November 26, 2023
November 26 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Where is God? Psalm 113 tells us God is found in two places. First, he is where no man may approach him. "The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!" Theologians use the word "transcendent" to describe the vast distance between God and mankind. There is an infinite gulf that separates the being of God from the being of man, his knowledge from our knowledge, and his power from our power.
But there is something else we need to know about God. Theologians use the word "immanence" to describe God's nearness. Note Psalm 113 also tells us of another place where God is found. "Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 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." The high and exalted LORD comes to where people are bowed down in anguish, to those who are humbled and humiliated, to those whose hearts are crushed. The LORD does not come to laugh at their insignificance and misery. He comes to lift them up and mend their broken hearts.
Indeed, prayer would not be possible without God's transcendence and immanence. We lift up our prayers to the one who is high and exalted and rules over the world with absolute power. There is, after all, no point to praying if God is not able to rule with absolute sovereignty over the various things that assault our souls. Likewise, there would be no point to praying unless we knew that he cares deeply about our needs, is present in our poverty, and hears our prayers with compassion in his heart.
You and I cannot climb to the highest heavens to meet God there. But we can humble ourselves and God will come to us. We can confess our sin, failure, and shame, and know that God, far from being turned off by them, will come near us with grace. We can unburden to him our worries and need, and God will be good to us.
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Growth Resources
This Year: Please see the full list of 2023 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/12-for-23
This Month: For November we are reading "Deeper: Real Changes for Real Sinners" by Dane Ortlund.
This Week: We encourage you to make use of:
- Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot" pages 218–221, Lord's Day 47, for personal or family devotions.
- Past sermons are available on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/sermons.
Upcoming Events and Notices
November 29 (Wednesday 6:30 PM): Please join us as we study James 3:1–12. Zoom Meeting ID: 882 4255 0244. Next meeting: December 6.
December 3 (Lord's Day): Please join us for the "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" for Sunday School lesson: Ch. 21 "Miracles." Also December 17.
December 10 (Lord's Day): Please join us as we celebrate our Lord’s birth with food, music, and fellowship!
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).