Sunday, August 29, 2021
"Search Me, O God" sermon by Les Miyata
Examining Psalm 139, Our Prayer Life and Our Role
Psalm 139: 23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life
God is Omniscient which means All Knowing
Psalm 139:1-6
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
Matthew 6:8 – … for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him.” He has already got us figured out.
Luke 12:7 – And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
Psalm 121:4-8
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
God is Omnipresent which means Present Everywhere
Psalm 139:7-12
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
Proverbs 15:3 - The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
Jeremiah 23:24 - “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.
God is Omnipotent which means All Powerful
Psalm 139:13-16
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Matthew 19:28 - Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Romans 11:36a - For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory
Psalm 139:17-18
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Appeal for Retribution
Psalm 139:19-22
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Prayer is … talking with God.
Keep your prayers on TRAC
1 Chronicles 16:34 - Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
John 14:13-14 - You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
1 John 1:9 - But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Pastor Daniel’s admonition for confession:
“On this first day of fasting and prayer, let's take time to reflect inwardly and see areas in our lives that we need to confess, repent, and put right. We know that our Lord is gracious, loving, forgiving, and compassionate and all we need to do is acknowledge our sin, faults, and failures. Maybe there is someone you need to go to in order to ask them for forgiveness. Or perhaps we need to humble ourselves and take responsibility for some action or intent? Is there someone that you need to reconcile with?”
Psalm 66:18 - If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Psalm 29:2 - Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Proverbs 20:25 - “Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.”
Our Role is
Jeremiah 17:10 - “But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.”
