Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 92:4-8 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand, 7 that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
Read the Entire Psalm
The Lord is Exalted forever. Praise God because He is never threatened. The truth will never change. His great works will not be undone. His thoughts are profound. Think about what God has done in creation. Think about what He has done in salvation. Think of His personal work in your life. Praise Him.
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 2:9-12 – English Standard Version
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Give thanks to God for His gifts and His goodness.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Embrace. Ask God to use their ministry to rescue unborn children and to introduce the love of Christ to mothers and fathers in difficult circumstances.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
The “flesh” or “sin nature” is a somewhat complex idea in Scripture. What makes it complicated is that Christ has already given us victory over our “souls in opposition to God” and yet our bothersome old flesh continues to rise up “zombie-like” and act as if it is still in control. Christ has already conquered our sin nature, but we do not yet fully live in victory. In the meantime, as we live as sojourners here, we are to abstain from the sinful desires that wage war on our souls. Abstain means to say “no!” Since these sinful desires are at war with our souls, we are not to say “No thank you,” but “No way! Get away!” Are you treating passions that are war with your own soul politely? Trust me, they will not treat you as a friend if you allow them to roam freely in your life. Sinful passions are the enemy of God and of your own soul. Deal with them with clarity, not diplomacy. Say “NO!”
Application: What sinful passions are most likely to try to exert themselves in your life? It may be sexual impurity, but it also may be discontent, or bitterness, or even worry about the future. Allowing worry to dominate your mind is to put yourself in God’s place. He, not you, controls the future. Say “no” now to sinful passions in any form.