As I mentioned last week, I’ll be posting each Sunday’s sermon audio, notes, and discussion guide so that if you missed Sunday, you can catch up before House to House, which begins the first week of August.
Notes
Yesterday, we studied Psalm 4, which exemplifies how to pray with confidence in troubling times. David wrote this when dealing with difficult people. Since you’re surrounded by difficult people every day (and probably are one yourself from time to time), this will be helpful for you.
4:1
David prays urgently when he feels urgency. God’s children are free pray with whatever genuine emotion they’re experiencing. He is gracious to his children.
4:2
People are David’s problem because people are problematic. These people love what’s worthless and hate what’s most worthy, God. They’re deceivers who can’t be trusted and they’re making David’s life very difficult. So he prays.
4:3
David is confident in his prayer because he’s confident in his godliness. Christians can be confident in their prayers because they too can be confident in their godliness. Read Romans 5:19. Our confidence is in Jesus’ godliness, which is given to us when we give our lives to him. God clothes us with Jesus’ righteousness so that when he looks at us, he sees his perfect godliness rather than our sin (justification). We spend the rest of our lives growing into this new identity (sanctification). We can’t work hard enough to be perfect. That’s why we need Jesus to give us his perfection.
4:4-5
After praying, David relaxes into a trusting rhythm of life. He’s trembling with anger, but not sinning through retribution. He meditates on God’s word as he falls asleep rather than stewing in bitterness. He turns his attention back to sacrifices and simple trust in God. We too should take this course after praying through the troubles in our lives.
4:6-8
God fills his heart with gladness that transcends circumstances and David sleeps peacefully knowing that God alone keeps him safe.
It’s more natural to turn to people, plans, or pills than prayer. It’s easier to medicate than to meditate. But as Christians, we have precious promises to claim and prayer is our ticket.
House to House Discussion Guide
1. Describe a time when you felt an urgent need for God to hear your prayers. How do you believe he responded?
2. Are you typically confident in your praying? Why or why not?
3. What makes it difficult for most Christians to view themselves as righteous in Jesus?
4. What percentage of trouble in your life comes from difficult people? Why is this?
5. What usually fills your mind as you lie down to sleep? What can you do practically to think about Scripture instead? What difference do you think this would make in your life?
6. Describe a time in your life when you experienced joy in God amid troubling times.
7. What do you think people are most prone to trust for safety more than God? Why do people trust these things?
8. How can you serve each other as a group in light of this passage?
9. How can your group pray for you? Pray together as a group.*
*Praying as a group is easy. Those who feel so inclined can pray aloud for specific needs discussed prior to prayer time. Others can pray silently along with those who take turns praying aloud. Just designate a person to begin and end the prayer time.
