Wednesday Night Prayer Service
And lead us not into temptation – “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).
Saying “No” to temptation is persevering. We should pray that God will give us the strength to “just say no” to the things that displease Him.
Praises and Thanksgiving
Prayers for our People
Prayers for our Church
Saying “No” to temptation is persevering. We should pray that God will give us the strength to “just say no” to the things that displease Him.
Praises and Thanksgiving
- Praise God for the prayer that Jesus prayed for you recorded in John 17 and for the prayer He prayed for you today, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
- Name one thing that happened today for which you can praise God about. For me, I completed Sunday’s sermon today and can praise Jesus for the place where I can preach the gospel of Jesus at Grace this coming Sunday morning. Praise God!
Prayers for our People
- The family of Scott Pethel (Tina – wife, Emily – daughter, Ken, Debra, Carol, and Christy)
- Christy Kent, shingles
- Donna Roberts, COVID
- Joyce Reed, COVID
- Doug Bryant, Cancer Treatments and extreme back pain
- Mike House, anticipated back surgery
- The Grindles, COVID
Prayers for our Church
- Sunday’s Sermon is “Saved and Sure”, John 17:14-16. Jesus is praying for our salvation all the time. He prays that we will continue to grow and mature in our faith every day. Jesus prays that we will become fully devoted believers. Pray for people who need to grow up in their faith and become more like Jesus.
- Pray for the construction and placement of our new Making Christ Real sign. The first message it will send is, “Jesus Christ is the Only Son of God.”
- Pray for our continued work of renovated the upper and lower buildings. Pray for coherence and planning taking place to complete the renovations.
- Pray for our coming SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, Men’s Chili Cook Off. This will be our first activity to take place in the newly renovated lower building.
- Pray for the Deacons who are meeting tonight with the owner of the sign company building our digital sign. The actual work will start following this meeting.
- Pray for the ministry of our Worship Team, Children’s Ministry leaders, Student Ministry Leaders, Women’s Ministry Leaders, and Men’s Ministry Leaders. Pray for our Sunday School teachers and leaders. Pray for our coming together in ministry during 2022. We praise God for all He will do in our church this year.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY
The Psalms
The Psalms is popularly known as the “Hymnbook” of the Old Testament. Its proper name comes from a Greek word which refers to stringed instruments such as the harp, lyre, and the lute. (My son would say the guitar) It can also refer to songs which are accompanied by stringed instruments.
The Hebrew name for the Psalms, TEHILLIM, means “praises”. The word is also used to refer to “prayers” such as is found in Psalm 72:19-20, “And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory, Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”
Some of the psalms are general hymns of praise.
There are enthronement psalms which celebrate the Lord as king over the nation and the world.
There are songs of Zion which focus on the Holy City Jerusalem.
There are worship psalms which guide the praise of God’s people in the temple.
There are psalms which are laments representing the sorrow and grief of God’s People, “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications” (Psalm 13:1-2). These psalms offer assurance and peace to the people of God when they suffer various trials.
There are psalms of thanksgiving which guide the people in their expression of joy and gratitude for the blessings of God, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, your His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want” (Psalm 34:8-9). Thanksgiving psalms point to God’s deliverance from enemies and hardship. These psalms point to God’s mighty acts like deliverance for slavery in Egypt.
There are trust psalms which express the faith of God’s people, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread… Though the host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; through war arise against me, in spite of this I shall not be moved” (Psalm 27:1,3). These psalms offer opportunities for believers to return blessings back to God for His protection and care. Trust is belief turned back toward God.
The book of Psalms contains 150 psalms. It took centuries to compile them all. The final compilation probably took place somewhere around the time of Zerubbabel when the second temple was built following the exile in Babylon. By the time of Jesus, the Psalms was referred to as the “Book of Psalms”, “For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’” (Luke 20:42).
There are psalms which refer to God as YAHWEH, (Lord) Psalms 1-41.
There are psalms which frequently call God ELOHIM, (God) Psalms 42-72. These psalms are referred to as the “Yahweh Collection” and the “Elohim Collection.” More than half the psalms collection can be ascribed to king David as their author.
In essence, the book of Psalms set forth the theology of Israel. They define what Israel believed about God. Note some of the themes which tell us what to believe about God:
If you want to know about God, who He is and what He is like, read the Psalms. The psalms show us the character and quality of God.
Erik Routley calls the Psalms a “Mirror of Life.”
The Psalms not only show us the life of ancient Israel, but they reflect the needs and wants of human nature itself. People need God and the Psalms show us how God meets our needs. One of the greatest needs of man in any age is to know God and to worship Him, “Let us go into the dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool, arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Let Your godly ones sing for joy…” (Psalm 132:7-9). When you read the Psalms, you see yourself created in the image of God to magnify and worship Him.
We will continue to study the Psalms on Wednesday night via email and the church website, hourofgrace.org. This will be our way of praying together and sharing the word of God until the time changes to daylight savings on Sunday, March 13. We will begin Wednesday night prayer services and Bible study at the church again on Wednesday, March 16th.
The Hebrew name for the Psalms, TEHILLIM, means “praises”. The word is also used to refer to “prayers” such as is found in Psalm 72:19-20, “And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory, Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”
Some of the psalms are general hymns of praise.
There are enthronement psalms which celebrate the Lord as king over the nation and the world.
There are songs of Zion which focus on the Holy City Jerusalem.
There are worship psalms which guide the praise of God’s people in the temple.
There are psalms which are laments representing the sorrow and grief of God’s People, “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications” (Psalm 13:1-2). These psalms offer assurance and peace to the people of God when they suffer various trials.
There are psalms of thanksgiving which guide the people in their expression of joy and gratitude for the blessings of God, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, your His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want” (Psalm 34:8-9). Thanksgiving psalms point to God’s deliverance from enemies and hardship. These psalms point to God’s mighty acts like deliverance for slavery in Egypt.
There are trust psalms which express the faith of God’s people, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread… Though the host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; through war arise against me, in spite of this I shall not be moved” (Psalm 27:1,3). These psalms offer opportunities for believers to return blessings back to God for His protection and care. Trust is belief turned back toward God.
The book of Psalms contains 150 psalms. It took centuries to compile them all. The final compilation probably took place somewhere around the time of Zerubbabel when the second temple was built following the exile in Babylon. By the time of Jesus, the Psalms was referred to as the “Book of Psalms”, “For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’” (Luke 20:42).
There are psalms which refer to God as YAHWEH, (Lord) Psalms 1-41.
There are psalms which frequently call God ELOHIM, (God) Psalms 42-72. These psalms are referred to as the “Yahweh Collection” and the “Elohim Collection.” More than half the psalms collection can be ascribed to king David as their author.
In essence, the book of Psalms set forth the theology of Israel. They define what Israel believed about God. Note some of the themes which tell us what to believe about God:
- God is creator – Psalm 33
- God made Israel and the nations – Psalm 110:3, and Psalm 86:9
- God saves His people from their enemies – Psalm 62
- God is sovereign – Psalm 72:1-4
- God reveals Himself – Psalm 33:4-7
- God is holy – Psalm 99:1-9
- God is faithful love – Psalm 25:6-7, 103:1-4
If you want to know about God, who He is and what He is like, read the Psalms. The psalms show us the character and quality of God.
Erik Routley calls the Psalms a “Mirror of Life.”
The Psalms not only show us the life of ancient Israel, but they reflect the needs and wants of human nature itself. People need God and the Psalms show us how God meets our needs. One of the greatest needs of man in any age is to know God and to worship Him, “Let us go into the dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool, arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Let Your godly ones sing for joy…” (Psalm 132:7-9). When you read the Psalms, you see yourself created in the image of God to magnify and worship Him.
We will continue to study the Psalms on Wednesday night via email and the church website, hourofgrace.org. This will be our way of praying together and sharing the word of God until the time changes to daylight savings on Sunday, March 13. We will begin Wednesday night prayer services and Bible study at the church again on Wednesday, March 16th.
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