Prayer of Waiting (Part 4)

I love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
 Psalms 18:1-3

 (Psalm 27) Continued from last week…

Proper prayer preparation recognizes:

• How we should approach Him…v.4

Psalm 27:4 shares how David focused his heart on God.  One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.  As we break down this verse we will discover the kind of heart God desires for us to have when we pray.  As we shall see, this is not possible without taking the time to prepare our hearts before praying.

The Priority of a Focused Heart...one thing have I asked for…

What we fail to possess in experience, we should not cease to desire in heart.  We are victims of a cultural conditioned for the immediate satisfaction of our desires.  (”Give me patience…NOW.”)  What we fail to understand is that a hunger which continues has a greater appreciation when it is satisfied.  Also, time will tell whether our need was a momentary one or a true life need.  Life has a way of sorting our priorities when it comes to what we think we need.  What is your “one thing” when you come before God?

The Promise of Obedience...that shall I seek…
Even holy desires require resolute actions.  Desires are merely seeds to be sown in the soil of proper activity to bear fruit.  There is a truth in life...”What we really want we will seek.”  We can know our heart by our actions.  The direction of our steps will determine the destination of our feet.  Where are you headed?

The Proper Desires... To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.  All God's children desire to dwell in the Father's house. Not just to be there for a time as the servant does, but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father.  To be “at home with the Lord” can be an attitude of living and not just an eternal hope.

To behold the beauty of the LORD  – How beautiful is God?  Artists, musicians, orators have yet to capture God.  His welcoming love and mercy mixed with his perfect righteousness, judgment and power are seen in only small reflections on this earth.  To see God...how wonderful it will be!

To meditate in His temple – This is the great part of preparation in prayer...to become one with Him in Spirit.  The Psalmist then

The Proper Confession... For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.  As we prepare to pray we become aware that when we are with God we are safe…secure.  Such security results in a natural praise.  Prayer is emotional!  It brings the whole person together:  Intellect...Light; Spirit – Desire; Soul – Praise

While waiting for God to answer a prayer, we must spend time preparing our hearts to pray.  Don’t wait in worry; Pray!

Scripture to Claim: I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalms 16:7-8

Unbinding

John 11:20-27; 32-45

Helping people is a difficult thing to do.  Especially when they don’t understand that they need help.  Not realizing we need help is common in the spiritual lives of people. It’s amazing how we grow content with far less than what God has made us for.

Understanding Man as Tripartite

·             Spirit - the faculty that enables man to communicate with God

·             Soul - forms the personality of man and enables him to contact and function within the psychological realm

·             Body - with its five senses enables man to relate to and communicate with the physical world 

The Problems of a Dead Man 

·             Dead men have no appetite.

·             Dead men have no activity.

·             Dead men have no awareness.

You cannot educate, encourage, or example a dead man to life. A spiritual problem must be met with a spiritual solution.

How to Bring to Life That Which is Dead

The Compassion of a Savior – Jesus Wept.  John 11:35

Jesus meets us at the point of our weakness.  He does not wait for us to get free and come to Him.

Answer the call of Jesus!

This requires leaving the darkness of death and stepping into the light of life.

The Bondage of a Defeated Man John 11:43-46

When you are saved you do not necessarily lose your weakness; you gain a power to overcome it.

The deceit of religion creates defeated disciples.

Jesus Can Set You Free!  John 11:44b

Lazarus couldn’t get his grave clothes off without some outside help! 

Lazarus became Dangerous.  John 12:9-11

If you are not dangerous, you are either dead or defeated

 

Prayer of Waiting (Part 3)

We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright. Save, O LORD; May the King answer us in the day we call. 
Psalms 20:5-9

(Psalm 27)

Proper prayer preparation recognizes: Why we are speaking to Him…v.2

In v.2 of Psalm 27 David recalls God’s past deliverance.  When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.  One of the greatest sources of assurance today is to recall the deliverance and provision of God in our yesterdays.  God has never failed! 

Confidence is increased if there is a history of success.  God’s working throughout history in the lives of all of His people increases our hope and faith. However, there is great value in rehearsing God’s acts of grace in our own history.  He did heal your child, find you a place to live, guide you through the storm, comfort you in your loss and much more.   Prayer preparation remembers the acts of God to bring confidence to our prayer.

Proper prayer preparation recognizes: What it is He can do for us…v.3

Next, in v.3 of Psalm 27 David’s remembrance of the past causes him to declare his hope for the future.  Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.  David’s song now rises in strength.  There is a resolve in his voice that was not there before.  The crescendo of confidence has now turned to hope!  Future deliverance can become an envisioned victory!

Where fear once held its grip, faith now tears its hold and new visions of God’s power in our lives are released.  The words in this verse are words of a victor, not a victim!  “Bring them on!” David shouts.

J.B. Phillips wrote a wonderful book entitled Your God is Too Small.  Reading Phillips' classic may disturb you into a proper understanding of the real and living God, a mystery whose ways are higher than our ways, whose thoughts are unfathomable.  Phillips deals with incorrect ideas about the God of the Bible and challenges everyone not to exist with a God too small for their lives.

The Hebrew children rehearsed all of the acts of God through stories and traditions so their children would never forget the supernatural power of the true and living God. This focus of faith prepares the spirit to call to God for help.We need always remember: “The size of the problem is not as important as the size of your God.”  Which are you looking at? 

Scripture to Claim:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  Psalms 121:1-2