Category: Under the Mighty Hand of God

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)
Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Spend some time looking at Jesus, our only Lord and true King – how he lived and loved us. Jesus humbled himself under God’s mighty hand and was exalted in due time. Let us follow closely our Lord Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we bow before you as the one, true King of this world and our lives – not a king who lords it over us, but you humbled yourself, even becoming obedient to death on a cross! This is how much you love and care for us! Teach us to walk like you, humbling ourselves under God’s mighty hand, and to love and care for others the way you do.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship our Lord as we sing “Holy Forever” by Chris Tomlin (click here).

-KW

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

“…according to the Christian faith, the way up always comes by going down (5:10)…Suffering always precedes subsequent glories. It was so for God’s Son (1:11). It will be so for us as well…This is the apostolic principle of true grace at work. This life is anything but ‘your best life now.’ Glory comes by way of the ground…We must get this lesson straight, no matter how old we are. For only then will we be able to get on with the task Peter calls us to – living hopeful, productive, and submissive lives for Christ.” [Helm, David R. 1-2 Peter and Jude: Sharing Christ’s Sufferings Preaching the Word Commentary Series, 167-168]

Prayer:  Father, fill us with the hope from your word today so we don’t lose heart, that you are the God of all grace and kindness, you have called us to your eternal glory in Christ, and your true grace is at work in us! Give us the right perspective, to see clearly that our suffering is just for a little while, then you yourself will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s be filled with hope and faith as we sing “The Awesome God You Are” by Matt Redman (click here).

-KW

 

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

“In that moment that we are under his mighty hand we also hear this gracious invitation: ‘cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’….We are under-shepherds, under the Chief Shepherd, so tenderly cared for by him who gave his life for us. And it is as we are bowed down we are in the position to experience his care once again. We are shepherded and cared for by him…We are loved, we are healed and we hear again, ‘do not be afraid’. And then we can present not only our own lives but those we shepherd to him and bring them also into his care. That is the real work of shepherding and pastoring for he cares for us and allows us to bring others into his care.” (Brenda’s message)

As you experience Jesus’ care for you today and are free from all anxiety for your own life in his presence, who are you to bring along with yourself into the Chief Shepherd’s care?

Prayer:  Father, thank you that you remind me over and over again of your perfect and constant care for me as you invite me to cast my anxieties upon you. As you free my heart once again today, I also present ____________ to you. Touch their heart intimately and deeply with your love and care today.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s put all our trust in our God as we sing “By The Grace of God” by Bethel Music (click here).

-KW

 

1 Peter 5:6 (NRSVUE)
⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 

“As those who are called to love others…this is what God says is important. This is where God says it begins and it ends and the place to which we are to return. Humble ourselves under his mighty hand. Because it is here that we are brought to see who God is and who we are. And it is here that our calling and our transformation occur.” (Brenda’s message)

Let’s position ourselves correctly by humbling ourselves under God’s mighty hand. Yes, we will experience pain, even suffering, as we lay ourselves down, but may we also begin to see it as the place of blessing, because here God changes, shapes and forms us to be more like Jesus, to love like Jesus.

Prayer:  Lord, we yield our perceived strengths and advantages, ways we go about getting what we want or need and we humble ourselves before you. We yield to your process, to your hand – form us and shape us under your mighty hand to live and love like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s bow before our King as we sing “Here I Bow” by Bethel Music (click here).

-KW

Let’s read aloud together the following passages:

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)
⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Luke 5:1-8-11 (NIV)
⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Prayer: Father, what a wonder and privilege that you have called us as your very own people, to belong to you, to serve you and praise you! We are humbled and thankful to be the recipients of your mercy. May this define us once again today.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s declare God’s praises as we sing “The Praise Is Yours” by Matt Redman (click here).

-KW