ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS ETERNAL God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being—he is timeless—and he sees past, present, and future equally vividly.
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Praise God for His Eternal Nature.
Praise God for his eternal nature. Praise God that he has always been and will always be. Praise God that he is not bound by time.
CONFESSION: Confess your sins to God and receive his continued mercy.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
THANKSGIVING: Giving thanks to God for his specific blessings in our lives.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100
SUPPLICATION: Bringing our requests to God.
- Bring your personal prayer requests to God.
- Ask God to convict your lost friends of their sin.
- Pray for our local, state, and national leaders.
- Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Corinthians 16 New Living Translation
The Collection for Jerusalem
16 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3 When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.
Paul’s Final Instructions
5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 7 This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. 8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 14 And do everything with love.
15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. 17 I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. 18 They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.
Paul’s Final Greetings
19 The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.
21 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Paul told the church at Corinth to be sure that Timothy should have nothing to fear and that they should accept him. Paul also told Timothy to be courageous, to not let what others think of him determine how he behaves. What was this all about? Timothy was a man of faith, mentored by Paul himself but he was still human. He struggled with insecurity. He was prone to be over impressed with certain people and to fear their opinions of him. Paul told Timothy to not cower to people but instead to set an example in speech, life, love, faith and purity. The Corinthians could be a rough bunch so Timothy would need to “up his game” to ministry effectively to them. Paul has given Timothy a comprehensive list…speech (words), life (actions), love(heart), faith(believes) and purity indicate a single-mindedness in all of this. Purity is moral in nature, but it also is a sign of someone whose life is “whole” …not divided into component parts. Something that is “pure” has no additions to it. Pure gold, pure chocolate, pure cotton, pure devotion to Christ. You may feel insecure at times in certain situations, but God wants you, like Timothy, to step up and let all that you are be an example to others of who Christ is. Everyone struggles to some degree with feelings of insecurity, but it is possible to find your security in Christ and from that place of security make Christ known in your life. Be secure in Christ and not just for self but so that you can more effectively lead and love others.