January 9, 2022

START HERE: THE POWER OF PRAYER AND WORSHIP

January 09, 2022

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, at the end of the day, we have made someone mad or had some angry thoughts! Can anyone relate a recent experience that did not go as planned?

Last week, with the advent of a new year, we focused on beginning a new challenge of daily reading the Bible for 2022, just as we had done at the beginning—and again in the middle—of  2021, reading through the Bible in one year. This commitment, along with others, will enrich our walk with God, and yield new levels of spiritual growth. Today, we will look at the commitment of Prayer and Worship from the mission statement of our church, which goes hand in hand with the discipline of daily Bible reading. We will accomplish these through values that should undergird everything we do.

Focal Passage: Hebrews 4:14-16.

 

He has invited us in

  • Read Hebrews 4:14a. In the Old Testament, what were the duties of the High Priest? How was he different from other men in the tribe of Levi? Read Romans 3:23. Was he prone to sin? How was Jesus different from the other high priests who had officiated up until His crucifixion and ascension back to heaven?
  • Read Acts 4:12. What is a role that only Jesus qualifies for? Where is He now?
  • His role as our mediator involved three areas. Can anyone recall what they are? One was our protector. How does Jesus protect us? Read Philippians 4:19 and Matthew 6:31-32. How is He our provider? What does He provide?
  • Read Hebrews 2:17 and 1 John 2:2. What does propitiation mean? Did you deserve to have Him die for you when He paid the price for your sins?

 

He welcomes us as we are

  • Read Heb. 4:15. When was a time that we know Jesus was tempted? Did He ever sin? What are some times during His ministry that were probably very trying, yet He never sinned? How would we have handled antagonizers dogging our footsteps constantly?
  • Read Psalm 103:13-14. Does Jesus have any expectations for us that we cannot meet? Read Eph. 2:1-2. What were we like when Jesus called our name? Read John 1:12-13. If He had not called us just as we were, could we have ever gotten good enough to merit salvation? Why is this such a hard concept to grasp?
  • Read Heb. 5:2. How does the Bible say He deals with those who are going astray? Why? Read Rom. 2:4. What is it that leads us to repentance?

 

Take advantage of the invitation

  • Read Heb. 4:16 and Eph. 3:11-12. How does God want us to enter His presence? What do you envision when you realize God is sitting on a throne, in such majesty as we are not able to imagine? What are some hindrances you sometimes feel that prevent you from approaching Him boldly and in confidence? How do you rectify it (1 John 1:9)?
  • What does He promise us when we approach His throne? Why do we continue to need grace and mercy? What times of need could be examples?

 

Honor Him as a result

  • Read Colossians 3:22-23. What do these two verses mean to us, so that we are not filled with pride as we serve God? Why is everything we do an opportunity to honor God?
  • Read 1 Cor. 10:31. How can we put this into practice daily?

 

Close

Have you been to a wedding recently? If so, you listened to the vows that the bride and groom made, committing to be faithful to each other for the rest of their lives. Although we may not see our profession of faith as a vow to stay faithful and true to God, it is. We are committing our lives to Him, to obey and to love Him. There are several things we can learn from these verses.

Our first commitment should be to seek Him daily, both for our needs and our failings. Both 1 John 1:9 and James 4:17 give us rules to follow as we seek to serve Him—though we often fail. We also need to seek Him daily for opportunities to impact the lives of others. This is said in Luke 10:27 by Jesus, as He tells us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. With the current world in turmoil, above what most of us can ever remember, this is a very difficult thing to do! We know, even in the most difficult of times, that praying for those whom we do not like will gradually change our hearts, even though it may not change the “neighbor’s.”

We need to answer God’s call to be used no matter how difficult it may be. We must trust Him enough to know He will not only be with us every second of every day but will also give us whatever we need to fulfill the calling we know He has for us. Being willing, as Isaiah was in Is. 6:8, even though he felt he was not qualified. He saw himself as a man of unclean lips,  yet God cleansed him and turned him into one of the greatest prophets in Scripture. Lastly, we need to give Him the glory for every win. How many times are you complimented for something, and say thank you, rather than giving God the glory for the place, the time, the finances, and more? He is good! He is faithful, loving, and constantly watching over us. Nothing we can do will repay Him for what He has done for us,

 

 

 

/by