Call to Worship
Sunday School
The Holy War
by John Bunyan
Sunday Service
Pastoral Reading
Zechariah 4
And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Opening Song
O Lord My God Most Earnestly (CRC #58)
O Lord my God, most earnestly
my heart will seek Your face,
within Your holy house again
to see Your glorious grace.
Apart from You, I long and thirst,
and none can satisfy;
I wander in a desert land
where all the streams are dry.
The tender mercies of my God
are more than life to me;
so I will bless You while I live,
to You my prayer shall be.
In You my soul is satisfied,
my darkness turns to light,
and joyful meditations fill
the watches of the night.
My Savior, underneath Your wings
my soul delights to dwell;
and closer to Your side I’ll stay,
for with You, all is well.
My soul shall conquer every foe,
upheld by Your own hand;
Your people shall rejoice in God,
Your saints in glory stand.
Prayer
Focus this week: Miriam Christensen
Song
The Works of His Hands (CRC #36)
Chorus:
I give thanks to the Lord, Sing Praise to His Name
Declaring His Love in the Morning
For You O Lord, have made me glad
And I sing for joy at the works of Your Hands
Verse 1:
The works of His hands, my heart will praise
In the company of His people
Splendour and majesty are my delight
And His goodness endures forever
Verse 2:
The works of His hands, His wonders declared
Providing for those who fear Him
Gracious and merciful, is our Lord God
Remembering His cov’nant forever
Verse 3:
The works of His hands, are faithful and just
Shown through His pow’r to His people
All of His precepts are worthy of trust
And they are established forever
Verse 4:
The works of His hands, His promise made firm
Redemption sent to His people
Holy, and Awesome, is His Name!
His praises endure forever
Song
It Was Finished on That Cross (CRC #37)
Verse 1
How I love the voice of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary
He declares his work is finished He has spoken this hope to me
Though the sun had ceased its shining though the war appeared as lost
Christ had triumphed over evil it was finished upon that Cross
Verse 2
Now the curse it has been broken Jesus paid the price for me
Full the pardon He has offered great the welcome that I receive
Boldly I approach my Father clothed in Jesus’ righteousness
There is no more guilt to carry it was finished upon that Cross
Verse 3
Death was once my great opponent fear once had a hold on me
But the Son who died to save us rose that we would be free indeed
Yes He rose that we would be free indeed free from ev’ry plan of darkness
Free to live and free to love death is dead and Christ is risen
It was finished upon that Cross
Ending
Onward to eternal glory
To my Saviour and my God
I rejoice in Jesus’ victory
It was finished upon that Cross
It was finished upon that Cross
It was finished upon that Cross
CCLI Song # 7171907, CCLI License # 108183
Jonny Robinson | Nigel Hendroff | Rich Thompson
© 2021 SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CityAlight Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
Song
Christ is Mine Forevermore (CRC #6)
Verse 1
Mine are days that God has numbered, I was made to walk with Him
Yet I look for worldly treasure, And forsake the King of kings.
Chorus 1
But mine is hope in my Redeemer, though I fall His love is sure
For Christ has paid for every failing, I am His forevermore.
Verse 2
Mine are tears in times of sorrow, darkness not yet understood
Through the valley I must travel, where I see no earthly good.
Chorus 2
But mine is peace that flows from heaven, and the strength in times of need
I know my pain will not be wasted, Christ completes His work in me.
Verse 3
Mine are days here as a stranger’ pilgrim on a narrow way
One with Christ I will encounter, harm and hatred for His name.
Chorus 3
But mine is armour for this battle, strong enough to last the war
And He has said He will deliver, safely to the golden shore.
Chorus 4
And mine are keys to Zion city, where beside the King I walk
For there my heart has found its treasure, Christ is mine forevermore.
Bridge
Come rejoice now O my soul, for His love is my reward
Fear is gone and hope is sure, Christ is mine forevermore
CCLI Song # 7036096, CCLI License # 108183
Jonny Robinson | Rich Thompson © 2016 CityAlight Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
Scripture Reading
Zephaniah 3
Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city!
2 She listens to no voice;
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the Lord;
she does not draw near to her God.
3 Her officials within her
are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing till the morning.
4 Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;
her priests profane what is holy;
they do violence to the law.
5 The Lord within her is righteous;
he does no injustice;
every morning he shows forth his justice;
each dawn he does not fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;
you will accept correction.
Then your[a] dwelling would not be cut off
according to all that I have appointed against you.’
But all the more they were eager
to make all their deeds corrupt.
8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord,
“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all my burning anger;
for in the fire of my jealousy
all the earth shall be consumed.
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
shall bring my offering.
11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave in your midst
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,
13 those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no injustice
and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
a deceitful tongue.
For they shall graze and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid.”
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.
Preaching the Word
The Lord Shut the Lions’ Mouths
Daniel 6
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Closing Song
Great God of Wonders (CRC #77)
Great God of wonders! All Thy ways
Are matchless, godlike and divine;
But the fair glories of Thy grace
More godlike and unrivaled shine,
More godlike and unrivaled shine.
Crimes of such horror to forgive,
Such guilty, daring worms to spare;
This is Thy grand prerogative,
And none shall in the honor share,
And none shall in the honor share.
Angels and men, resign your claim
To pity, mercy, love and grace:
These glories crown Jehovah’s name
With an incomparable glaze
With an incomparable glaze.
In wonder lost, with trembling joy,
We take the pardon of our God:
Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,
A pardon bought with Jesus’ blood,
A pardon bought with Jesus’ blood.
O may this strange, this matchless grace,
This godlike miracle of love,
Fill the whole earth with grateful praise,
And all th’angelic choirs above,
And all th’angelic choirs above.
Chorus
Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?
Or who has grace so rich and free?