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TEXT: Psalm 5:3
SUBJECT: Henry on Communion with God #1
Two weeks ago, we finished a long study of the Puritan classic, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. Tonight, the Lord willing, we'll take up another. The author is Matthew Henry, one of the holiest and best-known men in Church history. He wrote much, of course, including a famous commentary. But we're going to look at a smaller book he published in 1712.
The title is Directions for Daily Communion with God. The subtitle tells us what it's about:
"How to begin, how to spend, and how to close every day with God".
"Spending the day with God". Is this something you ought to be doing? Of course it is! That's what it means to "Walk in the Spirit" and to "Abide in Christ".
It's also something you want to do, isn't it? Every believer regrets the time he spends away from God. And enjoys the time he spends with Him. What Peter said to Christ, we say too,
"Lord, it is good for us
to be here".
But having established our obligation and desire, we have to admit: "We don't begin, spend, and close each day with God". We hate to admit it, but it's true: "God is not in all our thoughts".
The hymn says
"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love".
It spoke for the author, of course. But not for him alone. It speaks for us too. We love God. Yet "the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the pleasures of this life" have a way of crowding Him out of our lives.
We admit it, but we don't approve of it. We want that fellowship He offers in the Gospel. Matthew Henry--I believe--can help us obtain it and keep it.
I hope this dear brother--though long dead--will minister to our souls this evening. God make it so. For Christ's sake. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Matthew Henry is a Puritan. He begins his sermon in the Puritan way--by stating his "doctrine". He wants us to know what he's getting at. Here it is:
"It is our wisdom and duty to begin every day with God".
By "Beginning every day with God", he means we ought to start the day with prayer. Not just saying words (as so many do), but speaking to God from the heart.
THE REASONS
Why should we do this? Henry gives two reasons:
"He expects and requires it. Though He has no need of us or our services, nor can He be benefitted by them, yet he has obliged us to offer the sacrifice of prayer and praise to Him continually".
To most people "duty" is a four-letter word. It conjures up thoughts of slavery and coercion. And so it would be--if God were a cruel and heartless Master.
Is He? John didn't think so: "His commandments are not grievous". David did him one better, calling His Law "Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb".
Why would God "expect and require" us to pray? Henry knows:
1."He will keep up His authority over us, and keep us continually in mind of our subjection to Him, which we are apt to forget".
Morning prayer reminds us "We not our own", but "The LORD, He is God".
2."He will testify His love and compassion toward us. To show His [approval] of us, as the father tells his [traveling] son, `Let me hear from you every day, by every post, though you have no particular business'. This shows that the prayer of the upright is His delight; it is music to His ears".
This is the first reason we're to pray each morning: Because God commands it. And His commands are good for the soul.
The second reason we're to pray is this:
"We have something to say to God every day. As to a friend we love and have freedom with; such a friend we cannot pass without calling on him, and never lack something to say, though we have no particular business with him".
God is your best friend! And best friends don't need a special reason to call or drop in on each other. They do so because they're best friends!
Why should "God hear your voice in the morning?" Because He wants to hear from you; because you have something to talk about.
Our prayers should be like His mercies,
"New every morning".
THE WAY
How do pray in the morning? Matthew Henry was a man of prayer and offers three pieces of advice:
1."Give Him His titles, as you do when you address a person of honor; address yourself to Him as the great JEHOVAH, God over all, blessed for evermore; the King of kings, and Lord of lords; as the LORD God gracious and merciful. Let your hearts and mouths be filled with holy adorings and admirings of Him, and fasten upon those titles which strike a holy awe of Him upon your minds, that you may worship Him with reverence and godly fear".
These Names, Glories, and Mighty Works of God have a way stirring our emotions or warming our hearts for His worship. And that's a good way to start praying!
2.Remember He is your Father. "Your relation to Him as His children must not be overlooked and lost in your awesome adorations of His glories. A son, when he is prodigal...is no more worthy to be called a son, but is bold to call him `Father'. If God is not ashamed, let us not be afraid to own the relation".
In prayer, we approach that God "with Whom there is terrible Majesty". That God from whose "face the earth flee away". That God whose "Voice is as the sound of many waters". That God who makes even "the demons tremble".
That is who He is.
"Our God is an Awesome God".
But that's not all He is. To believers in Christ, He is "Father". And not the distant and cold fathers that so many people know, but a warm and loving Father, easy to approach and eager to do His children good.
By the Spirit's ministry we cry "Abba, Father". "Abba" means "Papa" or "Daddy". That's the relationship we have with God through Christ.
In prayer, we must remember Who He is and...Who He is to us".
3.Leave it with the Lord Jesus. "It will certainly miscarry, if it be not put into His hand. [But] left with Him...He will deliver it with care and speed and will make our service acceptable".
Having said this, Henry quotes a poem by George Herbert. It's called "The Bag". Herbert recalls the spear stuck into our Lord's side. And then, to the believer in prayer, He says,
"If you have anything to send or write--
I have no bag, but here is room--
Unto My Father's hands and sights
Believe Me, it shall safely come.
That I shall mind what you impart,
Look! you may put it very near My heart".
Isn't that beautiful? The human body of our Lord is compared to a mailbag. As we look at the wound in His side, He invites us to stick our prayers into his chest and He'll carry them to God!
Is that right? It is. "No man comes to the Father but by Me" also means "Every man who comes by Me...gets to the Father".
When it comes to prayer, we sing,
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness".
THE ATTITUDES
Matthew Henry goes on to give the attitudes we take to God in prayer. It is suggested by the words, "In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up".
What does this mean--to "look up"? Henry offers three ideas:
1.It means to pray in humility. "As those who speak to one above us, infinitely above us, the High and Holy One who inhabits eternity".
2It means to pray in good cheer. "Looking up is a sign of cheerfulness, as a downward look is of sorrow. We must look up in entire confidence of His goodness and wisdom, patiently expecting the answer".
3.It means to pray in hope. "With an eye of observation...expecting God to give us an answer of peace".
APPLICATIONS
Having said these things, Henry close with a few sharp applications:
1."Let this word put us in mind of our omissions--for omissions are sins and come into judgment. How often our morning worship has been either neglected or performed negligently--either not done at all or done deceitfully".
Is he right about this? I, for one, haven't prayed every morning. Some mornings I'm too sleepy to pray; some mornings I'm too cranky to pray; some mornings I'm too busy to pray. And so on. When I don't pray in the morning, I'm disobeying the Lord who commands: "Pray without ceasing".
2."Make conscience of your secret worship...Let none plead they cannot pray; if you were ready to perish with hunger, you could beg for food...Let none plead you have not time to pray, you had better take time from sleep than to lack time for prayer...Let none plead you have not convenient place to pray, Isaac retired to a field to pray..."
When it comes to morning worship, Henry's taking no prisoners. He says you have the time and place to pray...if you want to badly enough. "You can find time for others things that are less needful".
3."Take heed, lest it degenerate into formality. It is not enough to say your prayers, you must pray your prayers, must pray in praying".
CLOSE
Henry closes his sermon with a reminder and exhortation,
"When you have prayed, look upon yourself as engaged and encouraged both to serve God, and to trust Him; that the comfort and the benefit of your morning devotions may not be as the morning cloud that passes away, but as the morning light that shines more and more".
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