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 66:1-4 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.”
How awesome are your deeds – Take some time and think about God’s awesome deeds. What has he done that is awesome? There are numerous things. Bring them to your mind and then praise Him out loud for the awesome things He has done.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Titus 2 – Christian Standard Bible
Sound Teaching and Christian Living
2 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. 2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.
6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.
9 Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
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.
- Pray for Hope’s Gate. Ask God to use their ministry to communicate and demonstrate the love of Christ to women working in the sex industry. Pray that these women would know that they are seen and loved.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
If you have trusted Christ, you have a blessed hope. One day you will be at home with Jesus forever. Nothing could change that settled reality. Jesus said he is preparing a place for us to be with him. If that is your future reality, life with God forever, what does that reveal about our time now in this present age? In the present age there will still be sin and suffering. There will still be struggle. Scripture tells us we should not be surprised by this reality. But we are also reminded that struggle should not derail us from doing good. So we labor to do good knowing that the good we do and the good we experience will not secure a place for us and knowing the good we do will not outshine the future that awaits. Labor faithfully with the knowledge that God is sovereign, and he is the one creating a people for himself. Trust him, give of yourself sacrificially, and serve within the good boundaries he has set in your life.