Sunday Review: 4/12/20
On Sunday, April 12, 2020, Serena Deloglos prayed a Prayer of Praise and Matthew Williams preached the message, “Psalm 16″ over live stream as part of our interim sermon series Fear Not. To listen to this message again, click here.
Prayer of Praise:
Our holy and gracious heavenly Father,
Oh, how we adore you. Your kindness is unfathomable, Your love endlessly deep. Today, of all days, we recognize the insurmountable greatness of Who You are. You are the Resurrected One. Who not only rolled away the stone, but also tore the curtain so that we would not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but One who walked for us the path of temptation without sinning.
Not only did You die, but You lived – You lived in human likeness, taking on the form of a servant, dwelling among us so that we could see the glory that you once shielded from Moses. And, not only did You rise from the grave, breaking the bonds of sin, removing the sting of death, but You are coming back! You have prepared a place for us to be with you forever and, until then, we sit at tables you have prepared for us in the presence of our enemies, We walk in Your light which overcomes all darkness. We lie down and sleep in peace, in full confidence of our beautiful inheritance. All because of Jesus.
Without the life, death, and resurrection of You, Jesus, this would not be our reality. We would be without help, hope, or healing. This morning, we confess the ways in which we operate with this sinful mindset, especially when we are alone or afraid. Forgive us for turning away from Your fullness of joy. Thank you for redeeming our life from such a pit of our own design. Thank you for Your Spirit, Your Word, Your promises, Your sacrifice, Your resurrection. It is all because of You, Jesus.
So we praise You today as a redeemed people. All around the globe this morning may Your Name be lifted high. Help us to glorify You in our suffering, our waiting, our celebrating. Because You drank the cup of God’s wrath on our behalf You Yourself are now our cup, our chosen portion. We will not be shaken. Receive our lives now as a sacrifice of praise. For from You and through You and to You are all things. To You be the glory forever.
Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What desires in your heart feel frustrated right now?
How have you responded over the past few weeks as the Lord has taken away things that you love?
Is your heart filled with joy for the resurrection, or do you spend more time focusing on having your best life now?
Have you asked God's forgiveness for desiring his physical and emotional blessings more than you have desired him?
If you have not placed your hope in Jesus as your Savior, what or who are you trusting in to save you?
Nothing else satisfies like Jesus does because nothing else loves you like Jesus does. How does this truth change the way you look at the uncertainties of the coming weeks?
If you are a believer, physical death does not have the final word over your life! Have you taken time this week to thank the Lord for making eternal life possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus?