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INVOCATION
Invocation by Rev. Derrick Johnson, Founder and Pastor of Black Liberation Church
0:07:18
ยท
3 min
Rev. Derrick Johnson delivered an invocation, invoking God's blessings on the assembly. He offered prayers for wisdom, discernment, and healing, emphasizing the importance of being 'doers of the word'. The invocation concluded with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about the church's role as the conscience of the state, and an encouragement to do 'good business' on behalf of the people.
Derrick Johnson
0:07:18
To all dignitaries, elected officials, public servants, staff, and guests, especially the youth assembled, good afternoon.
0:07:31
First, giving honor to God who is the head of my life, I would like to invoke the aid of deity.
0:07:38
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your presence, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
0:07:47
We are thankful for all the holy sacred texts that have withstood throughout the ages of time.
0:07:55
From ancient Mesopotamia to ancient Egypt, the four major religions of the Far East, the three major Abrahamic faiths, and there so much much more.
0:08:09
We thank almighty God, the creator for all of God's worthy servants.
0:08:15
May peace rest upon them.
0:08:17
Please accept my prayer in the Christian faith.
0:08:21
Let us pray.
0:08:24
Most holy and most glorious Lord God, we thank you for your grace and we thank you for your mercy.
0:08:30
We thank you for sending your Christ into this world in the person of Yeshua, Jesus the Christ.
0:08:37
And we thank you for leaving us with your Holy Spirit to rest, rule, and abide with us henceforth and forevermore.
0:08:45
We thank you for waking us up this morning to your marvelous light and we thank you for the breath of life.
0:08:52
We pray that everyone under the sound of my voice that you, almighty God, renew our minds with just a portion of your infinite wisdom.
0:09:02
Lord God, we pray that we will not be just hearers of your word, which is the logic and reasoning of you almighty God, but that we will be doers of your word.
0:09:15
We pray that you forgive us for our sins and that you bless us with your power to discern good from evil and the discipline to be obedient to the will that you have given us and to stand on truth and advocate for good.
0:09:32
Many of us are dealing with sickness and distress, bereavement, mental, physical, spiritual issues and challenges.
0:09:41
So we pray that you bless us from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet.
0:09:46
May you bless our families, our communities, our nation, and bless this world and all those who have gone before us.
0:09:54
Please bless our ancestors, Lord God.
0:09:57
We ask all these things in the name of all your worthy servants, in the name of Yeshua, Jesus the Christ, and in your most holy and glorious name.
0:10:08
Amen.
0:10:09
The Reverend Doctor.
0:10:10
Martin Luther King Junior once quoted, the church is not the master or servant of the state, but rather the conscious of the state.
0:10:20
It must be the guide and the critic of the state and never its tool.
0:10:25
A wise man in Harlem by the name of CJ once told me, there's only two ways to do business, good business and bad business.
0:10:34
And it's my prayer today that before almighty God that you do good business on behalf of the people.
0:10:40
May God bless you and may heaven smile upon you.
0:10:43
Peace and blessings.