Epiphany Season | Friday 02 Feb 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O God, you know that we are set
in the midst of many grave dangers,
and because of the frailty of our nature
we cannot always stand upright:
Grant that your strength and protection
may support us in all dangers
and carry us through every temptation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“If I [Paul] spread the Good News,
I have nothing to brag about
because I have an obligation to do this.”
(1 Corinthians 9:16a)
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From Psalms: Psalm 147 GW (비 준비하시니) / Stonegate Music
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OT Reading: Job 36:1-23 (GW)
Elihu Continues: Hear Me Out
36:1 Elihu continued to speak ⌞to Job⌟,
“Be patient with me a little longer, and I will show you
that there is more to be said in God’s defense.
I will get my knowledge from far away
and prove that my Creator is fair.
Certainly, my words are not lies.
The one who knows everything is ⌞speaking⌟ with you.
God’s Justice Is Beyond Human Understanding
“Certainly, God is mighty.
He doesn’t despise anyone.
He is mighty and brave.
He doesn’t allow the wicked person to live.
He grants justice to those who are oppressed.
He doesn’t take his eyes off righteous people.
He seats them on thrones with kings to honor them forever.
However, if righteous people are bound in chains
and tangled in ropes of misery,
he tells them what they’ve done wrong
and that they’ve behaved arrogantly.
He makes them listen to his warning
and orders them to turn away from wrong.
“If righteous people listen and serve ⌞him⌟,
they will live out their days in prosperity
and their years in comfort.
But if they don’t listen,
they will cross the River ⌞of Death⌟
and die like those who have no knowledge.
But those who have godless hearts remain angry.
They don’t even call for help when he chains them up.
They die while they’re young,
or they live on as male prostitutes in the temples of idols.
He rescues suffering people through their suffering,
and he opens their ears through distress.
“Yes, he lured you away from the jaws of trouble
into an open area where you were not restrained,
and your table was covered with rich foods.
But you are given the judgment evil people deserve.
A fair judgment will be upheld.
Be careful that you are not led astray with riches.
Don’t let a large bribe turn you ⌞to evil ways⌟.
Will your riches save you from having to suffer?
Will all your mighty strength help you?
Don’t look forward to the night,
when people disappear from their places.
Be careful! Don’t turn to evil,
because you have chosen evil instead of suffering.
“God does great things by his power.
Is there any teacher like him?
Who can tell him which way he should go?
Who can say to him, ‘You did wrong’?
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Heal us Now / Azi Schwartz
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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:1-16 (GW)
Paul’s Right to Be Paid for His Work as an Apostle
9:1 Don’t you agree that I’m a free man? Don’t you agree that I’m an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord? If I’m not an apostle to other people, at least I’m an apostle to you. You are the seal which proves that I am the Lord’s apostle. This is how I defend myself to those who cross-examine me. Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas do? Or is it only Barnabas and I who don’t have any rights, except to find work to support ourselves?
Does a soldier ever serve in the army at his own expense? Does anyone plant a vineyard and not eat the grapes? Does anyone take care of a flock and not drink milk from the sheep? Am I merely stating some human rule? Don’t Moses’ Teachings say the same thing? Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen. Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. If we have planted the spiritual seed that has been of benefit to you, is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? If others have the right to expect this from you, don’t we deserve even more? But we haven’t used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way.
Don’t you realize that those who work at the temple get their food from the temple? Don’t those who help at the altar get a share of what is on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who spread the Good News should earn their living from the Good News.
I haven’t used any of these rights, and I haven’t written this in order to use them now. I would rather die than have anyone turn my bragging into meaningless words. If I spread the Good News, I have nothing to brag about because I have an obligation to do this. How horrible it will be for me if I don’t spread the Good News!
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Ma Navu (How Beautiful) by Barry & Batya Segal
How lovely on the mountain are
The feet of him bringing good news
How lovely on the mountain are
The feet of him bringing good news
Proclaim to Zion Yeshua
Proclaim to Zion Shalom
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+ O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your faithful people in the Middle East, that your Son’s life-giving Gospel may be preached to every tribe and nation. 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.
+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
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.
The Peanut Gallery 