SINKING: Drowning in Darkness (Psalm 69:1-36)

Desperation (Ps 69:1-4): "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal."

Folly (Ps 69:5-12): "You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you" (Ps 69:5; 51:3-4). "...for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me" (Ps 69:9).

Downcast, Disturbed, Discouraged, Depressed (Psalm 42-43)

In Psalm 42-43, the writer felt overwhelmed and discouraged.

1. Do you long for God as a deer pants for water (Ps 42:1-2)?
• Do you long for God more in good times or in hard times? 
• Do you long more for something else or for God? For answers [Why? Why? (Ps 42:5, 9, 11; 43:2, 5)] or for God Himself?

Ps 88 Faith Without Hope as the Darkness Deepens

"Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you" ["by day I have screamed, by night, in front of you" {Motyer}] "...darkness is my closest [best] friend" (Ps 88:1, 18).

• Can you live a life without comfort (1-9a)? Die without hope (9b-12)? Have questions without answers (13-18)?

When Your World Falls Apart (Psalm 3-7)

When Life Takes a Turn for the Worst (Psalm 3-7)

1. Psalm 3: Facing a New Day (Ps 3:5-6). You are not alone.
2. Psalm 4: Facing Another Night (Ps 4:4; 6:6). Who can I turn to?
3. Psalm 5: Starting a New Day (Ps 5:3). On pleading with the King.
4. Psalm 6: Waiting is Hard (Ps 6:1-4). The way prayer makes a difference.
• Prayers and tears (Ps 6:6-9).
5. Psalm 7: Sin and judgment. The judge is on your side.
• A Conscience without Offence (Ps 7:3-5).
• A cry for justice (Ps 7:6-11).

Right Away was not right now, but Stretched out for a Long Time. Augustine.

"I was sure that it was better for me to give myself up to your love than to give in to my own desires. However, although the one way appealed to me and was gaining mastery, the other still afforded me pleasure and kept me victim. I had no answer to give to you when you said to me, 'Rise, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you.' When on all sides you showed me that your words were true, and I was overcome by your truth, I had no answer whatsoever to make, but only those slow and drowsy words, 'Right away. Yes, right away.' 'Let me be for a little while.' But 'Right away—right away' was never right now, and 'Let me be for a little while' stretched out for a long time."—St. Augustine. On delaying repentance more fully/procrastination.

A Mother's Prayer and Tears: "And Thou sent Thine hand from above, and drew my soul out of that profound darkness, my mother, Thy faithful one, weeping to Thee for me, more than mothers weep the bodily deaths of their children. For she, by that faith and spirit which she had from Thee, discerned the death wherein I lay, and Thou heard her, O Lord; Thou heard her, and despised not her tears, when streaming down, they watered the ground under her eyes in every place where she prayed; yea Thou heard her."–St. Augustine in The Confessions.

"O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams."–St. Augustine. “There are two loves, the love of God and the love of the world. If the love of the world takes possession of you, there is no way for the love of God to enter into you. Let the love of the world take the second place, and let the love of God dwell in you. Let the better love take over.”—St. Augustine.

 

I Abandon Myself into Your Hands

Charles de Foucauld's Prayer of Abandonment:

Father, I abandon myself into your hands,

do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you;

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.

I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;

I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,

for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,

to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,

and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.

It's OK when God Withholds and Things Don't Go the Way You Want

God would give you everything you ask for if you knew everything that God knows.

If we have the perspective that God has, if we can see the end at the beginning, if we could see all hearts, if we knew everything that is to know and all the contingencies, then what God gives us is what we would ask for. Thus, God will always answer your prayers if you know everything that God knows.

The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today

The Power of Praying People (Acts 2:42-47)

• What has Jesus begun in you (Ac 1:1)? What is Jesus continuing to do in your life?

• What power [dynamis] do you experience from the Holy Spirit (Ac 1:8; 2 Tim 1:7)?

• What vision do you have for your life (Ac 2:17)?

1. What are you devoted to (Ac 2:42 is regarded as the 4 pillars/marks/essential elements of the church)? What does it practically mean to be:

• "devoted ... to the apostles' teaching" (Ac 2:42)? Are you empowered by "words" (Jn 6:63; Mt 24:35; Lk 11:28)? By truth (Jn 8:31-32)? By preaching (Ac 2:14, 22)? What is your delight (Ps 1:2; 119:97)? How does the Bible correct and train you (2 Tim 3:16)?
• Without attention and devotion to the "teaching" of Scripture, what happens to Christians (1 Tim 4:1-2, 6-8, 11-13)?
• Is there a tendency toward emotional experiences rather than teaching based on the truth?
• How would you submit to "the apostles' teaching" today?

• "devoted ... to fellowship [koinonia]" (Ac 2:42)? What do we "share in" together (1 Jn 1:3; 2 Cor 13:14)? What do we "share out" with others (Ac 2:44-46a)? What does sharing help us to "know" (Lk 12:15)?
• Without attention and devotion to the Christian community and family, what will happen (Eph 4:3)?
  

• "devoted ... to the breaking of bread" (Ac 2:42, 46b)?
• Without attention and devotion to communion and the Eucharist, what can happen (1 Cor 11:26)?
  

• "devoted ... to prayer" (Ac 2:42; Lk 18:1)? What is continuous prayer associated with (1 Th 5:16-18)? How did Jesus exemplify prayer (Lk 3:21; 6:12-13; 9:18, 28; 22:41-42; 23:34, 43, 46)? How did this influence his disciples (Ac 1:14, 24-25; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 8:15; 9:11; 13:3; 14:23; 16:25)?
• Without attention and devotion to communal prayer, what happens?
  

• "filled with awe ... wonders and signs" (Ac 2:43, 22)?

• "praising God" (Ac 2:47a)? "enjoying the favor of all people" (Ac 2:47b).

• Ac 1:1, 8; 2:17 - "I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach..."  "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses..."  "...your young men will see visions..."

• 2 Tim 1:7 - "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline [self-control, sound mind, sound judgment, instruction, sobriety]."

• Jn 6:63 - "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. [Human effort accomplishes nothing. Human strength can do nothing. Human power is of no use at all. Human nature is of no help. The flesh doesn't help at all. The body does not benefit anything.] The words I have spoken to you--they are full of Spirit and life."

• Mt 24:35 - "Heaven and earth will pass away [won't last forever, disappear], but my words will never pass away."

• Lk 11:28 - He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it [put it into practice]."

• Ps 1:2; 119:97 - "But his [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord [LORD JEHOVAH] [finds pleasure in obeying the Lord's commands], and on his law he meditates day and night."  "Oh, how I love your law [instructions]! I meditate on it all day long." [Law are words.]

• 2 Tim 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired by God, breathed out by God] and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." {All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage." Amplified Bible.}

• 1 Tim 4:1-2, 6-8, 11-13 - "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."

• Lk 18:1 -  "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

• 1 Th 5:16-18 - "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

What you Do when you Pray

Pray patiently, persistently and progressively.

Lift Up Your Hands in Prayer (Psalm 88:9)

"...my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you" (Ps 88:9).

Hold up your left hand.

1. The thumb is closest to your heart--your family and friends. Pray for them 1st.
2. The index finger points the way to Jesus and God's will--teachers and leaders be wise in their own lives.
3. The middle finger, your tallest finger--people in authority who influence society. Lead with integrity.
4. The ring finger is pretty weak--the vulnerable, elderly, suffering, hungry. Meet their needs/draw them closer to God.
5. The last finger, pinky--you. OK to pray for yourself...last! Don't start there. Pray for everybody else 1st.

Your right hand.

1. Thumb, closest to your heart--first thing you pray for is. Guard your heart, because it controls your life (Prov 4:23). Everything flows from the heart! Confess your sin to get your heart right with him.
2. Index finger signals the number 1--pray for your priorities and schedule. What's most important to make it a priority in your life?
3. Tallest middle finger stands out--your influence. People see how God has worked in your life. Be an example of his love.
4. Ring finger--pray for your relationships--your friends, spouse, children, colleagues, supervisors, ministry partners, neighbors.
5. Little finger--pray for material blessings—it's just not the most important thing, so it's the last thing you pray for.

Piper's concentric circle of prayer:

1. Myself--the most needy person. Family, kids, grandkids.
2. Ministry, leaders one by one.
3. Specific people.

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙉𝙤 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘽𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣

Do you want: 

• All your desires to be known?
• All your secrets exposed? Or remain hidden?
• To sit through a video of every detail of your personal life?

None of this would be a revelation to God "to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid." 

What Prayer Is

Prayer to Start the Day

"This is another day, oh, Lord. I know not what it will bring. But make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me sit quietly. If I am to be low, help me to be so patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the spirit of Jesus. Amen."

The Prayer of a True Friend (Gen 18:17-33)

Previous text: Friendship and Intimacy (Gen 18:1-16); Why God Choose Abraham (Gen 18:19).

Abraham is known in the Bible as God's friend (2 Chron 20:7; Isa 41:8; James 2:23). What is a friend? Tim Keller says, "A true friend always lets you in, but never lets you down." True friends share their hearts with you, hiding nothing, as God did with Abraham (Gen 18:17,20-21), and as Jesus did with his disciples (Jn 15:15). True friends are also faithfully committed to their friends, regardless. Prov 18:24 says, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (ESV).

We often think that Christians should be totally submissive to God. Of course this is true. But in this breathtaking passage (Gen 18:17-33), Abraham comes before God in prayer not as a "Yes man." Rather, as God's friend, he "bargains" and "pushes" God boldly, almost unashamedly, and yet with the utmost of humility, respect and awe (Gen 18:27,31).

What 7 things can we learn from Gen 18:17-33 about the prayer of a friend of God (often known as intercessory prayer)?