Category: So Be It God!

Revelation 1:7, 22:17, 20 (NRSVUE/NTFE)
⁷ Look! He is coming with the clouds;
    every eye will see him…So it is to be. Amen.
 
¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
²⁰ The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.

“And, when you are ready, join in. ‘The spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’…and the bride is caught up in that inner-divine life, so that when she says, ‘Come!’ to her beloved we can’t tell whether this is the spirit speaking or the bride, because the answer is both.” (N.T. Wright, Revelation for Everyone)

Let’s join in with the Spirit’s cry through singing and praying these lyrics from the conference songs:

Like a thief in the night
He’ll return for His bride
Even so, Jesus come
Jesus come split the skies
So be it, God

Find us on our knees
Have mercy on us please
Our hope is in you
We believe it’s true
God can save a nation

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus! Yes! Amen. Until you return, we are on our knees, God, asking for the nations. You are able to save. Open up hearts in Paris, in Kenya, in Puerto Rico, in Chicago, on our campuses and in our cities to hear the invitation: come and drink the water of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Center” by Bethel (click here).

-KW

Let’s read aloud together these passages and prayer:

Colossians 1:6b, 23b (NIV)
⁶…In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
²³…This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, [your name], have become a servant.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Matthew 6:10 (NIV)
your kingdom come,
your will be done.
    on earth as it is in heaven

Prayer: Father God, we thank you that you have made us lovers and servants of your gospel. We thank you for every fruit that your gospel has born and grown among us and through us as your churches. And we ask for more, a new portion of bearing gospel fruit; call us again, Lord! We ask for new salvations, new healing, increasing love and joy, deepening faith, new campuses, more glory to you in your church. May your kingdom come among us and through us in greater measure this year, according to your power that is at work within us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s join the cry for God’s kingdom to come among us and through us as we sing “The Church” by Bethel (click here).

-KW

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:20b (NIV)
²⁰ And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

“‘Amen’ is a full and precious word in times of prayer…It doesn’t mean primarily, ‘YES, I have said all this prayer.’ It means primarily, ‘YES, God has made all these promises.’ AMEN means, YES, Lord, you can do it. YES, Lord, you are powerful…wise…merciful. AMEN is like an exclamation point of faith in a prayer for help. Or an exclamation point of strong affirmation after a statement of God’s greatness.

As you come to the end of every prayer, there are two AMEN’s, two YES’s. When you say, ‘In Jesus’ name,’ that is God’s AMEN…Jesus Christ is God’s YES and AMEN at the end of your prayer. Then when you say, ‘AMEN,’ this is your YES and AMEN back to God…AMEN is our YES to God for his YES to us in Jesus Christ.” (John Piper, All the Promises of God Are Yes in Christ, desiringgod.org)

As you pray today, take a moment as you say “in Jesus’ name” to hear God’s yes to you. And take a moment as you say “amen” to be intentional about your agreement with and participating in God’s yes.

Prayer: Father, thank you that I get to live in your “yes” to us. May I also live in “yes” back to you – a louder yes, a quicker yes! Yes, I agree with you and I am joining in with your promises and presence among us. Let it be so, Lord and let it be so in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing our Amen to the glory of God as we sing “Speak To The Mountains” by Planetshakers (click here).

-KW

2 Corinthians 1:20a (NIV)
²⁰ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.

“The Lord’s promises, Paul says, are a resounding yes in the Lord. The way God says the resounding yes to his promises wasn’t just the words that he spoke, but the words that are in Christ because Christ is the answer ’yes’ to his salvation.

Lord, is the salvation you have given me assured? Christ.
God, about the healing in my life? Christ.
Because Christ is God’s ‘amen’ to all of his promises.

Today, what is that assurance that you and I live with? That assurance is Jesus Christ, him crucified, resurrected, at the Father’s right hand, who intercedes for us. Jesus is the ‘Yes’ of our God.” (P. Gus’ message)

Let’s look to Jesus today. Bring to God every question or need, anything that feels unsure or not deeply rooted, and hear again God declaring his resounding “Yes and Amen” to you in Jesus – Yes to your salvation, Amen to your healing, Yes to your calling as part of his church and Amen to being his servant and minister.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I turn my eyes and my ears to you, to see and hear the resounding “Yes!” of God. Root me even deeper in your resounding “Yes” over my life and lead me to walk more surely from your Amen over my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s continue to be led by the Spirit into seeing and hearing God’s Amen to us as we sing “So Be It” by Elevation Worship (click here).

-KW

John 1:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

Dayenu (Die-yea-noo) is a Hebrew song of gratitude sung during Passover, meaning “it would have been enough for us.” Each stanza recalls another specific blessing, kindness or miracle God gave to his people and proclaims that it alone would have been reason enough for celebration and thanksgiving. Yet it was not just one amazing blessing, but all of them that he has given to us – out of his fullness! He keeps adding blessing upon blessing, favor upon favor, grace upon grace.

Today, let’s express our own dayenu to the Lord in thanksgiving for specific blessings he has given us. As we recount the many wonderful things he has done, be drawn into deep gratitude, wonder, and praise to God for all that we have received.

Here’s a place to start:

Thank you for Jesus, the final word over my life. (It would have been enough for me.)
Thank you that my name is written in heaven. I rejoice in your salvation. (It would have been enough for me.)
Thank you that you are building us into your temple, where you dwell among us. (It would have been enough.)
Thank you that we are your servants, your holy priests, pastors, missionaries.
Thank you for the blessing and healing of ___________.

Prayer: Our Gracious God, you are the Giver of all good things. We receive each gift with thankfulness and give all the glory to you alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s continue to give thanks and praise and glory to our Lord as we sing “Soli Deo Gloria” by (click here).

-KW