Daily Prayer for April 8, 2021: WSC 4 (5)
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, you who are good and kind to your people, a God who is unlike the deaf idols of Israel, a God who hears and acts according to your perfect wisdom and knowledge. We thank you that you stand ready and able to help us with all of our needs. We bless your name because you have told us that you care for us. We are thankful that you have perfect wisdom and knowledge, that it is infinite and unchangeable. We thank you that you are pleased to grant it to your people as they ask for it. We know that your Word is full of wisdom, and you have been pleased to give us an entire book in which we can glean the never-changing precepts and principles of your own mind. Forgive us for too often acting on our own understanding instead of determining to seek your face and hear from you. Please help us, by your Spirit, to rely on your Word, which imparts perfect wisdom to us. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Daily Prayer for April 7, 2021: WSC 4 (4)
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our God in heaven, the majestic and holy one, we thank you for the great privilege we have of coming to the alone sovereign of heaven and earth. We are grateful that you are a God who never changes. Like God, you cannot lie, and as such, your promises for us are true and reliable. There is great comfort in knowing that as you speak to your people through your Word, we can rely on it and depend on it because the one who spoke those words will not suddenly change and do something else. Therefore, as we pray, we pray to a God that hears and acts according to all he has said. Your unchangeable nature should move us to rest on your though there are many times when we fret and worry. Forgive us, Father. Help us remember that you have made promises to us, and you will accomplish all of them according to your holy purposes. We pray these things in the name of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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The Morning Devotional: Prov. 8:34; 1 Pet. 2:1-2; Luke 8:18; WLC 160
The Morning Devotional for April 7, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part 7
32 “And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors. (Prov. 8:32-34, ESV)
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation (1 Pet. 2:1-2, ESV)
Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Luke 8:18, ESV)
WLC 160 What is required of those that hear the word preached?
It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, (Prov. 8:34) preparation, (1 Pet. 2:1–2, Luke 8:18) and prayer; (Ps. 119:18, Eph. 6:18–19) examine what they hear by the scriptures; (Acts 17:11) receive the truth with faith, (Heb. 4:2) love, (2 Thess. 2:10) meekness, (James 1:21) and readiness of mind, (Acts 17:11) as the word of God; (1 Thess. 2:13) meditate, (Luke 9:44, Heb. 2:1) and confer of it; (Luke 24:14, Deut. 6:6–7) hide it in their hearts, (Prov. 2:1, Ps. 119:11) and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. (Luke 8:15, James 1:25)
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Daily Prayer for April 6: WSC Q4 (3)
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our great and glorious God, we bless and praise your name today because you are the only true God, and there is no other. Your Word tells us what you are, and it reveals your nature to your creatures. We praise you for disclosing yourself to us though we are unworthy of your self-revelation. In your Word, we read of your infinite nature -- you are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Words fail to describe your infinitude adequately, and, as such, we struggle to explain it. You are from everlasting to everlasting, and your wisdom and power are without end. Because you are infinite, you know all things and hold all things in your hand. Therefore, we can trust you with every detail of our lives. Forgive us for forgetting about your infinite care and love for us. Forgive us for worrying about matters we cannot control. Grant to us a renewed understanding of your character and help us, by your Spirit, to lean wholly upon you. We pray these things with thanksgiving and confidence in our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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The Morning Devotional: 1 Cor. 9:19-22; Eph. 4:12; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for April 6, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part 7
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Eph. 4:12, ESV)
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.
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Daily Prayer for April 5, 2021
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it is a great wonder that you have determined to reveal yourself to helpless sinners. You have done so in creation. You have also done so clearly in your Word. You have declared that you are a Spirit and, therefore, it is a great sin to make any image or representation of you. Men, however, pervert your glory and all that you say about yourself by carving images and posting pictures that appear to depict you. The foolishness of our own hearts thinks that somehow we can capture your majesty, and we fall short each time. Forgive your church, O God, for such stupidity and violently breaking your command not to make any representation of the Godhead. Help us dwell on your beauty without these feeble aids and grant us a greater zeal to uphold your Word. We pray these things in the name of the Savior. Amen.
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The Morning Devotional: Acts 18:25; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for April 5, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part 6
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.
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Daily Prayer for April 4, 2021
Prayer: Our God in heaven, you who made us from the dust of the ground and breathed into us the breath of life and made us a living soul, we bless and praise you for your great work of creation. You placed our first parents in a perfect world made by your hands. They rebelled against you and plunged us all under the weight of misery and death. Yet, you promised them a redeemer who would come and shatter sin and the grave. Through his life of suffering and eventual agony on the cross and the glorious resurrection, he did exactly as you promised. Though we die, we do not fear death. Though we still suffer under the weight of sin, we know that there is the hope of the new heavens and the new earth. Through our redeemer's labor, all that was lost is being made new. Thank you, our Father, for your plan and purpose of saving a people for yourself. We long to be free of this life and to ever be with our risen Lord. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
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God's Plan for Corporate Worship
The subject of corporate worship is a significant one in the life of the believer. How one views corporate worship and how seriously one approaches it will be the Christian life baseline. The following podcast recommendation speaks to that issue as well as others.
NOTE: I can't entirely agree with everything the guest says, especially when he starts talking about items of systemic racism, social justice, etc. (which comprises about five minutes or less of the forty-minute episode). However, what he does say regarding corporate worship is very good and helpful.
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Worship Preparation for April 4, 2021
Call to Worship: Psalm 117
Confession of Faith: the Apostles’ Creed
Hymns and Psalter Selections:
Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Psalm: The LORD has Spoken to My Lord
Hymn: Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
Hymn: Jesus, Thank You
Sermon: John 20:1-23
Discussion Questions:
What is the “timestamp” of the events that occur in John 20:1-23?
What is the setting of this narrative? Who are the people involved?
What is the overall purpose of John in this narrative?
How does Jesus show kindness and care for the people, both individually and corporately?
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Worship Preparation for March 21, 2021
Call to Worship: Isaiah 40:1-2
Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism Q23-26
Hymns and Psalter Selections:
#99A The LORD God Reigns on High
#245 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
#219 O Worship the King
Sermon: Mark 3:22-30
Discussion Questions:
Who are the people that bring a charge against Christ? What is that charge?
Who is Beelzebul?
What does the accusation of the “theologians” in this passage teach you regarding the world today?
Jesus responds with a parable. What is a parable, and what is the parable Jesus employs in this passage?
What is the warning that Jesus offers? What is the unpardonable sin? Does that sin occur today? How?
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The Morning Devotional: 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-14; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for March 17, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part Five
I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, (1 Cor. 3:2, ESV).
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Heb. 5:12-14, ESV).
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