COMMUNIQUE: May 2022

Monday, May 16, 2022

May 22 Worship

One of our first times at TPL

House Of The Lord

Verse 1

We worship the God who was
We worship the God who is
We worship the God who evermore will be
He opened the prison doors
He parted the raging sea
My God He holds the victory yeah

Chorus 1

There’s joy in the house of the Lord
There’s joy in the house of the Lord today
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
Our God is surely in this place
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise

Interlude

Oh oh oh
We shout out Your praise

Verse 2

We sing to the God who heals
We sing to the God who saves
We sing to the God who always makes a way
'Cause He hung up on that cross
Then He rose up from that grave
My God’s still rolling stones away

Bridge

('Cause) We were the beggars
Now we’re royalty
We were the prisoners
Now we’re running free
We are forgiven accepted
Redeemed by His grace
Let the house of the Lord sing praise

Interlude

There is joy in this house oh yeah
There is joy there is joy
And we won't be quiet
We're gonna shout out Your praise

Chorus 2

There’s joy in the house of the Lord
There’s joy in the house of the Lord today
We're gonna shout out Your praise
There is joy
There is joy surely in this place
We won't be quiet
We shout Your praise

Ending

We shout out Your praise
There is joy in this house
There is joy in this house today
We shout out Your praise
We shout out Your praise

CCLI Song # 7168995

Jonathan Smith | Phil Wickham

© 2020 Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Cashagamble Jet Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

CCLI License # 11176923

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Build My Life

Verse 1

Worthy of ev'ry song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You

Verse 2

Jesus the name above ev'ry other name
Jesus the only one who could ever save
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
We live for You

Chorus

Holy there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me

Bridge

I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken

CCLI Song # 7070345

Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Kaple Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Housefires Sounds (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Said And Done Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Vamos Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Martin, Karl Andrew (Admin. by Sentric Music)
Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 11176923

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10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Chorus

Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Verse 1

The sun comes up it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Verse 2

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Verse 3

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Tag

Worship Your holy name
Lord I'll worship Your holy name

Ending

Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name

CCLI Song # 6016351

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

© 2011 Atlas Mountain Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 11176923

_____________________________

One of the last times at TPL

My Jesus I Love Thee (With Every Breath)

Verse 1

My Jesus I love Thee I know Thou art mine
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign
My gracious Redeemer my Savior art Thou
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now

Verse 2

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now

Chorus

I love You in life
I love You in death
With every beat of my heart
With every breath
I love You in life
I love You in death
With every beat of my heart
With every breath

Verse 3

In mansions of glory and endless delight
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus ’tis now

CCLI Song # 7137079

Jacob Sooter | Meredith Andrews | William Ralph Featherstone

© 2019 Curb Songs (Admin. by Curb Music Publishing)
Mesmerized Music (Admin. by Curb Music Publishing)
Hipgnosis Songs Essential (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Vertical Church Band Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Songs of Mojo Three LLC (Admin. by Songs of Mojo LLC)

CCLI License # 11176923

Sunday, May 1, 2022

May 1, 2022 Wrestling with God

Wrestling With God

by David Zook

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Bill Pelozzi of Spokane, Washington wrote this in the American Legion Magazine: "As I left for basic training, my dad, an 8th U.S. Army Air Force World War II veteran, said, “Son, learn to take orders because one day you may be giving them.” I learned to take them. A lot was said in those few words. A few years later, I was giving orders in 1968, as a commissioned law officer. We became men at 17, 18 and 19 years old. I learned teamwork, learned how to move smartly, how color has no bounds and the blood of black, red and yellow men could, and did, save lives of white men, and vice versa. I learned that life is precious to all my fellow troops and that taking an enemy life is not pleasure, but cheating death and saving one. I learned to listen and to let my words be few. So, after 40 years of marriage, I am still reminded by my wife whenever she looks at my Navy photo and says, 'That boy left and never came back.'"

What was your boys to men moment? An experience so trying and profound that it actually changed you you to the degree that those you know you best couldn't believe their eyes?

Jacob had a transformational experience too. 20 years of being exploited will do that to a man. In our passage today we will witness the radical change in his life as he goes from being under his father-in-law's thumb to facing his brother who the last that Jacob knew wanted to kill him.

1. From lord to servant. (Genesis 32:1-5)

Before spending 20 years as what amounted to as an indentured servant, Jacob was all about looking out for number one. Through trickery and theft, Jacob took his brother's birthright and blessing. In fact, Jacob's dad, Isaac, told Esau (Jacob's brother) that Jacob would lord over him. (Genesis 27:37) So, it's surprising to hear him instructing his messengers this, "Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: thus says your servant Jacob ..."(Genesis 32:4)

This indicates that Jacob moved from lordship leadership model to a servant leadership model. Jacob no longer lorded over his older brother in the traditional way, but in a new way: a servant way. This is the way of Jesus who though he was the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, he came to serve rather than be served. (Mark 10:45).

This is a mark of a godly man, one whose live has been transformed. The same is true for us today.

2 From foolish to wise. (Genesis 32:6-8)

Prior to his Laban experience, Jacob was overly ambitious. He was most concerned about himself and his place in his family. He did whatever it took in order to secure the birthright and blessing by relying on man's wisdom. He didn't have to rely on man's wisdom because God promised that "the older shall serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23) Because we have seen that God fulfills his promises, he does not need man using our own wisdom to accomplish his task. That's foolish.

In this passage, we see man more concerned about others than himself. He puts himself last and does the wise and common sense thing in the face of a grave threat to life and limb: he divides his clan into two camps so if one is attacked the other one would be able to escape.

This is another mark of a godly man who understands servant leadership.

3. From strong to weak. (Genesis 32:9-12)

It's interesting that this is the first recorded prayer of Jacob. Up until now, he has made vows to God and told his wives what God told him in a dream, but that's it. When he was sent to Laban's land, there is no recorded prayer. When he was looking for a wife, there is no recorded prayer. When he made an agreement with Laban regarding Rachel, there is no recorded prayer. During his 20 years of suffering while with Laban, there is no recorded prayer.

This leads us to believe that Jacob didn't need God, that he could do it on his own. This falls right in line with his character. So, coming across this prayer jolts the observant reader. His behavior changed. He prayed ... and notice how he prayed. Facing what he thought was imminent danger he called upon God to remember his promises to him and then he rested in those promises. He is not going to rely on his own strength, but the strength of the promise and have the faith that it would be fulfilled.

He has learned that the Lord fulfills his promises, have we?

4. From taker to giver. (Genesis 32:13-21)

As noted, Jacob took his brother's birthright and blessing so it another eye-opener to discover that Jacob now is a giver. He gave his brother 550 animals in droves hoping that it will satisfy his brother's wrath against him. Esau didn't ask, nor was there a negotiation ... Jacob just freely gave.

The same thing happens to us when the gospel grabs our hearts because it melts away the selfishness and fills us with selflessness. For it is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

5. From self-dependence to divine dependence (Genesis 32:25)

Jacob was a strong man. Remember when he saw Rachel for the first time? He was at the well with other shepherds waiting for the other flocks to arrive so they could roll the huge stone off the well opening to let flocks drink. As Rachel, who "was beautiful in form and appearance" (Genesis 29:17), came down the trail with her flock, an inspired Jacob moved the rock of the well himself. Mind you it usually took several of them to move the rock.

Fast forward to this scene. Jacob wrestled with God throughout the night and God did not prevail against him. This is a testament to his strength, but see what happens next: God dislocated his hip. His strength is now gone. He can no longer depend on himself. He will have to depend on God's strength. He is now leading with a limp.

Taking our strengths is one of the ways God humbles us in order to draw closer to him and to depend on him.

This also happened to the Apostle Paul. He suffered from a thorn in side so he wouldn't think too highly of himself. He asked the Lord to take it away from him, but the Lord said: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We should boast the same way.

6. From old life to new life. (Genesis 32:28)

The changing of Jacob's name to Israel signifies the transformation of Jacob. He is moving from his old life of living man's ways into a new life of living God's way. Though our names don't change when we are transformed by God, the same calling occurs: "put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)

I think when Isaac spent some time with his son Jacob, he might have the same reaction as Bill Pelozzi's wife,"That boy left and never came back."

Here's the point: It’s not our power or strength that achieves victory, but his power and spirit. In fact, there may be time where God has to “cripple our natural strength” so that we might “receive a blessing by faith”.

As Allen Ross writes, “If we are to accomplish what God wants us to do, it must be accomplished by faith in him … if we do not develop our faith in him, God, may bring us to some point—just as he did Jacob– were self-sufficiency proved insufficient.”

Currently, we are working through a Sermon Series titled "Putting the Dys in Function: The Story of Issac's Family" to help us understand that God is stronger than our strongest dysfunction ... and through the strength of his message, he heals.

This coming Sunday, we will discover how God uses unfinished family business to draw us close to him through his unmerited favor. We invite you to join us. We worship at 10 AM. Please click here for more information about our service.

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