It is Good for me to Draw Near to God
Psalm 73:21-28
Intro: In these first few verses we see a person who is under conviction of some kind.
-Have you ever felt this way before God?
-Grieved – sour – just out of sorts
-Pricked in the heart – heart felt like a knife had gone through it.
--heartsick
--Not happy
--hurting.
--Foolish – feel like an idiot – with no sense
--Like a beast – big clumsy animal.
This individual was crying out to God,
-He was not right with God
-He was not close to God
-He wants a closer relationship with the Lord.
-He wants to be right with God.
-He feels a great need for the Lord.
-He feels the need to draw closer to God.
To draw closer to the Lord we must….
I. Reach out to the Lord. Vs 23
-The word “continually” means to constantly be
stretching out to God.
-I am continually stretching out to the Lord
-Did you stretch out to God today?
-It demonstrates a desire to be with Him
-We stretch out to God by…
Prayer
Listening to Him
-It shows a relationship with Him.
-Often my wife stretches out just to touch me…
-We stretch out to God…
--For an assurance of His presence.
--For answered Prayer
--For strength
-For wisdom
-We continually stretch out to the Lord.
II. You hold me by my right hand. Vs 23b
-To hold as a possession.-Never to let go.
-A bride gives her hand in marriage.
-We give our hand in faith.
-Isaiah 41:13
-What does a parent do in a crowed mall when she
wants to keep her child close. – takes them by the hand.
-Psalm 37:23-24
-When God holds our hand we are walking with
him…hand in hand.
--Where He goes…I go
--Where I go…He goes.
-Did you walk hand in hand with Jesus today?
III. We must follow His leading. Vs 24
-If we are going to be close to God, we must follow
close.
--Proverbs 3:5-10
-God leads through the written Word.
-God leads through the spoken Word.
-We must be close enough to hear His voice.
-We must be close enough to follow His steps.
1 Peter 2:21
-To the disciples..Jesus said “Follow me”
-It seems to me that if we are holding on to His and we
have no choice but to follow.
IV. Don’t loose sight of eternity. Vs 24b
-Receive me up to Glory.
-2 Corinthians 4:15-18
-We must not get enamored with the temporal but keep
our eyes on the eternal.
-We have an eternal destiny.
-We have an eternal home.
Conclusion: Psalm 73:28
-It is good for me to draw near to God
-To put my trust in Him.
--To reach (stretch) out to him.
--To walk with Him hand in hand.
----To follow His leading.
----To keep my eye on eternity.
-That I may declare all thy works.
--Testimony in praise.
