The Lord Knows & the Judge Will Bring Justice (Psalm 94)
> For the Lord will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage;
for justice will return to the righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
—Psalm 94:14-16
> [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=ESV]
As we meet in homes and house churches on Sunday, August 7th, let us lean in with hope and joy.
Teaching and singing will be in-person for those meeting in house churches. Pastor Jeff has also posted a teaching (below as audio, and on podcast) reflecting on Psalm 94.
* On Sunday, August 14th we gather for worship together at 10:00 [http://www.Godrenews.us/gatherings/].
THE LORD’S PRAYER (TOGETHER)
> Our Father, who is in heaven, holy is Your name.
Your kingdom come; Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
TEACHING: LISTEN
SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 94 [HTTPS://WWW.BIBLEGATEWAY.COM/PASSAGE/?SEARCH=PSALM+94&VERSION=ESV]
The Lord Will Not Forsake His People
> 94O Lord, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, shine forth!
2Rise up, O judge of the earth;
repay to the proud what they deserve!
3O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
4They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
5They crush your people, O Lord,
and afflict your heritage.
6They kill the widow and the sojourner,
and murder the fatherless;
7and they say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8Understand, O dullest of the people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
9He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
11the Lord—knows the thoughts of man,
that they are but a breath.
12Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,
and whom you teach out of your law,
13to give him rest from days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14For the Lord will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage;
15for justice will return to the righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
19When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
20Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
those who frame injustice by statute?
21They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22But the Lord has become my stronghold,
and my God the rock of my refuge.
23He will bring back on them their iniquity
and wipe them out for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will wipe them out.
Or view:
Discussing and applying the gospel in community, leading to prayer. Think on these questions, and “Needs and Names.”
Questions for Bible study:
* What are the cries of the righteous when facing injustice? (verses 1-3)
* How are the evil deeds described in verses 4-7?
* What consolation remains for God’s righteous people? (verses 8-15)
* Who guards the righteous and exacts vengeance on the wicked? (verses 16-23)
* What the role of the righteous in relationship to those who are oppressed? (See Psalm 82:4, Proverbs 24:11)
* What are our needs? Share and pray. Who do we know who needs to know the love of Christ? Let us each name them and pray for each personally.
PRAYING TOGETHER: BRINGING SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GOD OUR FATHER
Stand together, every generation, in your home and proclaim the glories of King Jesus — of His goodness, greatness, grace and glory, until He returns!
RESPONDING IN SONGS OF PRAISE
* Playlist of all Renew worship songs [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJOqyrT6_Y155vpy_qaQeCitY1_2q4bCa] recorded and released
BENEDICTION
> “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
—Deuteronomy 33:27a
LET US TAKE THIS OCCASION TO GATHER IN HOMES, INVESTING WITH INTENTION AND JOY SUNDAY MORNING TO WORSHIP, PRAY, AND READ SCRIPTURE TOGETHER. WE ARE BRINGING THE GOSPEL HOME WHEN WE WORSHIP CHRIST.
* As these weeks and months add up you may experience acute financial or emotional difficulty. If you are in need of assistance, whether financial or in practical ways, please email hello@Godrenews.us or reach out personally to any of the church Elders.
Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in theRENEW Church podcast:subscribe in iTunes here [http://bit.ly/renewitunes], or Google Play podcasts here [https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iil5f3igppc4usn4agagexbpnti?t%3DTeaching_%25E2%2580%2593_RENEW_Church%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16], now on Spotify podcasts here [https://open.spotify.com/show/02wsxh9jPN8iwBBgQu072g?si=QdWKmRVzR-yjItWwR_Dtdg ], or access the churchpodcast feed directly here [http://feeds.feedburner.com/RenewChurchPodcast]. Prior teaching videos are posted onthis YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht24m9otTbonXmvKkxWpHg].
(Subscribe below for all new blog posts via email.)
