Why We Pray
Psalm 116
Prologue
We do not pray because we have no confidence that God is listening. We have no confidence because we have no experience with God in prayer. We have no experience because we have not, by faith, taken advantage of God’s manifest presence on a regular basis. (Romans 5:1-5)
I) We Pray Because God Listens
a. The psalmist loved the Lord because the Lord heard his voice. This sounds improper until we realise the truth of I John 4:19 which tells us that we only love God because God first loved us.
i. Our entire relationship with God is not one of initiating but responding. (John 6:44)
ii. Verse 2 says that God had to incline (bend way down) His ear to the psalmist.
b. The fact that God hears one of our prayers should compel us to pray to Him for as long as we live (Psalm 116:2)
i. We should pray morning, noon and night (Psalm 55:16-17)
ii. We should call upon the Lord when in trouble (Psalm 86:6-7)
iii. We should pray always (Luke 18:1) without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17)
II) We Pray Because We Need Answers
a. The psalmist needed an answer for he was greatly distressed (Psalm 116:3) and afflicted (Psalm 116:10)
i. He was in no small trouble. He describes his situation as being compassed with death and the grave (Psalm 116:3)
ii. We often despair at this point because we have forgotten that God has inclined his ear to us.
b. The psalmist never forgets and never loses hope. In the midst of a great sorrow and affliction the psalmist remembers God’s inclined ear. (Psalm 116:4)
i. He cries out in faith remembering the person and goodness of the Lord (Psalm 116:5-6)
ii. His soul was at rest for God had honoured his prayer of faith and had dealt bountifully with him delivering him from death (Psalm 116:7-8)
iii. In his haste he declares all men are liars and cannot be counted upon in time of need (Psalm 116:11)
III) We Pray Because It Glorifies God
a. The psalmist glorified God by walking before the Lord in the land of the living. He walked before the Lord as a result of knelling before the Lord (Psalm 116:9)
b. The psalmist wishes to repay the Lord for the favour God had showed him (Psalm 116:12)
i. Are we willing to render unto God our time?
ii. Are we willing to render unto God our talent (ability)?
iii. Are we willing to render unto God our talents (money)?
iv. Are we willing to render unto God all? (Psalm 116:16)
c. The psalmist was willing to pay his vows to God in the presence of all the people (Psalm 116:14 & 18-19)
d. The psalmist glorified God by realising he was just a servant and having a thankful heart toward the master (Psalm 116:16-17)
No comments:
Post a Comment