Ordinances: Recent Episodes
Hope Presbyterian Church
Effective Fervent Prayer 1) A Righteous Man Praying 2) A Heavenly Father Hearing
James 5:13-20
The biggest obstacle to effective fervent prayer is not making or taking time to pray; it is the unbelief, the little faith, we have in the one to whom we pray. If we believe the promises of God's Word, and know the compassion and grace of the Lord Jesus, we would be on our knees much more. ~ James 5:16
Yours Is the Kingdom O Lord
1) Our Encouragement 2) Our Praise 3) Our Amen
1Chronicles 29:10-20 / Larger Catechism 196
Why are you called to cast all your care upon God? Is it because your needs are so great, or you are so faithful, or so motivated? It is because God cares for you! God has made the fullness of the grace of His Kingdom, power, and glory to be available to meet all our cares...and so we pray. ~ 1Chronicles 29:10-20
Deliver Us from Evil 1) Understanding Evil 2) Understanding the Evil One 3) Understanding Jesus’ Deliverance
2Corinthians 11:1-15 / Larger Catechism 195
"Deliver us from evil" is a plea to Christ to rescue us from both the evil of Satan that meets us in life and the evil of our own corruption and failure that rises from our own heart. Jesus did not keep Peter from Satan's sifting, but rescued Peter, ensuring his faith did not completely fail. Luke 22:31-32
Lead Us Not into Temptation 1. The Nature of Temptation 2. The Exposure to Temptation 3. The Escape from Temptation
We are vulnerable to temptations all the time. Idleness captured David's heart and exploited his lusts; fear motivated Abraham to lie; pride brought Peter down in his overconfidence; frustration caused Moses to act in anger when God wished to be hallowed; tiredness and sorrow led the disciples to enter temptation. ~ 1Corinthians 10:13
Forgive our Sins as We forgive 1) The Glory of Forgiveness 2) The Fruit of Forgiveness 3) The Heart of Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-35, The Larger Catechism 194
The foundation for our exercise of mercy is God's abounding mercy to us in His Son. When we have the testimony of God's forgiveness in us, we can be both bold to ask for and expect forgiveness from others, as well as have the grace in our hearts to forgive others.
Give Us Our Daily Bread 1. What God Owes Us 2. What God Provides for Us 3. What God Expects of Us
Matthew 6:24-34 [Larger Catechism 193]
Worry is an unhealthy preoccupation and overt fear that does not look in faith to God's providence, especially for things like food, clothing, shelter. It is a sign of unbelief that prevents us from seeking God's kingdom and righteousness. ~ Matthew 6:24-34
Your Will Be Done * 1. Our Acknowledgment of God’s Will 2. Our Hindrances to God’s Will 3. Our Prayer for God’s Will Our Inability
Luke 22:39-46 [Larger Catechism 192]
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Your Kingdom Come
- It Has Come with Christ
- It Is Advancing in the World
- It Will Come in Full Glory
Mark 1:14-28 [L.C. #191]
Without tribulation, we Christians would become content in and with this world, unconcerned with our sins, and we would not long for the glory of Christ's reign. We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of heaven. ~ Acts 14:22
Ordnances - Hallowed Be Your Name 1. Highly Esteem Our Father 2. Glorify the Father with All Our Being 3. Guard Against Unbelief
John 17: 1-9, WLC 190
"Hallowed be Your Name" must set the intent of all our prayers. Beginning prayer with this petition means we pray God would, by His providence, order everything in our lives, especially our sufferings, for His glory. Christ's own prayer began here. ~ John 17:1
Praying to the Father 1. With Confidence 2. With Reverence 3. With Others
Matthew 6:5-13
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches that prayer flows from an intimate union with God the Father. To pray "Our Father" calms our souls and compels our prayers to know He is good and knows all our needs, and is ready to give good gifts to those who ask Him. ~ Matthew 6:32 / 7:11
Ordinances - The Who, What, & How of Prayer [L.C. #183-185] 1. Who do we pray for? 2. What do we pray for? 3. How do we pray?
Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus prayed for his own will to be subject to the Father's; He prayed the same prayer until it was clear the Father's will was happening; He prayed in sorrow and deep distress until His own soul was at peace with the Father's will. Jesus shows us what it is to pray boldly before the throne of grace.
Ordinances - Praying In The Spirit
Romans 8:26-27 [Larger Catechism 182]
Praying in the Spirit[Sermon Points] 1. The Spirit helps us 2. The Spirit works in us 3. The Spirit intercedes
The Holy Spirit knows what is in our hearts: our needs, our sins, our temptations, our struggles, what are of our life is ready for sanctification; and He intercedes for us to Christ, "Do this for this soul." God knows the mind of the Spirit in us. ~Romans 8:26-27
Believing Christ for righteousness 1. Who Has Bewitched You? 2. Who Is Perfecting You? 3. Why Was Christ Crucified?
Hebrews 4:11-16 [Larger Catechism 178,180]
- What is it to pray in the name of Christ? To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.
Communion with Christ 1. Communion Nourished 2. Communion Experienced 3. Communion Guarded
1Corinthians 10:14-33 [Larger Catechism 168, 170]
Christ uses His Table to bring you into the most important fellowship you have on the earth in Him - His body, the Church. We no longer have fellowship with this idolatrous world. The Lord is jealous to guard this communion and blesses the Table to that end. ~ 1Corinthians 10:16-22
The Grace of Baptism 1. The Heart of Baptism 2. The Engagement of Baptism 3. The Subjects of Baptism
John 1:19-34 [Larger Catechism 165, 167]
Why do we baptize children of believers? Because of God's covenant. Jesus said that the little children belong to the kingdom of God [Mark 10:14]; Peter preached that the promise of the Holy Spirit is to our children [Acts 2:39]. How can we deny the grace of baptism to those whom God desires to bless with Christ? ~ John 1:33
The Sacraments of the Church 1. What Are the Sacraments 2. What Are the Benefits of Sacraments 3. What Makes Sacraments Effectual
Exodus 12:14-28 [Larger Catechism 161-162]
most of us Christians consider the Sacraments from the human side, what we gain from them by our faith. Faith in Christ is vital, but it is Christ who blesses and who makes the sacraments effectual by His Spirit; Christ accomplishes what the Sacraments promise, which is ultimately the Emmanuel seal of grace. ~ 1Corinthians 12:13
God’s Word and Faith 1. It’s Convicting Grace 2. It’s Transforming Glory
Preaching is heralding God's Word. The message preached has its authority, not from the herald, but from God and His Word. It is God's way of saying to the hearer, "Be still and know that I am God!" ~ Romans 10:17 / Psalm 46:10
Romans 10:14-17; Psalm 19:7-14
Ordinances – The Means of Grace 1. What They Work 2. By Whom They Work
Proverbs 2:1-22
The Holy Spirit uses God's ordinances [His Word preached, the sacraments, prayer] to effect a deeper communion with the Father and the Son, to make us more holy before this world. To neglect these ordinances is to quench the Spirit. ~ 1Thessalonians 5:19