Tag: Prayer and Worship

Epiphany Season | Wednesday 12 January 2022: Psalm 106:1-12; Numbers 27:1-11; Luke 11:33-36 ~ Be filled with God’s radiant Light.

Epiphany Season | Wednesday 12 January 2022

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

Opening:

Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be
your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove:
Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may
be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners,
then your whole life will be radiant,
as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
(Luke 11:35-36)

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Psalms: Psalm 10 – Poor Bishop Hooper

praise the lord give thanks
for he is good his steadfast love endures

we with our fathers have sinned in wickedness
forgot your wondrous works when they were in egypt
nevertheless he saved them and for his name’s sake own
that he might make his power known

he led them through the sea at his command the waters dried
then they covered every enemy not one was left alive
though they sang his praise believed his words
they soon forgot his works

praise the lord give thanks
for he is good his steadfast love endures

wanton craving in the wilderness jealousy and envious
the earth it opened swallowing then plague and fire and flame
they made a calf in horeb they traded glorious god
for a man-made metal image for a grass-eating ox

they forgot God their savior then he said he would destroy them
had not moses his chosen stood in breach before him
to turn away his wrath they despised the pleasant land
having no faith in his promise they murmured in their tents

they angered him at meribah they sacrificed their sons
the land it was polluted with the blood of innocents
so god’s anger burned against them an abhorred inheritance

nevertheless he pitied them and listened
remembering his covenant he relented
according to the greatness of his love

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OT Reading: Numbers 27:1-11 (NLT)

The Daughters of Zelophehad

27:1 One day a petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father, Zelophehad, was a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph. These women stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Our father died in the wilderness,” they said. “He was not among Korah’s followers, who rebelled against the Lord; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons. Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”

 So Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord replied to Moses, “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father. “And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

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Righteous Judge – Laodicean Church Of God

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NT Reading: Luke 11:33-36 (NLT)

Receiving the Light

11:33 “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

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Let Your Light Shine In The Darkness Live – New Scottish Hymns Band

Father God You look on me
Yet see no sin or shame
You see Your Son who died for all
To take away my blame
He left his Father’s glorious throne
All radiance set aside
And hung alone eclipsed by sin
‘Til sin was crucified

Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness

Empty now the threat of death
As Empty lay the grave
And all whose faith is in his life
Will know His power to save
Christ returned to heaven above
In glorious light and power
And by His Spirit I have hope
To light my darkest hour

Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness

As the moon reflects the sun
Now radiant we stand
Freed from sin and Satan’s grip
God’s kingdom is at hand
Darkness, sin and death retreat
And flee the marching dawn
His love casts out our fear and doubt
So let His church shine on

Let Your light shine in the darkness
Let Your light shine in the darkness
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Declaration of Faith: Faith and Worship

+ You are our strength, the light by which we walk, the truth by which we talk.
+ You are our hope, the promise to which we hold, the story that must be told.
+ You are the peace this world cannot provide, that overcomes our pride.
+ You are our God, the One whose name we praise to whom our hands are raised. Amen
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Closing: Faith and Worship

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today – tonight – and for ever

— Columba (?521-597) Irish monk and missionary in Scotland

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

Epiphany Season | Tuesday 11 January 2022: Psalm 106:1-12; Judges 5:12-21; 1 John 5:13-21 ~ Keep away from anything evil!

Epiphany Season | Tuesday 11 January 2022

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

Opening:

Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be
your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove:
Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may
be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.

Dear children, keep away from anything
that might take God’s place in your hearts.
(1 John 5:21)

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Psalms: Psalm 106  (A powerful message from Psalms 106)
Amorousness

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OT Reading: Judges 5:12-21 (NLT)

5:12 “Wake up, Deborah, wake up!
Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!
Arise, Barak!
Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!

 “Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.
The people of the Lord marched down against mighty warriors.
They came down from Ephraim—
a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;
they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.
From Makir the commanders marched down;
from Zebulun came those who carry a commander’s staff.
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.
They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.
But in the tribe of Reuben
there was great indecision.
Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—
to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?
Yes, in the tribe of Reuben
there was great indecision.
Gilead remained east of the Jordan.
And why did Dan stay home?
Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,
remaining in his harbors.
But Zebulun risked his life,
as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.

 “The kings of Canaan came and fought,
at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs,
but they carried off no silver treasures.
The stars fought from heaven.
The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
The Kishon River swept them away—
that ancient torrent, the Kishon.
March on with courage, my soul!

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Wake Up Deborah – Nissi Band
Justin Little

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NT Reading: 1 John 5:13-21 (NLT)

5:13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

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Deliver Us from Evil – Eric Lee Brumley

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Prayer:

Faith & Worship

In the worst temptations nothing can help us but faith that God’s Son has put on flesh, is bone, sits at the right hand of the Father, and prays for us. There is no mightier comfort.
(Martin Luther)

Lord, be in the decisions I must make today,
open my ears to your guidance
and steer my footsteps from temptation.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

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Closing:

God’s love surround you, God’s Spirit guide you,
God’s whisper cheer you, God’s peace calm you,
God’s shield protect you, God’s wisdom arm you,
wherever God may lead you.

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

Epiphany Season | Monday 10 January 2022: Psalm 106:1-12; Judges 4:1-16; Ephesians 6:10-17 ~ Be strong in the Lord!

Epiphany Season | Monday 10 January 2022

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

Opening:

Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be
your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove:
Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may
be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on all of God’s armor
so that you will be able to stand firm
against all strategies of the devil.
(Ephesians 6:10-11)

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Psalms: Psalm 106 (Banks of the Nile) – Kiran Young Wimberly & The McGraths

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OT Reading: Judges 4:1-16 (NLT)

Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge

4:1 After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.

Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”

Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.”

“Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.

Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.

When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive.

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See A Victory – Elevation Worship

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NT Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17 (NLT)

The Whole Armor of God

6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

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Stand up Stand up For Jesus – Stuart Townend
Grace Bible Church – Adell

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Prayer:

A Prayer to Put on the Armor of God
By Debbie McDaniel

Dear God, today we put on the full armor to guard our lives against attack. We put on the belt of truth to protect against lies and deception. We put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from the temptations we battle. We put the gospel of peace on our feet, so we’re ready to take your light wherever you send us this day. We choose to walk in the peace and freedom of your Spirit and not be overcome with fear and anxious thoughts. We take up your shield of faith that will extinguish all the darts and threats hurled our way by the enemy. We believe in your power to protect us and choose to trust in you. We put on the helmet of salvation, which covers our minds and thoughts, reminding us we are children of the day, forgiven, set free, saved by the grace of Christ Jesus. We take up the sword of the Spirit, your very Word, the one offensive weapon given to us for battle, which has the power to demolish strongholds, alive, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword.

We ask for your help in remembering to put on your full armor every day, for you give us all that we need to stand firm in this world. Forgive us God for the times we’ve been unprepared, too busy to care, or trying to fight and wrestle in our own strength.

Thank you that we never fight alone, for you are constantly at work on our behalf, shielding, protecting, strengthening, exposing deeds of darkness, bringing to light what needs to be known, covering us from the cruel attacks we face even when we’re unaware. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

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Closing:

May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.

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

Epiphany Season | Saturday 08 Jan 2022: Psalm 72; Daniel 2:24-49; Ephesians 5:15-20 ~ Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Epiphany Season | Saturday 08 Jan 2022:

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

Opening:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to
the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith,
to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Be careful how you live.
Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
(Ephesians 5:15-16)

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Psalms: Psalm 72 – Heather Clark
The Higher Power

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OT Reading: Daniel 2:24-49 (NLT)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

2:24 Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.”

 Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, “I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell the king the meaning of his dream!”

 The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”

 Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.

 “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.

 “In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight. The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay. As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

 “That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means. Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.  He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.

 “But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world. Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth one, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes. The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay. This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

 “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”

Nebuchadnezzar Rewards Daniel

2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”

 Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.  At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

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King of Kings – Hillsong Worship

 

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NT Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT)

Living by the Spirit’s Power

5:15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Soli Deo Gloria – – Darlene Zschech & Mitch Wong
Integrity Music

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Prayer:

Love Life-Giving Water

Dear Abba, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I recognize that I am in need of more of Your power in my life. Your Word promises that when we ask, we receive.

Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. I am asking this to you by faith right now…

I believe that you have filled me and I receive the infilling of Your Holy Spirit in my heart right now!

Thank you Holy Spirit for being the power at work in my heart and in my life!

I give you all the praise and all the glory, in Jesus’ name,

Amen!

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Closing:

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

Epiphany Season | Friday 07 Jan 2022: Psalm 72; Daniel 2:1-19; Ephesians 4:17-5:1 ~ Let the Spirit renew your mind.

Epiphany Season | Friday 07 Jan 2022:

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

Opening:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to
the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith,
to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“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.”
(Ephesians 4:21-23)

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Psalms: Psalm 72 – Luke Brodine

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OT Reading: Daniel 2:1-19 (NLT)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2:1 One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, he said, “I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means.”

 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”

 But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this. If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble! But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!”

 They said again, “Please, Your Majesty. Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”

 The king replied, “I know what you are doing! You’re stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say, ‘If you don’t tell me the dream, you are doomed.’ So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I’ll know that you can tell me what it means.”

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Children of Light (Kristian Stanfill)
Pastor Madeline / First United Methodist Church – Luling, TX

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NT Reading: Ephesians 4:17-5:1 (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.

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Renew My Life – Church Lyrics

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Prayer:

ACNA / BCP2019

+ Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Faith & Worship

+ We pray for confidence to share your Word with others and for the opportunity to proclaim it.
Forgive our reluctance, our timidity.

+ We pray for wisdom to know what should be said and the moment in which to say it.
Forgive our reticence, our anxiety.

+ We pray for knowledge of the fullness of your Grace and the willingness to live it.
Forgive our ignorance, our self-reliance.

Be the center of all we are
The Light by which we walk
The blessing we bring to others
Through Jesus Christ alone we ask. Amen

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Closing:

May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.

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