Seeking God for Strength
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Psalm 27
Psalm 27 (ESV)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Sermon Outline
Intentional and disciplined seeking God in prayer (v4, 8) strengthens us.
1. Beliefs
v1 “the Lord is…”, v5 “he will…”
vv13-14 “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”
2. Actions
v4 “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life”
3. Outcomes
v10 “my father and my mother have forsaken me…”
v1 “whom shall I fear?”, v3 “I will be confident”
v14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, our light and salvation, you are the stronghold of our lives. We are assembled today to seek you, but we come humbly, appealing to you for grace and pardon. We admit we are fearful. We admit our unbelief. We admit we have neglected prayer. We have sought many things with greater priority and energy than we have sought you. We have acted in ways that have not honored you. We have persisted in sin and folly despite the outcomes. Forgive us. Hide not your face from us, nor turn away from us in your anger. You have been our help. We believe that because of Christ we can look upon your goodness, so with thanks we turn to you for mercy. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Why do you neglect prayer?
What do you seek regularly and where do you seek it? If someone were to observe your daily habits, what would they say your life priorities are?
What fears and doubts do you have about God? How do those affect your spiritual devotional life?
What does the Bible teach about God that can help ground you in confidence that God is really good? How can the conviction of God’s goodness shape how you see and experience the world?
What are some things you can do to remain in prayer? How can you deal with anxious thoughts, distractions, impatience, etc.?
How can you work through your fears with God in prayer? How can prayer be a place where you process life’s concerns with God? How can prayer be a means of preparing you for specific challenges you will face?
What did Jesus say and do that can provide assurance that God will not forsake you?