Sermon on the Mount Series | Matthew 6:9-18: Kingdom Prayer and Power + Saturday, May 26, 2018

Prayer is perfect activity because it is done for no other purpose than itself. We pray to the one whom Jesus has made known, and so we learn to pray by following Jesus, who is the Father's prayer for us. Prayer, like Jesus, makes the Father's will known, and the Father wills that we learn to pray. + Stanley Hauerwas

The Lord's Prayer is an abridgement of the entire Gospel. + Tertullian, early 200s A.D. 

There may never have been another prayer written that was not already contained in the Pater ("Our Father" or "Lord's Prayer"). + Simone Weil

Blog posts on the Lord's Prayer:

+ Simply Good News | Praying the Good News of the Lord's Prayer by N.T. Wright 

+ The Divine Conspiracy | The Grandest Prayer of All is the Lord's Prayer by Dallas Willard 

+ Our Father | Reflections on the Lord's Prayer by Pope Francis 

+ How Shall We Pray? | Ethical Implications of the Lord's Prayer by Anna Case-Winters 

+ The Lord's Prayer | God's Will on Earth in Us and Through Us as it is in Heaven by Stanley Hauerwas

Old Testament Scriptures | Psalm 118:19-26

New Testament Scriptures | Matthew 6:9-18

Spirituality Questions

Are you curious? Consider asking someone a question or two about Jesus and Christian spirituality even if you don't believe.

Are you open? Consider your emotional and spiritual needs, and step into asking if Jesus can meet them and help you.

Are you searching? Consider exploring more about Jesus even if you are not sure who He is; example: "If I could ask Jesus one honest question that would help me trust Him, what would I ask?"

Are you beginning to believe? Consider how your life would be transformed if you followed Jesus. Ask God to help you understand the Good News that through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, He is restoring everything sin has ruined in your life and in the world.

Lord's Prayer | Praying for Jesus' Kingdom Impact in Us and in Worcester

Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church

Crown Him with Many Crowns
By Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring
1851 A.D.

Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne,
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity!

Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save!
His glories now we sing,
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died, eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die!

Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be prayer and praise!
His reign shall know no end,
And round His pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet!

Crown Him the Lord of love;
Behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified!
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity!

We Have Come (Bless the Lord)
By Will Reagan and United Pursuit Band
2010 A.D.

We have come to give You glory!
We have come to give You praise!

You’re welcome in this place!
You’re welcome in this place!
You’re welcome in this place!

Have Your way, have Your way,
Have Your way!

Bless the Lord, oh my soul,
And let all that’s within me shout out!

It’s only You we want.

Before the Throne of God Above
Charitie Lees Bancroft
1860 A.D.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
A great high Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands!
My name is written on His heart!
I know that while in heaven He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free!
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood!
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Jesus I Come
By William Sleeper
1887 A.D.

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my wanting and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of earth’s sorrows, into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress into jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair, into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Revelation Song
By Phillips, Craig, and Dean
2009 A.D.

Worthy is the
Lamb who was slain,
Holy, Holy, is He.
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat.

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come!
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You!

Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder;
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the only wise King!
(Chorus)

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name.
Jesus, Your Name is Power,
Bread, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery!
(Chorus)

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
African American Spiritual
1800s A.D.

Just a closer walk with Thee, 

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, 

Daily walking close to Thee, 

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be. 

I am weak, but Thou art strong, 

Jesus, keep me from all wrong, 

I’ll be satisfied as long 

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. 

Through this world of toil and snares, 

If I falter, Lord, who cares? 

Who with me my burden shares? 

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. 

When my feeble life is o’er, 

Time for me will be no more, 

Guide me gently, safely o’er 

To Thy Kingdom's shore, to Thy shore.

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 123
1563 A.D.

Q. What does "Your Kingdom come" mean?
A. “Your Kingdom come” means:
Rule us by Your Word and Spirit
in such a way that more and
more we submit to You. 1
Preserve Your Church and make it grow. 2
Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force
which revolts against You and
every conspiracy against Your holy Word. 3
Do this until Your Kingdom fully comes,
when You will be all in all. 4

1 Psalm 119:5, 105; 143:10; Matthew 6:33
2 Psalm 122:6-9; Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47
3 Romans 16:20; 1 John 3:8
4 Romans 8:22-23; 1 Corinthian 15:28;
Revelation 22:17, 20

Corporate Prayer of Confession and Assurance

Isaiah 6:5-8; Daniel 9:4-19; Nehemiah 1:5-10; Luke 23:34

Call: Our Father, You know us
and You love us. Thank You for
everything we need, including Jesus.
Help us to fast from what we feed
off of more than the Bread of Life
You have given us in Your Son.

Response: May we know Your
forgiveness afresh and be satisfied,
and may we forgive others with the same
compassion, power, grace, and truth.
We repent and turn to You again
for You have brought Your
Kingdom of power and prayer near.

Silent Personal Reflection and Confession

Call: Thank You Father that You know what
we pray even before we pray it. Thank You
that You have given us what we need in Jesus.
We remember how He taught us to pray to You:

Response: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil for Thine is the
Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.

Sermon on the Mount Benediction 

Based on Matthew 5-7

King Jesus, please bless us to embrace the joy
You give us in our brokenness and mourning,
eternal blessing that humbles the might,
intellect, and comforts of this current world.
Transform us into Your Kingdom community
through the crucible of Your way of the cross.
Write Your Kingdom rule and reign on our hearts
making us pure by Your perfect love, mercy, and justice.
May a watching world see Your light, taste Your salt,
and be welcomed into Your city on a hill through us.
Embolden us to be Your Kingdom ambassadors,
change agents who display the Good News You offer.
Make us decrease so that You might increase.
Stir in us Your grace, compassion, and sacrifice
for those who would seek to marginalize
and silence us because of You.
Everything we need is Yours to give us.
You are the treasure that we desperately seek.
You invite us home as prodigals
returning to our Father’s embrace;
Your prayer for the Kingdom coming
provides the answer to all our longings.
Free us of any fear, distraction, craving, or anxiety
that would keep us from fully following You
and building our lives on the Rock that is Your Word.

By Your Holy Spirit, keep us on
Your path of justice and righteousness.
It is with You, King Jesus, that hope is secure,
for us and all of creation, now and forever.

Now go in the blessing and name of King Jesus
by the power of His personally-transforming
grace and world-restoring peace. Amen.

Next sermon audio and liturgy: Sermon on the Mount | Matthew 6:19-24: What Do You Treasure?

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

Email Pastor Mike | Website | Visit Us | Support Us | Facebook Us

The Divine Conspiracy | The Grandest Prayer of All

Praying is a form of speaking, and it is best learned by entering in the words that Jesus gave us to say to God when we pray. He is the Master of this subject. Many people make little progress in learning to pray simply because they have not seriously entered into Jesus' answer to the explicit request, "Teach us to pray," in which he gave his disciples, and us today, The Lord's Prayer. + Dallas Willard 

The Lord's Prayer is an abridgement of the entire Gospel. + Tertullian, early 200s A.D.  

There may never have been another prayer written that was not already contained in the Pater ("Our Father" or "Lord's Prayer"). + Simone Weil

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. + Marcel Proust

I learned to use The Lord's Prayer in a new way: taking each phrase of it and slowly and meditatively entering into the depths of its meaning, elaborating within it important details of my current life. Sometimes now I do not begin at the first request but go immediately to the end or the middle and settle in there for a while. At other times I will just use the words of the address, "Our Father filling the heavens," to establish and reestablish address and orientation as I go through the day. For some reason I especially profit from using those words while driving freeways. They put the vast, sprawling urban landscape, with a great population, into its proper perspective before God. And they transform my sense of who and where I am. I have never found any situation in which they failed to be extremely powerful.

Our Father, the One in the Heavens

When we speak to God, Jesus tells us, we are to address him as "Our Father, the one in the heavens." This is the configuration of reality from within which we pray. The overwhelming difficulties many people have with prayer, both understanding it and doing it, derive from nothing more than inability to place themselves within this configuration and receive it by grace.

"Hallowed" Be Thy Name

God's very name is held in the highest possible regard. Until that is so, the human compass will always be pointing in the wrong direction, and individual lives as well as history as a whole will suffer from constant and fluctuating disorientation. But the cosmic significance of this first request must not hide the fact that it is also the natural request of a child who loves its "Abba," its Daddy. How a child's heart is wounded to hear its parents, mother or father, dishonored or to see them attacked. Such an attack shakes the very foundations of the child's existence, for the parents are its world. We want to dwell on this meditatively and perhaps weep for sadness that God is not so understood. We want to enter into the alarm of the little child who stumbles across those who do not think its father or mother is the greatest and best. And we must transfer that alarm to the lack of admiration and confidence that the human world has for our Father in the heavens.

Thy Kingdom Come

The child's confidence in the "Abba" who supervises everything for good naturally wants his rule, his kingdom, to come into realization in any place where it is not fully present. We are thinking here of the places we spend our lives: of homes, playgrounds, city streets, workplaces, schools, and so forth. These are the places we have in mind, and they are where we are asking for the kingdom, God's rule, to come, to be in effect. Also, we are thinking of our activities more than of those of other people. We know our weaknesses, our limitations, our habits, and we know how tiny our power of conscious choice is. We are therefore asking that, by means beyond our knowledge and the scope of our will, we be assisted to act within the flow of God's actions.

But we are also praying over the dark deeds of others in the world around us. We see how they are trapped in what they themselves often disown and despise. And we are especially praying about the structural or institutionalized evils that rule so much of the earth. These prevailing circumstances daily bring multitudes to do deeply wicked things they do not even give a thought to. They do not know what they are doing and do not have the ability to distance themselves from it so they can see it for what it is. That is the power of "culture." Culture is seen in what people do unthinkingly, what is "natural" to them and therefore requires no explanation or justification. Everyone has a culture – or really, multidimensional cultures of various levels. These cultures structure their lives. And of course by far the most of everyone's culture is right and good and essential. But not all. For culture is the place where wickedness takes on group form, just as the flesh, good and right in itself, is the place where individual wickedness dwells. We therefore pray for our Father to break up these higher-level patterns of evil. And, among other things, we ask him to help us see the patterns we are involved in. We ask him to help us not cooperate with them, to cast light on them and act effectively to remove them.

Give Daily Bread Daily

This request embodies that confidence in our Father that relieves us from all anxiety. The emphasis is on provision today. This is because God is always present today, no matter which day it is. His reign is the Eternal Now. So we do not ask him to provide today what we will need for tomorrow. To have it in hand today does not guarantee that we will have it tomorrow when we need it. Today I have God, and he has the provisions. Tomorrow it will be the same. So I simply ask today for what I need for today or ask now for what I need now. It is quite alright to have things now that we intend to use tomorrow and to work or even pray in a sensible way for them. What hinders or shuts down kingdom living is not the having of such provisions, but rather the trusting in them for future security. We have no real security for the future in them, but only in the God who is present with us each day.

Don't Punish Us for Things We Do Wrong

It is only pity or mercy that makes life possible. We do not like to hear it, but human beings at their best are pitiable creatures that "walk in a vain show" (Psalm 39:6). Only God's mercies keep us from being consumed because of our sins (Lamentations 3:22). But as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities us. He knows what we are made of and remembers that we are dust. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor does he reward us in proportion to our wrongdoings (Psalm 103:10-14). That is the wonderful, healing nature of The Kingdom Among Us.

Today we sometimes speak of people who cannot forgive themselves. Usually, however, the problem is much deeper. More often than not, these are people who refuse to live on the basis of pity. Their problem is not that they are hard on themselves, but that they are proud. And if they are hard on themselves, it is because they are proud. They do not want to accept that they can only live on the basis of pity from others, that the good that comes to them is rarely "deserved." If they would only do that, it would transform their lives. They would easily stop punishing themselves for what they have done.

This is why it is not psychologically possible for us really to know God's pity for us and at the same time be hardhearted toward others (or ourselves). So we are "forgiving of others in the same manner as God forgives us." And if you've been squirming as you read this, there's a good reason. I have used the word pity through much of this discussion of "forgive us our sins," rather than the word mercy or the even more dignified compassion. This is because only pity reaches to the heart of our condition. The word pity makes us wince, as mercy does not. Our current language has robbed mercy of its deep, traditional meaning, which is practically the same as pity. To pity someone now is to feel sorry for them, and that is regarded as demeaning, whereas to have mercy now is thought to be slightly noble – just "give 'em a break." Today even many Christians read and say "forgive us our trespasses" as "give me a break." In the typically late-twentieth-century manner, this saves the ego and its egotism. "I am not a sinner, I just need a break!" But no, I need more than a break. I need pity because of who I am. If my pride is untouched when I pray for forgiveness, I have not prayed for forgiveness. I don't even understand it.

Don't Put Us to the Test

This request is not just for evasion of pain and of things we don't like, though it frankly is that. It expresses the understanding that we can't stand up under very much pressure, and that it is not a good thing for us to suffer. It is a vote of "no confidence" in our own abilities. As the series of requests begins with the glorification of God, it ends with acknowledgment of the feebleness of human beings. God expects us to pray that we will escape trials, and we should do it. The bad things that happen to us are always challenges to our faith, and we may not be able to stand up under them. They are dangerous. To know this, one has only to watch how quickly people begin to attack God when bad things start to happen to them. The excessive confidence people have in the strength of their own faith – usually it is when they are not suffering, of course – simply makes the danger worse.

Once again, we are asking for pity, this time in the form of protection from circumstances. We are asking a Father who is both able and willing to extend such pity to not led bad things happen to us. The last request in the Lord's Prayer is the revelation of a God who loves spare his children and who will always do it upon request unless he has something better in mind. People who do not ask God to spare them from trials and evils usually do not recognize his hand when they are spared. They then live under the illusion that their lives are governed by chance, luck, accident, the whims of others, and their own cleverness. And because they do not ask, do not constantly invite God in, that may well be, to some significant extent, no illusion. If one is content with such an outlook, God will probably leave one with it. But we will never know our life to be one in The Kingdom Among Us. To that kingdom Jesus' words about prayer are an ever open door.

The Lord's Prayer: The Enduring Framework of the Praying Life

You only move beyond The Lord's Prayer provided you stay within it. It is the necessary bass in the great symphony of prayer. It is a powerful lens through which one constantly sees the world as God himself sees it.

Dear Father always near us, 

may your name be treasured and loved, 

may your rule be completed in us –  

may your will be done here on earth 

in just the way it is done in heaven. 

Give us today the things we need today, 

and forgive us our sins and impositions on you 

as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us. 

Please don't put us through trials, 

but deliver us from everything bad. 

Because you are the one in charge, 

and you have all the power, 

and the glory too is all yours – forever –  

which is just the way we want it!*

*"Just the way we want it" is not a bad paraphrase for "amen." What is needed at the end of this great prayer is a ringing affirmation of the goodness of God and God's world.

+ Excerpts from The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard, pgs. 253-269

Previous post on the Lord's Prayer:

+ Simply Good News | Praying Good News by N.T. Wright

Next post: Our Father | Reflections on the Lord's Prayer by Pope Francis

Soli Jesu gloria.

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

Email Pastor Mike | Website | Visit Us | Support Us | Facebook Us

Pentecost | We Need the Spirit of Power, Love & Self-Discipline

We gather for Jesus with others, scatter with Jesus for others, and enjoy life with Jesus in the city by the power of the Holy Spirit

Each of the three post links above help describe how Jesus shapes our lives with each other in Worcester. But we cannot do any of the above without His strength infused in us by His life-giving Spirit.

Below are notes and quotes focused on why need Jesus' Spirit of power, love, and self discipline, along with songs and lyrics that cry out to God these truths. 

My prayer and hope is to grow in humility and hope that Jesus will finish what He started in me to make me more like Him for the glory of God and for the life of the world.

Preface: Dunamis is the Greek word for power. It is power through God’s supernatural ability. It’s also where we get our word, “dynamite.” This is what the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom was, is, and always will be. How dynamite or dynamic is this power? Paul and Timothy are about to help us. But first a story.

The Next Evangelicalism by Dr. Soong Chan Rah pgs. 46-47: Dr. Rah tells the story of how he met a Native American Christian who was sexually abused by the missionary cleric who served on the reservation for years. This man of one of the most oppressed people groups of the past 500+ years, often by those bearing the name of Christ, shared through tears and agony the grief he has endured. Finally, the cleric was found out and was forced to leave. Dr. Rah shares how he feels he would never return to the church in light of such abuse. But the man had a different response. When Dr. Rah asked, “How could you return to the people and place that has caused you such pain and suffering?” The man replied: “Because I love Jesus and I love His Church. It was the only church in the region … where else would I go?”

(1) Receive the Power of the God – the Gospel – to Live Fully 

Paul and Timothy haven’t quite been abused like this, but they have experienced suffering, past and present.

Paul is in prison in Rome about to die. He’s cold. He’s alone. And many have deserted and harmed him. Hymenaeus and Alexander have shipwrecked their faith and begun to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:19-20). Phygelus and Hermogenes have also turned away from Paul in Asia (11 Timothy 1:15).

Timothy has remained in Ephesus, a crucial port city in Asia and a key early church, as Paul told him. He is fighting the good fight of the faith and guarding the good deposit of the Gospel Paul has entrusted him with (1 Timothy 6:12, 20-21). But he is also facing opposition in Hymenaeus and Philetus who have swerved from the truth (11 Timothy 2:17-18). He knows help is coming in the form of Tychicus because Paul as sent him (11 Timothy 4:12). But he is having to deal with those who are older than him looking down on him (I Timothy 4:12). He wants more elders and deacons to help him but Paul has told him not to be hasty in laying on hands and ordaining people too fast (I Timothy 5:22) after he gave him the qualifications for elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Meanwhile, Timothy is dealing with his timidity, anxiety, and physical ailments (1 Timothy 5:23) as false doctrines and stubborn people continue to attack the church.

And this is all going on while Nero is emperor of Rome. And yet, Paul has these words to deliver to his son in the faith.

II Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

MAIN THEME | This Dunamis – Dynamic Power of God – is the Gospel which the Spirit of God plunges us into with others through love and self-discipline. Our God and His Good News of coming Kingdom on the move shakes up our ideas of what godliness looks like in flesh and blood with others.

Pastor Rick Grant, Rescued Church, Dorchester, MA: Jesus conquered evil through his vulnerability. In the Kingdom, vulnerability and humility equals power.

(2) Love Boldly in Community with Others and for Others

Jasmine Marino, Survivor and Advocate in Anti-Trafficking Movement and founder of Bags of Hope: I give them (other girls) hope because I have a living hope, and I have made it off the streets. I believe they can, too.

Jasmine puts a real face on the issue of sex trafficking in America. She tells her story to educate others about the complex trauma trafficking victims experience and the difficult, often messy work of recovery. While she wasn’t physically handcuffed, she was held captive mentally and emotionally for eight years. She found hope and support through her local church and discovered what she was always searching for: the unconditional love of Christ.

Dr. Cherith Fee Nordling: Growing up into Christ is a roots down, walls down endeavor. We vulnerably step in with each other as we hold more dearly to the One who saves us and brings us together for His mission to restore all things.

(3) Practice Freeing Self-Discipline on the Mission and Fear Nothing

The Answer to our Cry by Rick McKinley, pastor of Imago Dei Community, Portland, OR: My vision of freedom looks more like perfection. I wouldn’t need God or anyone else if I were truly free. I wouldn’t sin or fail or hurt. I would be free. So freedom gets twisted into the idea that I should get what I want. But that’s not freedom.

Three Theories of Everything by Ellis Potter: Freedom and form is another pair of opposites that we see in the world. A good illustration is gravity. Gravity is one of the basic forms or structures of reality but it gives us certain freedom. If gravity was not here and I began to walk, I would float and spin and soon I would be dead. Form, or structure, is necessary. Let me give you an equation to express this idea. Total freedom = Death.

Eugene Cho, Quest Church, Seattle, WA: Are we more in love with the idea of following Jesus than actually following Jesus – including to and through some difficult areas? One of my favorite stories from the Scriptures comes from John 4. (But) one can talk about Samaria, theologize about Samaria, preach about Samaria, liturgize about Samaria, sing about Samaria … but one can still do all those things and still not walk through Samaria.           

Spirit of Christ gives us Power + Love + Self-Discipline.

Christ with His Church gives us Gospel + Community + Mission.

God frees us to Live Fully + Love Boldly + Fear Nothing.

The Answer to our Cry by Rick McKinley, pastor of Imago Dei Community, Portland, OR: The form that freedom takes in the Scriptures is relationship with God and His people. It’s freedom that comes from being united to Jesus Christ the Son with others, loved by the Father in the family of God, and filled with the Spirit of power. I would define true freedom as the ability to live fully, love boldly, and fear nothing. If you want to know what that looks like in action, then you have to look at Jesus. This looks like the life of Jesus:

+ He lived fully a life that was the very essence of life, because He came from the Father, the giver of life.

+ He loved boldly a love that bled out on the cross for our freedom.

+ He feared nothing; no powers of earth could shake Him, not kings, or armies, or Roman crosses, or tombs.

Jesus was free because He always has been free. United to His Father. Filled with the Spirit. God went to extraordinary lengths so we could participate in this freedom.

Are we willing to have our hearts, minds, and strengths radically reoriented? Are we willing to be self-disciplined by the Spirit? If so, who is your Paul? Who is your Timothy? Who is your Ephesus? God will work this out in the community of the Trinity and His Church as he did with the Native American Dr. Rah met, Jasmine Moreno, Paul and Timothy, and all who are invited into His family and receive the gift of His grace.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

This We Believe (The Creed) by Hillsong

(Based on Apostles' Creed) 

390 A.D.

Our Father everlasting,
The all creating One,
God Almighty.
Through Your Holy Spirit
Conceiving Christ the Son,
Jesus our Savior.

Chorus 1
I believe in God our Father,
I believe in Christ the Son,
I believe in the Holy Spirit,

Our God is three in one!
I believe in the resurrection,
That we will rise again,
For I believe in the name of Jesus!

Our Judge and our Defender,
Suffered and crucified,
Forgiveness is in You.
Descended into darkness,
You rose in glorious life,
Forever seated high!

Chorus 2
We believe in God our Father,
We believe in Christ the Son,
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
Our God is three in one!
We believe in the resurrection,
That we will rise again,
For we believe in the name of Jesus!

We believe in life eternal,
We believe in the virgin birth,
We believe in the saint's communion
And in Your holy Church!
We believe in the resurrection
When Jesus comes again
For we believe in the name of Jesus!

(Repeat Chorus 2)

Holy Spirit by Jesus Culture

2014 A.D.

There's nothing worth more

That could ever come close,
No thing can compare,
You're our living hope,
Your presence, Lord!

I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves,
When my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone,
Your presence, Lord!

Holy Spirit,
You are welcome here,
Come flood this place
And fill the atmosphere.
Your glory God is
What our hearts long for,
To be overcome by
Your presence, Lord.

Let us become
More aware of Your presence!
Let us experience
The glory of Your goodness!

I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. + Joel 2:28-29, 32

May Your Power Rest on Me by Sojourn

Original by Isaac Watts

Early 1700s A.D., 2008 A.D.

Let me hear my Savior say

“Your strength shall return.”

Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness

As I lean on Your grace, 

As I lean on Your grace.

May Your power rest on me.

You are strong when I am weak.

I can bear all things 

When temptation springs

For You sustain me all my days.

Let me know my Savior’s face.

Let my hope be secure.

Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness

As I lean on Your grace, 

As I lean on Your grace.

(Repeat Chorus)

Once from the Lord withdrawn

I thought that I could live my life alone.

Leaving the solid ground, 

I sank beneath His wisdom.

The harder I tried to climb, 

The closer I was to find

How great is my weakness.

(Repeat Chorus)

Though the trial still goes on, 

Your grace will be my song!

For I can bear all things 

When temptation springs

For You sustain me all my days.

(Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ mayrest upon me. + 2 Corinthians 12:9

Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective

2012 A.D.

Come, set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again.
Increase in us, we pray.
Unveil why we’re made.
Come set our hearts 
Ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls.
Holy Spirit, come invade us now!
We are Your Church.
We need Your power in us.

We seek Your Kingdom first.

We hunger and we thirst.

Refuse to waste our lives

For You’re our joy and prize.

To see the captive 

Hearts released,

The hurt, the sick, 

The poor at peace,

We lay down our lives for 

Heaven’s cause.

We are Your Church.

We pray, “Revive this earth!”

Build Your Kingdom here!
Let the darkness fear!
Show Your mighty hand!
Heal our streets and land!
Set Your Church on fire!
Win the nations back!
Change the atmosphere!
Build Your Kingdom here!
We pray!

Unleash Your 

Kingdom’s power

Reaching the near and far!

No force of Hell can stop

Your beauty changing hearts!

You made us for 

Much more than this!

Awake the Kingdom seed in us!

Fill us with the strength 

And love of Christ!

We are Your Church.

We are hope on earth.

(Chorus Repeat)

Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. + Matthew 6:9-10

Our God by Chris Tomlin

2011 A.D.

Water You turned into wine,

Opened the eyes of the blind,

There's no one like You,

None like You!

Into the darkness You shine

Out of the ashes we rise,

There's no one like You,

None like You!

Our God is greater!

Our God is stronger!

God, You are higher

Than any other!

Our God is Healer,

Awesome in Power,

Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us,

Then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us,

Then what could stand against!

The Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. May all who seek You, God, rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. + Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 70:4, 77:13 Nehemiah 8:6

Benediction

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! 

Become mature, be encouraged, 

be of the same mind, be at peace, 

and the God of love and peace will be with you. 

Greet one another with a holy kiss. 

All the saints greet you. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and the love of God the Father, 

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

+ 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

Email Pastor Mike | Visit Us | Partner with Us | Facebook Us

Sermon on the Mount Series | Matthew 6:1-8: Our Father Knows + Saturday, May 12, 2018

In relation to God our Father ... Jesus is appealing to how people listen to this good Father who graciously gives life in His Kingdom. He looks to the ethic above (King Jesus revealing the Father’s will) wrapped inside with the ethic from beyond (the King bringing in the Kingdom and its justice). + Scot McKnight

Old Testament Scriptures | Psalm 116:1-9

New Testament Scriptures | Matthew 6:1-8

Corporate Prayer of Confession and Assurance

Isaiah 6:5-8; Daniel 9:4-19; Nehemiah 1:5-10; Luke 23:34

Call: Our Father, You know us
and You love us. Thank You for
everything we need, including Jesus.
Help us to fast from what we feed
off of more than the Bread of Life
You have given us in Your Son.

Response: May we know Your
forgiveness afresh and be satisfied,
and may we forgive others with the same
compassion, power, grace, and truth.
We repent and turn to You again
for You have brought Your
Kingdom of power and prayer near.

Silent Personal Reflection and Confession

Call: Thank You Father that You know what
we pray even before we pray it. Thank You
that You have given us what we need in Jesus.
We remember how He taught us to pray to You:

Response: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil for Thine is the
Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.

Spirituality Questions

Are you curious? Consider asking someone a question or two about Jesus and Christian spirituality even if you don't believe.

Are you open? Consider your emotional and spiritual needs, and step into asking if Jesus can meet them and help you.

Are you searching? Consider exploring more about Jesus even if you are not sure who He is; example: "If I could ask Jesus one honest question that would help me trust Him, what would I ask?"

Are you beginning to believe? Consider how your life would be transformed if you followed Jesus. Ask God to help you understand the Good News that through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, He is restoring everything sin has ruined in your life and in the world.

Lord's Prayer | Praying for Jesus' Kingdom Impact in Us and in Worcester

Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church

How Deep the Father's Love for Us
Stuart Townend
1995 A.D.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call our among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life,
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom!

How He Loves
By John Mark McMillan
2010 A.D.

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane,
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight
Of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden
I am unaware of these
Afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just
How beautiful You are
And how great
Your affections are for me!

And oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all!
(Repeat Verse and Chorus)

And we are His portion,
And He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption
By the grace in His eyes!
If His grace is an ocean,
We're all sinking!
And heaven meets earth
Like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently
Inside of my chest;
I don't have time to
Maintain these regrets
When I think about the way:
(Chorus)

Nothing I Hold Onto (Climb This Mountain)
By United Pursuit Band
2010 A.D.

I lean not on
My own understanding,
My life is in the hands
Of the Maker of Heaven.

I give it all to You, God,
Trusting that You'll make
Something beautiful out of me!

I will climb this mountain
With my hands wide open,
I will climb this mountain
With my hands wide open!

There is nothing I hold on to,
There is nothing I hold on to,
There is nothing I hold on to,
There is nothing I hold on to!

Be Thou My Vision
St. Dallán Forgaill
6th Century

Be Thou my Vision,
O Lord of my heart.
Naught be all else to me,
Save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought,
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom,
And Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and
Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father,
I Thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling,
And I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not,
Nor man’s empty praise.
Thou mine inheritance,
Now and always!
Thou and Thou only,
First in my heart,
High King of Heaven,
My Treasure Thou art!

High King of Heaven,
My victory won!
May I reach Heaven’s joys,
O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart,
Whate’er befall,
Still be my Vision,
O Ruler of all!

Rock of Ages
Augustus M. Toplady
1776 A.D.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.

Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

No Longer Slaves
By Bethel Music
2015 A.D.

You unravel me with a melody,
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies
'Til all my fears are gone.

I'm no longer a slave to fear.
I am a child of God.
No, I'm no longer a slave to fear.
I am a child of God.

From my mothers womb,
You have chosen me.
Love has called my name.
I've been born again into Your family,
Your blood flows through my veins.
(Chorus)

Woah, Woah ...

You split the sea
So I could walk right through it!
My fears were drowned
In perfect love!
You rescued me
so I can stand and sing
"I am a child of God!"

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 26

1563 A.D.

Q. What do you believe when you say,
“I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth”?

A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who out of nothing created heaven and earth
and everything in them, 1
who still upholds and rules them
by His eternal counsel and providence, 2
is my God and Father
because of Christ the Son. 3
I trust God so much that I do not doubt
He will provide whatever I need
for body and soul, 4
and will turn to my good
whatever adversity He sends upon me
in this sad world. 5
God is able to do this
because He is almighty God 6
and desires to do this
because He is a faithful Father. 7

1 Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15
2 Ps. 104; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11
3 John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5
4 Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25-26; Luke 12:22-31
5 Rom. 8:28
6 Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39
7 Matt. 7:9-11

Sermon on the Mount Benediction 

Based on Matthew 5-7

King Jesus, please bless us to embrace the joy
You give us in our brokenness and mourning,
eternal blessing that humbles the might,
intellect, and comforts of this current world.
Transform us into Your Kingdom community
through the crucible of Your way of the cross.
Write Your Kingdom rule and reign on our hearts
making us pure by Your perfect love, mercy, and justice.
May a watching world see Your light, taste Your salt,
and be welcomed into Your city on a hill through us.
Embolden us to be Your Kingdom ambassadors,
change agents who display the Good News You offer.
Make us decrease so that You might increase.
Stir in us Your grace, compassion, and sacrifice
for those who would seek to marginalize
and silence us because of You.
Everything we need is Yours to give us.
You are the treasure that we desperately seek.
You invite us home as prodigals
returning to our Father’s embrace;
Your prayer for the Kingdom coming
provides the answer to all our longings.
Free us of any fear, distraction, craving, or anxiety
that would keep us from fully following You
and building our lives on the Rock that is Your Word.

By Your Holy Spirit, keep us on
Your path of justice and righteousness.
It is with You, King Jesus, that hope is secure,
for us and all of creation, now and forever.

Now go in the blessing and name of King Jesus
by the power of His personally-transforming
grace and world-restoring peace. Amen.

Next sermon audio and liturgy: Sermon on the Mount | Matthew 6:9-18: Kingdom Prayer and Power 

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

Email Pastor Mike | Website | Visit Us | Support Us | Facebook Us