A Prayer for Today.
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Binoculars as a kid. Used incorrectly they show everything as small and far off, used correctly everything is big and close up.
Psalm 90 is a Psalm that works like correctly used binoculars. It shows us how to see life and live it as God desires us to.
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. 1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
Prayer of Moses
Context possibly Numbers 20-21
Death of Miriam, Striking the rock for water instead of speaking to the rock, Death of Aaron
7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
Shows us a model for prayer.
1. See God as He is. (vs. 1-2)
Eternality of God
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He is our Resting place/Refuge/Dwelling Place
Moses is not looking for rest in his present circumstance, he is looking for rest in someone above and beyond it.
In order to find true rest in God you must know Him for who He is and not who you think Him to be.
Air Mattress flat and uncomfortable versus blown up and off the ground.
2. See Yourself as You are. (vs. 3-10)
Mortality of Mankind
24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
“Seems like only yesterday” - don’t talk to 20 and 30 year olds about life’s brevity. Talk to 70 and above.
In prayer we must see ourselves as we are physically and also spiritually.
Sinners before God
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
consequence of the fall not because you were bad.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Sinful nature produce sinful actions and we are all sinners which is why a desire for change must be rooted in something different than just being better.
3. Desire for Difference. (vs. 11-12)
11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?
No one considers!
Competing Spectacles by Tony Reinke
Puritans made good use of the Latin phrase omnis vita gustu ducitur—every life is led along by its tastes. They knew that each creature is piloted by an inner yearning for its favorite food. Every palate is directed by an intuitive, native relish. Our natures must be completely changed and renewed by grace if we are to have a taste for Christ. Only when he becomes sweet to us can we be freed from the mass appetites of the world’s pleasures. The sweetness of sin must be spoiled by a new savor. The pleasure of Christ kills the old pleasures that led us, but only after we get a new, instinctive taste within us.
Change - GOSPEL
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
We desire Wisdom!
Men’s Event - Difference between knowledge and Wisdom. Knowledge is knowing how to use a firearm. Wisdom is knowing when and when not to unholster it.
4. Requests for Life. (vs. 13-17)
May I see with the right perspective. (vs. 13)
Desire for Eternity
Return
Death
May I know your love and grace daily. (vs. 14-15)
Satisfaction in Jesus Daily.
Each day is a gift.
Good and Bad
May You be evident in all my life. (vs. 16-17)
Desire for God to show his power and action in your life for all to see.
Desire for God to work in my work.
Close with Guided Prayer...
Adoration
Confession
Desire
Supplication
See eternity clearly
know love and grace daily
a life evident of you in it