Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, July 30, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. :

IT IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME TO PRAY

By Michael D. O’Neal                  Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                  Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Hosea 10:1-15

Text: Hosea 10:12

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Introduction: At our church we have called Y2K, the Year 2 Kneel. However, you know that any time is a good time to pray, for the Bible says:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

However, there are times when we realize that we have not been praying as we should. There are times when we wake up to the fact that we are not seeking God as we should. There are times when we sense a need for God, and we go to Him in prayer.

By the way, it is a proud, wicked man who does not feel a need to seek God.

Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Let me mention some times in your life during which you should be SURE to seek God. If you are facing these times and your prayer life is not what it should be, I call you tonight to SEEK GOD IN PRAYER.

I. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DELIGHT

1 Chronicles 22:17-19 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

A. When the presence of God is felt

1. “Is not the LORD your God with you?”

B. When peace surrounds you

1. “and hath he not given you rest on every side?”

C. When prosperity comes to you

1. “the land is subdued before the Lord and before his people.”

DON’T FORGET GOD WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL!!!

II. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY

God spoke of times when the Israelites would be in captivity:

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

A. Struggles will come; seek HIM!

B. Stumbling blocks will come; seek HIM!

DON’T QUIT! SEEK HIM!!!

III. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT, DISASTER, DESOLATION, DANGER, AND DISAPPOINTMENT

2 Chronicles 20:1-3 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

A. At the funeral home, seek Him

B. In the family

1. Child in jail
2. Divorce
3. Medical calamity
4. Loss of job

IV. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEDICATION

Ezra 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,

The children of Israel sought God at the dedicaton of the house of God under the rule of King Darius.

A. When dedicating to the will of God, seek Him

B. When dedicating to the work of God, seek Him

C. When dedicating to the witness of God, seek Him

V. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DECISION

Luke 6:12-13 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

A. About a mate

B. About money

C. About a ministry

VI. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEVELOPMENT (YOUTH)

2 Chronicles 34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

Josiah was only 16 when he began to seek God.

A. In childhood

B. In companions

C. In college and career

Listen to the parents GOD gave you! Listen to the pastor GOD gave you! But most, of all, SEEK GOD!!!

VII. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEFILEMENT

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

A. Confess your sins

B. Claim God’s cleansing

C. Consecrate yourself