Tag: Ruth

From Bloodline to Faith: Jesus’ Better Covenant

John’s powerful rebuke to the crowds gathered at the Jordan River reveals a profound shift in God’s plan for salvation. When John tells the crowd that their claim to Abraham as their forefather isn’t enough to save them (Matthew 3:9), he’s laying the groundwork for a new covenant that Jesus would usher in—a covenant that wasn’t based on bloodline but on faith. This is a critical moment in understanding the transition from the old way of thinking, where lineage determined your identity as part of God’s people, to the new way, where it’s faith in Christ that defines who belongs to God.

In the Old Testament, the promise to Abraham was deeply connected to his descendants—God chose Abraham and promised that through his offspring, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). The Jewish people took pride in being Abraham’s physical descendants, as this bloodline represented their covenant relationship with God. But John’s rebuke highlights a truth that had been foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament: salvation has always been about more than just physical descent.

Even before Jesus came, there were those who were saved not by their bloodline but by their faith. Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, was not part of the family of Abraham by blood, yet she is included in the genealogy of Jesus because of her faith and her actions in protecting the Israelite spies (Joshua 2, Matthew 1:5). Similarly, Ruth, a Moabite widow, was not an Israelite by birth, but her faithfulness to God and her trust in His provision brought her into the fold of God’s people (Ruth 1:16, Ruth 4). These women—outsiders by all human standards—were saved by their faith, and they became part of the lineage through which Jesus, the Savior, came.

What John was doing in his rebuke was preparing the people for the truth that Jesus would soon reveal: that God’s plan had always been bigger than a single nation or bloodline. Jesus came to bring that plan to completion, fulfilling the promises made to Abraham while expanding them. No longer would salvation be confined to those who could trace their ancestry back to Abraham; now, anyone who has faith in Christ is considered a child of Abraham (Galatians 3:7). Jesus took the bloodline of Abraham, the promise made to one family, and fulfilled it so completely that it could be opened up to the whole world.

This is incredibly good news for us today because it means that salvation is not something we inherit or earn through who we are or what we do. It’s a gift of grace that comes through faith in Jesus. Just like Rahab and Ruth, we are invited into God’s family, not by our lineage or our efforts, but by trusting in Him. And just as they were counted righteous through their faith before Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are now made right with God through the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

This message is particularly significant in our time, where people often find their identity in their background, status, or achievements. Jesus’ invitation is open to all, regardless of their past, their family, or their mistakes. The promise that began with Abraham, was carried through his bloodline, and was fulfilled in Jesus is now extended to all who would believe.

In Jesus, the bloodline of Abraham is brought to completion, and a new, better promise is made available to us all: salvation through faith. Just as Rahab and Ruth were brought into God’s family by faith, so too can we become part of His family, united not by blood, but by the Spirit of God that draws us to faith in Christ. That is the true fulfillment of God’s plan and the good news we celebrate today.

Unexpected Heroes: The Women Who Shaped Salvation

When we read through the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, we’re confronted with an unexpected detail: the inclusion of five women. In a time when genealogies typically traced lineage through men, the appearance of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary stands out. But what’s even more striking is why these women, in particular, were chosen. They weren’t the matriarchs like Sarah or Rebekah, and they weren’t the well-known mothers of the tribes of Israel. So why these women? What did they contribute to God’s redemptive plan that others did not?

Each of these women played a direct, active role in the salvation story—often in ways that were culturally or morally controversial. Their actions not only shaped the lineage of the Messiah, but they also reveal a deeper truth about how God works through those who are often overlooked, scandalized, or marginalized.

Tamar: Preserving the Line of Judah

Tamar’s story (Genesis 38) is one of desperation and justice. Widowed twice, she found herself in a situation where the family of Judah failed to fulfill their duty to provide her with a husband and offspring. In response, Tamar took a drastic step: disguising herself as a prostitute to bear a child through Judah himself. While her actions seem morally questionable on the surface, she was acting to preserve the family line—ensuring that the tribe of Judah, through which the Messiah would come, continued. She forced Judah to fulfill his responsibility, even when he was unwilling to do so. Tamar’s inclusion in the genealogy isn’t about celebrating deception but recognizing her critical role in ensuring the continuation of the Messianic line.

Why Tamar and not someone like Leah or Rachel? Tamar’s direct action ensured the survival of Judah’s lineage. Without her, the line that would bring forth Jesus might have ended. Leah and Rachel, while important, were part of the natural unfolding of events. Tamar’s story is one of stepping in to secure the future when everything seemed to be falling apart.

Rahab: The Outsider Who Saved Israel

Rahab (Joshua 2) was a Canaanite prostitute living in Jericho. Yet, her faith in the God of Israel led her to hide the Israelite spies and help them escape. In return, her family was spared when Jericho fell. Rahab not only became part of Israel but also married into the nation, becoming the great-grandmother of King David.

Why Rahab and not other women of faith from Israel’s history? Rahab’s story emphasizes that God’s salvation is for all people, not just the chosen nation of Israel. Her inclusion highlights the expansive nature of God’s grace. She wasn’t born into the covenant but was grafted in through faith. Her faithfulness was pivotal in the conquest of the Promised Land, making her a vital part of the salvation narrative.

Ruth: The Loyal Foreigner

Ruth’s story (Book of Ruth) is one of loyalty and redemption. A Moabite widow, she chose to leave her homeland and stay with her mother-in-law Naomi, declaring that Naomi’s God would be her God. Her devotion led her to Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer who married her and continued the family line, eventually leading to the birth of King David.

Why Ruth and not the matriarchs like Sarah or Rebekah? While Sarah and Rebekah were critical to the birth of Israel, Ruth’s story is about the inclusion of the Gentiles. Ruth was an outsider, a Moabite, and yet she became the great-grandmother of David. Her faithfulness in an uncertain situation ensured the continuation of the line that would produce the Messiah. Ruth’s inclusion teaches us that God’s plan is not limited to those within the covenant but includes those who choose to enter it by faith.

Bathsheba: The Mother of the King

Bathsheba’s story (2 Samuel 11-12) is filled with tragedy and scandal. She was the wife of Uriah, a Hittite, and became pregnant by King David after he summoned her. Her first child with David died, but their second child, Solomon, became the king through whom God’s promise to David was fulfilled. Despite the circumstances of their union, Bathsheba’s role as Solomon’s mother was vital in ensuring the continuation of David’s line.

Why Bathsheba and not others like Abigail or Michal? Bathsheba’s inclusion points to the complexity of human sin and divine grace. Despite the scandal of her relationship with David, she bore the king who would build the temple and continue the Messianic line. Bathsheba’s story shows that even in the midst of sin and failure, God’s redemptive purposes are at work.

Mary: The Faithful Servant

Mary’s inclusion is perhaps the most obvious. She was the young woman chosen to bear the Messiah (Luke 1). Her faithfulness in accepting God’s will, despite the social stigma she would face as an unwed mother, sets her apart. Mary’s quiet submission to God’s plan is a powerful example of faithfulness in the face of uncertainty.

Why Mary? Mary’s unique role as the mother of Jesus makes her central to the salvation story. Unlike the other women, she was directly chosen by God for this role, and her faithful acceptance of God’s will brought the Savior into the world.

Conclusion: Faithfulness Over Status

What sets these women apart isn’t just their actions, but their willingness to step into God’s redemptive plan, often in messy, complicated situations. They were not chosen for their status or for adhering to societal expectations but for their faithfulness in the face of difficulty. Their stories show us that God’s primary desire is not to bring about social change, but to transform lives. When we are faithful in the circumstances we find ourselves in, God can work through us, even when the situation looks hopeless or morally complex.

While today’s culture often pushes for external reforms and changes, the Gospel calls us to internal transformation. The change we need begins with hearts surrendered to God, and from that place, societies are transformed as a byproduct. The lives of these women remind us that true change comes from faithfulness in the margins, not through performative actions but through trusting God to use our brokenness for His glory.

Fickle Friends

Absalom is dead and his coup with him. David returns to Jerusalem, his victory undercut by the death of his son. God’s promise that David’s sin would lead to his family living (and dying) by the sword is coming to pass. And during his return to Jerusalem several men from all the tribes of Israel help him return to the palace. But 10 of the tribes are angry that Judah is helping. They insist that David send them away because “where were they before!?”. David rebukes them, but then a man named Sheba tries to lead ANOTHER revolt against David and everyone EXCEPT Judah joins with him! This coup, too, would be shut down, but it shows the dangers of fickle friends. What if David had sent away Judah, and relied on the loyalty of people who would so quickly turn on him?

We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by popular opinion. We cannot allow ourselves to be held hostage by the opinions of those who would hold their friends over our heads. Listen to the council of a faithful friend, but always weigh it against the truth of Scripture. Most friends come and go and shouldn’t have a place of high influence. But you should absolutely find a Ruth, Jonathan, or Barnabas and be that in return.

Faithful (in every sense of the word) friends > Fickle Friends

2 Samuel 19:30-21:22; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8; Psalm 7

The Prayer of Jabez Revisited

If you like genealogies you will LOVE today’s reading. But there is some more interesting tidbits sprinkled in here as well. Like the conclusion to the story of Ruth & Boaz as well as Elkanah’s just… really terrible attempt at consoling his wife. But what struck me most today was the prayer of Jabez. He disappeared from the Biblical account as quickly as he entered it, but his prayer was included by the author for a reason. What can we learn from this prayer.

Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would greatly bless me and expand my territory. May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm so I might not endure pain.” God answered his prayer.

Jabez prays four things. 1) That God would greatly bless him. 2) That God would expand his territory 3) That God would be with him 4) The God would keep him from harm. Let’s take a quick look at each of these.

  1. That God would greatly bless him — We get nervous about asking for God’s blessing because of name-it-and-claim-it preachers and theology, but there’s nothing wrong with asking for God’s blessing! We see a great many Biblical figures do so. We just need to remember not to put a fence around what God’s blessing “should” be. We should consider ourselves blessed when we can use whatever we may have been given to bless others.
  2. That God would expand his territory — We are told that if we are faithful with little, we will be trusted with more. If you have been using what you have been blessed with for the glory of God, you should not be surprised that God is “expanding your territory” and trusting you with more.
  3. That God would be with him — As the Lord has been teaching me this year: I am very capable of doing a great number of things on my own. But this means that I often tell God to “sit this one out” because I don’t NEED Him. This is — and has been — an error on my part. We should have a standing invitation to God. We should ask Him to be a part of everything we are doing.
  4. That God would keep him from harm — I think this would be our desire, but one we ought to hold loosely. We should remember that it is a privilege to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus did. Paul did. Peter did. I would not mind being mentioned alongside these fellow.

Let’s try to employ these principles as we pray, seek the Lord, and try to live lives worthy of the One who saved us.

Ruth 4:13-22, 1 Chronicles 2:9-55; 4:1-23, 1 Samuel 1:1-8 | 098/365

It Doesn’t Matter What Your Name Is!

Ruth is such a wonderful book. Especially coming off the disaster piece that is the end of Judges. This is a beautiful story and a much-needed palette-cleanser. Choosing what to focus on was challenging because I love so much of this story (ask me about the feet thing sometime).

What I’ve settled on is the other would-be redeemer’s name from the beginning of chapter 4. I guess what I really mean is the total LACK of a name for the other would-be redeemer from the beginning of chapter 4. The NET Bible literally translates his name as “John Doe”.

Now, the explanation is actually quite long, and involved, requiring a lot of historical digging and genealogies with a good understaffing of Greek grammar.

nah, jk. As The Rock would say, “It doesn’t matter what your name is!” Because it doesn’t matter! His name doesn’t matter! Boaz certainly knew it. The author of the book certainly knew it. Why was it left out of the story? No one knows for sure, maybe because they didn’t want to make him look bad in the story, maybe because he decided not to carry on the name of Mahlon, so the author decided not to carry on his name, but leave it lost to the dustbin of history. It’s difficult to say for sure, but at the end of the day it just doesn’t matter what his name is.

Here’s the thing: YOU CAN’T THWART GOD’S PLAN! If you decide not to do the right thing, if you decide that you don’t want to be the one to step into the call of God, then God will raise up someone else. And you’ll miss it! Don’t miss it! Don’t allow yourself to be old what’s-his-name because you were scared or had doubts or it was messy or it didn’t fit your pre-existing plan.

You want to see God show up big? YOU show up big! Meet Him there and watch what happens!

Ruth 1:1-4:12 | 097/365

The Least & The Greatest

Another day chock-full of all manner of things to dig into, it’s hard to choose where to focus.

I think I want to take a minute and contrast our man Gideon with the previous judge, Deborah. Now, we don’t know either of these people of antiquity overly well, but what I find interesting is how far their stories diverge.

Gideon is not the leader we would expect, being a small man from a small tribe, and Deborah was an unlikely leader just because she was a woman. But God called both of them to lead.

Deborah did not want to go fight, but Barak pleaded with her to join him and so she did, and Israel was successful. Whereas Gideon needed all kinds of proof. Burn this up. And make this wet. And keep this dry. And show me a bizarrely specific interpretation of a WEIRD dream. Gideon needed so much hand-holding by God. But some of us need more prodding than other. This is no shade on Gideon, but then…

Deborah helps Barak to lead a successful campaign and co-writes a victory song with him that both starts AND ends with the Lord. Yahweh. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Gideon leads multiple successful campaigns, accepts fame, donations, takes a multitude of wives, makes a golden Ephod that the people of Israel WORSHIP, and which also becomes a trap for him. One of his sons ends up killing all the others… there were 70.

As a teen (I only accepted Christ at the age of 15, so I never did Sunday School) I heard about Gideon and Samson, but I never heard about Deborah. Gideon had many battles and accomplished great feats. Samson did the same… or did they? The fact is that these were two broken people used by God to accomplish HIS purposes. They actually contributed very little to their own success, but they were more than willing to bask in it.

Yet Deborah goes largely overlooked. Almost like an afterthought… did you know there was a FEMALE judge? Oooh! How unorthodox and wacky! Yet her quiet confidence and upward-facing attitude are what we claim to value most in both our leaders and ourselves.

I guess what I’m driving at is that we ought to remember that the people in the Bible were not special people that God chose. They BECAME special people because God chose them. So let’s not hoist up the ones God used to most brightly reveal His glory (if I am honest, I have very little interest in being like Gideon, or Samson… or Pharaoh). Instead let’s look for those, like Deborah, or Ruth, or Boaz, or Moses who tried to stay humble and honour the Lord with upright actions and a dedication to obedience.

Judges 7:1-9:21 | 092/365

Bold as Love

HOOK

  • Brother Andrew story Pt I
    • Smuggled Bibles into closed countries
    • Faced with an inescapable Romanian checkpoint
    • Cars being torn to pieces
    • How will he escape?

BOOK

(Ruth 2:2–9a, NKJV) 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”  8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?

PRAYER

(God help us to have boldness)

LOOK

Recap

Airdropping into Ruth, so if you are unfamiliar with the story, here’s your recap: Previously, in Ruth…

  • Naomi/Husband/Sons leave Bethlehem because of famine.
  • Husband/Sons die in Moab.
  • One daughter stays in Moab, the other follows Naomi back to Israel.

Verse 2–3

2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

  • There is provision for the poor, the widow, and the orphan under the Mosaic Law. The harvesters were not to harvest the edges of the field, nor were they to pick up anything that had been dropped.
  • Naomi was in a terrible headspace and couldn’t do anything, so Ruth took it upon herself to provide for both of them.
  • She “happened” to land in Boaz’ field. A member of the family of Naomi’s late husband.

Verse 4

4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”

  • Ruth shows up at the field the same day and Boaz stops in to inspect the work!
  • Boaz and the works greet each other with an acknowledgment that God guides and provides. This provides a tone for the work environment and the boss.

Verse 5

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

  • Picture it! Boaz sees Ruth from across the field as “True” by Spandau Ballet plays.
  • Whose young woman? (Father/Brother)
  • Someone should be taking care of her

Verse 6

6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

  • I’m sure Naomi’s re-arrival in town would have caused a buzz.
  • And there’s a foreigner with her!

Verse 7

7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”

  • “Among the sheaves” is a BOLD REQUEST
    • Reaped bundles the female servants would bind
    • Gathering for two
    • Much more than what she asked Naomi for
    • IN THE POCKET
  • It might surprise you to learn that among translation nerds, this it is a hotly contested passage!
    • The controversy?
      • What was Ruth actually doing that morning?
    • Popular translations:

(NKVJ) So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.

(ESV) So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.

(CSV) She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.

(NET) Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now–except for sitting in the resting hut a short time.

(NIV 1984) She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.

(NLT) She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.

  • Continued from v3, right? “Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers”
  • So what’s the controversy?

Editorial Decisions

  • Translating is as much art as it is science.
  • Bad, phat, sick, ill, and wicked.
  • In the same way…

Two Contentious Phrases

  • “Continued” [HEB: aw-mad]
    • appears over 500x in the OT
    • This is the only time it is ever translated as “hard at work”. The vast majority of times it appears it is translated as “stand” or “stand waiting”.
  • So why do…
    • Literal leave it ambiguous
    • Thought-for-thought translate “hard work”
  • Because… I think…
  • “Rested a little” [HEB: meh-at yaw-shab]
  • Why would Ruth need to dwell a little in the house if she had merely been standing around all day?
    • Possible: “dwell too little” OR “hardly dwell”

A Matter of Character

  • Must know who we are talking about to get to the bottom of this
  • BOAZ is wealthy, God-fearing, and of good character
  • RUTH is a worthy woman 3:11 -> A proverbs 31 woman
  • Most agree that Boaz is being generous later in vv15.

(vv15) And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.

  • This was generous because of what “Among the Sheaves” meant.
    • POCKET BOLD REQUEST
  • Same as vv7
  • ILL: Les Miserables (Bishop Myriel & Jean Valjean candlesticks vs more)
  • No generosity, but magnanimity, grace.
  • Even if Boaz WAS generous, it besmirches Ruth!
  • ILL: Man knocks on your door and asks for food and money.
  • Virtuous, trustworthy, dignified, wise, respects the Lord
    • No, I do not think Ruth made the BOLD request, then did it anyway
  • Maybe older sources will help?

Older Translations

  • TRANSLATED closer to the source
    • Why does that matter? (Idiom and understanding)
  • Ruth was written between the 10th and 4th centuries BC

(Masoretic Text—Jewish Bible/Hebrew & Aramaic/7cAD) So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

(Vulgate—Common lang/Latin/4cAD) And she hath been in the field from morning till now, and hath not gone home for one moment. 

(Septuagint—Common language/Greek/2cBC) And she came and stood from morning till evening, and rested not a little in the field.

  • She did not begin working, but waited until she had permission from the only one who could give it
  • Preserves character of both Boaz and Ruth

(CUV) And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has stood waiting from morning until now, having no need of the house.”

Verse 8–9a

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?

  • And you see the boldness has paid off.

TOOK

(Hebrews 4:16, NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

  • Is that what we do?

(Matthew 6:19–23, NKJV) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be 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 debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

(Average Christian Prayer) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, God. God, if Your kingdom could just come. And just let Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven, God. And just Give us this day our daily bread. And just forgive us our debts Lord, As we forgive our debtors. And just do not lead us into temptation, But just deliver us from the evil one, God. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

  • Do you see the difference?
  • Pets begging under the table
  • My kids just ask because I’ve shown myself to be a faithful, generous provider
  • My kids only beg when they think I will say ‘no’.
  • Stop just this or that, if you want something, ask for it!
  • If you are being presumptuous or selfish, don’t be surprised if God says ‘no’.
  • Seeking God? Desires align
    • Leadership Team Prayer alignment
  • How can we come, as Hebrews says, before the throne of grace with such confidence?
    • As children of God. Adopted sons and daughters.

(Rom 8:14–17, NKJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

  • Brother Andrew story Pt II
    • Recap
    • Hands documents
    • Knee in the door
    • Foot over the brake
  • OUT OF THE POCKET BOLD REQUEST 
  • Andrew asked to be saved from an impossible situation for the sake of the Gospel
  • Book of Acts prayer for boldness in the face of persecution for the sake of the Gospel
    • This church grew so fast that it put a dent history!
  • They asked and left it in the hands of the one who could do it.
  • This is what Ruth did as well.
  • So did Moses, and David, and Daniel, and Jesus

Because prayer changes things. Because you can see farther on your knees than on your feet. Because prayer opens the floodgates of heaven and shuts up the gates to hell. Because prayer has power to cure sickness. And disease. To break addictions. To free the mind and ignite the spirit. If you feel like God is far away, know that He is as close as your next prayer! Because Prayer doesn’t need proof. Prayer needs practice.

Is your marriage under attack? Pray. Is your business failing? Pray! Has Satan got a hold of someone you love? Pray! Sad? Alone? Lost? Hopeless? Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray! Because a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian, and a prayer-less churches a powerless church! Prayer is not something we start and stop, it is an open-ended and ongoing conversation with a God who can split the seas. A God who can move the mountains. A God who can rain fire down from heaven. A God who uses gold for asphalt. A God who can create an unimaginable vast universe with a breath! But even He cannot answer a prayer that goes un-prayed.

So when you are faced with the trials and tribulations, when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, when you are in the sweltering heat of that fiery furnace… pray. Pray to the God who loves. The God who cares. The God who saves. The God who raises. The God who restores. Pray to the God who delivers. Put your trust in Him and watch Him make you say “WOW”! Wow. Wow.

If you need to see something change, come to the throne of the God of heaven and earth. If you need to see something change, come to the throne of the Lord of life and death. If you need to see something change, pray. Because prayer changes things. Amen!

Communion segue

  • As we pass out the communion elements, take this time to BOLDLY come before the throne of grace and ask God to 1) break you of the cravings of your flesh, to 2) bring your desires under submission to His, and 3) to put a longing in your heart for His will and His way. And then never stop praying. Let’s lift up His name, church!

Communion

(1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

  • Let’s share the bread together.

(1 Corinthians 11:25) In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

  • Let’s share the cup together.

(1 Corinthians 11:26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

  • Let’s worship the Lord together.

Outro

(John 14:12–14) 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.