PRAYER IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE


A. "CALL UPON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE; I WILL DELIVER THEE, AND THOU SHALT GLORIFY ME" - PSALMS 50:15
  1. My friends, we have here a promise from God for the day of trouble:
    1. This is God's recognition of His relationship to us - He is our heavenly Father
    2. It is one manifestation of His paternal love and condescension
  2. This invitation ought to be:
    1. Proclaimed from the house tops
    2. It ought to be heralded throughout the whole world
B. PRAYER IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE
  1. The day of trouble:
    1. Begins when man is born and continues to the moment of his death
    2. Said troubled Job, "Man that is born of a woman is a few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not" - Job 14:1-2
    3. The troubles of men come from the troubler, even Satan, who troubled Job Job 1; 2; 3; Rev. 12:12
    4. And what a day of trouble it will be just before the end comes - read Daniel 12:1; Rev. 12:17; our present troubles will seem very light compared to the time of trouble before Christ comes
  2. "Call upon me in the day of trouble"
    1. Here we have prayer as the heaven chosen channel between us and God
    2. This gracious invitation of the Lord recognizes that the children of men are in for trouble one time or another
  3. The invitation to call upon the Lord, and that He will answer is:
    1. A promise from the God who cannot lie - writes Paul, "For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" - 2 Cor. 1:20
    2. A promise of deliverance - Examples: Daniel and his friends were in trouble and the Lord delivered them - Dan. 3:17-22; 6:10-23; Paul and his fellow travelers were in trouble and the Lord delivered them - Acts 27:24-44
C. WHAT A PROMISE FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE
  1. Note, dear friends, a few particulars about God's promises to His children:
    1. That is His word of honor - a revelation of His character - Gen. 17:1; Num. 23:19-20
    2. When God makes such a promise, He seals it with His honor - Matt. 25:35; Heb. 6:16-19
    3. Lest Satan tempts us to doubt God's promises to us, James assures us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of light with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning" - James 1:17
    4. The Bible speaks of "exceeding precious" promises - 2 Peter 1:2-8; Is. 43:2
    5. He speaks to us by the history of divine deliverance in all ages - Ps. 34:5-6; Heb. 11:29-40
  2. These wonderful promises in the day of trouble:
    1. Must create total reliance upon the Lord in all dire circumstances. Said troubles Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him" - Job 13:15
    2. We must realize that the Lord will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear - I Cor. 10:9-10
    3. Also, the Lord allows us to pass through trouble so that we may learn to lean upon Him and not upon our own devices
    4. Moreover, the Lord allows His children to pass through trials and difficulties to purify them from sin and prepare them for glory land
    5. Said the Lord through Isaiah, "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" - Is. 48:10
  3. Such deliverance brings responsibility:
    1. "And thou shalt glorify me"; this is where Moses and Aaron failed - Num. 20:12; this is where King Hezekiah failed - Is. 39; are we going to fail God in the same manner
    2. When God delivers He has a reason and a purpose in mind; and that is what we shall show forth the praises of our Deliverer - I Peter 2:9


Design © John Bryant 2011