LCC Online Service - 31 May 2020
Welcome
Welcome, please click below for the video welcome message. (If your internet is giving you issues, the written version is below as well).
Good morning LCC, we are thankful that we get to join with you in worship our Lord and King.
It has been two months since we switched to this online format and I believe we all are anticipating the time that we can join together as one body.
Today we will hear from Dave Roberts as he starts a new series looking at the first two chapters of Acts and the disciples waiting and anticipation of the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
Anticipation. Anticipation is an eagerness for something, an excitement for something that is to come in the near future. Expectation.
This word brings to mind many examples of waiting upon the Lord in the Bible. Abraham’s anticipation for a son which took fourteen years. Israel’s anticipation of the promised land. Simeon’s anticipation of seeing the Messiah in his lifetime. The disciples anticipation of the coming Holy Spirit. And we have the anticipation of the returning of our Lord Jesus Christ and spending eternity face to face with Him.
It is this anticipation that should drive us, that even in the current lockdown situations around the World, there is an anticipation that can drive us to spend time on our knees seeking the Lord for His guidance during this time. Maybe this is a time for us the vine branches to grow more robust and grow fruit that can be hope, and life to this hurting world.
Anticipation should fill our hearts and minds and draw us to the One we are anticipating.
John spurs us on in this in 1 John 2:18-29
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
- 1 John 2:18-29
May we joyfully anticipate the return of the Messiah and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and guide us in these days ahead.
Praise and Worship
Please select “play” on the image below and join with us in worshiping our Lord and Saviour.
Song List:
- Our Great God - Fernando Ortega & Mac Powell (printable lyric sheet )
- Jesus Paid It All - Kristian Stanfill (printable lyric sheet)
- Scandal of Grace - Hillsong (printable lyric sheet)
- I Surrender - All Sons & Daughters (printable lyric sheet)
sermon
Sermon - Dave Roberts - Acts Miniseries - The Waiting Game: Lockdown in Jerusalem
Scripture: Acts 1: 1-5 & John 15:26-16:15
Please select Play below (depending on your bandwidth it could take a few seconds to buffer and play):
If you have issues playing the sermon, you can download the audio version directly from OneDrive here:
Sermon Download
Prayer
1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.- Psalm 63 (ESV)
Pray for a heart and soul that earnestly seeks the Lord.
Proclaim in your homes the Name of Jesus and all the incredible things He has done. Give Thanks for His provision and steadfast love.
Pray for the LCC family spread out all across the World and for ways to encourage the Body of Believers near or far during COVID-19.
Pray for the work that is continuing in Chipata, for perseverance and continued breakthrough.
Pray for continued faith and healing for Kate as she continues treatment in the UK.
Pray for the Pastoral Call Committee as they continue the interview and selection process.
Pray that the Church would be a light to a world experiencing darkness and salt to the emptiness.
Pray for guidance and wisdom for LCC and next steps to take in the coming weeks regarding the COVID-19 and how best to support and care for one another.
Give thanks to the Lord and bless His Name.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!- Psalm 103 (ESV)
Please share your praises and prayer needs with any of the Elders via WhatsApp or email the church email or via the Prayer Form so that we can all continue being in prayer for one another.
Giving
If you feel led to give to the church, you are encouraged to use online transfer facilities (wire, mobile, TransferWise, etc). If you are unable to use contactless methods, you can still drop-off your offering at the church office during regular working hours. You can confirm any details with the church administrator by calling, texting, or WhatsApping: +260966800100
The church bank account details are below if you would like to use online transfer facilities:
Account name: Lusaka Community Church
$ acc #: 8700220232300
K acc #: 0150420232300
Bank: Standardchartered
Branch: Manda Hill
Branch code: 03000
Swift code: SCBLZMLX
Thank you
We hope and pray that you were encouraged today. We would be happy to hear from you with any comments, questions, recommendations, prayer requests, or just to chat. We elders are available to receive phone calls, WhatsApp messages or emails.
Benediction
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Amen