Koph
Notes
Transcript
Well. we have 2 more letters of the Hebrew alphabet after tonight and
the length of Psalm 119 bears testimony to the long period of time the author suffered persecution. His ungodly, scheming enemies would not give up.
As we strive to live in faithful obedience to God’s Word, we too have an enemy who will not give up. Like a roaring lion, Satan is relentless in his efforts to devour us (1 Pe. 5:8).
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
If we resist him steadfastly, he will flee from us, but we can be sure that he will be back (James. 4:7).
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We have been armed with two powerful weapons for spiritual warfare: God’s Word and prayer (2 Co. 10:3–4; Ep. 6:17–18).
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
These are the same weapons the psalmist used in his seemingly endless struggle against his wicked persecutors.
This is, When You Face Relentless Threats from Scheming Enemies, 119:145–152.
Don’t ever Give Up Praying:
Don’t ever Give Up Praying:
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.
Pray Openly:
Pray Openly:
Prayer should never be a last resort. The prayer team is the first responders.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Every burden we bear and every crisis we encounter Prayer has to be first.
Pray Fervently:
Pray Fervently:
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Fervent is an active prayer life, a working prayer life, bringing to action prayer life.
No crisis, no matter how devastating or hopeless it may may seem, is beyond the power of prayer.
Pray Continually:
Pray Continually:
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.
Pray day and night for God’s help.
The psalmist rose early - before dawn,
The psalmist was awake during the night watches.
The plural indicates all night. Sleepless prayer.
Some situations are so severe that they require special times of prayer. Times when we can give our undivided attention to prayer.
Some burdens are so heavy tht we feel compelled to pray until the answer comes.
Sacrifice of time and even rest should not be prioritized when necessary to call down God’s power through prayer.
Can we really expect God to act in our behalf when we are unwilling to sacrifice our time and efforts to pray about the burdens?
Don’t ever think God is not Listening:
Don’t ever think God is not Listening:
149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.
Notice, the psalmist was in grave danger with no apparent way to escape.
However, his prayer conveys that he fully trusted God to help him.
God can be Trusted:
God can be Trusted:
He was confident that God loved him and would save him because of that love.
God Loves Us:
God Loves Us:
Loving kindness = chesed, His unfailing, covenant love.
Bro. Josh yesterday made a statement that he was going to love someone no matter they did. That is loving kindness.
Obedient to God:
Obedient to God:
The psalmist believed 1 John 3:22
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
quicken means to rescue and revive according to God’s judgments or laws.
God’s Word stresses that God’s laws and principles are just.
Because of the psalmists faithful obedience to God, the psalmist felt that the just thing for God to do would be to help him in hour of need.
He supports this argument by pointing out the character of his oppressors.
150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: They are far from thy law.
His enemies were scheming unbelievers living far from God’s Word.
However, no matter how near were the enemies, God was nearer.
God is Faithful
God is Faithful
151 Thou art near, O Lord; And all thy commandments are truth.
We have a confession of his assurance in God’s faithful presence, a confirmation of his unwavering confidence in God’s faithful Word, every command and every promise, are everlasting.
152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever.
Listen, God’s Word is firmly established, built on the character of God.
People have failed God but God has never failed His people. He has continually proven Himself over and over in this Psalmists life and in my life.
Therefore, we can continue to trust God with the next crisis that comes along.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
When we pray with doubts, questioning whether of not God will answer us, we will receive nothing from the Lord.
Again, let me end with one more question.
Question #1 -Can we really expect God to act in our behalf when we are unwilling to sacrifice our time and efforts to pray about the burdens?
Question #2 - Why would God answer our prayers when we neither believe that He has the power to do what we ask nor believe that He cares about us enough to answer?
Faith-filled prayers are powerful prayers.
