1 00:00:01,066 --> 00:00:02,349 Pastor John Greene 2 00:00:02,349 --> 00:00:03,912 from Mount Pleasant, Texas 3 00:00:03,912 --> 00:00:09,361 will encourage us toward prayer. 4 00:00:13,496 --> 00:00:18,259 Good morning. 5 00:00:18,259 --> 00:00:22,299 It's great to be here. 6 00:00:22,299 --> 00:00:25,575 It's great to meet new brethren, 7 00:00:25,575 --> 00:00:27,151 new friends, 8 00:00:27,151 --> 00:00:31,346 people we will live forever with in eternity. 9 00:00:31,346 --> 00:00:33,745 This is our family. 10 00:00:33,745 --> 00:00:35,860 It's great to meet new family all the time. 11 00:00:35,860 --> 00:00:37,546 I want to, just very quickly, 12 00:00:37,546 --> 00:00:43,299 remind you of an experience 13 00:00:43,299 --> 00:00:47,995 of a man who was anointed king 14 00:00:47,995 --> 00:00:51,842 and yet he had not yet taken the throne. 15 00:00:51,842 --> 00:00:54,858 The sweet psalmist of Israel - 16 00:00:54,858 --> 00:00:57,882 a man after God's own heart; 17 00:00:57,882 --> 00:00:59,372 a man with like passions 18 00:00:59,372 --> 00:01:02,875 just like you and me. 19 00:01:02,875 --> 00:01:05,752 You know, for a time, he was pursued 20 00:01:05,752 --> 00:01:08,559 by King Saul, 21 00:01:08,559 --> 00:01:11,048 and he fled in fear. 22 00:01:11,048 --> 00:01:13,216 The particular instance I'm referring to 23 00:01:13,216 --> 00:01:17,930 is when he fled to Achish, King of Gath, 24 00:01:17,930 --> 00:01:22,285 to the land of the Philistines out of fear. 25 00:01:22,285 --> 00:01:25,274 He fled in fear. 26 00:01:25,274 --> 00:01:31,157 And then, here is penned in Psalm 34 - 27 00:01:31,157 --> 00:01:33,897 here's the words of this man who fled 28 00:01:33,897 --> 00:01:36,497 to a pagan king out of fear. 29 00:01:36,497 --> 00:01:42,073 He says, "I will bless the Lord at all times. 30 00:01:42,073 --> 00:01:46,758 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 31 00:01:46,758 --> 00:01:50,429 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord. 32 00:01:50,429 --> 00:01:54,981 The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 33 00:01:54,981 --> 00:01:57,967 Oh magnify the Lord with me, 34 00:01:57,967 --> 00:02:00,631 and let us exalt His name together." 35 00:02:00,631 --> 00:02:02,378 Now isn't that puzzling? 36 00:02:02,378 --> 00:02:07,734 How did he get from full of fear to there? 37 00:02:07,734 --> 00:02:09,892 I'll bless the Lord at all times. 38 00:02:09,892 --> 00:02:11,425 Magnify the Lord with me. 39 00:02:11,425 --> 00:02:12,990 Let us exalt His name together. 40 00:02:12,990 --> 00:02:16,923 How in the world do you get from there to there? 41 00:02:16,923 --> 00:02:18,462 Well, here's the key: 42 00:02:18,462 --> 00:02:20,281 Verse 4 of Psalm 34, 43 00:02:20,281 --> 00:02:24,744 "I sought the Lord and He heard me, 44 00:02:24,744 --> 00:02:32,234 and delivered me from all my fears." 45 00:02:32,234 --> 00:02:38,229 How often, beloved, do we not seek the Lord? 46 00:02:38,229 --> 00:02:43,055 The Lord is saying, "Seek Me." 47 00:02:43,055 --> 00:02:46,419 "Seek Me. I will hear you." 48 00:02:46,419 --> 00:02:49,859 He said, "I sought the Lord and He heard me." 49 00:02:49,859 --> 00:02:52,745 This was the God of Heaven who's saying, 50 00:02:52,745 --> 00:02:54,578 "I'll hear you." 51 00:02:54,578 --> 00:02:56,927 "I will hear you." 52 00:02:56,927 --> 00:02:59,321 So that's my admonition this morning. 53 00:02:59,321 --> 00:03:04,407 The Lord delivered David from all his fears 54 00:03:04,407 --> 00:03:06,751 because he sought the Lord. 55 00:03:06,751 --> 00:03:08,742 The Lord delivered David from these fears 56 00:03:08,742 --> 00:03:12,262 because the Lord delivered His Son to death 57 00:03:12,262 --> 00:03:15,558 for a man of like passions - David. 58 00:03:15,558 --> 00:03:17,221 Someone just like you and I. 59 00:03:17,221 --> 00:03:18,411 I love the Psalms. 60 00:03:18,411 --> 00:03:21,736 We see the highest highs 61 00:03:21,736 --> 00:03:24,275 that a person seeking the Lord can attain to. 62 00:03:24,275 --> 00:03:26,041 We see the lowest lows too 63 00:03:26,041 --> 00:03:27,914 and everything in between. 64 00:03:27,914 --> 00:03:30,091 This is our brother David - 65 00:03:30,091 --> 00:03:32,144 a man of like, precious faith; 66 00:03:32,144 --> 00:03:34,875 a man of like passions. 67 00:03:34,875 --> 00:03:37,613 He sought the Lord, and the Lord heard him. 68 00:03:37,613 --> 00:03:39,415 We're going to seek the Lord today, 69 00:03:39,415 --> 00:03:41,121 and as our brother last night 70 00:03:41,121 --> 00:03:46,267 so aptly and eloquently encouraged us, 71 00:03:46,267 --> 00:03:49,299 we have a loving Heavenly Father. 72 00:03:49,299 --> 00:03:52,756 We have a Father who bids us to come. 73 00:03:52,756 --> 00:03:54,194 Seek Him in prayer. 74 00:03:54,194 --> 00:03:55,661 He will hear you. 75 00:03:55,661 --> 00:03:59,804 He loves us. 76 00:03:59,804 --> 00:04:02,654 Don't be anxious about anything, but what? 77 00:04:02,654 --> 00:04:06,385 In everything, by prayer and supplication 78 00:04:06,385 --> 00:04:08,203 with thanksgiving, 79 00:04:08,203 --> 00:04:11,126 let your requests be made known unto God. 80 00:04:11,126 --> 00:04:14,939 And the God of peace - 81 00:04:14,939 --> 00:04:18,757 He will give you peace beyond all understanding. 82 00:04:18,757 --> 00:04:21,694 In everything, give thanks, we're told. 83 00:04:21,694 --> 00:04:25,006 For this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus. 84 00:04:25,006 --> 00:04:26,871 Blessed be the name of the Lord, 85 00:04:26,871 --> 00:04:28,666 from this time forth and forevermore. 86 00:04:28,666 --> 00:04:31,126 What? From the rising of the sun 87 00:04:31,126 --> 00:04:32,965 until the going down of the same, 88 00:04:32,965 --> 00:04:34,851 the Lord's name is to be praised. 89 00:04:34,851 --> 00:04:37,719 So, again, I just want to focus your attention real quickly. 90 00:04:37,719 --> 00:04:39,722 How did David get from there - 91 00:04:39,722 --> 00:04:41,709 full of fear, running for his life - 92 00:04:41,709 --> 00:04:43,093 do you remember what he did? 93 00:04:43,093 --> 00:04:44,446 He acted like a madman. 94 00:04:44,446 --> 00:04:47,688 He's drooling and acting like a madman out of fear; 95 00:04:47,688 --> 00:04:49,973 completely acting out of character. 96 00:04:49,973 --> 00:04:52,050 And we don't know the exact circumstance, 97 00:04:52,050 --> 00:04:54,300 but at some point, He began to seek 98 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:56,089 the Lord in prayer. 99 00:04:56,089 --> 00:04:57,531 And the Lord heard him, 100 00:04:57,531 --> 00:04:59,278 and then flowing out of his heart, 101 00:04:59,278 --> 00:05:00,967 he says I will bless the Lord 102 00:05:00,967 --> 00:05:03,948 at all times - even at this time. 103 00:05:03,948 --> 00:05:07,755 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 104 00:05:07,755 --> 00:05:10,281 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. 105 00:05:10,281 --> 00:05:12,392 The humble - people like you - 106 00:05:12,392 --> 00:05:15,349 shall hear that and they will be glad. 107 00:05:15,349 --> 00:05:18,422 So, brethren, magnify the Lord with me. 108 00:05:18,422 --> 00:05:21,328 Let us exalt His name together. 109 00:05:21,328 --> 00:05:23,837 Let's seek the Lord and He will hear us 110 00:05:23,837 --> 00:05:27,028 and deliver us from every fear we have. 111 00:05:27,028 --> 00:05:35,111 Would you pray with me? 112 00:05:35,111 --> 00:05:39,203 Almighty God - our Heavenly Father, 113 00:05:39,203 --> 00:05:42,905 we come before You boldly 114 00:05:42,905 --> 00:05:46,005 because of the merits, the life, 115 00:05:46,005 --> 00:05:47,239 the Person, and the work 116 00:05:47,239 --> 00:05:50,990 of our dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 117 00:05:50,990 --> 00:05:55,926 We approach You with confidence 118 00:05:55,926 --> 00:05:58,825 by a new and living way. 119 00:05:58,825 --> 00:06:00,693 That veil has been rent in two 120 00:06:00,693 --> 00:06:02,732 through the body of His flesh. 121 00:06:02,732 --> 00:06:04,228 We have a Great High Priest 122 00:06:04,228 --> 00:06:05,569 over the house of God - 123 00:06:05,569 --> 00:06:08,505 Jesus Christ the Righteous; 124 00:06:08,505 --> 00:06:10,768 an Advocate with the Father. 125 00:06:10,768 --> 00:06:13,488 Oh Lord, we come to You through Him. 126 00:06:13,488 --> 00:06:16,307 We pray that You would hear us 127 00:06:16,307 --> 00:06:18,456 because of Your Son. 128 00:06:18,456 --> 00:06:21,628 You are the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity. 129 00:06:21,628 --> 00:06:22,784 Your name is holy, 130 00:06:22,784 --> 00:06:25,021 but You are pleased to dwell with those 131 00:06:25,021 --> 00:06:27,263 of a broken and contrite spirit; 132 00:06:27,263 --> 00:06:29,177 even those who tremble at Your law. 133 00:06:29,177 --> 00:06:32,010 So, Lord, we come that way. 134 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:34,279 We come boldly to Your throne of grace 135 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,935 knowing we can receive mercy and grace 136 00:06:36,935 --> 00:06:38,525 to help us in time of need. 137 00:06:38,525 --> 00:06:41,045 So would You be pleased today 138 00:06:41,045 --> 00:06:42,804 to magnify Your name? 139 00:06:42,804 --> 00:06:45,374 Exalt Your name, Your Son, 140 00:06:45,374 --> 00:06:47,920 that He may be lifted up in our hearts 141 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,028 in these meetings, 142 00:06:49,028 --> 00:06:50,658 in our conversations. 143 00:06:50,658 --> 00:06:53,410 Oh, Lord, let us consider one another, 144 00:06:53,410 --> 00:06:55,358 how we can provoke one another 145 00:06:55,358 --> 00:06:57,152 to love You more, 146 00:06:57,152 --> 00:06:58,668 and to love one another more, 147 00:06:58,668 --> 00:07:01,154 and to do good works. 148 00:07:01,154 --> 00:07:03,272 Lord, we desire that all would come 149 00:07:03,272 --> 00:07:06,107 to the knowledge of the Savior. 150 00:07:06,107 --> 00:07:09,230 And we desire that we would love You more today. 151 00:07:09,230 --> 00:07:13,452 Thank You, dear Lord, for hearing our prayers. 152 00:07:13,452 --> 00:07:15,153 We ask in Christ's name, 153 00:07:15,153 --> 00:07:16,338 Amen.