 The Psalm writer wrote: Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received. This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life: Proverbs 15:11-20 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord. How much more Humans are religious creatures. John Calvin says that our hearts are “idol making factories”. Those that are religious become very adept at displaying the outward raiment of their professed God. One need not look further than march madness to see a very public display of religion by the worshipers of a little round ball and a game: Team Jersey, check. ESPN cable package, check. Season tickets, check. Christians are no different. We listen to all the right podcasts, have our christianese finely tuned to our particular reformed circle, and even conform our physical appearance to match our particular theological bent: tweed jackets, and beards, and plaid shirts. But all of these outward displays of religion are quickly cut in two this morning by God's very sharp sword. “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD. How much more the hearts of men!” God knows what is in our hearts. He knows what the true object of our worship is, despite our cleverly crafted outward appearance and practices . God is fully aware of our practice of worshipping Him with our mouths while our hearts are far from Him. Jesus, knowing the heart of man, called the Pharisees “whitewashed tombs “, full of dead men's bones. This knowledge should bring the fear and dread of the LORD into our hearts, and lead us to repentance. So, let us respond to God's Word appropriately this morning. If you are able,please kneel as we confess to God how we have failed to keep His Law: Most High God, our Heavenly Father, We come to you this morning, having had our hearts exposed by Your Word. Heavenly Father, you remember our frames, that we are men of dust, weak, frail, and full of sin. Father we sin against you in our words, thoughts, and deeds, and we worship the thing created rather than worshiping You, our Creator. LORD, please be merciful to us sinners. Please grant us repentance that we may walk in a manner that is pleasing to You. Please forgive us for our sins against You O Lord. Please grant us greater discernment, that we may more readily recognize the idols around us, and in our hearts, and please give us strength to be able to turn from these false gods and worship you alone. LORD, please help us to fear You, and to hate every worthless thing that seeks to dethrone You from our hearts. It's in the name of Your precious Son Jesus that we pray, Amen. Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: Luke 10: 19-20 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and Lift up your hearts!!!! (From the liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie. March 2018)
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 The Psalm writer wrote: Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received. This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life: Proverbs 16:12- 22- It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a All authority is from God, whether it be the authority given to a king, a president, a pastor, or a judge. This week, we have seen the abuse of authority by those entrusted to exercise it faithfully: warfare waged without congressional approval; twisting of God’s Word at T4G to further an agenda of faux justice, devoid of true biblical repentance and reconciliation; a so called justice system meant to punish evildoers being utilized to harass faithful Christians, while the true perpetrators of wickedness go unpunished. The Proverb today tells us that : “ It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, for a throne is established on righteousness”. Rulers who commit wicked acts abuse the authority granted to them from God, and God calls it abominable. Wicked, abusive authority is abominable because the source of all authority, Jesus Christ, is righteous, perfect, and always does the Father's will, and He is our example. These very public displays of wickedness from rulers catch our attention, yet, our own private abuses of authority are no less despicable in God's eyes. As Mothers and Fathers, Husbands and wives, Pastors, managers, employees, homemakers, children, have you been faithful stewards of the authority God has granted to you this week? Whatever realm of life you find yourself exercising authority granted to you from God, are you doing so for His glory, or yours? Are you seeking to build His kingdom, or are you looking to reign over your own little empire? Abusing authority amounts to a failure to love the Lord your God, and your neighbor as yourself. Let us confess this morning how we often fail to keep God’s Law by abusing the authority He grants us. Please join me in kneeling if you are able. Dear Heavenly Father, from the most obvious outward sin, to the seemingly smallest internal infraction of Your Law, we are guilty. Our sins are to the heavens Oh Lord, and no amount of working, cleansing, or hiding by us can appease the wrath that our sins deserve. Lord, often we become arrogant and prideful, taking the authority granted to us by You, and use it in self-serving ways, lording over others, grasping for authority that has not been granted, twisting Your word to selfish ends. Father, we are mere worms, but oftentimes arrogantly believe that the authority You grant us, is due to some inherent trait of leadership, or ability, or goodness within us. Help us to remember that thrones, and all authority, are established on Your Righteousness. Please show us grace and mercy Lord. Please grant us repentance in this area that we do not deserve. Please forgive us for seeking to usurp Your authority based upon righteousness, and replacing it with our own which is tainted with selfishness, and pride. It’s in Jesus name we pray, Amen. Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: Romans 10 : 5 -10 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness Lift up your hearts!!!! (From the liturgy of Sovereign King Church. Written by Aaron Sabie, April 16, ,2018)
 The Psalm writer wrote: Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received. This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life: Proverbs 15:1-10 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said that the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of life.A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 recent examples of this truth come to mind for me. Friday at work several flaming darts were hurled my way in quick succession, taking the form of intentional truth twisting, and mocking. For probably 98% of the conversation I responded well, but the remaining 2% potentially erased all of that, as I failed to use gentle words to turn away wrath. My frustrated response enflamed the whole conversation, and possibly hurt my witness for Christ. The second example occurred at the abortion mill on Saturday. An angry and agitated atheist, spewing murder and hatred pulled up to the curb, hopped out, and began threatening Pastor Joseph. My response: I am going to cut this conversation off at the knees, because how dare this man speak to us this way. And I attempted to do just that. Oh, I think imade my point, but I am sure I failed to honor God in that moment. Brothers and sisters, The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2: 24-26). Have all of your words been gentle? Have you honored God this week as you responded to your needy husband, your relentless children, your chatty wife, or your heathen co-worker? If you are able, let us kneel and confess how we have failed to keep God’s Law by using our words in ways that fail to honor Him as LORD. Dear Heavenly Father, All of Your Words to us are delightful, meant for our good. They are a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. We are Your children, created in Your image, and as such, it is our duty to reflect You in ways that accurately portray Your character. LORD, when we answer with harsh words, hasty words, words meant for hurt, rather than healing, we fail to honor You and we fail to love our neighbor. Please forgive us oh LORD for our flaming tongues that leave behind seared consciences, and please grant us repentance, that we might instead offer words of life to those that are hurting, confused, ignorant, and perishing. Help us to remember LORD that it is not is the sternness of our voice, nor in the eloquence of our arguments in which lost men and women are saved, but in the power of Your Word. It’s in the precious name of Your Son Jesus that we pray, Amen. Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: But one has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You remember him? Lift up your hearts!!! (From the liturgy of Sovereign King Church. Written by Aaron Sabie.)
 The Psalm writer wrote: "Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law." As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received. This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life: Proverbs 15:21-33 Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight. Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed. A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below. The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow. Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, But pleasant words are pure. He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones. He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,And before honor comes humility. A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word. Pleasant words are pure. Good news puts fat on the bones. On this Easter Sunday, we can say with certainty, that there are no words more delightful, more pure, than the Good News, the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ, Who said: “ Do not be afraid; I Am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” It is the Gospel which is the power of salvation for those who believe, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. How have you neglected the good news this past week? Have you walked in a way that suggests you do not truly believe the gospel, keeping your light hidden under a shade, rather than burning bright for those stumbling in darkness to see? Have the meditations of your heart been on the things above, on your LORD Jesus, or on those things that are perishable, that never provide lasting joy and peace? How about your words? Have they been seasoned with salt, pointing people to the cross of Christ, have they been timely and pure, or have you been mute while your friends, family, and colleagues stumble towards hell? If you are able to, please kneel. Let us confess how we have failed to keep God’s Law by not being faithful to share the Good News with the lost and dying world: Most High God, We come before you this morning as sinners saved by grace through faith in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We recognize that apart from Your Son Jesus, there is no merit, no work, no inherent goodness that we can display before you that would lead you to save us; on the contrary, all we deserve from You is Your wrath. Help us to believe this. Heavenly Father, you have condescended toward us by sending Your Son Jesus into this world to save sinners from the wrath to come, and this is good news. LORD, we have sinned against You. When we had opportunities to shine Your light into darkness this past week, we shrank back, fearing man and his wrath, rather than You. Please forgive us. Master, You alone are worthy of praise, and honor, and glory, yet we have been frequently drawn away this week by perishable things that we allow to have footholds in our hearts and minds. Father please be merciful to us. LORD, You ordained circumstances for us this week which permitted us to engage in conversation with those who walk in darkness, and rather than share timely words of good news, we chose to instead speak trivialities, sounding like noisy gongs and clanging cymbals. Please forgive us. Please help us to believe Your promise when You tell us that when we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It’s in Jesus name we pray, Amen. Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer And give heed to the voice of my supplications! In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, For You will answer me. There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God. - Psalm 86:6-10 Lift up your hearts to the Lord!! (From the liturgy of Sovereign King Church) Written by Aaron Sabie.
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