Prayer Service
Notes
Transcript
READING
Psalm 95:6 (NIV84)
6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
PRAYER :
Prayer when approaching God
God of Israel, God of Jesus Christ, our God eternally and forever; help us now, through the sacred Spirit, to approach thee duly, with the deepest reverence, but without servile fear; with the holiest boldness, but without presumption. Teach us to speak with thee as children speaking to their father, but also, as creatures bowing before their Maker. AMEM!
God is looking for true worshipers. John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Now, to truly worship, we need to place ourselves completely in his presence. The Kingdom of God is taken by effort, so People of God, spare no effort to enter his presence.
PRAYER - for worship
O eternal, almighty and most merciful God, heaven is your throne and earth is your footstool, holy and reverenced is your name; you are praised by the heavenly hosts and in the congregation of your saints on earth, and will be sanctified in all who draw near to you. We are sinful and unworthy dust, but being invited by YOU, we dare, through our blessed Mediator, to present ourselves and our supplications before YOU. Receive us with mercy, help us by your Spirit; fill us with your fear; may your Word come to us with power and may we receive it in love with attentive, reverent and obedient minds. Make it to us a savor of life unto life. Make us fervent in prayer and joyful in our praises, and let us serve you this day without distraction, that we may understand that one day in your courts is better than a thousand outside them, and that it is good for us to draw near to you; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
RICHARD BAXTER
Musica
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
1 Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
Psalm 19:12–13 (NIV84)
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
Isaiah 59:12 (NIV84)
12 For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities
Psalm 51:1 (NIV84)
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:4 (NIV84)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
God’s response to our need…
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
PRAYER - Confession of Sin
Most great, most righteous and most merciful God, your eyes are so pure that you cannot see iniquity. You condemn the wicked, the impenitent, and the unbelieving, but you have promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in him.
We confess that we were conceived in sin, and that we are by nature children of wrath, and that because we have sinned, we have all fallen short of the glory of God. In our baptism, you made us enter into the bond of the holy covenant, but we do not remember you, our Creator, in the days of our youth, with the fear, love, and obedience that we owe you. We did not please you and glorify you in all things, nor did we walk with you by faith with a heavenly conduct; and instead of serving you fervently with all our strength, we gratified the desires of the flesh and of the carnal mind. We have neglected and abused thy holy worship, thy holy name, and thy holy day. We have dishonored our superiors and neglected those beneath us. We have treated our fellow men unjustly and without compassion because we have not loved them as ourselves and have not done unto them as we would have them do unto us. We have not sought first your kingdom and its righteousness, and instead of being content with our daily bread, we have been restless and preoccupied with many things, neglecting the one thing that is necessary.
You have revealed to us the wonderful love you have for us in Christ and have offered us forgiveness and salvation in him. We, however, took this lightly, and neglected so great a salvation, resisted thy Spirit, thy Word, and thy ministers, and did not heed when thou didst reprove us. We have fallen into temptations, and the sin which we ought to have abhorred, we have committed in thy sight-in secretly and openly, through ignorance and carelessness, rashly and presumptuously-thus acting contrary to thy precepts, to thy promises, to thy threatenings, to thy mercies, and to thy judgments. Our transgressions have multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us; if thou shouldst punish us as we deserve, thou wouldst cast us from thy presence and cast us into hell, where the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.
But for your mercy, your Son and your promises are our hope. Have mercy on us, most merciful Father. Be reconciled to us, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins. Take us as your children, and give us the Spirit of your Son. Sanctify us wholly, pour your love into our hearts, and make us love you with all our hearts. Make your face shine upon your servants, save us from our sins, and from the wrath to come. Make us a peculiar people to you, zealous for good works, that we may please you and proclaim your praise. Help us to redeem the time, and give us all diligence to make firm our calling and election. Give us the things that are necessary for your service, and deliver us from unconformity and sinful preoccupations. And since all these things are to be cast off, let us understand what manner of persons we ought to be, walking in a holy and godly way of life. Help us to be watchful lest we fall into temptations, and to resist and overcome the flesh, the devil and the world. And being delivered from the hand of all our enemies, may we serve you without fear, in holiness and righteousness before you all the days of our life. Guide us with your counsel, and then receive us into your glory, through Jesus Christ, our only Savior. Amen.
SONG: YOUR MERCY NEVER FAILS… FOR I WILL SING OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD
Forgive our lack of Enthusiasm
18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.
34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
2 Kings 2:9 (NIV84)
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
Our heavenly Father, we ask You to forgive us for our lack of enthusiasm. We ask you to forgive us for our coldness. We ask you to forgive us for loving you so little and serving you so poorly. O God, help us to consecrate ourselves anew to you and to your service. May the Spirit that came upon Gideon, Joshua and Elijah and came also on the day of Pentecost, come upon us here. O Spirit of the living God, descend upon us here that our hearts may burn for the Son of God, and that we may be willing to lay aside our dignity, our position and our status, to go into the vineyard and work for you.
O Spirit of God, come upon us and give us power to work for Christ; power to preach the gospel, power to tell the story of the cross. We ask all this in the name of your beloved Son. Amen.
13 “What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this.
Psalm 16:11 (NIV84)
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 30:5 (NIV84)
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
SONG: “GIVE THANKS WITH A GREATFUL HEART”
SUPPLICATION
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
PRAYER - Suplications
You who taught us to pray in common, as we do now, and also in secret, and promised to grant the supplications of two or three gathered in your name, now answer the petitions of your servants according to their needs, granting us in this world the knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come, eternal life. For thou, O God, art gracious and loving; and to thee belong glory, dominion, and honor, now and forever. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE ARMENIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
PRAYER - for the sick and hope in recovery
Most merciful Father, though our sins have found us out, and we are justly afflicted for our transgressions, yet we have not been consumed in your wrath because you punish us less than our iniquities deserve. Though you afflict us, yet you have compassion on us according to the multitude of your mercies, for you do not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men. Look, therefore, in your tender mercy, on the affliction of this your servants. Lord, do not rebuke them in your anger or punish them in your wrath. All his desire is before You, and his sighing is not hidden from you: have mercy on him, O Lord, for they are sick!
Lord, heal them, for their bones and soul are broken. Remember not the iniquities of their youth, nor their transgressions. Look upon their affliction and sorrow, and forgive them all their sins. Though the pains of death surround them, make them well, for your glory and for their own good, and let them live and praise your name. In the day of their anguish, we are crying out to you. Deliver them and let them glorify you. Show them, however, what is the sin that offends you, and cause them to search and try their ways and confess and turn from their iniquity, and so let it serve them for good that they have been afflicted. Let that be the fruit of their affliction-purge and put away their sin-so that being punished by the Lord, they may not be condemned with the world.
In the meantime, Lord, be their portion, for you are good to the soul that seeks you and hopes in you. Make them bear your yoke patiently and silently, let them wait quietly for your salvation, considering that YOU do not cast off forever, that YOUR wrath is but for a moment, but your favor lasts a lifetime, that though weeping may be prolonged for a night, in the morning comes joy, that whom you love, you chastise, and scourges every one whom you receive for a son, and that if they endure discipline, you treat them as a son and daughters.
If he/she recovers, may he/she dedicate himself/herself entirely to you for your glory; when you strip him of his sackcloth and mourning and clothe him/she with joy, may he/she proclaim your praise and give you thanks. If he/she receives the sentence of death, may that make him/her trust in you who raises the dead, knowing that just as you raised the Lord Jesus, you will raise him up through Jesus. May he/she be found in Christ, not having his/her own righteousness, but that which is of God by faith. Refrain his/her character and deliver your servant from the sinful fear of death; may he/she understand that death has lost its sting and triumph over it by faith in Christ, through whom we have been made more than conquerors. By faith and love may his/her soul now ascend with Christ, who ascended to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God, and went to prepare a place for us, and has promised that where he is, there also shall his servants be, that they may behold the glory which you has given him. Be magnified in his/her body, whether for life or for death, and transfer him/her safely into your glorious presence, where there is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures. Through Jesus Christ, our life and righteousness. Amen.
SONG:
Psalm 3:4 (NIV84)
4 To the Lord I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
Psalm 30:2 (NIV84)
2 O Lord my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
Psalm 34:19 (NIV84)
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Psalm 103:1 (NIV84)
1 Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Psalm 103:2 (NIV84)
2 Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
Psalm 103:3 (NIV84)
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Psalm 103:4 (NIV84)
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
Psalm 103:5 (NIV84)
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
PRAYER -
We thank you, O most merciful God, that you heard us when we cried to you for your servant in weakness and distress, and did not reject our prayer or turn away your mercy from him. We cried to you, and you delivered him and healed him; you rescued him from the grave; you kept him alive so that he did not descend into the abyss; you forgave his iniquity and healed his diseases; you redeemed his life from destruction and have crowned him with favors and tender mercies. Day and night your hand was heavy upon him, but you turned away your wrath and forgave the iniquity of his sin. For this every saint will pray to you in the hour of trouble, for you are our refuge and preserve us from trouble. When our flesh and our heart faint, you are the rock of our heart and our portion forever. Surely, O Lord, you are good to Israel, to the pure in heart. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but out of them all you deliver them. Throughout the day they are afflicted, and chastened every morning, but they are always with thee, thou upholdest them with thy right hand. Thou art a present help in trouble when all human help is in vain. Therefore make your servant love you because you have heard his voice and his supplication, and let him offer you a sacrifice of praise and pay his vows to you, O Most High. Let him take the cup of salvation and call upon you all his days. Grant that he may devote himself wholly to praise you and glorify you in his soul and body inasmuch as he is your possession, and that when the right time comes, he may depart in peace to your glory. Through Jesus Christ, our life and righteousness. Amen.
SONG:
INTERCESSION FOR THE NATIONS
17 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV84)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
PRAYER - for the Nation
Like David, O most righteous Lord, who, when he saw Your angel with his sword drawn and ready to strike down Jerusalem, cried to You, saying: "It is I, O Lord, who have sinned, and who have done wickedly; let Your hand therefore be against me, and not against these poor sheep of Yours." and You, moved with mercy, did command Your angel to return the sword to its sheath-so we too, most magnanimous Lord, seeing that Your fearful sword of vengeance is drawn and now wounding this community and Your church in it, take occasion to cause our eyes to cease to behold and spy out the errors of others, and to look only to our own, and thus, with David Your servant himself, and with Jonah in the ship, we may exclaim: "It is we, O Lord, who have sinned, and provoked Your grievous wrath."
And so acknowledge it we who have now assembled in the name of Christ, and confess ourselves guilty of having been horrendously ungrateful to your gospel and your pure religion, and therefore guilty of there being no peace in your church nor tranquility in the community, besides our negligence and many other grievous sins which we also confess, for which we deserve not only these but many more severe plagues, which if you have not yet sent, then, as you are accustomed to do, "remember mercy."
On this basis (that you "in your wrath remember mercy" even before we seek and ask for it) and in accordance with what you command us to do in our tribulations, we dare to come to you and call upon you to have mercy upon us. And for Your goodness' sake, we now humbly beseech You in the name of Christ to stay Your hand and to cease Your wrath, or at least, to mitigate it so that this nation may be ruled with quietness, and again become a shelter for Your church and Your true religion, which restore us again, according to Your great power and mercy, and we will praise Your name forever, through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Savior. Amen.
SONG:
INTERCESSION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL
2 “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
For The Advancement of The Gospel
PRAY:
Almighty God, who through the light of your gospel hast been pleased to bring us this day out of that awful darkness in which we have been miserably plunged, and to turn towards us your face so conspicuous in the person of your only begotten Son, that nothing but our ingratitude may hinder us from being transformed into your heavenly glory, grant that we may so advance in the light of truth that each of us may be ashamed of our past ignorance, and freely and ingenuously confess that we were lost sheep until YOUR hand brought us back to the way of salvation. Grant that we may go forward in the course of our holy vocation, until at last we shall all be gathered together in heaven where we shall not only be given light by that truth which now governs us according to the capacity of our flesh, but where the splendor of Your glory shall also shine upon us, and make us conformed to your image, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. - John Calvino
SONG:
PRAYER - CLOSING
Lord, our main desire before you this evening is to be right with you. Make us right with you, Father. There are some in our who come to your house who are not at all right with you, and therefore, neither can they behold your face, nor can you accept their offering, for it can be said of them as it was of Cain, that "sin is at the door". O God, put away every sin, but we know that they must first feel the burden of their sin, come to you and confess it, and they must also accept the great Substitute and rest in Jesus. And if our sin is not forgiven, Father, we will sink our head on your breast and sob thus in prayer: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, and I am not worthy to be called your son".
Give us the kiss of forgiveness to each of your children this day, and grant that we may experience that you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness; and with this joy, may we feel that we are at peace with you.