Prayer Service 3-8-23

Adoration

1 Peter 1:3–9 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! (Why?) According to (Our merit?) his great mercy, he has caused us (that means we weren’t the efficient cause) to be born again (can you make yourself be born?) to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven (not in Palestine) for you,

We could stop and Adore Him already, couldn’t we?

But it gets better:

5 who by God’s power (not our own, nor the power of men — living or dead) are being guarded (ongoing) through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you rejoice (not in temporal gains), though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

This reminds me of a line in Luther’s famous hymn:

Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Prayer of Adoration

Confession

1 Peter 1:13–19 (ESV)

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

This was God’s clarion call to Israel

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

We are called to be “holy”

Because our Owner is “holy”

Prayer of Confession

Supplication:

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Makenna Cook: Brain Aneurysm

Tom Ward, Martha Orr: Leukemia

Hope Sanders: Liver Failure

Randy Young: Pancreatic Cancer

Jan Rogers: Multiple Health Problems

Lou Jones: Breast Cancer

Amber and Co-workers, Guy’s family: Bereavement

Faithfulness of our church

Help for our families/upcoming series

Wisdom/increased fear of the Lord for our elders.

Missionary efforts of the Sawyers and Legges

Thanksgiving

1 Peter 2:20–25 (ESV)

20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

And what was the result?

What was being accomplished in that?

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Prayer of Thanksgiving