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Embracing Prayer and Gratitude for God's Goodness
Summary
In this sermon, I focused on the power of prayer and the importance of recognizing God's goodness in our lives. I began by leading the congregation in prayer for the Middle East, specifically for Israel, urging everyone to pray for the people there as if they were close to them and suffering. I emphasized the need for God's presence in the region, for resolution, peace, and wisdom for those in authority. I acknowledged the suffering on both sides and the long-standing animosity, praying for unity through the recognition of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
In the second part of the sermon, I read from Psalm 107:1-2, encouraging the congregation to thank God for His goodness and redemption. I urged everyone to speak out about God's goodness and mercy in their lives, to fill their hearts with gratitude and not overlook what God has done for them. I ended the sermon with a song of worship, expressing gratitude to God for His healing, changing our names, setting us free, and thanking Him for being our Savior.
Key Takeaways: 1. The power of prayer is immense and can bring about resolution, peace, and wisdom in troubled regions like the Middle East ([09:01 ]). 2. Recognizing God's goodness and mercy in our lives is crucial, and we should express our gratitude for His blessings ([12:58 ]). 3. We should not overlook what God has done for us but instead, point out His works in our lives and share His goodness with others ([13:40 ]). 4. God's redemption is a cause for thanksgiving and should be spoken about openly ([12:14 ]). 5. Worship is a powerful expression of gratitude to God for His healing, redemption, and salvation ([14:35 ]).
Observation Questions: 1) What does Psalm 107:1-2 tell us about God's character and His actions towards His people? 2) How does the Psalmist respond to God's redemption in Psalm 107:1-2?
Interpretation Questions: 1) What does it mean to be redeemed according to Psalm 107:1-2? 2) How does the Psalmist's response to God's redemption instruct us in our own response to God's work in our lives?
Application Questions: 1) How have you personally experienced God's redemption in your life? Can you share a specific instance? 2) In what ways can you "speak out" about God's redemption in your life this week, as instructed in Psalm 107:2? 3) How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude towards God for His goodness and redemption, even in challenging circumstances? 4) How can we as a group support and encourage each other to recognize and speak out about God's goodness and redemption in our lives?
Devotional
Day 1: Mobilizing Faith Amidst Fear
In times of crisis, we are called to serve God fearlessly, stepping into dangerous places to preach the gospel with boldness. This requires a deep trust in God's protection and provision, and a willingness to be used as His instruments of peace and love. [11:40 ]
Psalm 56:3 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where fear held you back from serving God. How can you trust in His protection and provision to overcome this fear?
Day 2: Gratitude for Redemption
Our redemption through Christ should fill our hearts with gratitude, prompting us to recognize God's goodness, mercy, and grace in our lives. This gratitude should overflow into our daily interactions, as we share the story of God's goodness with others. [12:58 ]
Psalm 107:2 - "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe."
Reflection: How has God's redemption impacted your life? How can you share this story of redemption with others?
Day 3: Prioritizing God's Presence
As believers, we should prioritize God's presence, setting aside our own agendas to seek His will. This requires a willingness to listen, to be guided, and to surrender our plans to His divine purpose. [08:19 ]
Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: How can you make more space for God's presence in your daily life? What might you need to set aside to do so?
Day 4: Praying for Peace
In the face of conflict and suffering, we are called to pray for peace, asking God to intervene and bring resolution. This prayer should extend beyond our immediate circles, encompassing the global community and those suffering far from us. [09:01 ]
Psalm 34:14 - "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
Reflection: How can you incorporate prayers for global peace into your daily prayer routine?
Day 5: Embracing God's Transformation
God's transformative power can lift us from despair, setting our feet on solid ground. This transformation is a testament to His love and mercy, a reason to give thanks and praise. [14:30 ]
2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Reflection: How has God's transformative power impacted your life? How can you share this transformation with others?
Quotes
1. "Lord, we ask that you will give them the resources that they need so that they could Keep On Blessing the people that have been refugees for so long. We thank you Lord for the care that these people are going to need, that it will be something that they will not be able to forget for the rest of their lives." - 11:03
2. "Has the Lord redeemed you? Then the word says speak out. We're going to sing and we're going to worship and I want us to do it from a place of gratitude, from a place that says God we recognize that you have been good to us." - 12:58
3. "We are a church that values the presence of God and we want to make sure that we make space for him to speak, for him to move, for him to show us what he wants to show us and take us where he wants to take us." - 07:46
4. "We ask Lord that you will give wisdom to the people that are in authority over these places. We acknowledge that there are people suffering in both sides of the aisle, innocent people just suffering that have been displaced, that have lost loved ones." - 09:01
5. "We ask Lord that they will be able to find common ground in you. That the Palestinians and the Jews will be able to recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior, the one who came to die for them, the one who came to restore their relationship with the father." - 10:21
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1. "Lord, we ask that you will give them the resources that they need so that they could Keep On Blessing the people that have been refugees for so long. We thank you Lord for the care that these people are going to need, that it will be something that they will not be able to forget for the rest of their lives." - 11:03
2. "Has the Lord redeemed you? Then the word says speak out. We're going to sing and we're going to worship and I want us to do it from a place of gratitude, from a place that says God we recognize that you have been good to us." - 12:58
3. "We are a church that values the presence of God and we want to make sure that we make space for him to speak, for him to move, for him to show us what he wants to show us and take us where he wants to take us." - 07:46
4. "We ask Lord that you will give wisdom to the people that are in authority over these places. We acknowledge that there are people suffering in both sides of the aisle, innocent people just suffering that have been displaced, that have lost loved ones." - 09:01
5. "We ask Lord that they will be able to find common ground in you. That the Palestinians and the Jews will be able to recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior, the one who came to die for them, the one who came to restore their relationship with the father." - 10:21
Wednesday, we are so glad that you're here with us tonight, either here in the room or online. Welcome, you're welcome, welcome to this time of extended worship and prayer.
We are a church that values the presence of God, and we want to make sure that we make space for Him to speak, for Him to move, for Him to show us what He wants to show us, and take us where He wants to take us.
That's what we're going to be doing tonight. We're just going to be tapping into His presence. We're going to have all of the agendas aside and say, "God, it's all about You. What do You want to do tonight?"
We want to start with a prayer, and we're going to be praying for the Middle East. We're going to be praying for Israel, and I want you to join me in that. Pray for them like you would pray for anyone that is close to you who is suffering.
Let us not see them just as a country far away, but let us see the people as human beings suffering and pray for them from that place.
Jesus, we thank You because You are a good God, and we believe that Your goodness transcends everything that we as humans have messed up.
Lord, we know that war is not good. War has been making so much damage in the Middle East, and we're asking, Lord, for Your presence to come into that place.
Lord, we ask that You will bring resolution. We ask, Lord, that You will bring Your peace. We ask, Lord, that You will give wisdom to the people that are in authority over these places, Lord, that You will show them what it is that they need to do.
Lord, we acknowledge that there are people suffering on both sides of the aisle, Lord, that there are people who are innocent on both sides of the aisle just suffering, that have been displaced, that have lost loved ones.
Lord, we ask that You will intervene in this moment, Lord, that they will be able to be united.
Lord, we know that this is not something that is new; this animosity has not just happened, but there has been something that has been brewing for years and years.
We ask, Lord, that they will be able to find common ground in You.
Lord, that the Palestinians and the Jews will be able to recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior, the One who came to die for them, the One who came to restore their relationship with the Father.
No matter what their nationality is, both of them will be able to call You Father, and in that, they will be united.
Jesus, we thank You because we know that all power belongs to You.
Lord, we ask that You will bring resolution, that You will bring peace, that You will bring joy even in the midst of this horrific situation.
Lord, we ask that You will give the people that are on the front lines wisdom in what to do and how to do it, that You will give them supernatural insight so that the people that have been kidnapped can return home safely.
Lord, that there will be no more loss, and that we will hear more and more testimonies of people who love You, who believe in You, who have placed their faith and their trust in You being mobilized.
That they will be able to serve You in this moment, that they will not be afraid, that they will not be quiet, that they will not be pushed to the side, but that they will be able to go into the dangerous places and preach the gospel with boldness.
Thank You for those who are already doing that, and we ask that You will protect them as they do it.
Lord, we ask that You will give them the resources that they need so that they can keep on blessing the people that have been refugees for so long.
We thank You, Lord, for the continued care that these people are going to need, Lord, that it will be something that they will not be able to forget for the rest of their lives.
But I ask, Lord, that there will be somebody that will help them to get through everything that they are experiencing today.
In Your name, we pray, amen.
Amen.
I want to read Psalm 107:1 and 2.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out; tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies."
And that is the posture that I want us to have as we continue to worship, that we will thank God for everything that He has done in us, for everything that He has allowed us to have, for all of the goodness that He has extended to us.
Has He redeemed you? Then the word says, "Speak out."
And we're going to sing, and we're going to worship, and I want us to do it from a place of gratitude, from a place that says, "God, we recognize that You have been good to us."
Thank You, Jesus, for Your goodness. Thank You, Jesus, for Your mercy and for Your grace.
Lord, we ask that You will help us today to recognize Your goodness and Your mercy and Your grace in our lives.
Fill our hearts with thankfulness; fill our hearts with gratitude, Lord, that we will not overlook the things that You have done in our lives, but that every single day we will be able to point at the things that You have done in us and speak to those things and be able to tell other people of Your goodness and Your mercy.
Thank You, Lord, for being so good to us.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Let's keep on worshiping.
So we thank You, God, through it all. We thank You, God. Hallelujah.
Embracing Prayer and Gratitude for God's Goodness
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on Nov 06, 2023
