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Welcome, Announcements and Worship
Hey folks. Thanks for tuning in this morning. I (Matt) just want to warn you about the audio quality on the welcome and announcements. Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your tv, or stereo, or any other device you're viewing this on. It just looks like I recorded audio through the onboard computer microphone instead of the microphone I had set up. My apologies for that and I will make sure I click the right buttons when I record next week. Thanks!
Offering & Prayer
If you wish to give as part of our service this morning, the easiest way to do so online is here. Or you can drop by the church between 9-12 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to find a donation box set up just outside the office. Thank you!
Our prayer this morning comes to us from "Pray the Psalms", and is inspired by Psalm 5. Pray this out loud. "My enemies, Lord, aren't like those of David. I don’t have flesh and blood enemies today, people who are seeking to tear me down with their words. Rather, my enemies are spiritual in nature: the lure of materialism, the idolatry of pride, the arrogance of self-centered sovereignty. So, dear Lord, lead me in Your righteousness. Help me to avoid and even to defeat my enemies. When I’m faced with crucial choices, may I seek and find Your ways. Enable me to see reality from Your point of view, to identify the good and seek it, to name evil as evil and avoid it. In asking You to lead me, Lord, I’m acknowledging Your superlative wisdom and Your unparalleled sovereignty. You know what is best for me. And You have a rightful claim upon my life. So lead me in the ways of Your kingdom. May my life be useful for You. May my paths give You glory." Worship, Message & Benediction
Before we move into the benediction I (Matt) would like to introduce a new song to you this morning. As I listened to Kevin preach this sermon series this song kept coming to mind. It’s from a band called “The Glorious Unseen” and came out around 13 years ago. I used sing it when I was leading worship at Mill Creek Camp, and was met with a little bit of resistance to it, particularly around one of the lines that keeps coming up, “clothe me in Your glory”. What does that even mean? There are no direct scriptural references to God “clothing” people in His glory (that I'm aware of). Certainly there are moments when people are “surrounded” or “enveloped” in the glory of God. And there are references to spiritual armour in Ephesians. But God “clothing” people in His glory? That’s a little weird. What draws me to this song is its honest humility. The lines, “this is what makes my head spin” and “this is so overwhelming” are lyrically sloppy and make me think, “Really? You couldn’t come up with a better line than that to sing?” But, as I said, there’s something in them that is honest and humbling. What better words do I have when I’m met with the glory of God? But anyway, being clothed in the glory of God. It was this line that made the song come to mind as Kevin preached this series. In it he speaks of the inward power of God, changing our hearts, and then seeing that inward change manifest in tangible, outward ways; ways that affect our behaviour and our actions. So, for me, this song speaks of that outward change; of the glory of God being shown in our outward actions because of His work in our hearts. It reminds me of the words of Peter in John 13 when Jesus is preparing to wash his disciple’s feet and Peter strongly refuses. Jesus’ says, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Peter replies, “Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” I feel a sense of that same zeal in this song. Show me Your glory, Lord. Surround me with, change me by, and clothe me in Your glory. Comments are closed.
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