Good Friday

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Good Friday

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER

One member of the household should lead a prayer, like this (or in your own words):
”Father, as we come before you this evening, we thank you for sending Your One and Only Son, Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. Thank you for providing the means of our forgiveness.
Lord, as we remember with joy and sorrow of our Lord’s death on the cross, impress upon us by the power of Your Holy Spirit, the infinitely amazing gift we have received by faith in Christ. We pray this all in the name of Jesus, Amen.”

GOOD FRIDAY DEVOTIONAL

This past Good Friday, we celebrated the Lord’s Supper together. Because we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together, in both physical and virtual circumstances, we have not posted the video here. We hope that you join us next time!

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Saturday Reminder 3.28.20

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Saturday Reminder 3.28.20

Sermon goes live tomorrow at 9am!

Website: https://www.wpclubbock.org

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTpHfeywDKvecz7hcHG0weQ?

More Cowbell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVsQLlk-T0s

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“A Life Without Lack”

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“A Life Without Lack”

A Wednesday Devotional by Pastor Matt Young

Psalm 23

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 23 is a favorite for many. What this psalm teaches us is what a life without lack looks like, which is something we all desperately long for in a time when we feel like we have great lack.

Many of us lack resources we once had, the freedom to go out and about as we once did, the relative safety we once perceived, the relational connections we once enjoyed, and the calm we experienced before COVID-19.

The Psalmist, David, lived such a roller-coaster of a life as well. Much of his life he spent on the run from those who intended to do him serious harm. Yet despite his tumultuous life he declared that he had no lack.

But how?

You see, David had become the kind of person who saw every situation through the lens of his perfect Shepherd.

So how might we become those whose life is without lack?

1) We Rest in Our Shepherd’s Provision

Verse 2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

For a shepherd to guide their sheep to green pastures meant that they brought their sheep to a place of abundance, a place where the sheep wouldn’t have to worry about food.

In other words, green pastures ensured that the sheep could rest in the guidance and provision of their shepherd.

People who live a life without lack are those who daily seek to rest in the provision of their Shepherd.

The ultimate provision for our souls, is the provision God made for us in Christ: He paid our debt and gives us eternal life. Not because we deserved it! But because of His great and unmerited love for us.

So while we might feel like we lack in physical provision now, whether in safety, resources, or relationally, we rest in the reality of His ultimate provision. The life without lack rests in His provision.

2) We Reside in Our Shepherd’s Preservation

Verse 4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Another aspect of shepherding is that the sheep were never alone and without their shepherd. The shepherd always watched, always walked with, always remained vigilant on their behalf. The sheep’s preservation was the shepherd’s presence.

That doesn’t mean we are protected from every harm. A life without lack is not a life without pain or suffering. Rather, a life without lack is a life that never lacks God’s presence.

As we reside in God’s presence, we reside in His preservation for us. Nothing we can experience in this life can ever separate us from the love of God and His presence assures us of this. Not even pandemics.

So people who live a life without lack daily reside in the Shepherd’s preservation of their souls and their lives.

3) We Rely on Our Shepherd’s Preparations

Verses 5 and 6 speak of the ultimate feast and our final dwelling place with God.

Jesus tells his disciples in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many room. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Jesus went to prepare our place for us in his going to the cross. But it wasn’t just so that we would be declared righteous before God. It was so that we would be with Jesus for all eternity.

The life without lack is the life lived in light of our future home.

Though there are pandemics and catastrophes in this life, we look ahead to the day when we step into the final home Jesus has gone ahead and prepared for us.

So let us live this life without lack. We have no reason to fear any pandemic or it’s consequences because of our Shepherd’s provision, preservation and preparations He has already made for us.

Praying for you all!
Pastor Matt Young

Prayer: Father, thank you for all that you have done for us in Christ –

For giving us the means of our rest, providing for us your ultimate provision in Him and His work on the cross,

for drawing near to us and giving us the means of preservation through the trials of life, that is your faithful and loving presence with us,

and for going ahead of us to prepare for us our final home with you for eternity.

Father, by the power of your Spirit would you give us calm and peace in our souls as we think on and work into our hearts and minds the reality that you are our Shepherd.

Amen.

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The Calm of Christ: The Storm and The Savior - 3.22.20

The Calm of Christ: The Storm and The Savior - 3.22.20

Sermon Series: The Calm of Christ
Title: “The Storm and The Savior”
Mark 4:35-41

Christ can bring a calmness to your soul - even as the storm rages around you.

Additionally, at 10:15am, if you’d like to join the Maker’s Mark Sunday School Class Zoom meeting, you can do so by clicking the link —> https://zoom.us/j/348444838

“The Future is Filled with the Presence of God”

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“The Future is Filled with the Presence of God”

A Sunday Night Devotional for WPC by Pastor Elliott

Deuteronomy 31:8
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you nor forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

It’s natural to wonder about the future. Even those of us who are “content to live in the moment” types wonder about what the future will bring. It’s also natural to be anxious about the future, particularly in worrisome times.

The scripture listed above are the words of Moses, spoken to God’s people centuries ago, but they are timely words to us, as well.

Here’s how the Word of God affirms us in worrisome times:

1) God’s Word affirms the experience of anxiety when we are entering “unknown territory.”

The Hebrews were about to enter unknown territory (the Promised Land!) and they were afraid for their future.

Certainly, we are entering into unknown territory with the outbreak of the coronavirus and we are anxious about the future.

And so, The Bible affirms our experience and feelings of anxiety as God’s people throughout the ages have faced “unknown territory” and its accompanying anxiety.

2) These words encourage us to be reasonable, not reactionary.

Remember, we have never, truly and comprehensively, known what lies before us even in ordinary times. Even when things are going well, there is always the possibility of calamity. Some of you know this from personal experience. So, in one sense, while today’s territory feels uncertain to us, it has always been so.

We have to take precautions, be smart and responsible - but we don’t have to be reactionary, I.e. unduly fearful or anxious because we can consider, reasonably, that our situation is always one of complete dependence of God - truly and comprehensively.

But the most powerful resource for us from this text is this:

3) Whatever is ahead of us, the Lord is there too.

“It is the Lord who goes before you.”

God is not quarantined. God is in-control. The future is filled with the presence of God and God will meet us there as one fully aware of the terrain and ready to guide us through it. Those were the words of Moses to God’s people, then – and they continue to be God’s word to us, today!

So remember, in your anxious moments, to tell your heart,
“It is the Lord who goes before me! He will be with me! He will not leave me nor forsake me. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

May God’s promises bring peace to your heart.

Pastor Elliott

P.S. Here’s a private prayer to conclude your devotion:

Dear God,

With all that’s happening in the world due to the coronavirus spread, I feel anxious. I feel anxious for my health, my family, my coworkers and employees, the community, and the world. Help me, Lord, to continue to trust you and to not be afraid. I know that you are with me now and will be with me tomorrow and into the future. Please protect me in this worrisome time.

Additionally, Lord, please empower and protect those who are working on the vaccination. Guide their work to quick and good results. Please be with doctors and nurses who are on the “front lines” of our care. Give them energy for the task, compassion for patients, positive dynamics in their team-work, and faith in You.We ask these things in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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