Description

Luke 18:1-8 

All of us have had the experience of praying for someone or a situation for a long time without seeing any results—at least not yet. We know that God has told us often to come to Him with our concerns and problems, yet there are times when it seems that our voice has fallen on deaf ears.  Isaiah 55:6 states:  “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near”, but then God goes on in the nearby passage of Ch.55:8:  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.”  It is a fact that God’s timing is not our timing and God’s ways are not our ways. The widow in our Gospel lesson was persistent as she constantly came to a judge seeking justice. After basically wearing out the judge with her endless expressions, he finally grants her justice. In the same way, God honors our persistence in prayer and as we live by faith, we are to never give up. In the process we grow in character and hope.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Time of Praise and Worship

Everyday

Joel Houston, ©1999 Joel Houston / Hillsong Publishing

In The Hands of God

Peter Furler, Jeff Frankenstein, Steve Taylor, ©2009 FB Holden Music (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC)
First Company Publishing (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC) Oinchtech Music (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC)
Don’t Chase Music (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC) Soylent Tunes (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)

Let Us Pray

Steven Curtis Chapman, ©1996 Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp Acct) (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.)

 

[Traditional Options]

Jesus Shall Reign Where’er The Sun

BH 75 282; BH 91 587; CH 375; CHH 95; EH 544; ELW 434; HWC 231; HFG 238; HLC 489; HGP 30; HSP 244; LBW 530; LSB 832; LW 312; NCH 300; PH 423; RH 193; RS 631; STTL 271; WC 745; UMH 157; WAR 341; WHM 186; WIS 23

Christians, While on Earth Abiding

LBW 440; LW 434

Lord of Our Life                                                          

BH 75 145; ELW 766; HLC 395; LBW 366; LSB 659; LW 301

 

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

  

Pastor              We are so thankful to be here together to worship God who yearns for us to come to Him always in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.            .          

 

ALL                  Yes, again and again, we raise our voices to you in prayer and praise!

 

 

Opening Prayer

 

Pastor              Gracious God, our Father, You have made it known to us that we are to seek help from You at any time and from anywhere. You have made promises to us that we often forget. You have promised us that you will never leave us or ever forsake us.  You have promised us that when we seek You out and ask, the door will be opened. You have shared in Your Word that we are to pray unceasingly and to be persistent. Thank You for the comfort and peace of knowing that You are always there and You never grow weary of our petitions of prayer.          

 

ALL                  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

 

 

Time of Greeting

  

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor              We now take this time to reflect on our lives and confess our sins.

 

ALL                  We confess that our actions in life are not always consistent with our words. It is apparent to us that there are areas of our lives that need change but our pride and stubbornness get in the way. We admit that the lures and temptations of this world often lead us to behaviors that are not consistent with Your Word. 

 

                        We confess that we have tried to take control and work out things ourselves, rather than come to You, when faced with problems and challenges in our lives. We know that You have commanded us to pray often, to be persistent in our prayer life. We regret that we have not heeded Your instructions and have not relied on our faith.

 

We confess that we have kept the saving message of Jesus Christ to ourselves and have missed many opportunities to impact the lives of others. Help us to be more consistent in living out our faith and help us to be more persistent in our communication with God. We know that God has power to heal, restore, and change lives. Help us to do our part and never give up.

 

(silence for personal confession)

 

With all these confessions, we are deeply sorry and ask for your forgiveness.

 

Pastor:             By Christ’s authority and power, your sins are forgiven. You are cleansed and made new again!

 

  

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading                      Genesis 32:22-31

 

Jacob wrestled all night in order to be blessed.  He was persistent and God encourages persistence in all areas of our spiritual lives.

 

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.