Upholding Grace: A Prayer for Spiritual Safety

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves in need of divine support, much like the psalmist who cried out, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." This prayer is not a mere repetition but a heartfelt plea for God's sustaining grace. It reflects our awareness of the dangers and challenges we face in maintaining our spiritual integrity. The psalmist's prayer is a reminder that our spiritual life depends on God's continuous upholding, without which we risk faltering.

Prayer is not just a request but an acknowledgment of God's promises. When we feel moved to pray for something, it is often because God intends to grant it. Our prayers align with His will, and through them, we express our dependence on His grace. God delights in our steadfastness and desires to keep us from falling. He provides us with the strength to walk uprightly, even when the path is slippery and fraught with temptations.

The dangers we face are manifold. Our journey is like walking on a slippery path, where the slightest misstep can lead to a fall. Our own weaknesses, the temptations of the world, and the cunning of our adversaries all conspire to trip us up. Yet, God is faithful to uphold us. He uses various means, such as His Word, the ministry of others, and even chastisement, to keep us on the right path.

When God upholds us, we are safe—not just from external harm but from the internal decay of our character. Integrity is our greatest safeguard, and maintaining it ensures our safety in all circumstances. A life of uprightness brings peace and restfulness, even in the midst of trials. It is better to be poor and holy than to gain the world through unrighteous means.

Ultimately, our prayer for God's upholding is a daily necessity. Whether we face prosperity or adversity, youth or old age, we must continually seek His sustaining grace. In doing so, we become safe and trustworthy, pillars in our communities, and examples of God's faithfulness. Let us, therefore, make it our daily prayer: "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."

Key Takeaways:

1. Prayer as a Reflection of God's Promises: Our prayers often mirror God's promises to us. When we feel a divine urge to pray for something, it is a sign that God intends to fulfill that request. Prayer aligns our desires with God's will, ensuring that we seek what He desires for us. [02:51]

2. The Necessity of Divine Upholding: Our spiritual journey is fraught with dangers, both external and internal. Without God's sustaining grace, we risk falling into sin and losing our integrity. Upholding is not just about avoiding sin but about maintaining a life of holiness and security. [05:11]

3. The Role of God's Word and Chastisement: God uses His Word and sometimes chastisement to keep us on the right path. His Word acts as a guide and a protective barrier, while chastisement serves as a wake-up call to prevent us from falling deeper into sin. [22:11]

4. Integrity as Our Safeguard: Maintaining integrity is crucial for our safety. It protects us from the decay of character and ensures that we remain upright in all circumstances. A life of integrity brings peace and restfulness, even amidst trials. [28:03]

5. The Continuous Need for God's Grace: Regardless of our life stage or circumstances, we must continually seek God's upholding grace. Whether in prosperity or adversity, youth or old age, His grace is essential for maintaining our spiritual integrity and becoming trustworthy pillars in our communities. [44:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - The Prayer for Upholding
- [01:18] - The Importance of Grace
- [02:35] - Prayer as a Promise
- [04:27] - God's Delight in Our Steadfastness
- [06:01] - The Dangers of the Journey
- [08:03] - The Slippery Path
- [10:24] - The Role of Our Feet
- [12:31] - Cunning Foes and Temptations
- [14:22] - The Perils of Elevation
- [16:04] - The World's Lack of Uprightness
- [19:05] - God's Methods of Upholding
- [22:11] - The Role of Chastisement
- [26:45] - The Blessings of Being Upheld
- [34:33] - Respect for God's Statutes

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 119:117 - "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the psalmist mean by the phrase "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe"? How does this reflect the psalmist's understanding of his own spiritual needs? [00:14]
2. In what ways does the sermon describe the dangers and challenges of the spiritual journey? [06:16]
3. How does the sermon explain the role of God's Word and chastisement in keeping believers on the right path? [22:11]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the relationship between prayer and God's promises? What does it suggest about the nature of prayer? [02:51]
2. What does the sermon imply about the importance of maintaining integrity in the face of external and internal challenges? [28:03]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of divine grace in the life of a believer, especially during times of prosperity or adversity? [44:00]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the need for God's sustaining grace. How did you seek His support, and what was the outcome? [05:11]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of integrity. Identify a situation in your life where maintaining integrity was challenging. How did you handle it, and what did you learn? [28:03]
3. Consider the role of prayer in your daily life. How can you make "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe" a part of your regular prayer routine? [39:31]
4. The sermon discusses the dangers of self-esteem and pride. How can you remain humble and reliant on God's grace in your current circumstances? [14:22]
5. Think about the ways God has used His Word or other means to guide you in the past. How can you be more attentive to these guides in your daily walk? [22:11]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need God's upholding grace. What steps can you take this week to seek His support in that area? [44:00]
7. How can you become a trustworthy pillar in your community, reflecting God's faithfulness through your actions and decisions? [28:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as Alignment with Divine Intentions
Prayer is more than a mere request; it is an alignment with God's promises and intentions for our lives. When we feel a divine urge to pray for something, it often signifies that God intends to fulfill that request. This alignment ensures that our desires are in harmony with His will, allowing us to seek what He desires for us. Through prayer, we acknowledge our dependence on His grace and express our trust in His faithfulness. It is a powerful reminder that God delights in our steadfastness and desires to keep us from falling. By aligning our prayers with His promises, we open ourselves to the blessings He has in store for us. [02:51]

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you feel God is prompting you to pray? How can you align your desires with His will in this area today?


Day 2: The Essential Role of Divine Support
Our spiritual journey is fraught with dangers, both external and internal. Without God's sustaining grace, we risk falling into sin and losing our integrity. Upholding is not just about avoiding sin but about maintaining a life of holiness and security. The psalmist's prayer, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe," is a heartfelt plea for God's sustaining grace, reflecting our awareness of the challenges we face in maintaining our spiritual integrity. God's continuous upholding is essential for our spiritual life, as it provides us with the strength to walk uprightly, even when the path is slippery and fraught with temptations. [05:11]

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy." (Jude 1:24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you feel vulnerable to spiritual dangers today? How can you actively seek God's sustaining grace to uphold you in these areas?


Day 3: God's Word and Chastisement as Guides
God uses His Word and sometimes chastisement to keep us on the right path. His Word acts as a guide and a protective barrier, while chastisement serves as a wake-up call to prevent us from falling deeper into sin. These means are expressions of His love and faithfulness, ensuring that we remain on the path of righteousness. By engaging with His Word and being open to His correction, we allow God to guide us and uphold us in our spiritual journey. This divine guidance is crucial for maintaining our integrity and ensuring our safety in all circumstances. [22:11]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine? Are there areas in your life where you need to be more open to His correction?


Day 4: Integrity as a Shield
Maintaining integrity is crucial for our safety. It protects us from the decay of character and ensures that we remain upright in all circumstances. A life of integrity brings peace and restfulness, even amidst trials. It is better to be poor and holy than to gain the world through unrighteous means. Integrity is our greatest safeguard, and maintaining it ensures our safety in all circumstances. By living a life of uprightness, we become examples of God's faithfulness and trustworthy pillars in our communities. [28:03]

"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways." (Proverbs 28:6, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did it align with your values of integrity? How can you ensure that your future decisions reflect a commitment to uprightness?


Day 5: The Continuous Pursuit of God's Grace
Regardless of our life stage or circumstances, we must continually seek God's upholding grace. Whether in prosperity or adversity, youth or old age, His grace is essential for maintaining our spiritual integrity and becoming trustworthy pillars in our communities. Our prayer for God's upholding is a daily necessity, as it ensures our safety and trustworthiness. By seeking His sustaining grace, we become examples of His faithfulness and pillars in our communities. Let us make it our daily prayer: "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." [44:00]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make seeking God's grace a daily habit? What specific steps can you take today to rely more on His strength and less on your own?

Quotes



"Prayer is the shadow of a coming blessing therefore do we pray because the blessing is coming. It is said that prayer cannot alter the purpose of God of course it cannot it does not alter it but indicate it and since people are moved to pray this way or that way by the spirit of God it is because the spirit knows the mind of God and his movement to pray is a revelation of the mind of God to the praying one." [00:03:08]

"God is pleased with the steadfastness of his chosen he smiles upon the firmness of their standing. God would not have one of his people even Dash his foot against a stone and hence he sets the angels to guard them if they do trip in their walk he is quick to restore them for he cannot endure that they should lie in the Maya his Joy is that we walk with him in constant Holiness and he is ready to grant us this boon." [00:04:37]

"The true description of a believing man's life is that he walks in his uprightness. The figure is not hard to understand God made man upright though he had sought out many inventions the very form and figure of man's body teach us that we are not made to go on all fours gazing at the Earth from whence we sprang but erect upon our feet looking upward to the heaven towards which we tend by God's Rich Grace." [00:06:21]

"Ah how slippery do some find it it is a hill of ice and at some point it is more treacherous than usual those who have ever gone over the grimsel pass will remember that on one side of it in descending there is a place they call hell place because the road is narrow and shelving and the precipice on that side is exceeding deep while the path is singularly smooth." [00:08:19]

"God works mightily this way with many that are obedient to his will at other times god holds up his people by the ministry of the word I have often been told that when you have come in here I not knowing anything of your case have nevertheless spoken to it exactly and you have had the admonition or the encouragement and Direction which you needed at this point." [00:20:26]

"God often keeps his people upright and holds them firmly by chastisement when roughly smitten you feel as though you were a child falling over a precipice half dazed by his Terror and think that your father has taken hold of you and by severely shaking you has awoke you and saved you I've seen a driver give a horse a flip because he was getting sleepy and had stumbled that cut woke up the creature." [00:22:11]

"Now if God holds you up I do not say that you will be clever but you will be what is a deal better you will be safe hold down me up and I shall be safe that is you will be saved from all real harm suppose that you should meet with great troubles in business you will still be safe if God upholds you so that you do not lose your integrity." [00:27:23]

"May God make you to be upright that you may be a safe Man true and trustworthy for men Delight to trust in men once they find them safe if you would possess the best of human friends you will be happy should you meet with the man who in youth was an Ardent Christian and has continued so throughout a generation in times of stress and trial when others fell he stood upright and incorruptible." [00:32:43]

"Watchfulness attends such sacred safety and is at once it's fruit and its sign a holy man a man made Holy by God's grace has great respect to every command of God before he moves he looks around him to see whether he shall transgress by his proposed movement you have heard of the child whose mother said John you have broken one of The Commandments and he answered mother those Commandments are awfully easy to break." [00:34:42]

"Now dear friends you see this safety comes and this special tenderness towards God's law comes of God's holding us up for he holds us up so that we never go down under his incessant upholding we shall be safe and we shall be conscientious but not otherwise a few minutes Folly May ruin years of character the man that is not held up goes down and rolls in the mire." [00:37:06]

"Now some of you are getting old I respectfully commend to you this prayer is suitable for the close of life young people you must pray for your passions as strong and your wisdom is little oh young men and maidens pray each one of you hold down me up but oh dear aged Brethren excuse me who am so much younger when I solemnly add to you is this word of warning sent cease not to plead for upholding Grace." [00:44:53]

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy to the only wise God our savior be glory in Majesty dominion and Power both now and ever amen." [00:46:47]

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Transcript
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