After Pentecost | Thursday 13 Jul 2023

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

Opening:

Grant us, O Lord, we pray,
the spirit to think and do always
those things that are right, that we,
who can do no good thing apart from you,
may be enabled by you to live according to your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul: “And this is the message I proclaim—
that the day is coming when God,
through Christ Jesus,
will judge everyone’s secret life.”
(Romans 2:16)

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From Psalms: Psalm 65:11 – “You Crown The Year” – Hillsong Worship

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OT Reading: Isaiah 48:1-5 (NLT)

God’s Stubborn People

48:1 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob,
you who are called by the name of Israel
and born into the family of Judah.
Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord
and call on the God of Israel.
You don’t keep your promises,
even though you call yourself the holy city
and talk about depending on the God of Israel,
whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Long ago I told you what was going to happen.
Then suddenly I took action,
and all my predictions came true.
For I know how stubborn and obstinate you are.
Your necks are as unbending as iron.
Your heads are as hard as bronze.
That is why I told you what would happen;
I told you beforehand what I was going to do.
Then you could never say, ‘My idols did it.
My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!’

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No Other Gods | Tim Timmons

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NT Reading: Romans 2:12-16(NLT)

2:12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
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Psalm 51 – Wisdom in the Secret Heart (Sojourn Worship)

Behold I was brought forth in iniquity
And in sin and my mother conceived me
Behold you delight in the truth and the inward me
And you teach me, wisdom in the secret heart

My sin is not far but right in front of me
Against you and you alone God I am guilty
Wash me thoroughly cleanse me from iniquity
And teach me, wisdom in the secret heart

Create in me a clean heart, oh God
Renew a right spirit within me, oh God
Cast me not away from Your presence
Take not Your Holy Spirit
Restore in me the joy of Your salvation
And teach me, wisdom in the secret heart

Send me the chief of sinners to proclaim
Come be forgiven the sin of the lamb of God was slain
Open my lips and my mouth will declare your endless praise
And teach me, wisdom in the secret heart

Create in me a clean heart, oh God
Renew a right spirit within me, oh God
Cast me not away from Your presence
Take not Your Holy Spirit
Restore in me the joy of Your salvation
And teach me, wisdom in the secret heart
Wisdom in the secret heart

The Lord is gracious
And slow to anger
Rich in love, He is good to all
Good to all

Create in me a clean heart, oh God
Renew a right spirit within me, oh God
Cast me not away from Your presence
Take not Your Holy Spirit
Restore in me the joy of Your salvation
And teach me, wisdom in the secret heart
Wisdom in the secret heart

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019