Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.

There are many reasons to praise God. Rich in love, slow to anger, heart is kind. He chose us to be holy, he adopted us as sons and daughters, he is faithful to his promises, he has put his Spirit in us, he has prepared works for us to walk in. And he is longsuffering of our sin and gracious when we repent.

An example – 2 Chronicles 33. Manasseh is king in Judah. He reigned as king for 52 years. He was not a good king. He sets up many idols, sheds much innocent blood, and even offers his son as a sacrifice to a false god. Scripture tells us that Manasseh did more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel. He was the most evil king that Judah ever had. 2 Kings tells us that it was because of Manasseh’s sin that God will deliver Judah over to the Babylonians a few generations later.

Chronicles gives us some information that Kings does not give us.

2 Chronicles 33:10-13: The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

God is long-suffering and gracious. When you repent of your sin and turn in faith to God, no matter how much sin you have committed, God will forgive your sin and provide complete payment for all of your sin.

(Prayer)

Father you give us so many reasons to praise you. You are holy and righteous, merciful and kind, long-suffering and quick to forgive.

Remind us daily of your goodness to us. In whatever circumstance we find ourselves, help us to remember all of the good that you have done for us.

Remind us especially of your forgiveness. Remind us of what we see in the life of Manasseh – no matter how great our sin, your grace is enough to cover it. When we repent of whatever sin we’ve committed, you will hear and forgive.

Soften hearts this morning that are hardened in sin, hearts that refuse to repent because of pride and arrogance. Enlighten minds that fear that their sin is too great to ever be forgiven. Remind them that your grace is greater than our sin, that we can trust that you provide complete atonement for our sin.

Amen.