Sermon Notes: Scary Prayers 1 of 4 "Search Me"

Psalm 139 New Living Translation Link

Context: King David prayed this prayer centuries ago after his enemies were on the attack and accusing David of having wrong motives. Instead of just defending himself to everyone else, he saw this time in his life as a cue to pray this scary prayer before God, and ask God to search his heart.

Introduction: This is a prayer of invitation, for evaluation and hopefully purification. It's a scary prayer because it humbles us and exposes our sin and shame.

Transition: Before we can ask God to mold us, fill us or even send us, we must begin with an honest assessment of who we are and what God wants from our lives.

Exposition: Search Me Lord... A plea that makes at least four requests, from verses 23-24                  

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

24 

1. Show me what you see

Reference Psalm 139:1 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me." -This is permission for God to search, as much as it's a request to tell us what God has already found.

2. Reveal my fears

-Why does this matter? Because what you fear the most uncovers where we trust God the least.

3. Reveal my sinful ways

-Craig Groeschel makes this easy for us identify sin we often ignore: Ask yourself... What are those you trust trying to tell you? What do I rationalize and excuse about myself? Where am I most defensive?

4. Take the lead in my life

-Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

*Next Steps...

-Read and meditate on Psalm 139 this week. Find yourself in the passage as you read. Make the time to give yourself to feeling how David felt.

-Pray daily for God to search you, and don't be afraid of the evaluation. Remember, this isn't God setting you up to fail. This is about you growing closer to God; living in an honest and spiritually healthy way.

-Check your motives before you act, and things go wrong. Your actions should reflect the Jesus we claim is living in us.

-Be in worship next week, when we continue this series with Mold Me (Jeremiah 18:1-12). 

*Thanks to David Hillis for the series development*