Month: February 2024

The Lenten Season | Saturday 24 Feb 2024: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:7-15; Mark 8:27-30 ~ “Who do you say I am?”

The Lenten Season | Saturday 24 Feb 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son
was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan:
Come quickly to help us
who are assaulted by many temptations,
and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us,
let each one find you mighty to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

[Jesus] asked [his disciples],
“But who do you say I am?”
(Mark 8:29)

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From Psalms: Psalm 22:25-31 – Dornoch Free Church

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OT Reading: Genesis 16:7-15 (GW)

16:7 The Messenger of the Lord found her by a spring in the desert, the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

She answered, “I’m running away from my owner Sarai.” The Messenger of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your owner, and place yourself under her authority.” The Messenger of the Lord also said to her, “I will give you many descendants. No one will be able to count them because there will be so many.” Then the Messenger of the Lord said to her,

“You are pregnant,
and you will give birth to a son.
You will name him Ishmael [God Hears],
because the Lord has heard your cry of distress.
He will be as free and wild as an untamed donkey.
He will fight with everyone, and everyone will fight with him.
He will have conflicts with all his relatives.”

Hagar named the Lord, who had been speaking to her, “You Are the God Who Watches Over Me.” She said, “This is the place where I watched ⌞the one⌟ who watches over me.” This is why the well is named Beer Lahai Roi [Well of the Living One Who Watches Over Me]. It is still there between Kadesh and Bered.

Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son. Abram named him Ishmael.

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Haarrnni Yeshu’a (Jesus set me free)….Arabic Christian Worship(Subtitles@CC) / strongtower27

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NT Reading: Mark 8:27-30 (GW)

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus

8:27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?”

They answered him, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”

He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah!”

He ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

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Jesus Messiah | CA Music

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church [especially in the Holy Land], that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.

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

The Lenten Season | Friday 23 Feb 2024: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:1-6; Romans 4:1-12 ~ Faith is the basis of God’s approval.

The Lenten Season | Friday 23 Feb 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son
was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan:
Come quickly to help us
who are assaulted by many temptations,
and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us,
let each one find you mighty to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

What does Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God,
and that faith was regarded as the basis
of Abraham’s approval by God.”
(Romans 4:3)

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From Psalms: Psalm 22:23-31 | All The Earth Shall Turn To God | Lectionary bible reading

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OT Reading: Genesis 16:1-6 (GW)

Abram and Hagar

16:1 Sarai, Abram’s wife, was not able to have children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Why don’t you sleep with my slave? Maybe I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed with Sarai.

After Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to be disrespectful to Sarai, her owner.

So Sarai complained to Abram, “I’m being treated unfairly! And it’s your fault! I know that I gave my slave to you, but now that she’s pregnant, she’s being disrespectful to me. May the Lord decide who is right—you or me.”

Abram answered Sarai, “Here, she’s your slave. Do what you like with her.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar so much that she ran away.

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The Blessing (Galilee Version) – Jew & Arab – Middle-Eastern Instrumental

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NT Reading: Romans 4:1-12 (GW)

We Have God’s Approval by Faith

4:1 What can we say that we have discovered about our ancestor Abraham? If Abraham had God’s approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.”

When people work, their pay is not regarded as a gift but something they have earned. However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval. David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,

“Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgiven
and whose sins are pardoned.
Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.”

Are only the circumcised people blessed, or are uncircumcised people blessed as well? We say, “Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of God’s approval.” How was his faith regarded as the basis of God’s approval? Was he circumcised or was he uncircumcised at that time? He had not been circumcised. Abraham’s faith was the basis of his approval by God while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as the basis of their approval by God. He is also the father of those who not only are circumcised but also are following in the footsteps of his faith. Our father Abraham had that faith before he was circumcised.

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By Faith we see the hand of God | Evangelical Movement of Wales

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church [especially in the Holy Land], that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.

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

The Lenten Season | Thursday 22 Feb 2024: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18; Romans 3:21-31 ~ God’s approval, contingent on belief in Jesus Christ.

The Lenten Season | Thursday 22 Feb 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son
was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan:
Come quickly to help us
who are assaulted by many temptations,
and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us,
let each one find you mighty to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Everyone who believes
has God’s approval
through faith in Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 3:22)

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From Psalms: Psalm 22:23-31 – Karel Suchy

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OT Reading: Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18 (GW)

The Lord’s Fourth Promise to Abram

15:1 Later the Lord spoke his word to Abram in a vision. He said,

“Abram, don’t be afraid.
I am your shield.
Your reward will be very great.”

Abram asked, “Almighty Lord, what will you give me? Since I’m going to die without children, Eliezer of Damascus will inherit my household. You have given me no children, so this member of my household will be my heir.”

Suddenly, the Lord spoke his word to Abram again. He said, “This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir.” He took Abram outside and said, “Now look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He also said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” Then Abram believed the Lord, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abram’s approval by the Lord….

15:12 As the sun was just about to set, a deep sleep—a dreadful, deep darkness—came over Abram.

God said to Abram, “You can know for sure that your descendants will live in a land that is not their own, where they will be slaves, and they will be oppressed for 400 years. But I will punish the nation they serve, and after that they will come out with many possessions. But you will die in peace and be buried at a very old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, because the sin of the Amorites will not have run its course until then.”

The sun had gone down, and it was dark. Suddenly a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between the animal pieces. At that time the Lord made a promise  to Abram. He said, “I will give this land to your descendants. This is the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.

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The Aliyah Song – Official Music Video – Benzion Klatzko | shiezoli

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NT Reading: Romans 3:21-31 (GW)

God Gives Us His Approval as a Gift

3:21 Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than the laws in the Scriptures. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ.

There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness  through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟. God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.

So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. We conclude that a person has God’s approval by faith, not by his own efforts.

Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of people who are not Jewish? Certainly, he is, since it is the same God who approves circumcised people by faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith.

Are we abolishing the laws in the Scriptures by this faith? That’s unthinkable! Rather, we are supporting these laws.

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Behold Our God – Sovereign Grace Music | Grace Bible Church – Adell

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church [especially in the Holy Land], that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.

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

The Lenten Season | Wednesday 21 Feb 2024: Psalm 77; Proverbs 30:1-9; Matthew 4:1-11 ~ “Go away, Satan!”

The Lenten Season | Wednesday 21 Feb 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son
was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan:
Come quickly to help us
who are assaulted by many temptations,
and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us,
let each one find you mighty to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan!
Scripture says,
‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”
(Matthew 4:10)

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From Psalms: Psalm 77 – Poor Bishop Hooper

i cry out to god oh yes i shout out
how i wish he’d listen
to me when i am deep in need i search
for him all the night long

i wake up at night with hands up high
but my soul is lonely
i think of my god and deeply long
i wish that he would help me

you kept my eyes shut my mouth was stuck
and i was left to thinking
of the years gone by my song at night
and i began to wonder

will the lord reject forever
will he never love again
has he forgotten to be gracious
has his promise come to the end

what god is so great
what god has displayed
his mighty arm to the children of the chosen promise

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OT Reading: Proverbs 30:1-9 (GW)

30:1 The words of Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur’s prophetic revelation.

Agur Speaks about God

[ TO GOD ]

This man’s declaration:
“I’m weary, O God.
I’m weary and worn out, O God.
I’m more ⌞like⌟ a dumb animal than a human being.
I don’t ⌞even⌟ have human understanding.
I haven’t learned wisdom.
I don’t have knowledge of the Holy One.

[ TO THE AUDIENCE ]

30:4 “Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in the palm of his hand?
Who has wrapped water in a garment?
Who has set up the earth from one end to the other?
What is his name or the name of his son?
Certainly, you must know!

“All of God’s word has proven to be true.
He is a shield to those who come to him for protection.
Do not add to his words,
or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.

A Prayer

[ TO GOD]

30:7 “I’ve asked you for two things.
Don’t keep them from me before I die:
Keep vanity and lies far away from me.
Don’t give me either poverty or riches.
Feed me ⌞only⌟ the food I need,
or I may feel satisfied and deny you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
or I may become poor and steal
and give the name of my God a bad reputation.

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A Shield About Me | Steffany Gretzinger

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NT Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 (GW)

The Temptation of Jesus

4:1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus did not eat anything for 40 days and 40 nights. At the end of that time, he was hungry.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’ ”

Then the devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump! Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “Again, Scripture says, ‘Never tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms in the world and their glory. The devil said to him, “I will give you all this if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”

Then the devil left him, and angels came to take care of him.

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Deliver Us from Evil – Eric Lee Brumley

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.

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

The Lenten Season | Tuesday 20 Feb 2024: Psalm 77; Job 5:8-27; 1 Peter 3:8-18a ~ Keep your conscience clear.

The Lenten Season | Tuesday 20 Feb 2024

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

Opening:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son
was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan:
Come quickly to help us
who are assaulted by many temptations,
and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us,
let each one find you mighty to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Keep your conscience clear.
Then those who treat
the good Christian life you live with contempt
will feel ashamed
that they have ridiculed you.”
(1 Peter 3:16)

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From Psalms: Psalm 77 – “I cry aloud to God and He will hear me” | Psalm Musicals – Christian Music Channel

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OT Reading: Job 5:8-27 (GW)

5:8 “But I would seek God’s help
and present my case to him.
He does great things that ⌞we⌟ cannot understand
and miracles that ⌞we⌟ cannot count.
He gives rain to the earth
and sends water to the fields.
He places lowly people up high.
He lifts those who mourn to safety.
He keeps shrewd people from carrying out their plans
so that they cannot do anything successfully.
He catches the wise with their own tricks.
The plans of schemers prove to be hasty.
In the daytime they meet darkness
and grope in the sunlight as if it were night.

“But he saves ⌞other people⌟ from their slander
and the needy from the power of the mighty.
Then the poor have hope
while wrongdoing shuts its mouth.

Blessing Comes When God Corrects You

8:17 “Blessed is the person whom God corrects.
That person should not despise discipline from the Almighty.
God injures, but he bandages.
He beats you up, but his hands make you well.
He will keep you safe from six troubles,
and when the seventh one comes, no harm will touch you:

“In famine he will save you from death,
and in war he will save you from the sword.

“When the tongue lashes out, you will be safe,
and you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

“You will be able to laugh at destruction and starvation,
so do not be afraid of wild animals on the earth.

“You will have a binding agreement with the stones in the field,
and wild animals will be at peace with you.

“You will know peace in your tent.
You will inspect your house and find nothing missing.

“You will find that your children are many
and your descendants are like the grass of the earth.

“You will come to your grave at a ripe old age
like a stack of hay in the right season.

“We have studied all of this thoroughly! This is the way it is.
Listen to it, and learn it for yourself.”

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Blessed Be Your Name – Matt Redman | WeAreWorship Lyrics & Chords

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NT Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-18a (GW)

Dedicate Your Lives to Jesus

3:8 Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble. Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.

“People who want to live a full life and enjoy good days
must keep their tongues from saying evil things,
and their lips from speaking deceitful things.
They must turn away from evil and do good.
They must seek peace and pursue it.
The Lord’s eyes are on those who do what he approves.
His ears hear their prayer.
The Lord confronts those who do evil.”

Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? But even if you suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset. But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God⌟ when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you. After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.

This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once.

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Clean conscience, do the right thing – fitness for Heaven | Bread4Life

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.

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