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Special Series on Prayer - 26 July 2020 : “Seek My face”

Text: Psalm 27
26 July 2020

JULY-AUGUST 2020
Theme: “Teach us to Pray” Luke 11:1

MORNING WORSHIP 26 July 2020
Title: “Seek My face”
Text: Psalm 27

INTRODUCTION

1. Many things were sought by the Psalmist David

a) Seeking Mercy
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1)
b) Seeking Deliverance
“Return, O LORD, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!” (Psalm 6:4)
c) Seeking a long Life
“He asked life from You, and You gave it to him-
Length of days forever and ever” (Psalm 21:4)

2. Are these prayers valid?

a) Yes!
i) Prayer is a privilege given to God’s people
ii) Prayer should be as natural as breathing
b) Our prayers reflect:
i) Our need for God’s help
ii) Our need for His mercy
iii) Our trust in the Lord
iv) Our hope in Him

A QUICK REVIEW OF THE MESSAGES
T.R.U.S.T.

1. Teaching from God is sought

2. Relating to God in prayer

3. Urgent turning to God in desperate times

SEEKING GOD’S FACE

1. The Things that David sought

a) A desire expressed
“One thing I have desired of the LORD, that I will seek;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
i) To dwell in the house of the LORD
ii) To behold the beauty of the LORD
iii) To inquire in His temple
b) A cry for mercy
“Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.” (Psalm 27:7)
i) The threat of wicked enemies
“When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.” (Psalm 27:2)
ii) The threat of war
“Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.” (Psalm 27:3)
iii) The violent will of adversaries
“Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.” (Psalm 27:12)
David had sought God’s mercy and help on numerous occasions!
He continued to seek God out of sheer necessity!

2. The Thing that God wanted

a) Seeking of God’s face
When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You,
“Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
b) Understanding the phrase “Seek My face”
“This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face.” (Psalm 24:6)
i) The reference to Jacob is significant
ii) He is a symbolic representation of a generation who seeks God’s face
c) The two special times when Jacob sought God’s face
i) When he was fleeing from his brother’s wrath and the future was bleak and uncertain (Genesis 28)
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16)
And he was afraid and said,
“How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God,
And this is the gate of heaven!” (Genesis 28:17)
ii) When he had to see his brother Esau and his fear drove him to wrestle with the Angel of the LORD Genesis 32
“So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:
‘For I have seen God face to face; and my life is preserved.’” (Genesis 32:30)

CANDID QUESTIONS WE MUST RAISE UP

WOULD WE SEEK GOD’S FACE?

1. If there were no enemies that threaten?

2. If there wasn’t a crisis at hand?

3. If no fears are in the heart?

4. If we have been given all the physical things we need?

FATHOMING THE IDEA OF SEEKING GOD’S FACE
Seeking God’s face is not a straightforward thing

1. Voicing our fears

“Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.” (Psalm 27:9)

a) The fear of God hiding His face
b) The fear of God’s anger
c) The fear of being forsaken by God

2. Exercising Trust in God

“When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me.” (Psalm 27:10)

a) Forsaken by family
b) Faith that God would take care of us

3. Seeking God’s teaching earnestly

“Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.” (Psalm 27:11)

a) God’s teaching
b) God’s leading

4. Exercising strong faith

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
(Psalm 27:13)

a) Feelings of despair
b) Exercising faith
i) That we would survive
ii) That we would see the goodness of the LORD

5. Practising spiritual disciplines

“Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage.
And He shall strengthen your heart
Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)

a) Patience is needed
To wait on the LORD
b) Courage is needed
To believe that God will strengthen us
c) Perseverance is needed
We cannot determine how long we may need to wait on the LORD

CONCLUSION

1. Seeking God’s face involves the whole heart sincerely

2. God will be found by those who seek Him earnestly

29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice 31 (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:29-31

a) The promise of God that we will find Him

 

i) He is merciful
ii) He will not forsake
iii) He will not destroy
iv) He will not forget His covenant
b) Our part in seeking God
i) With all our heart
ii) With all our soul
iii) When we turn to the LORD
iv) When we determine to obey Him