Turn with me in your Bibles back to Psalm 143. I was talking to Owen during the break about Peter's last words and he says Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest also ye, also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. What's the safe place from falling? But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How are we protected? How are we carried through this world? We grow in the grace. What is it to grow in grace? Psalm 143 deals with it so beautifully. It's to become more and more dependent, to become more and more dependent. passionately, it's to have less and less of self and more of Him. And what's the fruit of it? In the lives of His people, to Him be the glory, both now and forever. Who gets the glory? Whenever any false teaching is around and whenever we're being led astray, there's always an issue of glory.

So let's turn back in our scriptures to Psalm 143 and I'll just read these last verses and we'll look at them briefly before we have the Lord's Supper. I wanted to read the last verses from verse 7 down, Psalm 143 verse 7. Hear me speedily. The Sela at the end of the last verse is a musical punctuation which says you ought to pause and ponder those things closely again and again and again and again. Take your time. Don't.

Hear me speedily, O Lord. My spirit faileth. Hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning. For in Thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk. For I lift up my soul unto Thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. I flee unto Thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy spirit is good. Lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, make me alive, for thy name's sake. For thy righteousness's sake, bring my soul out of trouble, and of thy mercies, cut off my enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul. For I am thy servant." I love the fact that he was a servant. How do you get to be a servant in those days? Well, there are four ways you can be a servant in that time. You could be born into a house. You could be born as the child of servants in the house. You could be purchased as a servant. You could be made a servant by conquest. And you could be made a servant by voluntary engagement. You could sell yourself, in a sense, as it were, and commit yourself into the hands of someone and be their servant.

Twice in this psalm, David says, I am thy servant, thy servant. And wonderfully, in Christian service, mixed in together, aren't we? We are born again as servants. We are purchased with His own precious blood. We are His servants by the conquest of His Spirit. He overcomes his people with love and power. Thy people shall be willing in the day of my power, willing to come and willing to bow and willing to find that the greatest privilege that there is on this earth, the greatest privilege given to man is to be a servant. And we voluntarily, we want to be his servant, don't we? We want to be his servant.

Anyway, I have 12 petitions that our servant of God brings here, and obviously with 12 of them, I'm not gonna spend much time on them, but I trust that in light of what we saw earlier, we'll find this delightful, and I trust encouraging, and that we might go on in our lives. And may the Lord bless us all. bless us to be people of prayer and may the prayers of the children of God in the scriptures be prayers that we can say amen to and it's just wonderful listen to what he says in verse 7 hear me speedily oh lord for my spirit fails

Those people that came to the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel accounts came with a sense of urgency. That Canaanite woman that we looked at in Matthew chapter 15 earlier, she came, she was in desperate need. Hear me, Spiela, I need for you to respond to me. Someone said, I'm not sure who it was, mercy has wings to its heel when misery is in extremity. When there is a greatest need, there's a greatest urge, we need God to do something. Have you cried out like that?

I love how he responds to those sorts of cries. I can't, don't have time to look at it very close, but if you turn with me to Daniel chapter, I think it's Daniel chapter nine. Come with me to Daniel chapter nine. Daniel was pouring out his heart towards God. And the reason in Daniel nine, if you go back and look at it closely, is that he'd realized that the promises of God were fulfilled. The 70 years of desolation, the 70 years of captivity had been fulfilled. And therefore he turns himself to prayer. God's promise is coming to fruition Therefore he prays. Isn't that lovely? I love the motivation, isn't it? God has promised, God is faithful, therefore I'm going to pray.

But I love how this prayer is interrupted in verse 20. He says in verse 19, O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord hearken, and do defer not for thine own sake. The true prayers, aren't they? They're going to God on the basis of who God is, on the basis of God's faithfulness and God's righteousness and God's character. He's pleading for the Lord to do as David did in 2 Samuel 7. He said, Lord, do as you've said. You've made a promise.

And I love what's happened. Daniel's praying and while I was speaking, while I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people. Israel, and presenting my supplications before the Lord my God, for the holy mountain of my God. Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in a vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

He informed me and talked with me and said, O Daniel, I now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee that thou art greatly beloved. Therefore understand the matter and consider the vision.

I love the fact that, as Daniel was praying, an angel was sent from heaven, and we don't know the geography and the physical attributes of all these things, but the remarkable thing is that the angel came so quickly. It says, when he was caused to fly swiftly, the marginal reading says, with weariness. The angel had come with such speed. Don't you love the fact that we can pray, God, hear me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit faileth. You've got to come.

And we know from Matthew chapter six, the Lord knows what we need before we ask. But I love what Isaiah 65, 24 says, and it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer. And while they are yet speaking, I will hear. God is precious.

I love what he goes on to say, hide not thy face, this is the second one, hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down to the pit. You know the high priest came out on that day of atonement and he came out and he spoke to the people in number six. And he said those glorious words of the finished work of our great God and saviour. Speak unto Aaron and his sons and saying, on this wise you shall bless the children of Israel saying unto them, the Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. Don't you love that? We see the shining face of God. by faith. Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. And the high priest is commanded, then they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

Come quickly, my spirit follower, hide not thy face from me, lest I be like them that go down to the pit. If you hide your face from me, I am lost. And listen to this lovely petition in verse 8. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness. Of almost all the uses of that word loving-kindness in the Psalms, they're on David's lips over and over again. David knew what loving-kindness was. It's the Old Testament word, in some sense, synonym for grace. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning. Let me begin my day in the morning, as I open my eyes and see the sun shining, and may the real sun shine on me in the morning. Cause me to hear thy face. What an extraordinary gift of God it is to actually hear the word of God.

Multitudes heard the Lord Jesus Christ. Tens, possibly hundreds of thousands heard him. There were a million people there on the day of Pentecost. And in those weeks that followed, how many heard him? In Nazareth, he spoke those words out of Isaiah chapter 61. You can read it about it in Luke chapter four. And they marveled at the gracious words that came from his lips.

One moment their gracious words and when he explains what grace is, grace is sovereign grace, grace is electing grace, grace is sufficient grace, grace is successful grace, They took him out to the brow of hill to put him to death. They hated him. They were happy to hear what they thought were gracious words, but they weren't happy to hear him declaring himself to be who he is.

Throughout the scriptures, we hear those phrases, don't we? He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Hearing is a precious, precious gift from God, to hear God speak. powerfully from his word by his gospel with the power of his spirit to hear. You know the parable of the soils, don't you, in Matthew chapter 13? I can just read some of the verses out of it to you, but you know, again, He says in Matthew chapter 13 verse 12, let's just turn there because it's just, I want us to pray this prayer. I want to pray this prayer. Lord, cause me to hear. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness. Matthew chapter 13 verse nine. Who has ears to hear? Let him hear. And the disciples came and said to him, why speakest thou unto them in parables? And he answered, You would think that this is a simple story so that people can understand exactly the opposite. Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. But whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away, even that

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because they seeing not, and hearing hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, by hearing you shall hear and not understand, and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I shall hear them. heal them, but blessed are your eyes, for they see, and blessed are your ears, for they hear. For verily, for truly, I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desire to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them, and hear the things which ye hear, and not hear them.

Hear therefore the parable of the sower, when any one heareth, now listen to how often, the psalmist who had witnessed this in David's day and had seen it prior to that from the time of Abel and Cain as Simon spoke so well about last week. Cain heard the gospel. Cain had been coming to church for years and years and years and years. He knew about the Lamb. He knew about the Lamb, the covering of the Lamb. Such is the hardness of the hearts of human beings after the fall. Therefore hear the parable. This is what the parable of the sower is saying. When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom and understands it not, then come the wicked one and catcheth the way which has been sown in his heart. This is he that receiveth the seed by the wayside.

But he that receiveth the seed in the stony places, the same is he that heareth. Each of them hear the word, and anon with joy receive it. Yet he hath no root in himself. As Job said, the root of the matter is in me. It's Christ in you, is the root of the matter. But dureth for a while when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.

I'm so thankful the Lord wrote down our histories, our histories of preaching, our histories of his churches. He that receiveth, verse 22, receiveth the seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that receiveth the seed in the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth which also beareth fruit and bringeth forth some 100, some 60, some 30. me to hear.

I want to hear grace. I don't want to hear law and works. I want to hear grace. Cause me to hear it. Cause me to hear it in the morning. For in thee do I trust. I'm utterly dependent on you.

And David said, created me a clean heart. Created me a clean heart, I can hear. Created me ears to hear, created me eyes to see, created me a willingness just to follow after thee.

And then he says, cause me to know, cause me to hear, and then he says, cause me to know the way wherein I should walk. What is the way? There is just one way, isn't it? The Lord Jesus Christ caused me to know the Lord Jesus Christ.

You have to cause me, for I lift up my soul unto thee. He is the way, the truth and the life. He says, enter in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way. There's a broad way. The way is so broad to hell that leads us to destruction, and many there be that go thereout. Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way.

It's so narrow that the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone fits through it. And when He goes through, everyone that's in Him goes through it with Him. It's not Christ plus anything. Christ plus anything equals nothing. Christ plus nothing equals everything. That's the mathematics of heaven, isn't it?

Cause me to know Christ. Cause me to know. Cause me to hear. Cause me to know wherein I should walk. For I lift up my soul. I'm praying that you'll lead me. Lead me beside the still waters. Lead me into the pastures, the green pastures of the Word. Cause me to know the Lord Jesus Christ again and again.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies. For I flee unto thee to hide me. As we saw earlier, we have enemies in this world, and we should pray for them, and they are sent of God for our good. To be used of God in our lives, to draw us closer to him, and to be less dependent on anything of ourselves.

But the enemies, as again, that Dave was talking about, are enemies of spirit, and enemies of soul, and enemies of the causes into thirst, and the enemies of sin, aren't they? Deliver me. I've got one big problem in this world, and he's called Angus Fisher. He's an absolute pest. He's a pest. He's a pest to belief, isn't he? He's a pest to just walking and living and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.

Deliver me from myself. Deliver me from my doubts. Deliver me from my fears. Deliver me from unbelief. Deliver me from the pride that I can have. Deliver me, the psalmist says, deliver me from presumptuous sins. Presumptuous. Deliver me from presuming. Make me so humble that I'm always needy.

Deliver me from the secret sins that no one Hear me speedily, it's so vital. Cause me to hear, cause me to know the way, deliver me. And then what does he do? I flee unto thee to hide me. Where is our life hidden? Colossians 3. Our life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ who is our life appear, we shall appear with him in glory. Where do we want to be hidden? I want to be hidden like Moses in the cliff to the rock. And then he'll pass by and declare his glory, he'll show me his glory, but he hides me. Hide me, hide me, hide me in you.

Teach me, verse 10, teach me, number seven, teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy spirit is good. Teach me with your goodness. Teach me, because you're my God. Teach me to do thy will. We keep being reminded of what the will of God is, isn't it? The will of God. I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, John 6, 38, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.

Whatever God does is right. His spirit is good. He's good to his people. None of us like afflictions, but in righteousness, in your faithfulness, you have afflicted me, said David. This is my Beloved Son. Hear ye Him. Teach me to hear you, believe you, follow you. Teach me to come. Teach me to hear. Let me hear that voice that says, come. Come unto me, all you that are weary and heavy laden. You'll find rest for your soul. Take my yoke upon me. Do my will. Take my yoke upon you. This yoke's an easy yoke, isn't it? It's light. And learn of me. That's exactly what the Lord said, isn't it? Take my yoke upon. the Lord Jesus Christ. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. His yoke's an easy yoke. What an easy yoke. Our Saviour puts on his people. No wonder David comes again and again. My yoke is easy, my burden is light.

At the end of verse 10, he said, and lead me into the land of uprightness. Don't you love that? What's the upright land? There is a land wherein dwelleth righteousness. You read about what's excluded in Revelation 20 and 21. That's the land of uprightness. You have to lead me all the way. You've got to cause me. You've got to lead me. You've got to teach me. You've got to hide me. And you've got to lead me into heaven. You've got to lead me all the way into heaven.

Verse 11, number 9, quicken me, make me alive. Do you ever find yourself dead? I struggle with the deadness of my heart. I should be inflamed with love for the Lord Jesus Christ and so many other things interfere in my life. No wonder David, who had walked with the Lord for such a long time, can say quick of me, make me alive again, and do it for thy name's sake, O Lord. Do it in such a way that I rejoice in all of your attributes, in all of your glory. He began by praying, Hear my prayer, give ear to my supplication. In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness, he says, quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake, for thy righteousness' sake. for thy righteousness sake. Bring my soul out of trouble. I don't have any righteousness of my own. I'm in trouble all the time. I'm needy. Make me alive. Make me alive. Make me alive. The word can also mean preserve me alive. You're gonna lead me into the land of uprightness. You've gotta preserve me alive. It means to revive us again. Restore me to my first love.

10. For thy righteousness sake, bring my soul out of trouble. As Job said, a man is born of a woman. in full of trouble. Jacob said the same when Pharaoh asked about his life. It was just full of evil, full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, says Job 142, and he's cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not. For thy righteousness sake, bring my soul out of trouble. This is a world of trouble. This is a life of so many troubles. I've been chatting to my friend Greg. We people who have reached that wonderful age of 70 have a promise from God that we're not thrilled about, but we know that it's a promise which is really good. The days of our years are 3 score years and 10. Some of you are getting close. If by reason of strength they beforescore years, if ye get to eighty, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away.

Verse 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy them all that afflict my soul. For I am thy servant. What happened on the cross of Calvary? All of my enemies were put to death by the righteousness and the faithfulness and the justice of God being poured out on me in the Lord Jesus Christ. They have all been cut off. He says, mortify therefore the flesh. You mortified. It was put to death. How do we mortify the flesh? By faith, by trusting, by crying out as David did, destroy them all. For I am thy servant.

Don't you love the fact that if you are a servant, The one whose service you are in is responsible for you. They are, aren't they? Who's responsible for the sheep? Who's responsible for getting all the sheep back into the sheepfold, bringing them safe home, causing them to rest from all of their enemies, causing them to rest in his presence? What a saviour.

Hear me speedily. hide not thy face from me, cause me to hear thy loving kindness, cause me to know the way, deliver me, I flee unto thee to hide me, teach me to do thy will, lead me in the land of uprightness, quicken me, make me alive, bring my soul out of trouble, in thy mercy cut off my enemy, destroy all them that afflict my soul, for I am thy servant. What a prayer.

Hear my prayer, O Lord. Give ear to my supplications. You have to supply all of what you've promised. Let's pray. Oh, Heavenly Father, we thank you. We are so thankful that all the promises that you have ever made are yay and amen in your dear and precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We just thank you and praise you, Heavenly Father, that He supplies all that we need, and that you, right now, are resting. in the Blessed One, in looking at your dear and precious Son, and you see those wounds, our Father, in which He took away all of the sins of all of His people, that we are presented by Him wholly in your sight.

O Heavenly Father, hide us in your Son. Cause us to continually come back again and again Make the circumstances of our life redound to your glory, rebound to your glory as you cause your children, your little children to come, to come into your arms and to be carried and to be nurtured. We thank you, Heavenly Father, for the glory of the victory of your dear and precious Son.

We keep praying, Heavenly Father, these prayers and we keep praying that you would make his blood precious to us. That we might look to him and that we might eat and drink in remembrance and bring to mind the glory of what happened on the cross of Calvary where we were crucified with him. Oh, our Heavenly Father, we thank you that there's so many wonderful things that we can rest our soul on that we can't understand. But we thank you that he is our wisdom and our righteousness, our sanctification and our redemption.

Oh, Father, may we just be found in him. We pray these things for your dear son's glory and in his name that allows us to come into your presence and plead yet again for you to be gracious and merciful and hear us out.