Lord, Come Quickly! Series

INTRO.- ILL.- I got into a fight one day. It was high school. Gym class. We were playing hog ball. The coach blew the whistle and each team ran for the balls placed in the middle of the gym floor.

I got to one ball first. On the opposing team there stood a guy, one year older than me. I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. A rich kid. I didn’t like him and he apparently didn’t like me. So we started throwing punches at one another! I threw punches just as fast and as hard I could. I heard someone yell, “Get him, Shep!” I got him as best I could.

The coach blew the whistle, stopped our fist fight, and made us go sit out the game in the bleachers.

After school, that same guy along with his buddy cornered me in front of the school, next to the street. He said some choice words (which I don’t remember) and it looked like we were going to fight again and finish what was started in gym class, except that I was outnumbered and didn’t know what was going to happen.

I sent a prayer heavenward, “Lord, come quickly!” Not really. Not sure exactly what I was thinking at that time, but suddenly, someone else showed up quickly. It was my older brother, Larry, to the rescue. He said some choice words to my opponents and then said to me, “Get in the car!” In my heart of hearts, I was thinking, “YAY!” It wasn’t often I was glad to see my older brother but this time I was more than happy.

He came to my rescue. He rescued me from a situation that could have been bad. There are times in life when we all find ourselves between a rock and a hard place and need someone to rescue us.

ILL.- I remember at the funeral home one day when a lady wept loudly at seeing her deceased husband in a coffin after he had passed suddenly from a heart attack. She said, “will somebody please pray!?” I came her to rescue. I was there for the viewing because I was going to preach the funeral of this man whose brother was a member of our church. I quickly stepped up, and I believe put my arm around her and said, “Let’s pray.” Has anyone ever rescued you in your time of trouble?

Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.”

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

How thankful we should be for our gracious, comforting, loving God who comes to our rescue and sometimes, even when we’re not aware of His help. Bless His name! In our text, the Psalmist said, “Lord, come quickly.”

PROP.- What is it that he wanted or desired of the Lord?

1- Hear my prayer

2- Guard my mouth

3- Keep my heart

4- Fix my eyes

I. HEAR MY PRAYER

1 O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. 2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 4:1 “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”

Psalm 6:9 “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.”

Psalm 17:1 “Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.” We always want God to hear our prayers, whatever they are. And He does.

Acts 10:1-4 “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”

Did you hear that? Cornelius believed in God but was not a believer in Jesus at this time and yet his prayers had come up as a memorial offering to God. God heard his prayers and they meant something to God.

This tells me that God must hear the prayers of all people, including Muslims. And He does! And if God hears the prayers of the unbeliever then what about us who believe? I say so! We have a special union with God because of our faith in His Son who is the Savior of the world!