August 14, 2018

redeemer-PENTACOST-email.jpg

Season of Pentecost

As you enter into this Morning Prayer, remember that God is with you and ready to speak to you because he loves you. Enjoy the presence of your Lord and Savior. Pray as you are able: use the entire email or for a shorter time of prayer, be led through all five sections but focus on one element in each of the sections. 

- Calling - 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
 

- Confession - 

Prayer of Repentance
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Almighty and merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.
But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders.
Spare those, O God, who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,according to your promises
declared to the world in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
And grant, O merciful God, for his sake,
that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous and sober life,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

(Pause for a time of silent confession)


Words of Assurance - 1 Corinthians 6:11, 19-20
You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. 


The Invitation
(An invitation to praise God after confession and prior to the daily Psalm(s) and Lessons)

O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
                  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Alleluia. The earth is the Lord's for he made it: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.

 

- Constitution - 

Morning Psalm(s) - Psalm 97

    The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
        let the many coastlands be glad!
    Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
        before the Lord of all the earth.    
    
    The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!    
    
    Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O LORD.
    For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.    
    
    O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
        He preserves the lives of his saints;
        he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    Light is sown for the righteous,
        and joy for the upright in heart.
    Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!
 

Psalm 99

    The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
        He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
    The LORD is great in Zion;
        he is exalted over all the peoples.
    Let them praise your great and awesome name!
        Holy is he!
    The King in his might loves justice.
        You have established equity;
    you have executed justice
        and righteousness in Jacob.
    Exalt the LORD our God;
        worship at his footstool!
        Holy is he!    
    
    Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
        Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
        They called to the LORD, and he answered them.
    In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
        they kept his testimonies
        and the statute that he gave them.    
    
    O LORD our God, you answered them;
        you were a forgiving God to them,
        but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
    Exalt the LORD our God,
        and worship at his holy mountain;
        for the LORD our God is holy!

    
    Psalm 100
    A Psalm for giving thanks.

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
        Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!    
    
    Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.    
    
    Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!    
    
    For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.
 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
          as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen


Old Testament - Judges 13:1-15

And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Then Manoah prayed to the LORD and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?” And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.”


The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God


New Testament - Acts 5:27-42

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.


The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God


Slowly read one or more of the lessons again... did a word or phrase catch your eye or move your heart...meditate on it and pray your thoughts, desires, needs, and feelings.
 

A Song of Response - Revelation Song

Worthy is the Lamb
who was slain;
Holy, holy is He.
Sing a new song
to Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat.

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is
and is to come.
With all creation, I sing
praise to the King of kings;
You are my everything
and I will adore You.

Clothed in rainbows
of living color,
Flashes of lightning,
rolls of thunder.
Blessing and honor,
strength and glory
and power be To You,
the only wise King.

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is
and is to come.
With all creation, I sing
praise to the King of kings;
You are my everything
and I will adore You.

Filled with wonder,
awestruck wonder,
At the mention of Your name.
Jesus, Your name is power,
breath, and Living Water,
Such a marvelous mystery!


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
          as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
 

The 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 the Holy Spirit, 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

- Communion - 

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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petitions
Take this time to offer personal prayers.
Where have you seen the Lord faithfully at work this past week?
Where do you hope to see the Lord's help and healing this coming week?
What prayers can you offer for our church, neighborhood, nation, and world?


A Collect for the Thirteenth Week of Pentecost
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

- Commission - 

The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. We pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Blessing - Numbers 6:24-26
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

 

- Family Devotion- 

If you have children, below are two suggestions to help your family create a daily habit of prayer and Bible reading, meditation, and application. Use these suggestions as guides for your specific family situation and the ages of each of your children. Corporate times around the table (like breakfast or dinner) or during bedtime routines may be good times for your family.

Suggestion 1
For a family devotion follow the Calling - Commission flow: 

Calling - Remind your children that God loves them and is with them.                   

Cleansing - Together and/or individually pray your own prayer of repentance or use the corporate prayer of repentance. Remind them that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and rose from the dead, that their sins are forgiven and Jesus now reigns as their king.

Constitution - Read one or more of the appointed readings. Then ask them some follow up questions like: (Read) What does this passage say?  (Think) What does this passage mean? (Live) How does this passage apply to us today? In addition to an appointed reading, you can also read a children's Bible, like The Jesus Storybook Bible.   

Communion - Then pray thanksgivings & petitions and/or The Lord's Prayer. 

Commission - Close by saying the Blessing over your children.

Suggestion 2
For those families going through the 10-minute family devotional Old Story New, this week we are on WEEK 72, PAGES 502-508. 

Close your time with prayers of repentance, thanksgiving, petitions, and/or The Lord's Prayer.