Worship with the Fellowship of Joy at 4141 Ministries - Online Service
May 27, 2017
Welcome to worship. This is a virtual version of the order of service, scriptures, songs, and prayers we shall share together on Sunday, May 28 at 4141 N. Fresno St., Fresno, CA. 93726. You are welcome to join us there or here.
Let us begin!
Invocation
God, our Father, Lord of life and love and hope, of forgiveness, grace, mercy, justice, and peace. We gather this morning across time and across the miles, in this corner of cyberspace. By Your wisdom and power, knit our hearts together as one people in a virtual moment and space, to praise You, to seek You, to experience You, and to fellowship with one another. Touch the hearts of all who participate this day and beyond and the hearts of those who gather with them at 4141 Ministries. These things we pray to You, who with Whom there is all glory, power, and honor. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Scripture - Acts 1:6-14
1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"
1:7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
1:9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
1:10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.
1:11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.
1:13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
1:14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. (NRSV)
Songs
Glory Be to God on High
Glory be to God on high. Alleluia.
Glory be to God on high. Alleluia.
Praise the Father, Spirit, Son. Alleluia.
Praise the Father, Spirit, Son. Alleluia.
Sing we praises unto Thee. Alleluia.
Sing we praises unto Thee. Alleluia.
Glory be to God on high. Alleluia.
Glory be to God on high. Alleluia.
Jacob’s Ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder. (3x)
Soldiers of the cross.
Every round goes higher, higher. (3x)
Soldiers of the cross.
We are climbing higher, higher. (3x)
Soldiers of the cross.
If you love Him, why not serve Him? (3x)
Soldiers of the cross.
Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father, have mercy and grace.
Thou art welcome in this place.
The Bond of Love
Love through Christ has brought us together,
Melting our hearts as one.
By God’s Spirit, we are united,
One through His blessed Son.
Refrain: We are one in the bond of love.
We are one in the bond of love.
We have joined our spirits with the Spirit of God.
We are one in the bond of love.
Now, dear Lord, we join in worship;
Thank You for all You’ve done.
Thank You for this love You gave us;
Thank You for making us one.
Refrain: We are one in the bond of love.
We are one in the bond of love.
We have joined our spirits with the Spirit of God.
We are one in the bond of love.
Responsive Reading - Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
68:1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
68:3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds--his name is the LORD-- be exultant before him.
68:5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
68:6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
68:7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
68:8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
68:9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
68:10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
68:32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
68:33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
68:34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
68:35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! (NRSV)
Songs of Praise and Prayer
Lord, I Life Your Name on High
Lord, I lift Your name on high.
Lord, I love to sing Your praises.
I’m so glad You’re in my life.
I’m so glad You came to save us.
You came from Heaven to earth to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky.
Lord’ I lift Your name on high.
Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me.
Let Us Pray ...
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'" Luke 11:2–4 (ESV)
Scripture from Epistles - 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
4:13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.
4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.
5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
5:8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
5:9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
5:11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. (NRSV)
Prayer Song - Standin’ in the Need of Prayer
It’s me; it’s me, oh Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.
It’s me; it’s me, oh Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not my father, not my mother,
But it’s me, oh Lord.
Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not my sister, not my brother,
But it’s me, oh Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Prayer Time - Please send your personal prayer requests to us via email.
Father, we seek Your face this day.
We know that we are unworthy and we stand in the need of prayer.
We have sinned and come short of Your glory.
We have been stubborn, prideful, ungrateful, rude, unkind, and full of our selfish desires and ways.
We have moved to the front of the line when we ought to have served.
We have spoken when we ought have been silent and listened.
We have remained silent when we ought to have spoken.
We have sinned in ways that our hearts confess to You today with shame, embarrassment, and sorrow.
And we repent.
And we seek Your mercy and forgiveness.
We present our lives anew and afresh to You and we seek You.
We love You.
We need You.
We are burdened for our world, our nation, and our city.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our President and Cabinet.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our Congress and Courts.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our Governor and Legislature.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our Mayor, City Council, and Board of Supervisors.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our Chief of Police, Sheriff and their officers and deputies.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our military leaders and members of the service.
We are grateful for them and sorrowful for those lost in battle.
Comfort their families and grant that we may remember them in solemn gratitude tomorrow.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our first responders.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our business leaders.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our church and missional leaders and our congregations.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of our friends and family and the needs we name before You.
We stand before You and kneel before You on behalf of ourselves and our own need for strength, guidance, and holiness.
Have Your way in us and among us.
Hear our Spirits as they pray in Your Spirit.
Lead us today in Your righteousness and be exalted among us.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Prayer Response - Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
Lord, listen to Your children praying.
Lord, send Your Spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to Your children praying.
Send us love.
Send us power.
Send us grace.
Reading John 17:1-11
17:1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,
17:2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
17:4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.
17:5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
17:6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
17:7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;
17:8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
17:9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.
17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.
17:11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. (NRSV)
Offering
What is in your hand to give today? What is burning in your heart? What great cause is God speaking to you about, moving you to share of your life and your material goods? What is the commitment to give that you shall make today? Make your offering in simple prayer to God now.
Sermon
THE MEANING OF LIFE
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” - John 17:3
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” -Matthew 22:37-38.
The meaning of life is relationship with Jesus Christ. We have rendered such a statement trite by insincere overuse, but it is, nevertheless, true. For every lifeless, lonely soul, the message of joy and hope is found in one word: Jesus.
“This is life eternal,” Jesus said and His words were unambiguous. He defined knowledge of God always in terms of relationship and relationship always in terms of love.
Loving God is our highest calling for through loving Him we come to know Him more and life takes on a deeper meaning. As we love Him with every dimension of our being, we find significance and structure for framing our lives. We come to center and find balance and direction.
Don’t waste your time searching hither and yon for meaning. Look unto Jesus. You can travel the world and invest in hundreds of teachers and come no closer to truth than you will at the foot of your bed in prayer, meeting Him face to face. He is not hiding from you but is ready to enter into your struggles.
Many have found Him and then searched for more. You can go deeper in love, but you can never go deeper than love. Return to the place where you began. He is the meaning of life for time and for eternity.
Lord Jesus, You are the very meaning of my life. Lead me into a deeper, more intimate relationship with You in spite of my resistance and wandering attention. Amen.
Jesus prayed for Himself and for us. He prayed for GLORY and UNITY.
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
Background – the essence of the GLORY
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
- There is the prior glory that Jesus enjoyed with the Father in Heaven
- There is the glory that Jesus has brought to the Father on earth.
- There is the glory of the present hour – His death, resurrection, and accession.
- There is the glory of eternity in the Father’s presence.
Background – the essence of His REVELATION
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. “
- He has revealed the Father to us.
- He has revealed the Father’s Word to us.
- He has revealed Himself and His purpose to us.
Background – the essence of the His INTERCESSION
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
- Jesus prays for Himself and for His disciples: Glory and Unity.
- Jesus prays, later, for those who would believe through their witness (US!).
- He prays for protection for us.
- He prays for unity among us.
IMPLICATION of His INTERCESSION – How do we receive and live out this prayer?
- This means we can move through life knowing we have the PRAYERS of the SON and a PATTERN for Prayer – Glory and Unity.
- This means we can move through life knowing we have the PROTECTION of the Father in the Name of the Son. What sort of boldness would you have in living to the glory of God, if you truly believed you were ultimately protected?
- This means we can move through life knowing we have the PRESENCE of the Spirit who calls and equips us to be as ONE as His people as the Father and Son are one. In this, He continues to be glorified,
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Decision and Benediction
Right Now
Right now, right now,
Commit your life right now.
Decide to live your life for Him,Right now, right now.
‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
- Number 6:24-26