November 16, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 76 O for a Thousnad Tongues

Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 190 Are You Washed in the Blood?
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 57 - 64

Morning Prayer
Hymn 482 Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
Message Matthew 12: 43 - 50
Hymn 4 How Great Thou Art
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

THE GOSPEL WAY

BLESSED LORD JESUS,
No human mind could conceive or invent the gospel. Acting in eternal grace, thou art both its messenger and its message, lived out on earth through infinite compassion, applying thy life to insult, injury, death, that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed. Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way, Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God, for opening this way, Praise everlasting to thee, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to my heart. Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on my soul, until its virtue diffuses every faculty; Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt. Teach me to secure this mighty blessing; Help me to give up every darling lust, to submit heart and life to its command, to have it in my will, controlling my affections, moulding my understanding; to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion, not departing from them in any instance, nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger. Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy; Strip me of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by my own doings. O gracious redeemer, I have neglected thee too long, often crucified thee, crucified thee afresh by my impenitence, put thee to open shame. I thank thee for the patience that has borne with me so long, and for the grace that now makes me willing to be thine.
O unite me to thyself with inseparable bonds, that nothing may ever draw me back from thee, my Lord, my Saviour.

November 2, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 10 O Worship the King
Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 552 On Jordan's Stormy Banks
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 41 - 48
Morning Prayer
Hymn 441 Take Time to Be Holy
Message Matthew 12: 33 - 37
Hymn 521 Redeemed
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

THE SPIRIT'S WORK

O GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT,

Thou who dost proceed from the Father and the Son, have mercy on me. When thou didst first hover over chaos, order came to birth, beauty robed the world, fruitfulness sprang forth. Move, I pray thee upon my disordered heart; Take away the infirmities of unruly desires and hateful lusts; Lift the mists and darkness of unbelief; Brighten my soul with the pure light of truth; Make it fragrant as the garden of paradise, rich with every goodly fruit, beautiful with heavenly grace, radiant with rays of divine light. Fulfil in me the glory of thy divine offices; Be my comforter, light, guide, sanctifier; Take of the things of Christ and show them to my soul; Through thee may I daily learn more of His love, grace, compassion, faithfulness, beauty; Lead me to the cross and show me His wounds, the hateful nature of evil, the power of Satan; May I there see my sins as the nails that transfixed Him, the cords that bound Him, the thorns that tore Him, the sword that pierced Him. Help me to find in His death the reality and immensity of His love. Open for me the wondrous volumes of truth in His, 'It is finished'. Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of atonement achieved, expiation completed, satisfaction made, guilt done away, my debt paid, my sins forgiven, my person redeemed, my soul saved, hell vanquished, heaven opened, eternity made mine. O Holy Spirit, deepen in me these saving lessons. Write them upon my heart, that my walk be sin-loathing, sin-fleeing, Christ-loving; And suffer no devil's device to beguile or deceive me.

October 26, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 8 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 89 Our Great Savior
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 33 - 40
Morning Prayer
Hymn 44 Children of the Heavenly Father
Message Matthew 12: 31 - 32
Hymn 103 Blessed Be the Name
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

THE SPIRIT OF JESUS

LORD JESUS CHRIST,
Fill me with thy Spirit that I may be occupied with his presence, I am blind - send Him to make me see; dark - let Him say, 'Let there be light'! May He give me faith to behold my name engraven in thy hand, my soul and body redeemed by thy blood, my sinfulness covered by thy life of pure obedience. Replenish me by his revealing grace, that I may realise my indissoluble union with thee; in righteousness, love, mercy, faithfulness; that I am one with thee, as branch with its stock, as a building with its foundation. May His comforts cheer me in my sorrows, His strength sustain me in my trials, His blessings revive me in my weariness, His presence render me a fruitful tree of holiness, His might establish me in peace and joy, His incitements make me ceaseless in prayer, His animation kindle in me undying devotion. Send Him as the searcher of my heart, to show me more of my corruptions and helplessness, that I may flee to thee, cling to thee, rest on thee, as the beginning and end of my salvation. May I never vex Him by my indifference and waywardness, grieve Him by my cold welcome, resist Him by my hard rebellion. Answer my prayers, O Lord, for thy great name's sake.

October 19, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 201 Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 92 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 25 - 32

Morning Prayer
Hymn 292 God of Grace and God of Glory
Message Matthew 12: 22 - 32
Hymn 460 All the Way My Savior Leads Me
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

GOD THE SPIRIT

O LORD GOD,
I pray not so much for graces as for the Spirit himself, because I feel his absence, and act by my own spirit in everything. Give me not desires but the power of his presence, for this is the surest way to have all his graces, and when I have the seal I have the impression also; He can heal, help, quicken, humble suddenly and easily, can work grace and life effectually, and being eternal he can give grace eternally. Save me from great hindrances, from being content with a little measure of the Spirit, from thinking thou wilt not give me more. When I feel my lack of Him, light up life and faith, for when I lose thee I am either in the dark and cannot see thee, or Satan and my natural abilities content me with a little light, so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life. Teach me then what to do. Should I merely humble myself and not stir up my heart? Should I meditate and use all means to bring Him near, not being contented by one means, but trust Him to give me a blessing by the use of all, depending only upon, and waiting always for, thy light, by use of means? Is it a duty or an error to pray and look for the fullness of the Spirit in me? Am I mistaken in feeling I am empty of the Spirit because I do not sense His presence within, when all the time I am most empty and could be more full by faith in Christ? Was the fullness of the Spirit in the apostles chiefly a power, giving them subsistence outside themselves in Christ, in whom was their life and joy? Teach me to find and know fullness of the Spirit only in Jesus.

October 12, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 66 To God Be the Glory
Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 97 All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 17 - 24
Morning Prayer
Hymn 67 The Love of God
Message Matthew 12: 15 -21
Hymn 385 Near the Cross
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

SPIRITUS SANCTUS

O HOLY SPIRIT,

As the sun is full of light, the ocean full of water, Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee. Vain are all divine purposes of love and the redemption wrought by Jesus except thou work within, regenerating by thy power, giving me eyes to see Jesus, showing me the realities of the unseen world. Give me thyself without measure, as an unimpaired fountain, as inexhaustible riches. I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness, imperfect vision, languid service, prayerless prayers, praiseless, praises. Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee. Come as power, to expel every rebel lust, ro reign supreme and keep me thine; Come as teacher, leading me into all truth, filling me with all understanding; Come as love, that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all; Come as joy, to dwell in me, move in me, animate me; Come as light, illuminating the Scripture, moulding me in its laws; Come as sanctifer, body, soul and spirit wholly thine; Come as helper, with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step; Come as beautifier, bringing order out of confusion, loveliness out of chaos. Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me, and make me redolent of thy fragrance.

October 05, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 106 Praise Him! Praise Him!
Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 186 The Old Rugged Cross
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 9 - 16
Morning Prayer
Message Matthew
Hymn 321 According to Thy Gracious Word
Communion
Hymn - Power of the Cross (insert)
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

THE SECOND COMING

O SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN,
Thou wast incarnate, didst suffer, rise, ascend for my sake; Thy departure was not a token of separation but a pledge of return; Thy Word, promises, sacraments, show thy death until thou come again. That day is no horror to me, for thy death has redeemed me, thy Spirit fills me, thy love animates me, thy Word governs me. I have trusted thee and thou hast not betrayed my trust; waited for thee, and not waited in vain. Thou wilt come to raise my body from the dust, and re-unite it to my soul, by a wonderful work of infinite power and love, greater than that which bounds the oceans' waters, ebbs and flows the tides, keeps the stars in their courses, and gives life to all creatures. This corruptible shall put on incorruption, this mortal, immortality, this natural body, a spiritual body, this dishonoured body, a glorious body, this weak body, a body of power. I triumph now in thy promises as I shall do in their performance, for the head cannot live if the members are dead; Beyond the grave is resurrection, judgment, acquittal, dominion. Every event and circumstance of my life will be dealt with - the sins of my youth, my secret sins,the sins of abusing thee, of disobeying thy Word,the sins of neglecting ministers' admonitions,the sins of violating my conscience -all will be judged;

And after judgment, peace and rest, life and service, employment and enjoyment, for thine elect.
O God, keep me in this faith, and ever looking for Christ's return.

September 28, 2008

Morning Worship

Hymn 58 This Is My Father's World

Welcome and Puritan Prayer
Hymn 299 Rescue the Perishing
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 1 - 8

Morning Prayer Hymn 337 Pass Me Not
Message The Lord of the Sabbath (Part I)

Matthew 12: 1 -8

Hymn 338 At Calvary
Benediction

The Valley of Vision

(A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

LOVE TO JESUS

LORD JESUS,
If I love thee my soul shall seek thee, but can I seek thee unless my love to thee is kept alive to this end? Do I love thee because thou art good, and canst alone do me good? It is fitting thou shouldest not regard me, for I am vile and selfish; yet I seek thee, and when I find thee there is no wrath to devour me, but only sweet love. Thou dost stand as a rock between the scorching sun and my soul, and I live under the cool lee-side as on elect. When my mind acts without thee it spins nothing but deceit and delusion; When my affections act without thee nothing is seen but dead works. O how I need thee to abide in me, for I have no natural eyes to see thee, but I live by faith in one whose face to me is brighter than a thousand suns! When I see that all sin is in me, all shame belongs to me; let me know that all good is in thee, all glory in thine, Keep me from the error of thinking thou dost appear gloriously when some strange light fills my heart, as if that were the glorious activity of grace, but let me see that the truest revelation of thyself is when thou dost eclipse all my personal glory and all the honour, pleasure, and good of this world. The Son breaks out in glory when he shows himself as one who outshines all creation, makes men poor in spirit, and helps them to find their good in him. Grant that I may distrust myself, to see my all in thee.