Conditional Belief & Awe-Inspired Faith



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01/23 - 01/27 2017 Conditional Belief & Awe-Inspired Faith

Update: For most of 2017 we will be in the Gospel of John. As we do so, our Vision Focus is that we will grow in our experience of awe at meeting, knowing, and worshipping God. In John 4:43-54 Jesus speaks to his hometown Galilean countrymen about the conditional nature of their belief. This is a common theme in John and the other Gospels. God’s people are more interested in and focused on what Jesus can do FOR them and their earthly lives than they are in WHO Jesus us and how they should respond to him.
May you know the awe of true worship as you seek God in his word this week:

Awe is what we experience when God comes close: when the veil between us is lifted, when we see reality more clearly, and we are drawn into a more accurate experience of who God is, who we are, and what reality unaffected by the fall was meant to be like. Awe is not just a moment of worship, it is a taste of heaven.
As our Daily Worship Devotions do not recap the sermon from Sunday, I’d encourage you to download/listen here.


If you are new to these Daily Worship guides, there is a Song of Commitment and Closing Prayer after the list of daily reflection questions.


Song for this week Jesus I My Cross Have Taken http://tinyurl.com/km4huzr
Where possible we will use songs that are live recordings of our worship singing at Church of the Redeemer. You should be able to access them by clicking the link. You can also download them to your computer, phone, etc. (Please copy & paste rather than drag & drop).
Some Recommendations

The goal of the study/reflection questions is to help you get into the text and meet Christ in it, i.e., to worship and meet with God. Avoid engaging with these questions as if it’s a “quiz” where the goal is to get the “correct answer” and then move onto the next question. My prayer, goal, and hope is that the questions will help open up the Word of God – what it means and what it is saying – in order that you might meet God, experience Christ, and hear from the Holy Spirit.
1) I do recommend the full liturgy for each day.

2) The questions for each day may seem a little open or vague. The space they create is intended to allow space for the Holy Spirit to meet with you. Don’t be afraid of using a Study Bible (like the ESV Study Bible) or Commentary. Work hard to not rush through the reflections and questions. The goal is to experience/hear from God.

3) Sing the songs! (Really) Each week we focus on one songs. Download it to your phone so you can listen repeatedly during the day. Singing is a vital spiritual discipline because, when we sing, our mind, body, heart, emotions, and will are all engaged in worship at the same time! That is rare. If this week’s song does not appeal to you, substitute one of your personal favorites.
Opening Prayer

O God, Eternal King and Father of all mercies,

whose light divides the day from the night

and turns the shadow of death into the morning:

To know you is eternal life

and to serve you is perfect freedom:

Drive far from us all wrong desires,

incline our hearts to keep your law,

and guide our feet into the way of peace;

that we may do your will with cheerfulness during the day,

and when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks;

through Jesus Christ, our risen and reigning Lord,


to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Confession (John 1:9-11)

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
Lord Jesus, you left the light of Heaven’s glory to come to a dark and cold world. In staggering humility, you put on human flesh, lived a fully human life, tasted our sorrows, and died the cruelest death to bring the light of your kingdom to a world that did not deserve it.

Though you offer to be with us, we often turn away from you.



Our sin scars your creation, our own hearts, and our relationships with others.

Though you invite us into abundant life, we often do not welcome you.



You come to us, yet we are too busy to notice. You speak, and we are too full of ourselves to hear. Change us, O Lord. Help us to know you more.

Make us more sensitive to your presence with us so that we may experience you.



May we know the joy of your perfect forgiveness and full cleansing. Increase our capacity for wonder and awe for the sake of your Kingdom and for your glory.
Absolution (John 1:12-14, 16)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Intercession

Pray this week for your own self, your community, church, city, and this world to know the resurrection of Jesus in accepting the good news of the gospel. Pray by name those you want God to bring into his kingdom.
Scripture Readings & Reflection

Please review the introductory comments above in yellow.


May you know the awe of true worship as you seek God in his word this week:

Awe is what we experience when God comes close: when the veil between us is lifted, when we see reality more clearly, and we are drawn into a more accurate experience of who God is, who we are, and what reality unaffected by the fall was meant to be like. Awe is not just a moment of worship, it is a taste of heaven.
MONDAY:

  1. Lectio Divina – Divine Reading, where the reader follows four rhythms for the purpose of hearing God’s word for them that day. Read John 4:43-54 four separate times (following the instructions below). Remember that in v48 both times Jesus says “you” he speaks in the plural to the Galileans because of what is explained in v44-45).




    1. PAUSE and ask God to speak to you as you read.

    2. READ – Read the passage, paying attention to words or phrases of Scripture that stand out most to you. After reading, write them down.

    3. REFLECT – Read again, and reflect on what is stirred or touch in you personally from this reading.

    4. RESPOND – Read again, and ask what you want to do in response to this reading.

    5. BE or REST – Read again, and then sit in silence to let God further speak to you through the passage.




  1. Write down what you experienced from God today.

  2. Close with our Closing Prayer below.


TUESDAY:

Review our definition of awe above and pray that God would meet you in his word and that you would worship him in awe


  1. Centering Prayer – A form of brief grounding prayer that can be prayed as a form of greeting the Lord, a returning to him, or as a cry for help. Centering Prayers should be prayed regularly through the day. Consider setting alarms to remind you. Often, centering prayer is particularly helpful when we find ourselves stretched, challenged, or troubled. Rather than lose our tempers and default to our normal way of dealing with conflict or difficulty, in those situations, using a Centering Prayer can be an exclamation for help.




  1. Read John 4:43-54 and review your reflections from yesterday.

  2. Now take what you’ve received from the passage and form it into a brief prayer. For example, “Jesus’ obedience is mine. I am complete in him.” “God doesn’t loath me” “He is holy, worship him.” “Lord, make me rely on you” or “Lord, help me give up control.”

  3. Pray this prayer now and use it throughout the day and week, especially when you feel the pull of temptation. Don’t just pray it once and move on. Take some time to actually communicate with God: to speak and to listen.




  1. Close with our Closing Prayer below.


WEDNESDAY:

Jesus’ response to the conditional faith of the Galileans, the situation with the dying son, Jesus initial words, and then the healing raise for us the deep issues of our suffering (including our own) in this world. This is a good week for us to meditate on what God has told us and promised us about our earthly life, the effects of the fall, and his presence with us in suffering.


Lectio Divina – Divine Reading, where the reader follows four rhythms for the purpose of hearing God’s word for them that day. Read Romans 8:18-39 four separate times (following the instructions below).


    1. PAUSE and ask God to speak to you as you read.

    2. READ – Read the passage, paying attention to words or phrases of Scripture that stand out most to you. After reading, write them down.

    3. REFLECT – Read again, and reflect on what is stirred or touch in you personally from this reading.

    4. RESPOND – Read again, and ask what you want to do in response to this reading.

    5. BE or REST – Read again, and then sit in silence to let God further speak to you through the passage.




  1. Write down what you experienced from God today.

  2. Close with our Closing Prayer below.



THURSDAY:

Review our definition of awe above and pray that God would meet you in his word and that you would worship him in awe
Today we use the Examen which is a spiritual discipline relate to “anticipating.” It is a form of journaling where one examines their day and recalls, briefly, the events throughout the day where God has been evident or surprising. Today, reflect especially on how you have done in allowing the empowering love of God to flow through you, i.e., his love more than your efforts. After making note of where God was present and what he was doing, offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for his presence throughout your day.


  1. Take some time to think back over the current day (if it’s evening) or previous day (if it’s morning) and reflect on where God showed up for you in special ways.

  2. Did he meet you as you prayed centering prayers?

  3. Did God bring you into situations where this week’s passage was particularly applicable?

  4. Where & when did your “shame-monster” show up?

  5. How did it manifest itself, i.e., anger, defensiveness, withdrawal, etc.

  6. Read and Meditate on John 4:43-54 and receive the love of God in Christ with thankfulness.

  7. Close with the Closing Prayer below.


FRIDAY:

Today’s focus is on “Repentance.” The simplest and most literal translation of the Greek word for “repentance” is “to change direction, to turn around.” It’s not just a mental activity, but includes an act of the will.


Read John 4:43-54 and the consider the necessity of entering into repentance and experiencing God’s forgiveness. Consider: Are there any relationships or areas of your life where you need to repent? NB: Do not limit your consideration of sin/repentance to just “acts or deeds,” but let God’s Word guide you as you consider your thinking, relationships, attitude towards God and others (especially those you have a tendency to look down on, be disgusted by, or consider “deplorable” etc.) What is the cost in your relationships with God or your relationships with others of your lack of repentance?

  1. What is keeping you from repenting?

  2. What is the cost in your relationships with God or your relationships with others of your lack of repentance?

  1. Talk to God about those relationships or areas of your life and ask him to change your mind and purpose to walk in obedience to him.

  2. Close with the Closing Prayer below.



Song of Commitment - Jesus I My Cross Have Taken http://tinyurl.com/km4huzr



1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.
2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.
3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.
4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.
5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.
6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.


Closing Prayer
O God, Eternal King and Father of all mercies,

whose light divides the day from the night

and turns the shadow of death into the new morning:

Show me this day what sin and shame looks like in my life:

that I might be freed from its ugliness, lies, and loneliness,

that I might grow in appreciation for the Cross of Christ.

Guide my feet in the way of humility so that:

forgetting about myself I may serve others,

owning your grace, I might be more gracious,

entering into the resurrected life you secured for me, I might more fully alive.

Create in me a new and contrite hearts so that,

I may receive from you full pardon and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.




List of Deep Desires

Distorted/Deceptive Desires

  • Distorted desire: you long for impact and you take control or manipulate to get it or you long for intimacy and you look to pornography

  • Deceitful desire: when you look to any material, experiential, positional, or relational desire to satisfy a deep desire. 

  • Only God can truly satisfy a deep desire.


Godly Deep Desires

  • Purpose, to be part of something larger, transcendence

  • Relationship: to love and be loved, to pursue and be pursued, community, family

  • Impact, significance

  • Honor, respect, valued, understood

  • To protect and provide, to be protected and provided for, security

  • To come through: duty, to hear “well done”

  • Beauty and creativity

  • Justice and freedom

  • Peace, wholeness, completion, home


https://1drv.ms/w/s!AqDlWIBjCobrhdkciEZVXRnyJqUViQ 

To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work in Atlanta and the world.


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