Welcome to The Refinery.

“Amen and Amen” is the theme for the coming few Sunday mornings.

This series is a study from the Psalms, in which the psalmist gives voice to prayers that resound in our hearts today.

Today we are discussing, Amen and Amen.

Text

Psalm 119:33 NKJV

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 119:33-40 NKJV

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.

37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.

38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.

39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.

Introduction.

Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word into both Greek and English.

Amen means “faithful” in reference to God, His testimonies, and His promises.

At times the people of God used amen to express their assent to a law and to their willingness to submit to the penalty attached to a breach of that law.

Amen is also used to express agreement with another’s prayers.

It is also used by some to show agreement when another is offering thanks to God.

These verses would suggest that we need to let others help us with our prayers.

That is, when someone else prays a prayer that expresses the deep desires of our heart, it is permissible and proper that we say “Amen” either audibly or inaudibly.

The psalmist offered up many petitions to which we can say, amen.

1. A prayer of agreement and affirmation.

The psalmist was praying to God, saying, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end.”

This is a prayer in which all of us should participate.

To pray this prayer is to make the law of God personal.

To pray this prayer internalises the law of God and writes it on the walls of our hearts.

2. Lead me in the path of Your commandments.

David, in the great Shepherd Psalm, wrote, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

This means that God leads us in the paths that are right because God’s character is at stake.

The only way God can lead us is in paths that are right.

In this petition the psalmist is praying for divine leadership that he might walk in the right paths throughout life.

Through Jeremiah, God said, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

3. Incline my heart to thine testimonies, and not to gain.

Feeling of insecurity pull us toward the desire for profits in the economic world.

Greed can capture our minds and hearts, and we can become the servants of mammon.

The psalmist was praying that God would deliver him from the lure of the material and lead him to that which was eternal and permanent.

He was eager that God would help him guard his heart, because out of the heart come the issues of life.

This verse has been translated, “Bend my heart to Your will and not to the love of gain.”

This is a prayer to which all of us should say, “Amen and Amen.”

4. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes came to recognise that many of the things we look upon with desire produce emptiness and despair once they are obtained.

The psalmist was here praying that he might be delivered from all the pursuits and ambitions that lead to emptiness and disappointment.

All of us need to join with the psalmist in praying this prayer.

5. A prayer for deliverance from failure.

The NIV translates verse 39, “Take away the disgrace I dread.”

A healthy fear of failure can be positive and helpful.

Here the psalmist is earnestly praying that God will so work in his life that he will be saved from making decisions and choosing ways that will lead to disappointment and shame.

Conclusion.

These petitions are very personal.

The psalmist was giving voice to a strong cry for deliverance from subtle dangers.

To his petitions we can say, “Amen and Amen.” 

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings

I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.

When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.

Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!

You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at The Refinery.

When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.

So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us at www.refinerylife.org

2024 IS A YEAR OF DECISIONS AND OPEN DOORS

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