ORDER OF WORSHIP
Call To Worship
Psalm 113 : 1 – 3
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord. 2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. 3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
哈詩篇 113 : 1 – 3
1 你們要讚美耶和華！耶和華的僕人哪，你們要讚美，讚美耶和華的名！2 耶和華的名是應當稱頌的，從今時直到永遠！3 從日出之地到日落之處，耶和華的名是應當讚美的！
Worship Through Songs
Good day precious children of God–ambassadors of God’s peace and reconciliation through Jesus Christ.
There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world.”
However quaint and naïve it may sound in light of today’s tumultuous geopolitics; it does point to a very real and profound link between the state of the individual’s soul and peace in the society at large. It may be a cliché, but there can never be lasting peace in the world until there is genuine peace in people’s hearts. And according to the Bible, there can never be peace in one’s heart until we have peace with God. For ultimately, the preeminent obstacle in the grand scheme of peace is not conflict between nations—dreadfully significant that may be—but humanity’s enmity towards God; an enmity tracing back to our fall from grace where in unbelief we exchanged God’s truth for a lie.
Horatius Bonar, in God’s Way of Peace, wrote, “In all unbelief there are these two things, – a good opinion of one’s self, and a bad opinion of God. So long as these two things exist, it is impossible for an inquirer to find rest. His good opinion of himself makes him think it quite possible to win God’s favor by his own religious performances; and his bad opinion of God makes him unwilling and afraid to put his case wholly into his hands. The object of the Holy Spirit’s work, in convincing of sin, is to alter the sinner’s opinion of himself, and so to reduce his estimate of his own character, that he shall think of himself as God does, and so cease to suppose it possible that he can be justified by any excellency of his own. Having altered the sinner’s good opinion of himself, the Spirit then alters his evil opinion of God, so as to make him see that the God with whom he has to do is really the God of all grace.”
Humans do not have peace because we have forsaken the source of peace—God himself. Many of us have belittled him in our eyes and have accused him in our hearts as harsh, cruel, unjust, and unworthy of trust and respect.
Thus, it is crucial to remind ourselves time and time again that, in every practical sense, God has every right to reject and condemn us. Yet in the greatest twist of all in this cosmic drama, He did the unimaginable by coming in the flesh through the person of his Son Jesus Christ, and at great cost, reconciled us to himself.
‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.’ [Colossians 1:19-20]
The Prince of Peace himself bought for us peace with God through his blood. As the willing sacrifice, Jesus absorbed the worst of our enmity, hostility, and wickedness, and totally disarmed them by his death on the cross. He was rejected that we might be accepted; condemned that we might be set free; and anguished to the point of death that we might receive God’s peace that surpasses all human understanding—a peace tethered to the reality of the mercy and kindness of God undeniably displayed on Calvary.
Let us lift high the name of Jesus, our peace.
“Jesus, Prince of Peace, all we need to do in order to be free from worry, anxiety, and fear is to obey Scripture, which states, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” It’s as simple as that.
When Your peace rules in our hearts, we can have no more fear, doubt, or dread. Forgive us for resisting Your peace. Forgive us for putting a barrier around our hearts which keeps Your peace from ruling over us. We invite Your peace to rule our hearts, Lord Jesus, as we confess our sins to You.
Jesus, your name Prince of Peace can accomplish so many wonderful things. It can remove fear. It can mend relationships. It can calm storms. It can bring about the realization of the forgiveness of sins. It can also draw groups of people together who do not normally abide together. As Ephesians 2:14 says, “He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.”
We love You and thank You for this great gift. Thank You that in this name is found the unity we all long for and seek. You are the Prince of Peace who desires us to live as one in Your body and to love one another as a reflection of Your love for us.”*
Therefore, guard our hearts, strengthen our resolve, and steady our steps as we live as your ambassadors of peace and reconciliation in the world. As we ourselves overflow with the peace that you alone can give, may we invite others and cause them to come under your realm of peace as members of your beloved family—bought by your blood, sealed by your Spirit.
For the sake of your Name, amen.’
*[adapted from Tony Evans]
Anthem
The Family Prayer Song
Scripture Reading
Galatians 5 : 22 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness
加 拉 太 書 5 : 22
22 聖 靈 所 結 的 果 子 ， 就 是 仁 愛 、 喜 樂 、 和 平 、 忍 耐 、 恩 慈 、 良 善 、 信 實
Sermon
Dr. Ricky Recodo
中文翻譯
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