Teach Me, O Lord

TEXT:  Psalm 25:

INTRODUCTION:

A.      DAVID PLEAS FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS FROM SIN.

                   HIS DELIVERANCE IN THE FACE OF ENEMIES.

                             AND HIS PROTECTION FROM TROUBLES (himself & Israel).

B.      vs. 4-5.  DAVID WANTS THE LORD TO BE HIS INSTRUCTOR.

          a.       Show me -- Set the example for me to follow.

          b.       Teach me -- Give me instruction that I may obtain knowledge.

          c.       Guide me -- Go before me and show me the way.

C.      vs. 4-5.  DAVID WANTED TO THOUROUGHLY TRAINED IN GOD’S:

          a.       Ways – not the ways of man but of God( Jer. 6:16;  10:23 ).

          b.       Paths – not of sin, but of righteousness( Psa. 23:3;  Rom. 6:13 ).

          c.       Truth – not error( Jno. 17:17 ).

D.      vs. 5.  HE WOULD EXERCISE THE PATIENCE OF FAITH ( vs. 1-2, 21 ).

E.      COMPARES TO LEARNING FROM JESUS

          1.       ( Jno. 6:44-45;  Heb. 8:10-11;  Matt. 11:28-29 ).

          2.       Learning from Christ will bring us forgiveness, deliverance & protection.

          3.       If we live by faith! (1 Jno. 5:4)

I.      IF WHAT WE LEARN IS TO BE ANY HELP TO US, WE MUST:

A.      ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINS( Psa. 25:8, 11 ).

          1.       Psa. 25:16.  The reality & the desolation of our sin.

          2.       Matt. 5:3-4.  Poor in spirit, mournful.

B.      BE HUMBLE( Psa. 25:9; Matt.  11:25;  Luke 18:13 ).

C.      BE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WILL ( Psa. 25:10; Matt. 7:21 ).

D.      BE REVERENT BEFORE GOD ( Psa. 25:12-14 )

          1.       Calls for self-examination( 2 Cor. 13:5 ).

          2.       Those who fear God have nothing else to fear!( Acts 10:34-35 ).

E.      ALWAYS TRUST IN GOD ( Psa. 25:2-3, 15, 20-21 ).

          1.       Have faith in God, not in ourselves ( 1 Cor. 3:18-19;  10:12;  Eph. 6:10 ).

          2.       Wait patiently for God’s will to be accomplished( Rom. 8:24 ).

II.     O LORD, TEACH ME TO WAIT ON YOU.

A.      COURAGE AND PATIENT ENDURANCE WHEN OPPOSED FOR THE TRUTH’S

          SAKE( Psa. 25:1-3;  1 Cor. 15:58 ).  In the face of:

          1.       Misrepresentations ( Matt. 5:11-12 ).  Who are we, what do we really teach?

          2.       False brethren ( Gal. 2:4-5;  Phil. 1:15-18;  Acts 20:29-32 ).

          3.       False teachers ( 1 Jno. 4:1, 6 ).

                             Departures from the faith in work, worship, morality, doctrine.

          4.       Worldly brethren who despise divine authority ( 2 Pet. 2:9-10;  Jude 4, 11-13 ).

                   a.       "We do many things without Bible authority." ( Col. 3:17 ).

                   b.       The tragedy of presumptuous sin ( Deut. 1:43;  2 John 9;  Psa. 19:13 ).

          5.       Denominational creeds & error ( 1 Cor. 4:6-7;  1 Jno. 2:19 ).

B.      TRUST THAT THE WAY OF THE GOSPEL IS RIGHT AND THAT TRUTH AND

          THE FAITHFUL WILL BE VINDICATED ( Psa. 37:1-6; 73:1-3, 15-18, 25-28 ).

          1.       1 Pet. 4:16.  Don’t be ashamed - will rejoice one day! (v. 13).

          2.       2 Thess. 1:4-7.  God will repay every wrong!

Conclusion:

A.      SHOW ME YOUR WAYS.  JESUS DID THAT( 1 Pet. 2:21 ).

B.      TEACH ME YOUR PATHS.  JESUS DOES THAT( Matt. 28:18-20 ).

C.      GUIDE ME IN YOUR TRUTH( Jno. 10:11, 27-29 ).