July 26, 2020
Before We Worship
Please note the time change for livestream worship service. Please join us for livestream worship at 10 AM, July 26, 2020 here.
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Psalm 113 is a reflection of God's transcendence and immanence. Transcendence means God is highly exalted and far above man and all other creatures. Immanence means that God is near and approachable. Transcendence and immanence describe the seemingly polar opposite natures of God, as one who is so beyond our grasp and one within our reach. They are, however, not contradictions, but give us a fuller picture of who God is.
First, God is "exalted" (NIV) or "high above" (ESV) all nations (Psalm 113:4). It takes us back to Genesis 11. Following God's judgment flood that covered the highest mountains (Gen 9–10) men gathered in Gen 11 to "build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens". The Tower of Babel was the work of unbelief. They built a tower that can't be submerged in another flood, an attempt to escape God's judgment by their works. The Tower also defied God's promise "never again shall all flesh cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." In an act of defiance they built the Tower "with its top in the heavens". But see what God did. "And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower" (Gen 11:5). What men considered "top in the heavens" was actually so far below God, that he had to come "down to see". Thus with a few simple words God put unbelieving men in their place. They made the fatal mistake of thinking lowly of God. Ps 113 teaches us to see God in his transcendence: "Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?" The LORD is highly exalted.
At the same time the LORD is immanent, near to the lowly and the insignificant: "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children." The proud cannot approach God, and their best efforts to exalt themselves falls laughably short of God's majesty. And yet the lowly and the humble can draw near and find God to be their comforter, keeper, and provider. The transcendent God who is not immanent would leave us in despair of ever knowing him. The immanent God without transcendence would leave us unsatisfied and bored. But God is both, and fills us with both awe and comfort. Indeed, this psalm gives us a written description of Jesus Christ, the exalted God over all creation who became a man. The transcendent God has drawn near us in Jesus Christ, and he is the friend of all in need, who humbly seek his gracious presence.
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Order of Worship
Call to Worship
Psalm 113
Trinity Hymnal #3 "Give to Our God Immortal Praise"
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Matthew 11:20–24
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
Romans 8:28–30
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God's Word
Proverbs 1:20–33. "The Call of Wisdom"
Trinity Hymnal #648 "My Jesus, I Love Thee"
‡ Benediction
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Upcoming Events and Notices
Thank you for your coninued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please continue to mail in your gifts and offerings to our church treasurer, Bruce Summers. In addition, our church website now features online giving. Please visit the church website and click on "Give" which you will find in the upper left corner of our church's website. When you click on "Give Online Now" button on that page, you will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).
July 19 (11:15 AM Lord's Day): Please join us for online fellowship after the worship live-stream via Google Meet. You can also join by phone. Please contact pastor Ken for call-in information.