“While We're Waiting: Looking Is Not For Us”

Meditation
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

 

Call to Worship

Leader: Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud or to those who turn aside to false gods.

People: Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can even number.

Unison: We come this day to give you glory and honor and praise for what you have done in our past and what you will do in our future. Amen.

 

Prayer of Confession (Psalm 38:4-6a)
“O Lord, my guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low.” Lift me up, O God. Deliver me from my sins. Take away the guilt, so that I can press on for you, so that I can live again in your glory. Amen.

 

Assurance of Pardon (Psalm 32:1-2, 7)
Leader: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

People: Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Unison: You are my hiding place, O Lord. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Amen.

 

Scripture Lessons
New Testament: Acts 1:6-11
Sermon: “While We'reWaiting: Looking Is Not For Us” (Dr. Calvin Reynolds)

 

You can listen to this sermon as well as the other sermons in this series by going to the following link: http://www.sppcsa.com/pages.asp?pageid=93516

Confession

Confession is one of the reasons why believers join in worship, plus it frees us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some believers do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over; then they wonder if they may have forgotten something. Other Christians believe that God forgives them when they confess, but if they died with unconfessed sins, they would be forever lost. These believers don’t understand that God wants to forgive us. He allowed his beloved Son to die just so he could offer us pardon.

When we come to Christ, he forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don’t need to confess the sins of the past all over again, and we don’t need to fear that God will reject us if we don’t keep our slate perfectly clean.

 

Of course we should continue to confess our sins, but not because failure to do so will make us lose our salvation. Our relationship with Christ is secure. Instead, we should confess so that we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with him.

 

When you confess your sin(s), it involves a commitment that you not continue to sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again. As we pray, we should also ask God for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and

will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:29

 

By Elmer Freed