Saturday Morning Prayer, 29 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.“
(Colossians 2:13)

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Scripture: 

Psalm 136 

Who has laid the waters and spread out the land?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.
By His understanding, by His mighty hand.
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.

Who has made the sun to rule and reign the day?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.
Who the moon and stars and skies above obey?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.

His love endures forever, His love endures forever.
His love endures forever, give Him thanks!

Who has done great wonders, and the heavens raised?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.
Yet, will not forget us in our low estate?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.

His love endures forever, His love endures forever.
His love endures forever, give Him thanks!

Who has conquered kingdoms, crushed the enemy?
Give Him thanks! Give Him thanks!
Who will fight our battles, give us victory?
Give Him thanks! Give Him thanks!

His love endures forever, His love endures forever.
His love endures forever, give Him thanks!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
Give thanks to the God of all gods!
Give thanks to the One whose mercy endures,
Give thanks to the King of heaven!
Give thanks!
Give Him thanks!

Psalm 136 (Give Him Thanks): – Slavic Chorale (in Russian)

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Scripture Reading

Colossians 2:8-15 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

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Reflection:

alive with Christ

“God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.”
(Colossians 1:27)

“It is true that He gave us life from the dead? He gave us pardon of sin; He gave us imputed righteousness. These are all precious things, but you see we are not content with them; we have received Christ himself. The Son of God has been poured out into us, and we have received him, and appropriated him.” (Spurgeon)

We can’t make ourselves alive, but God can make us alive together with Jesus.
We can never be made alive apart from Jesus.

sins forgiven

We are forgiven by grace.
The handwriting of requirements has in mind a list of our crimes or moral debt before God, a debt that no imperfect person can completely pay. But it can be taken out of the way, by payment from a perfect man, Jesus Christ.

“It might even be said that he took the document, ordinances and all, and nailed it to his cross as an act of triumphant defiance in the face of those blackmailing powers that were holding it over men and women in order to command their allegiance.” (Bruce)

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus: I’m in that place again On my knees Laying my life out before You
Thank you that on the cross you cried “It is finished”
You have done it Forgiveness is complete
I can live forever in Your grace Forever in Your love

• So I ask now for Your forgiveness For the wrongs that I have done
• And the things that I have neglected
• I ask for Your forgiveness For the people I have hurt along the way
• And those who I have failed to love as You love
• I ask for Your forgiveness I receive Your forgiveness
• And resolve in my heart That with Your strength I determine not to make these errors again

I receive Your forgiveness And by the power of Your Holy Spirit
I walk away from everything I know to be wrong
And embrace everything I know about You
For the kingdom, the power and the glory
Are always and forever Yours Amen
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“Up & Alive” – Luke & Anna Hellebronth

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Closing: 

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”  (Colossians 2:8-10)

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