This Week’s Theme
The Omnipotence of God
Psalm 62.8-12
(The Knowledge of the Holy [KOTH], Chapter 12)

Our God is both sovereign and almighty. He alone can rule for he alone has the power to guarantee that, in the end, his will must be done. “God possesses what no creature can: an incomprehensible plenitude of power, a potency that is absolute. This we know by divine revelation, but once known, it is recognized as being in full accord with reason. Grant that God is infinite and self-existent and we see at once that He must be all-powerful as well, and reason kneels to worship before the divine omnipotence” (KOTH, p. 65). If what we have said of the glory of God has been true thus far, the one who is infinite, self-existent, and self-sufficient, he truly can be seen alone as almighty (even as the Scriptures affirm).

In Psalm 62 we are exhorted to trust in God at all times, to literally pour out our hearts before him, for he is a refuge for us. Why? Because, in contrast to God’s power and strength, we are fragile and weak, vulnerable and short-lived. “Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath” (Ps. 62.9). We are commanded to place no confidence in extortion, nor to set our hopes on robbery, and even if our wealth increases, never to set our heart on it.

The psalmist ends his argument with a revelation: “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work” (Ps. 62.11-12). Being infinite, our God has limitless power: he is omnipotent. As Tozer suggests of God’s power, “He gives but he does not give away. All that he gives remains his own and returns to him again. Forever he must remain what he has forever been, the Lord God omnipotent” (KOTH, p. 66). Glory to his name.

Preparing Our Hearts
Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

Our Heavenly Father, we have heard Thee say, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. But unless Thou dost enable us by the exceeding greatness of Thy power how can we who are by nature weak and sinful walk in a perfect way? Grant that we may learn to lay hold on the working of the mighty power which wrought in Christ when Thou didst raise Him from the dead and set Him at Thine own right hand in the heavenly places. Amen.
~ KOTH, p. 65

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Praising Our God
Te Deum Laudamus 

You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

Listening to His Voice
Chronological Reading for the Day

Saturday: Luke 5; Mark 1.40-2.22; Matt. 8.1-4; 9.1-17

Lectionary Readings

Psalm: Ps. 138

OT: Exod. 1.8-2.10

Gospel: Matt. 16.13-20

NT: Rom. 12.1-8

(Click here for all readings)

Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling

Responding in Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Departing to Serve
Benediction 

Almighty One! I bend in the dust before Thee;
Even so veiled cherubs bend;
In calm and still devotion I adore Thee,
All-wise, all-present friend.

Thou to the earth its emerald robe hast given,
Or curtained it in snow;
And the bright sun, and the soft moon in heaven,
Before Thy presence bow.
~ Sir John Bowring (KOTH, p. 68)

Affirmation for the Day
“Nothing is too hard for Jesus, no man can work like him” (Negro spiritual).

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the king of creation! (Joachim Neander).

For Your Weekly Journey

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
God’s Omnipresence, Jeremiah 23.23-32

Book Reading
Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy