The Joy of Answered Prayer
Series in Psalms • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 37:40
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· 860 viewsThis thanksgiving psalm, which is specifically identified as a song, includes aspects of both corporate and individual praise. It begins with a call for all the earth to praise and worship God (vv. 1–4), and the psalmist celebrates God’s works—specifically, the Red Sea crossing (vv. 5–7; Exod 14). The corporate call to praise continues as the psalmist describes God’s deliverance and protection (Ps 66:8–12). He then moves to individual thanksgiving, declaring his intention to fulfill his vows and perform sacrifices (vv. 13–15). The psalmist invites others to listen to his personal testimony of God’s deliverance and protection (vv. 16–19) and concludes by thanking God for His steadfast love (v. 20).
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The Joy of Answered Prayer
The Joy of Answered Prayer
A. A true testimony has power. We ought to be quick to share our blessings.
1. True testimonies encourage others to have faith.
B. Answered prayer brings glory to God.
1. The psalmist wanted to build the faith of his friends.
2. He decided to tell them about God answering his prayer (16)
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!
ps 66:16-20
Praise Became Part of This Prayer (16-17)
Praise Became Part of This Prayer (16-17)
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
1. The drama begins to unfold...”I cried to Him with my mouth. And He was extolled with my tongue.”
2. How could he praise God while facing such perplexing problems?
a. He focused on God’s power rather than his problems.
b. He prayed earnestly and praise God continually.
3. Consider Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi ()
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
a. These two missionaries prayed and praised God.
b. Their prayer brought an earthquake that freed them.
c. The jailor was convicted, then converted.
4. Praising adds power to praying.
Sin Could Have Prevented the Answer to This Prayer (18)
Sin Could Have Prevented the Answer to This Prayer (18)
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
1. Sin creates a roadblock to answered prayer.
a. This truth is emphasized in
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
2. Confession of sin is a vital part of effective praying.
a. When sins are confessed they are forgiven ()
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
b. See how David speaks of this later in
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
ps 103
3. Those who want their prayers answered will keep their lives clean.
God’s Answer Proved This Prayer Had Been Heard (19-20)
God’s Answer Proved This Prayer Had Been Heard (19-20)
19 But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!
1. The Psalmist rejoiced that God had heard his prayer.
2. Answers to prayer prove the importance of praying.
3. Answers to prayer prove God hears our prayers.
4. Answers to prayer prove God’s mercy toward us.
Conclusion:
A. Let’s pray with confident Expectation.
B. Let’s share the joy of answered prayer.
C. Let’s build the faith of those we love.