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 46:7-11
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Read the Entire Psalm
Be Still – Jesus said this to the waves and the wind when he was in a boat with his disciples. The disciples thought they would die because of the storm. Jesus calmed the storm. God is one who asks us to be still. He is not asking us to pretend that there is no storm but asking us to be still and trust him. Why trust him? He is God. Be still and know that he is God. ‘Be still’ does not mean do nothing. Be active in trusting God, the exalted one. He is able. Thank him. Praise him.
Scripture Reading
John 2:13-25 – English Standard Version
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
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 CAYM. Ask God to use Donnovan and his ministry to establish and grow Christian mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.” Matthew 7:29
Everyone who encountered Jesus was struck by his authority. In everyday life we use that term in a way that doesn’t come close to conveying the power of what people experienced in the presence of Jesus. “Authorities” might mean government or law enforcement. They have delegated power by virtue of their jobs or office. They can, through force of law, enforce compliance with their will. Human authority can be, and often is, abused. The authority of Jesus was the eternal and ultimate authority of God made flesh. His authority preceded the cosmos itself. He took on weak human flesh, but even then, his authority could not be completely disguised. Perhaps you have been with someone who had a “commanding presence.” It could be because of a position of power or because of the kind of life they have lived. I’ve had the privilege of meeting four-star generals, the Secretary of Defense, and the President of the United States. These men had the authority of both position and personal presence. All of them would feel like a mere shadow were they to stand in the immense presence of Jesus while he was on earth. All of them will someday bow their knees before the exalted Lord Jesus. Remember this as you talk to the Lord Jesus in prayer right now. If you are able, you might want to get on your knees.