My Morning Prayers
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: For unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: And in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; For they have rebelled against thee. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Seeking the Lord (1-3)
Seeking the Lord (1-3)
Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: For unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
The Styles of Prayer
The Styles of Prayer
Words — utterances, words
Meditation — murmuring, sighing, whispering, musing, meditation
Cry — Cry out for help
Pray — general word for prayer
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Statement — Most frequent my prayers are little whispers I say, talking to God throughout my day. There are times here and there that I cry out in prayer, as heavy life’s burdens do weigh. And often I find in the quietness of my mind I form prayers that my lips cannot say. No matter the method I’ve a Father in Heaven whose ears hear each prayer that I pray.
Quote — “Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer... Let us cultivate the spirit of prayer which is even better than the habit of prayer...We should begin to pray before we kneel down, and we should not cease when we rise up.” — C.H. Spurgeon
The Schedule of Prayer
The Schedule of Prayer
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
All throughout Scripture, you find this concept of a scheduled, morning prayer time
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; Yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: For when thy judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
ILLUSTRATION
Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.”
QUOTE — If in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door back and let God in, every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God. — Oswald Chambers
Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
POEM
I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day!
I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t take time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered, He answered, “You didn’t ask!”
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided, “Why, child, you didn’t knock!”
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn’t show me. He answered me, “But you didn’t seek.”
I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish, that I had to take time to pray.—Alan Grant
(Seeking the Lord)
Serving the Lord (4-6)
Serving the Lord (4-6)
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
Devoid of His Pleasure
Devoid of His Pleasure
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his mercy.
For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
MOSES’ EXAMPLE:
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Serve the Lord being mindful of His pleasure.
Devoid of His Presence
Devoid of His Presence
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with thee.
The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Serve the Lord being mindful of His presence.
Deserving of Punishment
Deserving of Punishment
Destroy thou them, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; For they have rebelled against thee.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
(Seeking the Lord)
(Serving the Lord)
Submitting to the Lord (7-12)
Submitting to the Lord (7-12)
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: And in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; For they have rebelled against thee. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Guidance
Guidance
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Teach me thy way, O Lord, And lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; Therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
Who/What are you running to for guidance?
Gratification
Gratification
Destroy thou them, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; For they have rebelled against thee. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
God will reward the wicked for their wickedness.
We rest in the truth that God is keeping the books.
It was certainly a comfort to the persecuted Church in Thessalonica:
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
We put our faith in our Heavenly Father, and leave the vengeance to Him.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Grace
Grace
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
My son, forget not my law; But let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, And peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding In the sight of God and man.
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
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.
Speaking of Rewards:
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Seeking, Serving, and Submitting to the Lord