2. Lord I Need You

Introduction

General: Security is one of the most basic human needs. Psychology Today: Americans are among the most insecure people on Earth—despite our prosperity, our technology, our military strength, our education, our freedom…

Personal: Where do you find security? /// What do you turn to when you’re stressed / excited / worried? /// What or who do you feel will always be there for you? /// If you got really good or really bad news right now, what would you do?

Biblical: Ps 16:1-4… “I have no good apart from you…” David didn’t hedge his bets with other gods, money, power, or status, but put all his hope in God alone.

Subject: Four of the most important words you can say: “Lord, I need you.”

Body

“Lord, I need you,” because God is our Portion. Our Heavenly Father provides for us.

Exposition (Ps 16:5-6)

In vv. 1-4, David prayed, “God, I am yours.” In vv. 5-6, he prays, “And you are mine.”

“The Lord is my chosen portion… you hold my lot…” My lot in life is with God. He is my reward/portion/inheritance.

“The lines…” The boundary lines. David was a fugitive. He lost his family’s land, yet he is thankful because he has God. God is better than prosperity.

Illustration

Matthew 6:25–33 NLT

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Application: Al to lead us in prayer.

“Lord, I need you,” because God is our Counselor. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom.

Exposition (Ps 16:7-8)

The Holy Spirit speaks, convicts, encourages, transforms, teaches, guides, and leads us into all truth.

How do we receive guidance from God? You need to be living in the right direction.

Ps 16:8… “I have set the Lord always before me…” David is orienting his life around God—he’s not trying to fit God into his life. God’s will for my life vs my life for God’s will.

When you are living a Godward life, you will always have the wisdom you need when you need it. When God needs you to move, he’ll tell you. When God needs you to stop, he’ll tell you.

Illustration: When your kids are little, you give them specific directions about everything… As a parent, when I see my kids make the right decision on their own, I know they are maturing.

Application: The worship team sings Be Thou My Vision.

“Lord, I need you,” because God is our Savior. Jesus gives us salvation.

Exposition (Ps 16:9-10)

The Apostle Peter quoted these verses in Acts 2, and said they are fulfilled in Jesus’s resurrection.

These verses are about what happens to a believer in death. We don’t have to fear death because God will not leave our bodies in the grave forever. Like Jesus, we will be resurrected and never die forever!

Illustration: Busiek State Forest graveyard… I want these words to be inscribed on my tombstone: “Here I rest in peace, knowing that God will not abandon me to the realm of the dead forever, but will raise me to everlasting life.”

Application: God the Father is our Portion. God the Holy Spirit is our Counselor. And God the Son is our Savior who rescues us from death itself! Do you belong to Jesus?

“Lord, I need you,” because God is our Joy. He is the light of life.

Exposition (Ps 16:11)

All the verbs are in the present tense. You don’t have to wait for Jesus to return to experience the joy of God’s presence—you can experience his presence right now.

John 15:9-11… If you keep God’s commands, you stay close in his presence (abide in his love). And in his presence there is fullness of joy (Ps 16:11). Obedience — Abiding — Joy.

Obedience leads to joy. This is why God told us how to live: for our good; for our joy.

Illustration: Grad school for jazz theory and composition or seminary? … Obedience leads to joy.

Application: “In God’s presence the insecurities of life do not just disappear, but we are empowered in him to find the path of life within and through those painful times when we seem to approach the very gates of hell itself.” —NIVAC, Psalms, Volume 1

Conclusion

We pray, “Lord, I need you,” because God is our Portion, our Counselor, our Savior, and our Joy. In short, we depend on God because he is our life. Is God your life?