An Early Morning Prayer.
Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3,112 viewsThe completeness of conviction and confidence expressed in the life of the believer, worked by the Holy Spirit. It derives from a reliance upon God and his promises alone, and results in boldness and steadfastness in service and in the face of difficulties.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
One thing I admired in my wife’s spiritual life is that, as soon as she gets up from bed in the morning, she gets on her knees to pray.
Do you pray when you get up in the morning? What do you pray for?
, as the title indicates, is a morning prayer from the lips of David.
The beauty of the Psalms is more appreciated when we know the circumstances under which they were written.
Life deals us circumstances where the only thing we can do is praying for assurance.
Absalom had rebelled against his father, had gathered an army and wanted to become king. As an experienced warrior, David could have easily killed Absalom, but instead of fighting his son, he decided to abandon Jerusalem and fled from Absalom and his men.
He sought the Lord in prayer.
He sought the Lord in prayer.
When the enemies increased.
When the enemies increased.
“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased. Many are rising against me.” 1
When you do what is right, when you speak or preach the truth, you’ll have free enemies.
Absalom had killed his half brother Amnon because he had raped his sister Tamar. David, not wanting to make things worse, as a punishment sent Absalom to exile. After a couple of years, David allowed him to return to Jerusalem. Absalom conspired against his father and wanted to kill him.
Do you have enemies? Are there some that do not like you? What do you do? Do you go to God in prayer?
David sought the Lord in prayer! Although the psalm does not express it, Don’t you think that he prayed for Absalom, his son and enemy?
That’s what Jesus expects us to do too:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
and He gave us the example: He loved Judas, the betrayer!
Mat 5:43-44
When it seems there is no hope.
When it seems there is no hope.
“Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no deliverance for him in God.’” 2
Sometimes we are in situations where everything seems to be lost, when the storm does not let us to see light.
But as the refrain states, “While there is life, there is hope.”
Remember that you are not alone, God is with you and goes with you. To the people in the desert, He told them:
“Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you.
Difficulties are the best moments to come before the Lord, our High Priest:
2
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
It is only in Jesus that we can find hope. He is the anchor that holds our boat when is shaken by the waves of trials:
so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
Our job is to do what is right, to live in the fear of the Lord, and hope in Him:
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always. Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off.
Pro 23:17-18
See also ; ; ; ; ;
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
See also ;
He depended on God for protection.
He depended on God for protection.
“But you. O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the One who lifts my head.” 3
He found assurance in God.
He found assurance in God.
The assurance described in for us,
so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
were written a thousand years before by David in
The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
Despite his failures, David experienced God’s protection, God was his shield.
Despite his failures, David experienced God’s protection, God was his shield
See also ; ; ; ; ;
He could sleep in peace.
He could sleep in peace.
“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.” 5
When your heart is depending on the Lord, you do not lose your sleep.
David could say, “Thanks Lord for the rest you gave me last night, and for allowing me to wake up!”
No matter the amount of danger or the number of enemies, he could sleep. He said, “I will not be afraid of ten thousand people who have set themselves against me round about”.
On , he expressed it this way:
Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.
Psa 27:3
He left everything in the Lord’s hands.
He left everything in the Lord’s hands.
Not seeking vengeance.
Not seeking vengeance.
“For you have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.” 7
He had preferred to flee rather than facing Absalom. Later, he even instructed his soldiers not to harm Absalom. That’s the heart of a good father!
What do we gain by seeking vengeance? Nothing! If we seek it, we are taking the place of the Judge, God.
Although is not ascribed to David, it would not surprises if he was the author. On it, the writer cried out for God’s action upon the enemies:
O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.
O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!
Christians are instructed by the Lord:
-2
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:17
and...
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
9-21
Acknowledging that salvation belongs to God.
Acknowledging that salvation belongs to God.
“O Lord; save me, O my God… Salvation belongs to the Lord;” 7-8
“Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.
Though he was known as a “man after God’s heart”, David knew that he deserved more than what was suffering; he was a miserable sinner, and adulterer and a murderer; what was happening with Absalom was related to that adultery and murder. He deserved condemnation!
See also ; ;
He also knew he could not earn salvation and he could only cry out for God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Assurance in ministry
Assurance in ministry
Are you facing trials? Seek God in the morning!
;
Do you need hope? Seek Him every morning!
See also ; ; ; ;
Do you need salvation? God offers it to you! Salvation is a gift from God that carries a label called the Gospel...
Assurance in prayer
Assurance in prayer
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
See also
Assurance of God’s will
Assurance of God’s will
One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
See also ; ;
Assurance may be strengthened
Assurance may be strengthened
Examples of believers asking for assurance
Examples of believers asking for assurance
Abraham; Moses; Gideon; Zechariah
Assurance through understanding
Assurance through understanding
that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
Assurance through waiting on God
Assurance through waiting on God
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
See also ; ; ; The revelation of God’s righteousness among his people results in true peace.
Assurance strengthened by others
Assurance strengthened by others
by example; through teaching; through prayer; through encouragement amidst trials
False teaching weakens assurance
False teaching weakens assurance
;
The delusion of false assurance
The delusion of false assurance
The danger of self-assurance
The danger of self-assurance
; ;
Such assurance proved false by conduct
Such assurance proved false by conduct
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
See also ; ; ; ;