2 April 2023: Rejoice always – Christ is able to do all things

Bethel Baptist Church
Worship Service @ Home

2 April 2023

Welcome                                                                 

Worship

 Word

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Isaiah 62:6-7

There is a close relationship between the glory of Israel and the glory of the Church and all to the glory of God. One aspect of this prophecy is that of the glory of the church in the latter day and we can note Isaiah’s longing for it and his confidence that it will happen. This is what it will finally look like:

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away …

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”

… One of the seven angels … came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb”

… he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God… its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Rev. 21:1- 4, 9 -11

The Church is the Bride of Christ and He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

Interestingly, these things are going to happen, nothing can stop them  …

… as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Isaiah 62:5

but the Lord requires His people to pray them into being: “You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”

 Imagine if the disciples had done what Jesus had requested them to do:

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matt. 26:41

There would have been a completely different outcome for them than this:

Then everyone deserted Him and fled.

Mark 14:50

and this:

Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about”.

Mark. 14:70

Is praying continually Scriptural?  Definitely!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thess. 5:16-18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Eph. 6:18

See also Luke 11:5-8, 18:1-8; and Anna praying for the Lord’s first coming, in Luke 2:36-38.

Quote of the week

 “It is a sign that God is coming to His people in mercy when He pours out a spirit of prayer upon them.”

Matthew Henry

Verse of the week

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Isaiah 64:4

Let’s Pray

Father, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. In Your mercy, pour out Your Spirit of grace and supplication and enable us to pray continually for an outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, for Revival that will bring glory to Your Name and see Your Church flourish and this nation changed in Jesus Christ, Amen.