Sunday Meditation, October 4
Jesus, the I AM
Scripture for Meditation: Exodus 3:13-15
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.*
Hymn of Identity: Risen with Christ
If we are risen from the dead
With Christ God’s perfect Son,
Who now sits by the throne of God,
We gain what He has won.Chorus:
O Christ, our life, in you we hide;
You are the great I AM.
We wait your feast as Church and bride:
The marriage of the Lamb!If we are risen from the dead
And there our joy still lies,
We settle for the vain instead
Which empties soon and dies.If we are risen from the dead
With Christ God’s perfect Son,
We live with Him who for us died,
And now true joy’s begun.— Brian Pinner
Hymn of Nearness: Boldly I Approach
By grace alone somehow I stand
Where even angels fear to tread,
Invited by redeeming love
Before the throne of God above;
He pulls me close with nail-scarred hands
Into His everlasting arms.When condemnation grips my heart
And Satan tempts me to despair,
I hear the voice that scatters fear;
The Great I Am the Lord is here.
Oh praise the One who fights for me
And shields my soul eternally.Refrain:
Boldly I approach Your throne;
Blameless now I'm running home.
By Your blood I come,
Welcomed as Your own
Into the arms of majesty.Behold the bright and risen Son,
More beauty than this world has known;
I'm face to face with Love Himself,
His perfect spotless righteousness.
A thousand years, a thousand tongues
Are not enough to sing His praise.Refrain
Rend Collective © 2014 Thankyou Music. CCLI #2783020
Hymn of Adoration: Behold Our God
Who has held the oceans in His hands?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at His voice;
All creation rises to rejoice.Chorus:
Behold our God, seated on His throne.
Come, let us adore Him!
Behold our King; nothing can compare.
Come, let us adore Him!Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of His Words?
Who can teach the One who knows all things?
Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds?Who has felt the nails upon His hands,
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man?
God eternal, humbled to the grave,
Jesus, Savior risen now to reign!Tag (4 times):
Men: You will reign forever!
Women: Let Your glory fill the earth!© 2011 Sovereigns Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). Used by permission. CCLI #2783020
Transition Inside
Scripture for Meditation: Exodus 3:4-6
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Prayer of Blessing
Responsive Reading: Genesis 22:1-3
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac.
And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. . . . When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Prayer of Corporate Confession
Silence for Personal Confession
Assurance of Pardon: Galatians 3:7-9
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Ministry of the Word
*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.