Prayer Service 2-22-23

Adoration

Prod us to Adoration with some Christology!

Colossians 1:15–18 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God...,

-What does this mean?

1. eikon (εἰκών, 1504) denotes “an image”; the word involves the two ideas of representation and manifestation. — Vine’s

Representation:

Mark 12:16

And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

Manifestation:

Hebrews 10:1

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

-Either way is proof of deity in light of the 2nd Commandment!

-This truth is affirmed by a plethora of other scriptures:

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature...

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 12:45

And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

John 14:9

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

-Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the invisible, transcendent, thrice-holy God

Paul Goes On:

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

-Not Chronology, but rank!

NKJV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

-Also NIV, CSB

Exodus 4:22

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

Psalm 89:27

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

The sense is rank and preeminence---cf:

Revelation 3:14

ESV “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning (ARCHE) of God’s creation.

NIV . . . the ruler of God’s creation.

YLT . . . the chief of the creation of God;

CSB . . . the Originator of God’s creation says:

John 1:1–5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

This is the connection Paul makes in:

Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:17 (ESV)

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Again, Heb 1.3

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power....

And, here’s the kicker:

Colossians 1:18 (ESV)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church.

“Head” = “Captain” or “Chief” or “prince/ruler”

Ephesians 1:22 (ESV)

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Finally, he says this:

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

-Not Chronology but Rank!

pre•em•i•nent

to be outstanding, to stand out—15th century: having paramount rank, dignity, or importance:

πρωτεύων, participle meaning "the one being first" OR "The first one"

NASB95 . . .so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

NIV . . . so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

This is our Lord!

This is the Master we serve!

Let’s Praise Him!

Pray

Supplication

Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV)

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Guy Roberts and Family

Makenna Cook: Brain Aneurysm

Lou Jones: Breast Cancer

Andrew Herrington and Family

Clint DePriest: Wisdom in decision making

Tom, Hope, Ty, Allen, Martha, Randy Young, Jan Rogers,

Confession

Romans 14:13–15:1 (ESV)

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.

23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Thanksgiving

John 6:32–35 ESV

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:40–41 ESV

40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” 41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

John 6:47–51 ESV

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

John 6:55–58 ESV

55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Prayer of Thanksgiving