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Thursday, January 22, 2015

Emmaus City Liturgy | Sunday, January 18, 2015 – Steadfast Love Shapes Every Way (Special)

Emmaus City Worcester MA Hesed Soma Acts 29 3DM Christian Reformed Multi-ethnic Network of Missional Communities


Special Emmaus City Liturgy  | Sunday, January 18, 2015 – Steadfast Love Shapes Every Way


Steadfast Love Shapes Every Way Homily Audio:




Previous special Sunday liturgies:


Steadfast Love Shapes Every Way Notes



“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.


“Hesed,” God's steadfast love, is mentioned 251 times in the Scriptures. It is God's kind, faithful, and covenanted love towards His people. God is our Creator, Redeemer, and Protector/Provider. 


Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
 bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
 and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:3-12

15:13 You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode … 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin … – Exodus 15:13, 34:6-7


“When Jesus talked about discipleship, he always spoke through the lens of investment, looking at what we are gaining. He promised people that what initially looks and feels like a sacrifice will pay off in the end, which is essentially the same thing as making a good investment.” – Mike Breen and Ben Sternke

When we receive and accept God's hesed love, we know who we are in light of who He is, and then we can know how to invest in areas of our lives in a thoughtful way so that we follow Him and give to others from His abounding love.

1) Spiritual Investment in Jesus' Way 

 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
 bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3

2 keep my commandments and live;
 keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 7:2-3

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. – Jeremiah 31:33 

(Jesus says in Hebrews 8:8-10, Holy Spirit bears witness in Hebrews 10:12-18)

2) Relational Investment in Jesus' Way

So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. – Proverbs 3:4

3) Intellectual Investment in Jesus' Way

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
 and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes;
 fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. – Proverbs 3:5-7

We do not master true wisdom by our giftedness or skill; He gives it by His grace.

Jesus came and delighted in the fear of the Lord to live like He did:

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
 He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
 or decide disputes by what his ears hear.” – Isaiah 11:1-3

4) Physical Investment in Jesus' Way

It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. – Proverbs 3:8

As much energy as it takes to walk in the ways of Jesus, God's hesed provides the healing and refreshment we need to strongly move ahead in justice, mercy, and humility.

5) Financial Investment in Jesus' Way

Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine. – Proverbs 3:9-10

If we trust and know that God does and will provide all that we need, we will become more generous in not only giving from our wealth and time to Him, but also to others.

Remember Again and Again

11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline 
or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:7-11

Being disciplined in whatever area of life we value requires investment and repetition, whether it involves mastering a skill or improving a talent. As a good Father, God continues to love us and help us understand again and again how we can become who He created us to be – more like Jesus in every way – through His loving dedication to us and helpful teaching for us through His Word and His Spirit. 

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Steadfast Love Shapes Every Way Communion 



Steadfast Love Shapes Every Way Hymns and Songs

2011 A.D.


God is my shepherd.
I won't be wanting,
I won't be wanting.
He makes me rest
In fields of green
With quite streams.
Even though I walk
Through the valley
Of death and dying.
I will not fear,
'Cause you are with me.
You're always with me.

Your shepherd staff
Comforts me.
You are my feast
In the presence of enemies.
Surely goodness
Will follow me,
Follow me
In the house of God, forever.


  Be Still My Soul lyrics and melody

By Page CXVI (Katherine von Schlegel)

1752 A.D.


Be still my soul, the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to your God to order and provide
In ever change, He will remain.

Be still my soul, your God will undertake
To guide the future as in ages past.
Your hope, your mind, your will let nothing shake.
All now mysterious shall be bright.

Be still my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone
Sorrow's forgot, love's joy restored.

Be still my soul. (6x)
 And praise Him. (6x)

Come to Me Lyrics and melody

2012 A.D.

 

Weary burdened wand'rer
There is rest for thee
At the feet of Jesus
In His love so free.

Listen to His message 
Words of life, forever blessed.
Oh, thou heavy laden,
"Come to Me, come and rest."

 There is freedom, taste and see!
Hear the call, 'Come to Me!'
Run into His arms of grace,
Your burden carried, He will take.

Bring Him all they burdens,
All thy guilt and sin.
Mercy's door is open,
Rise up and enter in.  

(Repeat Chorus

Jesus there is waiting,
Patiently for thee.
Hear Him gently calling,
"Come, oh, come to Me."

(Repeat Chorus 3x)

Always lyrics and melody

By Kristian Stanfill

2011 A.D.


My foes are many,
They rise against me
But I will hold my ground.
I will not fear the war,
I will not fear the storm,
My help is on the way (2x)! 

Oh, my God, He will not delay,
My refuge and strength always!
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always

 Always!

Troubles surround me,
Chaos abounding,
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war,
I will not fear the storm,
My help is on the way,
My help is on the way!

(Repeat Chorus)

I lift my eyes up,
My help comes from the Lord! (4x)

From You, Lord, from You, Lord!

(Repeat Chorus)

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always, 
Always!


 Sully

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