Preparing for the Lord's Day
When we are in a place of need we tend to grasp for anything in which to trust. This week I heard a public service announcement warning people about debt consolidation schemes. While there are legitimate debt consolidators, there are also many who see an opportunity to take advantage of those in need. A promise that all your financial struggles will be erased is tempting to believe. Therefore, those in places of need are willing to trust such promises. They are willing to pay a company a few thousand dollars to make their debt of twenty thousand dollars go away. Those with financial security are not tempted to believe such outlandish claims that tens of thousands of dollars in debt can be cleared with a simple phone call. Those in need, however, are willing to trust even the most untrustworthy.
In life we all find ourselves in places of need. Situations arise in which we have no power to deliver ourselves. In these times we look for someone or something in which to trust: a political figure who will save the economy; a military figure who will win the battle; a doctor who will cure the disease; a lawyer who will make the charges go away. We all have a longing to trust a savior, a promise, or a purpose that will deliver us from our place of need. Yet what we will see in our passage for this week is that our need to trust will only be fulfilled by trusting in the Lord. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 146, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 118:8-9, Isaiah 51:12-13, Matthew 11:3-5, Hebrews 7:23-25, and https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Westminster_Confession_of_Faith.pdf/14Westminster Confession of Faith 14.
As we gather this fourth Sunday of Advent, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child”, the Acclamation of Praise “Silent Night”, and the Hymn of Response “What Child Is This.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
If you’re going to be out of town this Sunday, let me encourage you to listen to the sermon online, through the Rivermont App, (available at the App Store or Google Play), or you can download the REPC podcast, which will be delivered to your mobile device.
Sermon Information
Text: Psalm 146
Title: Longing to Trust
Outline:
- Longing to Trust in a Person
- Longing to Trust in a Promise
- Longing to Trust in a Purpose