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 EvilEric 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.

Lenten Prayer: 1st Wednesday, 24 Feb 2021 – Psalm 77; Proverbs 30:1-9; Matthew 4:1-11 ~ Resisting with Christ.

Lenten Prayer: 1st Wednesday, 24 Feb 2021

+ 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, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
(Matthew 4:10)

_________

Psalms: Psalm 77 (Lament) – Fellowship Worship

[Seth shares a song of lament birthed out of Psalm 77 and walking through the process of both his family’s failed adoption and his friend’s ongoing struggle in a successful adoption.]

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

30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.

The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know!

5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

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Thy Word – Amy Grant

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

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

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Who You Say I Am – Hillsong Worship

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Prayer:

+ Our Father in heaven: lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil!

__ We renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God.
__ We renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.
__ We renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw us from the love of God.

__ We confess Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, to whom is given all power and authority in heaven and on earth.
__ We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as our sole authority for faith and practice.
__ We promise, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to keep your commandments, and walk in your ways all the days of our lives.

+ Our Father in heaven: strengthen us with your Holy Spirit, empower us for your service; and sustain us all the days of our lives.

+ For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever! Amen.

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Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with us, wherever He may send us.
May He guide us through the wilderness, protect us through the storm.
May He bring us home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown us.
May He bring us home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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