WEBVTT 00:00:01.066 --> 00:00:02.349 Pastor John Greene 00:00:02.349 --> 00:00:03.912 from Mount Pleasant, Texas 00:00:03.912 --> 00:00:09.361 will encourage us toward prayer. 00:00:13.496 --> 00:00:18.259 Good morning. 00:00:18.259 --> 00:00:22.299 It's great to be here. 00:00:22.299 --> 00:00:25.575 It's great to meet new brethren, 00:00:25.575 --> 00:00:27.151 new friends, 00:00:27.151 --> 00:00:31.346 people we will live forever with in eternity. 00:00:31.346 --> 00:00:33.745 This is our family. 00:00:33.745 --> 00:00:35.860 It's great to meet new family all the time. 00:00:35.860 --> 00:00:37.546 I want to, just very quickly, 00:00:37.546 --> 00:00:43.299 remind you of an experience 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:47.995 of a man who was anointed king 00:00:47.995 --> 00:00:51.842 and yet he had not yet taken the throne. 00:00:51.842 --> 00:00:54.858 The sweet psalmist of Israel - 00:00:54.858 --> 00:00:57.882 a man after God's own heart; 00:00:57.882 --> 00:00:59.372 a man with like passions 00:00:59.372 --> 00:01:02.875 just like you and me. 00:01:02.875 --> 00:01:05.752 You know, for a time, he was pursued 00:01:05.752 --> 00:01:08.559 by King Saul, 00:01:08.559 --> 00:01:11.048 and he fled in fear. 00:01:11.048 --> 00:01:13.216 The particular instance I'm referring to 00:01:13.216 --> 00:01:17.930 is when he fled to Achish, King of Gath, 00:01:17.930 --> 00:01:22.285 to the land of the Philistines out of fear. 00:01:22.285 --> 00:01:25.274 He fled in fear. 00:01:25.274 --> 00:01:31.157 And then, here is penned in Psalm 34 - 00:01:31.157 --> 00:01:33.897 here's the words of this man who fled 00:01:33.897 --> 00:01:36.497 to a pagan king out of fear. 00:01:36.497 --> 00:01:42.073 He says, "I will bless the Lord at all times. 00:01:42.073 --> 00:01:46.758 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 00:01:46.758 --> 00:01:50.429 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord. 00:01:50.429 --> 00:01:54.981 The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 00:01:54.981 --> 00:01:57.967 Oh magnify the Lord with me, 00:01:57.967 --> 00:02:00.631 and let us exalt His name together." 00:02:00.631 --> 00:02:02.378 Now isn't that puzzling? 00:02:02.378 --> 00:02:07.734 How did he get from full of fear to there? 00:02:07.734 --> 00:02:09.892 I'll bless the Lord at all times. 00:02:09.892 --> 00:02:11.425 Magnify the Lord with me. 00:02:11.425 --> 00:02:12.990 Let us exalt His name together. 00:02:12.990 --> 00:02:16.923 How in the world do you get from there to there? 00:02:16.923 --> 00:02:18.462 Well, here's the key: 00:02:18.462 --> 00:02:20.281 Verse 4 of Psalm 34, 00:02:20.281 --> 00:02:24.744 "I sought the Lord and He heard me, 00:02:24.744 --> 00:02:32.234 and delivered me from all my fears." 00:02:32.234 --> 00:02:38.229 How often, beloved, do we not seek the Lord? 00:02:38.229 --> 00:02:43.055 The Lord is saying, "Seek Me." 00:02:43.055 --> 00:02:46.419 "Seek Me. I will hear you." 00:02:46.419 --> 00:02:49.859 He said, "I sought the Lord and He heard me." 00:02:49.859 --> 00:02:52.745 This was the God of Heaven who's saying, 00:02:52.745 --> 00:02:54.578 "I'll hear you." 00:02:54.578 --> 00:02:56.927 "I will hear you." 00:02:56.927 --> 00:02:59.321 So that's my admonition this morning. 00:02:59.321 --> 00:03:04.407 The Lord delivered David from all his fears 00:03:04.407 --> 00:03:06.751 because he sought the Lord. 00:03:06.751 --> 00:03:08.742 The Lord delivered David from these fears 00:03:08.742 --> 00:03:12.262 because the Lord delivered His Son to death 00:03:12.262 --> 00:03:15.558 for a man of like passions - David. 00:03:15.558 --> 00:03:17.221 Someone just like you and I. 00:03:17.221 --> 00:03:18.411 I love the Psalms. 00:03:18.411 --> 00:03:21.736 We see the highest highs 00:03:21.736 --> 00:03:24.275 that a person seeking the Lord can attain to. 00:03:24.275 --> 00:03:26.041 We see the lowest lows too 00:03:26.041 --> 00:03:27.914 and everything in between. 00:03:27.914 --> 00:03:30.091 This is our brother David - 00:03:30.091 --> 00:03:32.144 a man of like, precious faith; 00:03:32.144 --> 00:03:34.875 a man of like passions. 00:03:34.875 --> 00:03:37.613 He sought the Lord, and the Lord heard him. 00:03:37.613 --> 00:03:39.415 We're going to seek the Lord today, 00:03:39.415 --> 00:03:41.121 and as our brother last night 00:03:41.121 --> 00:03:46.267 so aptly and eloquently encouraged us, 00:03:46.267 --> 00:03:49.299 we have a loving Heavenly Father. 00:03:49.299 --> 00:03:52.756 We have a Father who bids us to come. 00:03:52.756 --> 00:03:54.194 Seek Him in prayer. 00:03:54.194 --> 00:03:55.661 He will hear you. 00:03:55.661 --> 00:03:59.804 He loves us. 00:03:59.804 --> 00:04:02.654 Don't be anxious about anything, but what? 00:04:02.654 --> 00:04:06.385 In everything, by prayer and supplication 00:04:06.385 --> 00:04:08.203 with thanksgiving, 00:04:08.203 --> 00:04:11.126 let your requests be made known unto God. 00:04:11.126 --> 00:04:14.939 And the God of peace - 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:18.757 He will give you peace beyond all understanding. 00:04:18.757 --> 00:04:21.694 In everything, give thanks, we're told. 00:04:21.694 --> 00:04:25.006 For this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus. 00:04:25.006 --> 00:04:26.871 Blessed be the name of the Lord, 00:04:26.871 --> 00:04:28.666 from this time forth and forevermore. 00:04:28.666 --> 00:04:31.126 What? From the rising of the sun 00:04:31.126 --> 00:04:32.965 until the going down of the same, 00:04:32.965 --> 00:04:34.851 the Lord's name is to be praised. 00:04:34.851 --> 00:04:37.719 So, again, I just want to focus your attention real quickly. 00:04:37.719 --> 00:04:39.722 How did David get from there - 00:04:39.722 --> 00:04:41.709 full of fear, running for his life - 00:04:41.709 --> 00:04:43.093 do you remember what he did? 00:04:43.093 --> 00:04:44.446 He acted like a madman. 00:04:44.446 --> 00:04:47.688 He's drooling and acting like a madman out of fear; 00:04:47.688 --> 00:04:49.973 completely acting out of character. 00:04:49.973 --> 00:04:52.050 And we don't know the exact circumstance, 00:04:52.050 --> 00:04:54.300 but at some point, He began to seek 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:56.089 the Lord in prayer. 00:04:56.089 --> 00:04:57.531 And the Lord heard him, 00:04:57.531 --> 00:04:59.278 and then flowing out of his heart, 00:04:59.278 --> 00:05:00.967 he says I will bless the Lord 00:05:00.967 --> 00:05:03.948 at all times - even at this time. 00:05:03.948 --> 00:05:07.755 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 00:05:07.755 --> 00:05:10.281 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. 00:05:10.281 --> 00:05:12.392 The humble - people like you - 00:05:12.392 --> 00:05:15.349 shall hear that and they will be glad. 00:05:15.349 --> 00:05:18.422 So, brethren, magnify the Lord with me. 00:05:18.422 --> 00:05:21.328 Let us exalt His name together. 00:05:21.328 --> 00:05:23.837 Let's seek the Lord and He will hear us 00:05:23.837 --> 00:05:27.028 and deliver us from every fear we have. 00:05:27.028 --> 00:05:35.111 Would you pray with me? 00:05:35.111 --> 00:05:39.203 Almighty God - our Heavenly Father, 00:05:39.203 --> 00:05:42.905 we come before You boldly 00:05:42.905 --> 00:05:46.005 because of the merits, the life, 00:05:46.005 --> 00:05:47.239 the Person, and the work 00:05:47.239 --> 00:05:50.990 of our dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:50.990 --> 00:05:55.926 We approach You with confidence 00:05:55.926 --> 00:05:58.825 by a new and living way. 00:05:58.825 --> 00:06:00.693 That veil has been rent in two 00:06:00.693 --> 00:06:02.732 through the body of His flesh. 00:06:02.732 --> 00:06:04.228 We have a Great High Priest 00:06:04.228 --> 00:06:05.569 over the house of God - 00:06:05.569 --> 00:06:08.505 Jesus Christ the Righteous; 00:06:08.505 --> 00:06:10.768 an Advocate with the Father. 00:06:10.768 --> 00:06:13.488 Oh Lord, we come to You through Him. 00:06:13.488 --> 00:06:16.307 We pray that You would hear us 00:06:16.307 --> 00:06:18.456 because of Your Son. 00:06:18.456 --> 00:06:21.628 You are the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity. 00:06:21.628 --> 00:06:22.784 Your name is holy, 00:06:22.784 --> 00:06:25.021 but You are pleased to dwell with those 00:06:25.021 --> 00:06:27.263 of a broken and contrite spirit; 00:06:27.263 --> 00:06:29.177 even those who tremble at Your law. 00:06:29.177 --> 00:06:32.010 So, Lord, we come that way. 00:06:32.010 --> 00:06:34.279 We come boldly to Your throne of grace 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:36.935 knowing we can receive mercy and grace 00:06:36.935 --> 00:06:38.525 to help us in time of need. 00:06:38.525 --> 00:06:41.045 So would You be pleased today 00:06:41.045 --> 00:06:42.804 to magnify Your name? 00:06:42.804 --> 00:06:45.374 Exalt Your name, Your Son, 00:06:45.374 --> 00:06:47.920 that He may be lifted up in our hearts 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:49.028 in these meetings, 00:06:49.028 --> 00:06:50.658 in our conversations. 00:06:50.658 --> 00:06:53.410 Oh, Lord, let us consider one another, 00:06:53.410 --> 00:06:55.358 how we can provoke one another 00:06:55.358 --> 00:06:57.152 to love You more, 00:06:57.152 --> 00:06:58.668 and to love one another more, 00:06:58.668 --> 00:07:01.154 and to do good works. 00:07:01.154 --> 00:07:03.272 Lord, we desire that all would come 00:07:03.272 --> 00:07:06.107 to the knowledge of the Savior. 00:07:06.107 --> 00:07:09.230 And we desire that we would love You more today. 00:07:09.230 --> 00:07:13.452 Thank You, dear Lord, for hearing our prayers. 00:07:13.452 --> 00:07:15.153 We ask in Christ's name, 00:07:15.153 --> 00:07:16.338 Amen.