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 144:5-8 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Read the Entire Psalm
God is involved. Look at the first line of David’s prayer. Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! David is asking God to intervene to involve himself in the affairs of the earth. God is involved. He is no spectator watching events unfold. He is sovereign over all the universe and he works providentially in human history. Thank him for taking interest in humanity. Praise him for being personally involved in all of life.
Scripture Reading
John 12:44-50 – English Standard Version
Jesus Came to Save the World
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
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 Youth Horizons. Ask God to use their ministry to help children at-risk. Pray that kids would come to saving faith in Christ and grow up to be responsible adults.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Because Jesus is God, he has power to save us. In verse 47, Jesus referred to his purpose in the incarnation. God became incarnate in order to save and redeem us. His purpose in the incarnation was not to judge the world but to save the world. The first advent was a time for God making a way for salvation. The second advent (the return of Christ) will be a time for judgement. We live in between the advents. Now, today, is a time for repentance and belief. How does living in between the advents spur you on to pursue personal growth in holiness and godliness?