Guidance and Support by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning's message is going to be about a couple of things. We are going to speak at length about guidance and support. In the Old Testament, David was deep and devout about prayer in his lifetime. There is a path to really pray and communicate with God. David didn't hold back in prayer because he knew that God saw and already knew everything.

        Guidance in the word is a distinct direction to guide you toward a goal. You can land in several different spots while going one direction. Guidance does not work without purpose. The world operates by chance. Often, we distinguish guidance as a second opinion from a source not necessarily invested in you personally.

        We are going to be reading from Psalm 143 and we will begin with the first verse.

        Hear my prayer, O Lord. Give ear to my supplications! In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness!

        2 And enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

        This psalm is a lament from David to God. David is setting up guidelines for this prayer to be a supplication rather than a complaint. The abilities and talents God provided are nurtured and grown by our faith. Our faith is obedience to God's commandments. You can't go to God asking for something without having something for him to use. What you do in the flesh reflects in your spirit and what you do in the spirit and what you do in the spirit reflects in your flesh.

        3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground, he hath made me dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

        Your flesh cannot be trusted with any form of encouragement. How is it the enemy can persecute your soul? You let the enemy in. He can only play where he has permission to play. David writes about persecution. Persecution is being attacked with something not true. When are you going to be tired of being crushed or beat down into the ground.

        4 Therefore is my soul overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 

        David lived in a house of faith. His father, Jesse, was an elder. The man of God, Samuel, came to Jesse's house to anoint David. People don't want good. People want what they want when they want. When man gets overwhelmed, he broadcasts his problems to anyone who would listen. It's safe to say, men like Davis or Job or even Paul would be overwhelmed as well. Your spirit man is what gets overwhelmed. Your flesh is not affected.

        5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

        6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

        You can't merely have guidance. You are going to need support. A form of support is those praying for and about you. In the psalm, David is hurting and empty. He's stretching his hands out to God. He has a broken and contrite spirit.

        7 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.

        If you've been seeking God for something sometimes you run high and low. When you are overwhelmed with life, there are peaks and valleys. Did anyone have a thought when you started your relationship with God, you were not going to experience suffering? David knew what the pit was about and didn't want to return.

        8 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.

        David asked God to show him how to walk and to carry himself.

        9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

       10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

        If you aren't walking upright and on level ground, you need to rely upon God to support you through his word and with prayer. How many of you have had moments where you love and hate yourself equally? You tend to hate on works be they thoughts, words, or actions. Your flesh is indifferent. If God's giving you guidance and support don't be lax with being quickened.

        11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

        12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

        The things we speak about is a matter of life or death. The more often you don't speak, the better the improvement. You can't be your only support. Your support will try to help you even when it pains you. Every one of us can associate with parts of this psalm. There are different kinds of pains both physical and spiritual. It's still up to us to look for that guidance and support with God's tools to face what it ahead. If you stop praying, you stop the hand of God. You have to change it up and do things different.