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 11:4-7
The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord—his throne is in heaven.
His eyes watch;
his gaze examines everyone.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but he hates the wicked
and those who love violence.
6 Let him rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked;
let a scorching wind be the portion in their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds.
The upright will see his face.
Read the Entire Psalm
The Lord is righteous. He defines what is right. He always acts in accordance with what is right. He does not deliberate to determine what is right today or wonder how will he act today. He always acts in accordance with perfect righteousness. Praise him that he is righteous and constant in his righteous ways.
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 2:1-12 – The Message
From Water to Wine
2 1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”
4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”
5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.
8 “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.
9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”
11 This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum along with his mother, brothers, and disciples, and stayed several days.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- 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 today for Christian Challenge. They will be meeting tonight at the church. Ask God to strengthen the students in their devotion to Jesus.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Why doesn’t God answer all your prayers in the way you would like him too? Do you have a biblical theology of unanswered prayer? If you do not have a clear, biblically grounded idea of why God doesn’t answer every prayer, then you will likely find yourself, at the worst possible time, struggling with doubt, or at least with perspective. I say at the worst possible time because it’s when we are desperately asking God to do something, and he doesn’t, that we are the most vulnerable to doubt and despair. It is likely during those times that our spiritual, emotional, and physical resources are already running low. When we feel like God has failed to do what we assumed he would do, it can be one more blow when we are already at our wit’s end. What has God promised you? What has he not promised you? Do you know? Have you thought it through personally and taken this to heart? If you believe that God has promised you a life of abundance, as defined by you, then when you suffer what will happen to your faith? If you are mature enough in your faith to know that you can trust God even when you don’t understand him, you will be able to weather any storm that comes your way. This is not to say that it will be easy; it will not. It is to say that it will be possible to endure, and even to learn to thrive in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Our lack of biblical understanding of the promises of God will not keep trouble from us, but it can keep hope from us when we most need it. God has made very clear promises to his people. Do you know what they are? Read this short article to help you think through God’s promises for your life.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/which-promises-are-for-me