10/06/2019 | Expectant Prayer

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Catch up on our weekly announcements here.

CALVARY INSTITUTE

Handout and notes can be found here.

WORSHIP

When we encounter God’s glory, we quickly realize how unworthy we are to be in his presence. Moses hid his face when he met God (Exodus 3). Job repented “in dust and ashes” (Job 42). Peter told Jesus “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” God’s greatness humbles us. Bryan Chapell, in the book Christ-Centered Worship, says “Human confession is the reflex response of divine encounter. If there really has been no confession in a worship service, then there has been no real apprehension of God. His praise necessitates our humility. We cannot truly honor his worth without sensing our unworthiness. We cannot really see who he is and fail to bow.” This is why every week we follow adoration with confession.

Next week we will find out how God responds to our repentance.

Call to Worship - Luke 19:37-40

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Adoration

Song - All Creatures of Our God and King

Confession

Song - All I Have Is Christ

Assurance of Grace

Song - Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Thanksgiving

Song - Doxology

SERMON

Scripture - Acts 1:12-26 (ESV)

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[a]

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[b] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you describe the interaction between their unity and their prayers (v. 14)?

2. How does your prayer life affect your connection with other believers?

3. How were their prayers shaped by wise choices (the two men put forward) and God’s sovereign providence (the casting of lots)?

4. How do you combine those two influences in your own prayers?

BENEDICTION

Song - Even So Come

Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.