ANNOUNCEMENT
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Call To Worship
Psalm 149: 1 – 2
1 Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
詩篇 149: 1 – 2
1 你們要讚美耶和華！向耶和華唱新歌，在聖民的會中讚美他！2 願以色列因造他的主歡喜，願錫安的民因他們的王快樂！
Worship Through Songs
Good day dear servants of the Living God—recipients of the Lord’s ever-sufficient grace and power.
For many of us who grew up in church and have been receiving Biblical teaching and instruction for many years, we have learned at some point that the God of the Bible is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent—that He is all-powerful; all-knowing; and present everywhere.
When we affirm that our Lord God is Almighty, we affirm that He has all power—which means that He is the ultimate source of all the capacities of every other being in the universe. Every creature—even those currently in rebellion against him—owes all its power [as well as its very existence] to God Almighty. For He alone, Who is the self-existent and self-sufficient Creator, causes, sustains, and enables everything and everyone else to live and move and have their being. Now and forever the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.
Yet, God’s displays of his power [though ultimately for his glory] is radiant with holy purpose, and far different from the prideful obsessions of sinful men and is never self-absorbed nor narcissistic.
In a chapter about God’s power, R.C. Sproul in his book Discovering the God Who Is, wrote. “For most of us, if there is a place where we want to limit the omnipotence of God, it is in respect to what He does to us. Prayer for us is often a kind of room service menu, and we call in our orders to the heavenly bellhop. Prayer becomes the means by which we tell God what He needs to do for us. Prayer is our power to control His power.
Mary did not allow her concept of God to degenerate to such a level. She knew who God was and she knew who Mary was. He was Lord; she was servant. Her will was to submit to God’s will. God gives the orders. Gabriel did not come to Mary to request a virgin birth or to negotiate the plan of redemption. Gabriel came with an announcement. That is why this portion of Scripture is called the “Annunciation.” No one calls it the “Negotiation.”
Shortly after the Annunciation, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. There, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Mary sang the Magnificat, “My soul doth magnify the Lord”:
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly (Luke 1:49-52, emphasis added).
The irony of Mary’s song is that she sang of One who used His strength to help her after she declared, “Do whatever you wish with me.” She combined her understanding of God’s omnipotence with her understanding of God’s mercy and grace. In redemption God’s power is gracious power. The greatest song we can ever sing is, “For He who is mighty has done great things for me.”
He continues, “That God has used His power “for us” is what redemption is all about. For the unbeliever, the idea of God’s omnipotence provokes sheer terror. For those who embrace the gospel, God’s omnipotence brings sweet comfort. The One who has all power loves us and calls us His children.”
‘The One who has all power loves us and calls us His children’ and has made his power available to us in the Name of Jesus. Thus, Scriptures declare that those who call upon him, and trust in his Name shall find him, the Lord God Almighty, an ever-present help in trouble; and shall never, by virtue of that trust, be put to shame. Bless His Holy Name!
‘Lord God Omnipotent, our good and loving Abba,
Forgive us for the many times when we forget that nothing is impossible with You. And for the times that we forget to ask great things from You in a posture of false humility—often confusing the reason to be our submission to your sovereign will, when in fact the greater reason for our reluctance is actually the fear of being disappointed.
Father, give us a mind like Jesus. A mind that, though totally surrendered to your sovereign will and wisdom, is nevertheless free to speak what is truly in our hearts—rightfully confident that You, the righteous judge of all the earth who always does what is right, is also the generous Abba who counts not our sins against us, nor holds our weaknesses in contempt, but beckons us to boldly bring our requests before your throne of grace in Jesus’ Name. The same precious and powerful Name through whom we bless You, adore You and beseech your mighty intervention on our behalf.
Amen.’
Anthem
Assurance Medley
Scripture Reading
Deuteronomy 6 : 1 – 9 (ESV)
1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
申 命 記 6 : 1 – 9 (CUV)
1 這 是 耶 和 華 ─ 你 們 神 所 吩 咐 教 訓 你 們 的 誡 命 、 律 例 、 典 章 ， 使 你 們 在 所 要 過 去 得 為 業 的 地 上 遵 行 ，
2 好 叫 你 和 你 子 子 孫 孫 一 生 敬 畏 耶 和 華 ─ 你 的 神 ， 謹 守 他 的 一 切 律 例 誡 命 ， 就 是 我 所 吩 咐 你 的 ， 使 你 的 日 子 得 以 長 久 。
3 以 色 列 阿 ， 你 要 聽 ， 要 謹 守 遵 行 ， 使 你 可 以 在 那 流 奶 與 蜜 之 地 得 以 享 福 ， 人 數 極 其 增 多 ， 正 如 耶 和 華 ─ 你 列 祖 的 神 所 應 許 你 的 。
4 以 色 列 阿 ， 你 要 聽 ！ 耶 和 華 ─ 我 們 神 是 獨 一 的 主 。
5 你 要 盡 心 、 盡 性 、 盡 力 愛 耶 和 華 ─ 你 的 神 。
6 我 今 日 所 吩 咐 你 的 話 都 要 記 在 心 上 ，
7 也 要 殷 勤 教 訓 你 的 兒 女 。 無 論 你 坐 在 家 裡 ， 行 在 路 上 ， 躺 下 ， 起 來 ， 都 要 談 論 。
8 也 要 繫 在 手 上 為 記 號 ， 戴 在 額 上 為 經 文 ；
9 又 要 寫 在 你 房 屋 的 門 框 上 ， 並 你 的 城 門 上 。
Mark 12 : 28 – 30 (ESV)
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
馬 可 福 音 12 : 28 – 30 (CUV)
28 有 一 個 文 士 來 ， 聽 見 他 們 辯 論 ， 曉 得 耶 穌 回 答 的 好 ， 就 問 他 說 ： 誡 命 中 那 是 第 一 要 緊 的 呢 ？
29 耶 穌 回 答 說 ： 第 一 要 緊 的 就 是 說 ： 以 色 列 阿 ， 你 要 聽 ， 主 ─ 我 們 神 是 獨 一 的 主 。
30 你 要 盡 心 、 盡 性 、 盡 意 、 盡 力 愛 主 ─ 你 的 神 。
Sermon
Rev. Alvin Rival
中文翻譯
Tithes And Offering
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