Praying Our Fears Together
Rob Westwood-Payne
Together • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsWe can commit to being with the gathered people of God as we pray our laments and fears together. As we do so, we are being formed into a people that God can lead and guide.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Bible Introduction (2m)
Bible Introduction (2m)
National “Get Over It” Day
National “Get Over It” Day
Get over it? // Painful, difficult situation, bad relationships/decisions. // Journalist, Jeff Goldblatt > 9/3 National Get Over It Day. // Uses sheer will-power to move, however deep the scars.
If you're not sure what you have to get over, just ask your friends what they're tired of hearing you complain about. (website)
Church Families Never Say “Get Over It”
Church Families Never Say “Get Over It”
God never says “get over it”. Neither should the church. Show comfort and compassion.
Introduction (5m)
Introduction (5m)
Does God ever seem absent from your troubles and concerns?
Does God ever seem absent from your troubles and concerns?
Examples // Bible: David (psalms), Elijah, Jonah, Job, Paul.
God does seem absent from the beginning of Exodus - maybe that’s why Moses takes things into his own hand?
God does seem absent from the beginning of Exodus - maybe that’s why Moses takes things into his own hand?
Israel/God’s people enslaved in Egypt. Repressed. God’s hand on Moses’ life/survival, behind-the-scenes, but forgotten his people?
After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.
Israel thinks God has abandoned them too
Israel thinks God has abandoned them too
Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.
Groan/lament - pain. Cry for help - salvation/deliverance.
Found yourself in this situation?
Found yourself in this situation?
Only thing you can do is cry out to God. Rock bottom. End of rope. Don’t think you can go on.
But we discover that is God is not absent; he remembers his people and his covenant with them
But we discover that is God is not absent; he remembers his people and his covenant with them
Not even sure Israelites are crying out to God. Just crying out
Not even sure Israelites are crying out to God. Just crying out
But discover God hasn’t been absent, but waiting and “remembering”
But discover God hasn’t been absent, but waiting and “remembering”
God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.
Not because forgotten but thinks now is time to fulfil promise and think about what needs doing.
Not because forgotten but thinks now is time to fulfil promise and think about what needs doing.
Hears groaning and recalls promises with new concern. // Eyes had been on them. // Not indifferent to suffering, but deeply concerned. // God’s people can rest assured he is in complete control.
We can cry out to God, knowing he will hear and remember us
We can cry out to God, knowing he will hear and remember us
Not because of who we are/what we’ve done, but because of who he is
Not because of who we are/what we’ve done, but because of who he is
God did not turn His attention to Israel because they were such good people, but because of the covenant He made with them. He gives His love and attention to us on the same basis – the covenant relationship we have with God through Jesus. (David Guzik)
Covenant not contract
Covenant not contract
An unbreakable bond between God/people. Can be confident God will not forget us. Will turn his attention to us.
Application (5m)
Application (5m)
Let’s come together as a family and cry out together
Let’s come together as a family and cry out together
12-14 months of real hardship/suffering
12-14 months of real hardship/suffering
Bereavement. Ill health. Job losses. Worry about family/friends. Loneliness. Despair. Wilderness. Failure. Fragility.
As God’s people we can gather together and cry out as Israel did
As God’s people we can gather together and cry out as Israel did
Pray our laments/prayers together. Support each other as we cry out, How long, Lord? From the depths of my being I cry out to you. Lay our hurt/anger/numbness/resignation/hopelessness/doubts/fears/worries before God together. Acknowledge our shared experience and ask God to see and hear us.
He will, and he’ll answer
He will, and he’ll answer
In his time and perhaps in ways we had not expected. But we can be confident he will keep his promise.
Response
Response
Bring pain to mercy seat and leave it there. Turn your sofa into a mercy seat.
In conversation/lunch: What do you need to cry out to God today? Do you have a hard time believing God will hear you? How might your church family help you to trust that God sees/hears you?
Battle Drill: Continue to explore theme.
Next Steps
Next Steps
SB 794 - Unto thee will I cry
SB 794 - Unto thee will I cry
Unto thee will I cry,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Poor and needy am I,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Deep is calling unto deep,
Rugged are the heights, and steep;
Guide my steps and keep;
Hear, O hear my prayer!
Hear, O hear my prayer!
2 Where the tempest is loud,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
?Mid the darkness and cloud,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Let me hear thy voice afar,
Coming with the morning star;
True thy mercies are!
Hear, O hear my prayer!
Hear, O hear my prayer!
3 Let the foe not prevail,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
My resources would fail,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Order all my steps aright,
Carry me from height to height;
Yonder shines the light!
Shepherd, lead me there!
Lead me safely there!
Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
© The General of The Salvation Army.
Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158
Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army
Song Number 794