Forgiveness for Confessors

It is good for us to gather each Lord’s Day in the beauty of holiness. God’s holiness reminds us of our sins. We confess corporately but we should also confess individually. God’s forgiveness is for confessors. I do not ask you to confess sins that you have not committed but we all have besetting sins we struggle against. Are you hot headed and being quick to anger got you into trouble again this week? Confess that. Are you timid and fear kept you from acting this week? Confess that? Are you overly talkative and you talked your way into sin again this week? Confess that.

         And having confessed and received God’s forgiveness and His answer for a transformed life through the power of the Holy Spirit, rise up in the beauty of holiness clean, without spot or wrinkle, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, blameless in the eyes of Your Heavenly Father. But woe to those who kneel in their bodies but stand in their hearts.

Praise

O Lord God in Heaven, You are our Shepherd. We shall not want. You make us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters. You restore our souls and lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.  Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for You are with us. Your rod and Your staff comfort us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. You anoint our heads with oil. Our cups are overflowing. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen.

Power in the Spirit

Our Father, we thank You that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, You sent Your own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh but we, who are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Thank You for Your Spirit. Empower us in Him as we eat and drink this Holy meal. Amen.

Thanksgiving for Rest

O, Lord we have set aside our own pleasure on this holy day. We call Your sabbath a delight, a holy and honorable day to honor You, not doing our own ways, nor finding our own pleasure, nor speaking our own words. Rather, we delight ourselves in You. Thank You, Lord, that You promise to make us ride upon the high places of the earth, and to feed us with the heritage of Your covenant promises. You have spoken it and it shall be. Amen.

Brotherly Unity is Pleasant and Good

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

         Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are gathered here as God’s people and not merely God’s people, but the brothers and sisters at Providence Church. This is a glorious gathering of communion, reconciliation in Jesus Christ. Has there been discord? Let it pass in the blood of Jesus. Has there been offenses? Forgive them in Jesus. Has there been strife? Let it be healed in Christ. Has there been misunderstanding? Seek to understand by the power of the Spirit.

         When we commune together, look around at the brethren and eat and drink of Jesus, by faith, let us also repent and forgive, by faith, receiving and granting grace in abundance, just as our Lord has granted to us, so that we can look grace into the eyes of our brothers with true sincerity of heart. Then shall we be known by our love for the brethren. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

The Lord is My Strength

We gather at the Lord’s Table to eat and drink. We do this so that we can grow strong in the Lord. Our nourishment is the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. This meal presents the body and blood of Jesus to us. To some who are perishing, it is the savor of death unto death but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God unto eternal life.

          Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

          When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it (this saying), he said unto them, “Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

          So, we partake of the Spirit by faith and the Lord is our Strength.