Praying To God For His Blessings

ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES

Text: Psalm 67:1-7 IBCWPM May 20, 2009

Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar

Praying is a life-changing activity which leads a believer to a well-blest life. The more we pray and commune with the Lord, the more we are drawn closer to Him, and the more we experience His tremendous working through our lives. A prayerful believer will truly enjoy the abiding presence of God and his prayers for others will surely be granted in a very special way.

Evidently, prayerful people are being found pleasing to God and their well-blest lives are being realized by many. Prayerfulness leads faithful believers to deep spirituality and God-glorifying success. God wants His people to be watchful and prayerful so they may not be overpowered by the deceitfulness of sin, but rather be victorious believers marching on and heading to a place where God wants them to be.

One outstanding mark of prayerful people is their unhindered interest and excitement in setting godly goals. Their goals and prayers to God are not merely confined for their personal needs, but especially for the benefit of others. The prayers of godly people sure blessing to all those around them.

In Psalm 67:1, the psalmist said, God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. (KJV) This simple prayer of a godly man teaches us a lot of exciting and needful things concerning fruitful prayer life. His prayer reveals his humility and familiarity toward the object of his prayer. He knows that God is a merciful God who knows his wretchedness and unworthiness, and yet still ready to forgive him and extend kindness unto him.

A careful study of this short prayer will surely usher us to a more productive Christian life. We strongly believe that such pattern of prayer will help us to be more humble, honest and self-less when we kneel down in prayer before the throne of grace of our loving Heavenly Father.

(I) The Need To Pray For God’s Mercy

Psalm 67:1

Asking God’s mercy every time we pray to God is a heart-touching way of acknowledging our unworthiness in asking and receiving good things before the Holy One. God is merciful and he who comes to Him in humility and faith will be justified and blest.

The wonderful results:

-God’s blessings upon all

It is unbelievable, but sometimes it takes only one accepted prayer to unleash the blessings of the Lord to be poured unto all. What a blessing to have godly people in our congregation praying earnestly to God for His blessings to be upon the whole world.

-God’s loving-favour

The phrase “and cause his face to shine upon us” is a figurative way of expressing one’s longing to gain the loving-favour of God upon all men. People from all walks of life and from all corners of the world really need the loving-favour of God. We must keep on asking God for His mercy.

(II) The Amazing Outcome Of Unselfish Prayer

Psalm 67:2-7

When we pray unselfishly, we will see the gracious hand of God upon our lives. The psalmist did not say “bless me” but said “bless us”. His prayer was not only for Israel but for all nations which includes Gentile nations. What a blessing to hear that someone prayed for us to God and the results of that simple and yet powerful prayer is now being enjoyed by people like us who were far from the True God, but are now called the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

-The way of God will be known throughout the whole world

The psalmist’s prayer to God was for the whole world. His caring attitude toward the lost was poured unto Him and it was his desire to let sinful people know the True God and His way. In Psalm 67:2, it is written, That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (KJV) Countless people today still do not know God and it should also be our prayer that these people may come to know the Truth.

-God’s salvation so great and free will be enjoyed by all people from all nations

Salvation so great and free is the most needed gift to a fallen race; but how can they know it if they are ignorant of God’s way and no one will reach them with the Gospel of Christ? We really need to pray intensely so God will reveal Himself to them in a remarkable way that they may come to the saving knowledge of God.

-All people will praise God

In Psalm 67:3, the psalmist said, Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. (KJV) We cannot imagine how many people throughout the whole world would praise God the moment they receive the Lord Jesus Christ and begin to live in newness of life. Without doubt, such praises will surely be given to God if we pray the same prayer and say, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.”

-People will experience great joy

The joy of salvation is an incomparable joy and it could be achieved only through repentance from sins and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a kind of joy that the world cannot afford to give. The believers’ good attitude toward prayer is so important so such joy would flood the hearts of men who are willing to open their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. As the psalmist said, “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.”

-God’s righteous judgment will be carried out

As we see the worsening morality and living condition of human race, may we not forget to pray to God for His righteous judgment to be carried out at all times. We must keep on praying for the blessed will of God to be fulfilled in this sin-darkened world. Be prayerful and be a part of global spiritual revival of mankind.

-Abundant harvest will be enjoyed

Abundant harvest is a well-desired blessing from God, but it takes praises and prayers on our part to experience such blessing. In Psalm 67:5-6, the psalmist said, 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. (KJV) These Bible passages remind us of the unlimited blessings of God prepared for those who truly repent from their sins and humbly seek His face in sincerity and in truth.

In II Chronicles 7:14, it is written, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (KJV)

-People will highly revere God

In Psalm 67:7, it is written, God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. (KJV) What a delightful sight to see people being blessed by the gracious hand of God. What a blessing to see and hear countless people coming to God with bowed knees expressing their gratitude for the wonderful blessings they received from our Loving Father. And how pleased God would be to see His redeemed people worshipping Him in spirit and truth. One generation to another will show reverence to God if only we take time to pray and say, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us.”

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