Day 10, Wednesday: Knowledge Of The Glory Of God

by Pastor Brian Petak

“In His prayer, Jesus calls us not only to reach out to God for His forgiveness, but also to reach out to others and extend to them our own. That is the only ultimate way to conquer evil. Our willing sacrifice is required. Evil will be healed only through the love of individuals – that is, through you and me.”

~ David Jeremiah, Prayer: The Great Adventure, p. 152

Meditation

Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:

“Nobody, when he first enters his reign, takes a thief for a companion. Christ did just that, and did not contaminate paradise, but rather made it honored that it had such a Lord, who could purify theives and prostitutes instantly so that they were suitable for the kingdom of heaven.”

Peter Vermigli, 16th Century Italian Reformer, Author, Professor & Pastor, Zurich, Switzerland.

Call to Worship

Hear God call you to worship through his word:

 ⁵ For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Adoration

Pray this praise to God:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless Righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

~ Charitie Lees Bancroft, 19th Century Irish Hymnwriter

Confession of Sin

Confess your sins to God:

O most great, most just and gracious God; you are of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; but you have promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in him. Therefore we confess that we are sinful by nature and that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have neglected and abused your holy worship and your holy name. We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours. We have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness. We have not been content with our daily bread. You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ and offered us pardon and salvation in him; but we have turned away. We have run into temptation; and the sin that we should have hated, we have committed. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father! We confess you alone are our hope. Make us your children and give us the Spirit of your Son, our only Saviour.  Amen.

~ Richard Baxter, 17th Century English Puritan Pastor

Assurance of Pardon

Receive these words of comfort from God:

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

Prayer of Intercession

As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:

O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life except to spend them for you, with you, and in you. You alone know what is good for me; do therefore what seems best to you. Give to me or take from me; conform my will to yours; and grant that with humble and perfect submission and in holy confidence, I may receive the orders of your eternal providence, and may equally adore all that comes to me from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ Blaise Pascal, 17th Century French Writer, Apologist and Scientist

Further Petition

Pray for:

• Personal: pray for those in your immediate family.
• Church: pray for those in The Ascent Church who are in need of hope.
• Community: pray for Ascent’s strategic reach into our community with the hope, healing and freedom of the Gospel.
• World: pray for pastors in churches all around the world to not lose heart in the face of ministry difficulties and leadership challenges even as they also seek to lead their own families.

Connect the Heart

Consider the following questions to better connect your head and your heart:

1. What did God show you about Himself through today’s devotional?
2. What did God show you about yourself through today’s devotional?
3. What is something you need to surrender to God today as you pursue greater intimacy with Him?

Benediction

As you close your time of meditation and devotion, receive by faith this blessing from God:

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen.

Romans 15:13

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_{Content for our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting devotionals is adapted from several sources, books on prayer, meditations and liturgies, drawing heavily from O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Jonathan Gibson (copyright 2024 by Crossway)}