the past.
You love each one with passion and special fondness. Forgive
me for believing I am not good enough to deserve your favor.
Help me to live more fully in the joy of Jesus Christ my Lord
Savior. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon me.

Christ, have mercy upon me.

Lord, have mercy upon me.

“Forgiveness”

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon you, has given his only Son to die for you, and for his sake forgives you all your sins. To whoever believes in Jesus Christ, he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.
Amen

“The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. For ever and ever. Amen

Monday, October 19, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE WORLD

“Blessing”

May our Lord who has laid up for you a hope in
heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy,

Keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture References: Colossians 1:5; Matthew 6:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 1:8

Sunday, October 18, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE BODY

Saturday, October 17, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE WORD

"SEEK 1ST"

TEXT Matthew 6 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=matthew6&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE

“Hypocrisy 1”

Regarding good works, such as giving to those in need, Jesus tells his believers not to show off by giving to those in need and then announce their generosity to impress others so they will think highly of them, but instead to give to those in need in a way that even they barely know what they have given because their giving flows from obedience to God and compassion for people. Jesus tells his believers those who give for the honor of men are hypocrites and receive no further honor while those who give out of obedience to God and compassion for people will be rewarded by Him.

“Hypocrisy 2”

Regarding prayer, Jesus tells his believers not to pray standing in the synagogues or on street corners as if they are on some stage giving a performance or like the pagans who repeat incantations over and over as if God weren’t all knowing. Jesus tells his believers that those who pray like this are hypocrites in that they are looking for applause from humans while his believers are to pray privately and to his Father instead of using prayer to perform like this for humans.

Jesus tells his believers they should pray like this:

Father in Heaven, Your name is Holy,

I pray that Your Kingdom and Your Will
be accomplished here on earth as in Heaven.

Provide us today what we need to live.

We ask You to forgive us our sins just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

And protect us from pointless persecution,
but deliver us from Satan, the evil one.

Expounding on his prayer, Jesus tells his believers that if they forgive those who sin against them, their Father in heaven will forgive them as well, but if they don’t, their Father won’t forgive them their sins either.

“Hypocrisy 3”

Regarding fasting, Jesus tells his believers when they fast not to show people how much they are suffering by looking so somber and ill, but instead to freshen up by washing their face and by putting oil on their head so no one can tell whether they are fasting or not. Jesus tells them those who make a show of their fasting are hypocrites who receive their full reward from impressing those around them while those who don’t make a show of their fasting honor God by what they are doing and will be rewarded by him.

“Heart & Soul”

Jesus then tells his believers the difference between storing up earthly treasure and heavenly treasure. He says earthly treasures don’t last because moths or rust will decay and destroy them or thieves will break in and take them. However, he says heavenly treasures can’t be destroyed or stolen. Jesus tells his believers if they build up treasure on earth that is where their heart will be, but if they build up treasure in heaven this is where their heart will be.

Jesus tells them their eyes serve as a lamp for their body in that their eyes let light shine inside deep down to their soul. However, he tells them if their eyes don't let light in, their body is dark throughout deep down to their soul and they are living in so much darkness they don't even know it.

Jesus tells his believers that they can’t serve two masters because no matter how much they try they will end up hating and despising one of them and loving and devoting themselves to the other - they can’t serve both God and Money.

“Prolong & Provide”

Jesus tells his believers that God wouldn't give them such great gifts as life and a body and then neglect to provide for their needs when it come to eating, drinking, or clothing. Jesus tells them they can trust in God to provide for them by describing how God takes care of feeding the birds of the air and clothing the fields with lillies even though they are of less importance to Him than people are. Jesus tells his believers that His Father knows what they need so they shouldn’t go around lacking faith and acting the same way as those who don’t believe in God do, worried about what they will eat, drink, or wear. He tells them instead of worrying (something that doesn’t prolong their life), they should instead pursue God’s kingdom and righteousness so that their heart will be right and their soul will be full of light and as a result of this all their physical needs will be met as well. Jesus tells them to stop worrying about tomorrow and to live one day at a time by the grace of God because there are enough issues to deal with in the day at hand for them to be getting ahead of themselves and trying to play out in their minds what might never happen anyway the next day.

PRINCIPLES

1. The Gospel Writer, Matthew, tells his first century audience (and us today) what Jesus told his believers the consequences of a lost heart and dark soul were.

2. What did Jesus tell his believers the consequences of a lost heart and a dark soul were?

3. What does Jesus tell us today the consequences of a lost heart and a dark soul are?

A. Hypocrisy in

(1) Giving

(2) Praying

(3) Fasting

B. Earthly Treasures that

(1) Rot

(2) Get Robbed

(3) Enslave

C. Worries about

(1) Life

(2) Provisions

(3) Tomorrow

PRAYER

Our Father, We praise You for Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness.

Our Father, We praise You that heavenly treasures do not rot, can not be stolen, and are eternal.

Our Father, We praise You that Your Son is the Light of the world who shines into our soul taking away the darkness that otherwise naturally exists.

Our Father, Forgive us when we give, pray, or fast for any reason other than Your honor and glory. Search our hearts and remove all hypocrisy that exists. Cleanse our hearts of all mixed motives and falsehood so that what we do will be in Your Holy Name and not for human attention and praise.

Our Father, We ask that we would be strengthened by Your Holy Spirit so that we would seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness so that we would not lead lives of worry. We ask that we would grow in faith so that we would trust in Your provision and not act as if You did not exist or did not care about us.

Our Father, We ask that our eyes would shine so that others would see You and that You exist and come to know You so well that they too do not need to worry about their life or about tomorrow.

Our Father, we pray all of this in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Friday, October 16, 2009

WORSHIP THRU PRAYER

"A Prayer of St. Basil the Great"

We bless thee, O God most high and Lord of mercies, who ever workest great and mysterious deeds for us, glorious, wonderful and numberless; who providest us with sleep as a rest from our infirmities and as a repose for our bodies tired by labor. We thank thee that thou hast not destroyed us in our transgressions, but in thy love toward mankind thou hast raised us up, as we lay in despair, that we may glorify thy Majesty. We entreat thine infinite goodness, enlighten the eyes of our understanding and raise up our minds from the heavy sleep of indolence; open our mouths and fill them with thy praise, that we may unceasingly sing and confess thee, who art God glorified in all and by all, the eternal Father, the Only-Begotten Son, and the all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

“Prayer for Peace”

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

--St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

“The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
For ever and ever. Amen

Thursday, October 15, 2009

WORSHIP THRU CREED

Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by he Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WORSHIP THRU PRAISE

The Lords Prayer - John Michael Talbot

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

WORSHIP THRU CONFESSION

“Confession”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

I humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look
upon my infirmities; and, for the glory of thy Name,
turn from all those evils that I most justly have
deserved; and that in all my troubles I may put my
whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore
serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy
honor and glory; through my only Mediator and Advocate,
Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

-time for self examination-

Merciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to
you. I humbly confess my sins and ask your mercy. I
have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have I loved my
neighbor as myself. I have not done justice, loved
kindness, or walked humbly with you, my God. Have mercy
on me, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great
compassion, cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean
heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast
me from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with
your bountiful Spirit. Amen.

Son of God, I beseech thee to hear me. .

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon me.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon me.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Grant me thy peace.

O Christ, hear me.
O Christ, hear me.

Lord, have mercy upon me.
Christ, have mercy upon me.
Lord, have mercy upon me.

“Forgiveness”

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon you, has given his only Son to die for you, and for his sake forgives you all your sins. To whoever believes in Jesus Christ, he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.
Amen

“The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. For ever and ever. Amen

Monday, October 12, 2009

WORSHIP THRU THE WORLD

“Blessing”

Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1st Thessalonians 5:13-18

Sunday, October 11, 2009

SUNDAY - WORSHIP THRU HIS BODY

Saturday, October 10, 2009

SATURDAY – WORSHIP THRU THE WORD

TEXT MATTHEW 5 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=Matthew 5&niv=yes

"HOW TO LIVE"

PARAPHRASE

“Live This Way”

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up a mountainside and when those beleiving in him came to him he began teaching them using words of blessing;

Blessed are those who have lost their spirit because through their dependence (on the Messiah) they will gain God's kingdom where the last are first.

Blessed are those who are weeping for sins because they will be comforted (by the Messiah).

Blessed are the those who are gentle and self-controled because they will enter the Promised Land - the new heaven and the new earth.

Blessed are those who desire the righteousness and justice of God because they will be filled with it when the kingdom is consumated.

Blessed are those who are merciful to those who are guilty, suffering, and in need because they too will receive mercy from God.

Blessed are those whose hearts have been purified of sin because this makes them fully devoted to the Messiah and able to see God through the eyes of faith.

Blessed are those who make peace because in reflecting God through their acts of reconciliation they will be called His sons.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for their obedience to God because they, like those who have lost their spirit, will gain His kingdom.

Blessed are those who have false things said about them, those who are persecuted, and those who have many false things said about them because of Jesus. Such people can rejoice and be happy in spite of being treated in this way because their reward is ultimately in heaven – their treatment in this world will be like that of the prophets who came before them but who are now rejoicing in heaven.

“Preserve, Flavor, Reveal”

Jesus then told those who believed in him they are like the salt of the earth and the light of the world. And as salt, a preservative and flavoring for food, if they lose their saltiness, they lose their ability to preserve and flavor the world from moral decay as representatives of God’s Kingdom and therefore they are no longer good for anything. Being the light of the world by exposing sin's darkness and witnessing God's kingdom through their acts of comfort, mercy and peace will cause others to praise God in heaven - something that will not occur if they withdraw from the world and hide their light.

“Fulfill & Accomplish”

Jesus goes on to say he did not come to get rid of the Books of the Law or the Prophets but instead to fulfill what they say about him. Furthermore, he says that nothing of the Books of the Law and the Prophets will disappear until everything is accomplished prior to the end of times and that anyone who breaks the least of the commandments and teaches others to do so will be considered the least in the kingdom of God in contrast to those who obey and teach these commands who will be considered great in the kingdom of God. Jesus then warns those who believe in him that unless their righteousness is on a higher level than that of the religious leaders, i.e. their righteousness makes them the salt and light of the world, they too will be left out of the kingdom of God.

“Murderous Heart”

Jesus then begins fulfilling the Law starting with the commandment ‘Do not murder,’ by saying that since anger in the heart underlies murder if those following him are angry with someone in their heart they are subject to judgment in the same way a murderer is. He says that if in their anger they insult someone by calling them “empty headed” they must go before their religious leaders to give account of their sin and if out of anger they call someone a “fool” they are in danger of the fire of hell.

Jesus tells them there are two ways of reconciling their anger depending on whether they are angry with a fellow believer or with an adversary. With a believer, if they are in the process of offering a gift to God and remember a fellow believer has something against them, they are to leave their gift and go and reconcile with their fellow believer and then return to offer their gift to God. With an adversary, they are to settle matters quickly (during all the pretrial proceedings) if they are being taken to court because otherwise at the trial the Judge may rule against them and they will end up being handed over to an officer who will take them off to prison.

“Adulterous Eye”

In continuing to fulfill the Law, Jesus says something similar about adultery, that anyone who looks at a women lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And, using hyperbole to promote the need to radically deal with sin, he tells those who beleive in him that if their right eye (that feeds their imagination) or right hand causes them to sin, cut it out or off because it is better to lose a part of their body than to sin because of it and then for their entire body to end up in hell.

“Exceptional Divorce”

About the sanctity of marriage, Jesus tells his disciples that although Moses said anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce, as the Messiah who fulfills the Law, he says that anyone who divorces his wife, except if she has been unfaithful to him, causes her and anyone who marries her to commit adultery.

“I Say Yes ”

Referring to a statement on keeping the oaths you have made to the Lord from Leviticus, Jesus provides further fulfillment of the law by telling those who believe in him that it is better not to swear by or make any oaths at all - either in the name of heaven (God’s throne) or in the name of Jerusalem (God’s footstool) – or by their own head, because all oaths are really oaths in God’s name and it is better to just be truthful by letting their yes really mean yes and their no really mean no because if it doesn’t, their lack of truth reveals the work of the devil in their lives.

“Respond Paradoxically”

Jesus quotes to his disciples from the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy where it instructs on justice being provided by returning injury for injury. He then fulfills these Scriptures for those who believe in him by telling them not to resist an evil person, instructing them how to respond paradoxically to evil by turning their left check towards the one who strikes them on their right cheek, by giving their cloak to the one who sues them for their tunic, and by going two miles with the one who forces them to go one mile – confronting their evil in these "non-eye-for-an-eye-ways". Jesus also tells those who believe in him to give to those who ask them and to loan to the those who ask to borrow from them.

“Perfect Love”

Jesus tells those who beleive in him that although they have read in Leviticus they are to love their neighbor, they know their culture preaches they are to hate their enemies. However, he tells them in fulfillment of this that they are to love their enemies, especially those who persecute them, because even their persecutors are their neighbors. Jesus reminds those who believe in him that God provides sunshine and rain for both the righteous and unrighteous, the good and the evil. Jesus also reminds them that loving and greeting only those who love and greet them comes so natural that even the tax collectors and pagans do these things. He tells them that their love for people needs to be on a higher level, they need to be the salt and light in the world based on the righteousness of God, their purification from sin, and the compassion, mercy, and peace they have for others – perfected in their heavenly Father.

PRINCIPLES

1. Matthew told his first century readers that while sitting on a mountainside, Jesus taught those who believed in him how they should live.

2. What did Jesus tell those who believed in him 2000 years ago how they should live?

3. What does Jesus tell those who beleive in him today how they should live?

-Jesus says we are to live the blessed way not the cursed way.

-Jesus says we are to live as salt and light in the world not as good for nothing flames hidden under bowls.

-Jesus says we are to live resolving the anger in our heart not with perpetual murderous rage in our hearts.

-Jesus says we are to live cleansing lust from our mind not with adulterous eyes.

-Jesus says we are to live commited to the sanctity of marriage rather than to frivolous divorce.

-Jesus says we are to live speaking the truth not trying to hide behind the oaths we swear.

-Jesus says we are to live responding paradoxically to evil rather than by fighting it.

-Jesus says we are to live loving our enemies who persecute us not by hating them.

PRAYER

Our Father, We give You praise for Your Son’s teaching on the Blessed way to live. We ask Your forgiveness for how short we fall in living this way and we ask that Your Holy Spirit would renew us each day by cleansing us from our sin and would continue to help us grow in Your righteousness so that as Your sons and daughters we can be agents of compassion, mercy and peace in this world.

Our Father, We give You praise that as Your Son’s disciples we are the salt and light of this world. We pray that Your Holy Spirit would strengthen our faith so that our lives will both preserve and shine Your righteousness in this world so that others will come to know You, praise Your Holy Name and enter into Your kingdom.
Our Father, We ask as Your Son’s disciples that when angered, we will not sin, but instead will resolve the anger in our hearts as He instructed – through reconciliation and settlement rather than through insult and damnation.

Our Father, We ask as Your Son’s disciples that we will fight the temptation to feed our imagination with lust as Your Son fought His temptations by the devil in the desert through Your powerful Word. You have told us that when we are tempted you will provide a way out so that we can stand up under it and we ask You help us to prepare our minds with Your Word so that we have an answer for any temptation that seizes us.

Our Father, We praise You for the sanctity of marriage, for two becoming one flesh, and we ask that Your Holy Spirit would protect our marriages and the marriages of others. We ask that past life issues be recognized for what they are and identified when they are infiltrating, being acted out and contaminating the marital relationship and bond. We ask that the deep pains associated with past life issues - the scars they have left behind and the impact these pains and scars can then have on one’s marriage – be healed through Your Power and Love at the deepest levels possible in our lives so that we can be set free of these chains that bind us and which make it seem as if life would be better with someone else.

Our Father, We praise You for being Truth and Your Son for being the Way the Truth and the Life. And, we ask that we would speak the truth instead of trying to cover it up by throwing people off by swearing oaths in an attempt to unnecessarily try to protect ourselves from something we think will make us look bad, will impact our self-worth and diminish our dignity as a human being. You know that we end up thinking these ways because of our distorted view of ourselves based on our concluding certain events in our life mean something (usually bad) about who we are and based on our not fully embracing your creation of us in Your image and Your Son’s dying for us on the Cross as the foundation of our value and worth as a person. We ask that You free us of the distorted conclusions we have made about ourselves and that you transform our thinking so that we fully embrace Your Love for us as the foundation of our value and worth as a person – a Love that never changes and never ends.

Our Father, We ask that Your Holy Spirit give us the courage to respond to evil in a paradoxical way – by giving someone who is evil more than they are demanding and thus making them confront what they are really doing by turning the tables on them so they are no longer in the position of power and control. Keep us from returning evil with evil and from trying to resist and fight evil in our own way.

Our Father, We ask Your Holy Spirit to supernaturally strengthen us so that we can go beyond our natural ability to love and greet those who love and greet us, so that we are able to love and greet our enemies who persecute us. We ask that we are able to grow in Your righteousness as disciples of Your Son so that we become compassionate, merciful and peacemakers to all in this world regardless whether they love and greet us or not because we know You have perfect love, perfect compassion, perfect mercy, and perfect peace as our perfect Father in Heaven.

Our Father, We pray all of this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, AMEN.

Friday, October 9, 2009

FRIDAY – WORSHIP THRU PRAYER

"The Serenity Prayer"

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

“The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. For ever and ever. Amen

Thursday, October 8, 2009

THURSDAY - WORSHIP THRU CREED

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
The Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
The only Son of God,
Eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
In accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen

WEDNESDAY - WORSHIP THRU PRAISE

Beatitudes - The Scripture Band

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

TUESDAY – WORSHIP THRU CONFESSION

“Confession”*

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

If I say I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me. But if I confess my sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

-time for self examination-

Most merciful God, I confess that I am in bondage to sin and cannot free myself. I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Forgive me, renew me, and lead me, so that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen

“Forgiveness”

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon you, has given his only Son to die for you, and for his sake forgives you all your sins. To whoever believes in Jesus Christ, he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. Amen

“The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. For ever and ever. Amen

*modifed from the Lutheran Book of Worship

Monday, October 5, 2009

MONDAY – WORSHIP THRU THE WORLD

“Blessing”

And now may He grace you with his presence,
So that the weak might say, ‘I am strong’,
And the poor will say, ‘I am rich’,
And the feeble will say, ‘I am upheld’.

Scripture References:
Joel 3:10; Isaiah 35:3; 2 Corinthians 6:10