Thou art near, O LORD

Service Notes

Please, take a moment to sign the board we will give to Living Hope Baptist Church on Sunday

Penrods are headed to Nigeria

Prayer Requests

Living Hope Baptist Church in the Bronx, NY

How should we pray for Living Hope Baptist Church

Let’s look at some example prayers, notice how theological rich they are.

2 Thess 1:11 “11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:”

Col 1:9-10 “9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Eph 1:16-17 “16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”

Phil 1:9-11 “9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

Let’s look at one tonight before we pray

Sunday is also Vision Sunday for Living Hope

Theme is By Faith

2 Thess 1:11 “11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power

Paul prays that God would fulfill their good resolve and work of faith by his power. He is praying that God would strengthen their faith in his promises.

Summary: It is the duty of Christians to seek God's power to fulfill good resolves because in doing that we become worthy of God's call.

What do we mean by worthy? doesn’t mean deserving or meritorious. It means fitting, proper, appropriate

What is God’s call? 2 Thess 1:12 “12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

How? A prayer that God would fulfill our good resolves by his power!

We should pray for God's power to fulfill the things He has put in the heart of the people of Living Hope Baptist Church

because through God’s power they will come to be place that is suitable for God to demonstrate His strength

because in doing so Christ is glorified

because in doing so we will get to see a work of faith = resolve accomplished by His power

Introduction

Luke 11:1 “1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

We must learn to pray

We should ask God to teach us

Jesus taught them to pray by praying

We can learn from others

Psalms is a place for learning how to pray

Psalm 119:145–152 (KJV)

145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.

150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

Psalmist testimony to answered prayer.

How he prayed / with my whole heart, Psalm 119:145

How God answered his prayer / You are near, O LORD, Psalm 119:150

What he prayed for / save me, and I will keep Your testimonies, Psalm 119:146

When he prayed / before the dawning of the morning, Psalm 119:147

How long he prayed / through the night watches, Psalm 119:148

The grounds of his request / according to Your lovingkindness…according to Your judgement, Psalm 119:149

His testimony to answered prayer / Your testimonies…You have founded them forever, Psalm 119:152

How he prayed

Psalm 119:145 “145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.”

A cry for obedience

These verses are not really about the psalmist’s enemies, as bad as they were. They are about the writer’s prayer life and how he learned to use God’s word when praying.

Very strong words are used..

Psalm 119:145 “145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.”

Psalm 119:146 “146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.”

Psalm 119:147 “147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.”

In a desperate situation. Psalm 119:150 “150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.”

Cry out

it very helpful to use our voices in prayer

it is difficult long to maintain the intensity of devotion unless we hear ourselves speak

You may be at the lowest place in life. This photo was taken at the lowest place on earth. En Gedi near the Dead Sea. Imagine you are running, fearing, hiding for your life. Your enemy is relentless and powerful. But then God leads you to His oasis for you in this moment. It’s a cave, and inside a beautiful fresh water fall, flowing with rainwater from 7 years ago! In that place with God, you pen Psalm 57. Hear the falls. Feel the lush life surrounded by barren desert. Know the presence of God in your lowest place in life. Now read Psalm 57 and let your merciful God rain strength from Heaven upon your parched soul! - Cary Schmidt

Psalm 57:6-7 “6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. 7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

We have Jesus example of prayers of strong crying and tears

Hebrews 5:7 “7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;”

Example of Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord

Genesis 32:26 “26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

“Your soul would not be so empty of comfort if your mouth were not so empty of prayer.” William Plummer

What he prayed and how it was answered

Request: Psalm 119:146 “146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.”

How God answered his prayer Psalm 119:150-151 “150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

The Hope: When Trouble is Close, God is Closer

God is near to those who love His law

Psalm 119:150 “150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.”

There were people that drew near to the Psalmist as they moved far from God’s law.

They could not hate a saint and yet love the law.

Psalm 119:151 “151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

The Psalmist was not far from the Lord as he was not far from the Word

Do not believe the presence of trouble means the absence of our Shepherd. Psalm 23:4 “4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

When and how long did he prayed

Early morning

Psalm 119:147-148 “147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”

When we see prayer as a duty we pray at the assigned times

When we see it as a privilege we will engange in it early

There are times when we pray through the night

Psalm 119:148 “148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”

How should we pray

Mediate in thy Word

Psalm 119:148 “148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”

meditate: “Internalizing the Bible’s teaching to such an extent that the truths discovered in the Bible become part of how we think, so that we think differently and then also function differently as a result.” Boice

“God looks not at the elegancy of your prayers, to see how neat they are; nor yet at the geometry of your prayers, to see how long they are; nor yet at the arithmetic of your prayers, to see how many they are; nor yet at the music of your prayers, nor yet at the sweetness of your voice, nor yet at the logic of your prayers; but at the sincerity of your prayers, how hearty they are.” (Brooks, cited in Spurgeon)

Would add to this. “if our prayers are according to His will/Word”

We use prayer in our study of the word of God; this is essential. Yet we also use the word of God in our prayers.

In prayer, the word of God shows us:

The nature and heart of the God we pray to.

What we have received from God, and what we should thank Him for.

His greatness, informing and expanding our praise.

His moral will, directing us to pray that we can do it.

His promises to His people, which we claim by faith.

Substance for our prayers, as we pray-read the Scriptures.

The grounds of his request

Pray in accordance to lovingkindness and justice

Psalm 119:149 “149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.”

We can pray according to Your lovingkindness: “Lord, I know that I don’t deserve to be heard by You. Yet I believe that You are rich in grace and mercy. Please, according to Your generous and kind love, hear my prayer.”

We can pray according to Your justice: “Lord, I know that my sins are righteously forgiven because of what Jesus did on the cross. I know that You have forgiven me according to Your justice, and as one so forgiven I pray. I also know that You, according to Your justice, see the righteousness of my cause with those who are against me. Because of these, please bring me new life.”

His testimony to answered prayer

Psalm 119:152 “152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.”

Confidence in God’s Word

The psalmist had an old relationship with the word of God.

The Psalmist great love and appreciation for Scriptures was was a deep roots made over time.

The Psalmist found hope

Hope in God’s nearness Psalm 119:151 “151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

Hope in the truthfulness of God’s Word Psalm 119:151 “151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

Hope in an unchanging God Psalm 119:152 “152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.”

Let us say it out loud.

God you are near.

God you are true.

God you are unchanging.

Conclusion

What have we learned from this prayer tonight?

When trouble is near, the Lord is nearer.

Through prayer we find hope.

We have grounds to come unto God, because of Jesus.

We should meditate upon God’s Word.

We should cry out to Him.

We have seen this Psalmist testimony about the importance of prayer in his life.

What is your testimony concerning prayer in your life? / This week I consider the week that God worked in my life to express a desire to others that I wanted to serve as a pastor some day. I say God work as a result of prayer. That was my testimony.