After Pentecost | Friday 21 Jul 2023: Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Ezekiel 39:21-29; Hebrews 6:13-20 ~ Jesus is our souls’ anchor

After Pentecost | Friday 21 Jul 2023

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and, that we may receive what we ask,
teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask
only those things that are pleasing to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the same Spirit
lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

This hope in Jesus
(our eternal High Priest)
is a strong and trustworthy anchor
for our souls.
(Hebrews 6:19)

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From Psalms: Psalm 139 – “Far Too Wonderful” – by Shane & Shane

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OT Reading: Ezekiel 39:21-29 (NLT)

39:21 “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike. And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile—it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them. I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins.

Restoration for God’s People

39:25 “So now, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation! They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them. When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see. Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

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Zion | Aaron Shust

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NT Reading: Hebrews 6:13-20 (NLT)

God’s Promises Bring Hope

6:13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

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My Hope is Built on Nothing Less | Songs and Everlasting Joy

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

After Pentecost | Thursday 20 Jul 2023: Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Isaiah 44:1-5; Hebrews 2:1-9 ~ Jesus died for everyone

After Pentecost | Thursday 20 Jul 2023

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

“Yes, by God’s grace,
Jesus tasted death for everyone.”
(Hebrews 2:9c)

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From Psalms: Psalm 139:1-12 – Nothing Hidden | Bushfire Ministries

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OT Reading: Isaiah 44:1-5 (NLT)

44:1 “But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen one.
The Lord who made you and helps you says:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
O dear Israel, my chosen one.
For I will pour out water to quench your thirst
and to irrigate your parched fields.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants,
and my blessing on your children.
They will thrive like watered grass,
like willows on a riverbank.
Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord.’
Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’
Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands
and will take the name of Israel as their own.”

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I Belong to Jesus | Brooke Ligertwood

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NT Reading: Hebrews 2:1-9 (NLT)

A Warning against Drifting Away

2:1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Jesus, the Man

2:5 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. For in one place the Scriptures say,

“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
or a son of man that you should care for him?
Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them authority over all things.”

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

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Draw Me Nearer | Songs and Everlasting Joy

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

After Pentecost | Wednesday 19 Jul 2023: Psalm 142; Obadiah 15-21; Matthew 13:10-17 ~ learn from Jesus’ teaching

After Pentecost | Wednesday 19 Jul 2023

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Jesus: To those who listen to my teaching,
more understanding will be given,
and they will have an abundance of knowledge.
(Matthew 13:12)

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From Psalms: Psalm 142 – Dale Larson Music

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OT Reading: Obadiah 15-21 (NLT)

Edom Destroyed, Israel Restored

15 “The day is near when I, the Lord,
will judge all godless nations!
As you have done to Israel,
so it will be done to you.
All your evil deeds
will fall back on your own heads.
Just as you swallowed up my people
on my holy mountain,
so you and the surrounding nations
will swallow the punishment I pour out on you.
Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger
and disappear from history.

“But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape;
it will be a holy place.
And the people of Israel will come back
to reclaim their inheritance.
The people of Israel will be a raging fire,
and Edom a field of dry stubble.
The descendants of Joseph will be a flame
roaring across the field, devouring everything.
There will be no survivors in Edom.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

“Then my people living in the Negev
will occupy the mountains of Edom.
Those living in the foothills of Judah
will possess the Philistine plains
and take over the fields of Ephraim and Samaria.
And the people of Benjamin
will occupy the land of Gilead.
The exiles of Israel will return to their land
and occupy the Phoenician coast as far north as Zarephath.
The captives from Jerusalem exiled in the north
will return home and resettle the towns of the Negev.
Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem
to rule over the mountains of Edom.
And the Lord himself will be king!”

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Salvation is Your Name ~ Joshua Aaron (feat. Mike Weaver)

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NT Reading: Matthew 13:10-17 (NLT)

13:10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

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Open My Eyes That I May See | Songs and Everlasting Joy

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

After Pentecost | Tuesday 18 Jul 2023: Psalm 142; Jeremiah 49:7-11; Ephesians 4:17-5:2 ~ follow Jesus’ example

After Pentecost | Tuesday 18 Jul 2023

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Imitate God, therefore,
in everything you do,
because you are his dear children.
(Ephesians 5:1)

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From Psalms: Psalm 142 – Poor Bishop Hooper

i cry to the lord with my voice i cry out
i plead to the lord for mercy mercy
i pour out again my complaint before him
i tell him my troubles

when my spirit faints within me
you know my way you know my way
in my path where they’ve hid a trap for me
you know my way you know my way

i look to the right and see
there is no one who cares who takes notice of me
no refuge remains no one cares for my soul
so i cry out to you lord

when my spirit faints within me
you know my way you know my way
in my path where they’ve hid a trap for me
you know my way you know my way

i say you are my portion
in the land of life
won’t you come lord deliver me
would you hear my cry
bring me out of this prison
for the thanks i have to give
and the righteous will surround me
because of your goodness

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OT Reading: Jeremiah 49:7-11 (NLT)

Messages about Edom

49:7 This message was given concerning Edom. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:

“Is there no wisdom in Teman?
Is no one left to give wise counsel?
Turn and flee!
Hide in deep caves, you people of Dedan!
For when I bring disaster on Edom,
I will punish you, too!
Those who harvest grapes
always leave a few for the poor.
If thieves came at night,
they would not take everything.
But I will strip bare the land of Edom,
and there will be no place left to hide.
Its children, its brothers, and its neighbors
will all be destroyed,
and Edom itself will be no more.
But I will protect the orphans who remain among you.
Your widows, too, can depend on me for help.”

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Orphans of God – Avalon – Sarkis Kel Oghlanian

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NT Reading: Ephesians 4:17-5:2 (NLT)

Living as Children of Light

4:17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Living in the Light

5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

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Crazy People | Casting Crowns

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

After Pentecost | Monday 17 Jul 2023: Psalm 142; Micah 1:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ~ live holy and honorable lives

After Pentecost | Monday 17 Jul 2023

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

God has called us to live holy lives,
not impure lives.
(1 Thessalonians 4:7)

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From Psalms: Psalm 142 | Sandesh Manuel

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OT Reading: Micah 1:1-5 (NLT)

1:1 The Lord gave this message to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The visions he saw concerned both Samaria and Jerusalem.

Grief over Samaria and Jerusalem

1:2 Attention! Let all the people of the world listen!
Let the earth and everything in it hear.
The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you;
the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.
Look! The Lord is coming!
He leaves his throne in heaven
and tramples the heights of the earth.
The mountains melt beneath his feet
and flow into the valleys
like wax in a fire,
like water pouring down a hill.
And why is this happening?
Because of the rebellion of Israel—
yes, the sins of the whole nation.
Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion?
Samaria, its capital city!
Where is the center of idolatry in Judah?
In Jerusalem, its capital!

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Jerusalem of Gold/ Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (SHUVU ELAI/ RETURN TO ME) – ELIHANA ELIA | אליחנה אליה

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NT Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (NLT)

Live to Please God

4:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.