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 103:15-19
As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes,
and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity
the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him,
and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant,
who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Read the Entire Psalm
The Lord’s kingdom rules over all. There is nothing outside of God’s rule. His power and reign is limitless. His reign is supreme. There is none above him, beside him, or before him. His from eternity and rules over all. Give thanks for his complete rule.
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 6:58-71 – The Message
53-58 But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
59 He said these things while teaching in the meeting place in Capernaum.
Too Tough to Swallow
60 Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
61-65 Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this rattle you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
66-67 After this, many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”
68-69 Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”
70-71 Jesus responded, “Haven’t I handpicked you, the Twelve? Still, one of you is a devil!” He was referring to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. This man—one from the Twelve!—was even then getting ready to betray him.
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 for Kids Camp. Today is the third day of the camp. Pray that the gospel would be clearly shared and children would respond to God’s invitation.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
“Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter was quick to speak, but he spoke what is true. What do you want God to do for you? I hope you have asked him for this in prayer. I hope that you have not allowed what you want and ask for in prayer to become a kind of demand. Our hearts can easily become complaining and demanding things. God will never answer a demand, though he may, if he chooses, answer a prayer. A prayer is a request. It is an expression of a need and a confession of God’s superiority to you. A demand is wrong and foolish. It is an attempt to elevate ourselves and/or to lower God. Our hearts can, if we don’t pay attention, move from asking to demanding from God. How do we know if this has happened? What is the “tone” of your prayers? Do you come to God in submission to his exalted status, or do you come in overly casual fashion? You need not literally get on your knees to pray, but your heart position must be one of humility and need. What is your response to God’s delay or his “no”? Do you thank him, worship him, and obey him with joy anyway, or do you pout and complain and hold a grudge? A demanding heart will sap your life of joy. If we allow our hearts to go this direction, we will move farther and farther from the freedom of God. Tell God now, “Lord, where else can I go? You have the words of eternal life. I repent of all demanding and submit fully to you.”