Special Series on Prayer - 19 July 2020 : “A sense of Urgency”
Text: Psalms 6, 10, 12, 13 19 July 2020
JULY-AUGUST 2020
Theme: “Teach us to Pray” Luke 11:1
MORNING WORSHIP 19 July 2020
Title: A sense of Urgency
Texts: Psalms 6, 10, 12, 13
INTRODUCTION
1. Praying may be better understood
a) When God Teaches us
b) When we learn to Relate to the Lord better
2. Prayers may also be better offered
a) When we face difficult times
b) When a sense of Urgency is felt keenly
SITUATIONS WHEN A SENSE OF URGENCY ARISE
1. In times of Weakness when we feel deeply troubled
a) Weakness
“Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.“ Psalm 6:2
b) Troubled
“My soul also is greatly troubled
But You, O LORD, how long?” Psalm 6:3
i) Weakness can cause a sense of despair
ii) Deep fears may arise that God may be angry
iii) We fear the rebuke of the LORD
c) Fear
“O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.” Psalm 6:1
i) Fear of God’s anger
ii) Fear of rebuke
iii) Fear of chastening
iv) Fear of God’s displeasure
2. In times of deep grief
a) Tears
“I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.” Psalm 6:6
i) Weariness
ii) Copious amount of tears shed
b) Distress
“My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of my enemies: Psalm 6:7
i) Grief hits deeply
ii) It may affect the eyes physically
3. When God seems far away and the wicked seems to have the upper hand
a) God seems hidden
“Why do You stand afar off, O LORD?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1
i) God seems to be distant
ii) He seems to have hidden Himself
b) The wicked
“The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor…” Psalm 10:2a
“The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire;
He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.” Psalm 10:3
i) The wicked continue persecuting the poor
ii) The LORD is renounced and the greedy are honoured
4. When God seems to have forgotten us
a) Doubts
“How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?” Psalm 13:1
i) Distress is felt
ii) Doubts can arise strongly
b) Impatience
“How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:2
i) Sorrow is felt daily
ii) Anxiety is felt deeply
PRAYING WITH AN EVEN DEEPER SENSE OF TRUST!
1. Exercising Trust that God will hear our prayers
a) Pleading the Mercy of God
i) “Have mercy on me, O LORD…” Psalm 6:2a
ii) “Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!” Psalm 6:4
b) Believing that God hears
“The LORD has heard my supplication;
The LORD will receive my prayer.” Psalm 6:9
i) A glimmer of hope arises
ii) Faith is strengthened
2. Trust in the knowledge of who God is
a) God sees
“But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repay it with Your hand.” Psalm 10:14a
i) God is omniscient
ii) He is just and He will deal with the wicked
b) God is the Helper of the fatherless
“The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14b
i) God will have compassion on the fatherless
ii) He will be their Helper
3. Trust that the LORD is King
a) God is the eternal King
“The LORD is king forever and ever.” Psalm 10:16a
i) God is indeed Sovereign
ii) His Kingship is an eternal one
b) As King He will respond to His people
“LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear.” Psalm 10:17
i) He will hear the cries of the humble
ii) He will respond to their cries
c) As King He will uphold justice
“To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed” Psalm 10:18a
i) God is Just
ii) He will uphold justice for the oppressed
4. Trust in God’s promises
a) God will arise and help His people
“For the oppression of the poor,
For the sighing of the needy,
Now I will arise, says the LORD:
I will set him in the safety for which he yearns” Psalm 12:5
b) God’s word is Pure
“The words of the LORD are pure words.” Psalm 12:6a
c) God will keep His word
“You shall keep them, O LORD” Psalm 12:7a
5. Rejoicing because of Trust in God’s mercy
a) Trust
“But I have trusted in Your mercy.” Psalm 13:5a
b) Rejoicing
“My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” Psalm 13:5b
c) Singing
“I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:6
CONCLUSION
1. Urgent situations in life
a) Difficulties are allowed by the Lord
b) They serve important purposes:
i) They help us realise our need for God
ii) They help us get out of a sense of complacency
iii) They help us not to take God and His mercy for granted