We look up and see all the wealth and the ease and comfort and abundance of Sodom, and Lot was given first choice.  And Abraham said, “I’ll take the presence of God”; amen?  Just give me God.  I don’t need anything else.  “Sufficient unto the day…,” is our heart attitude when we’re in the presence of God (Matthew 6:34).  We’re not taken up with cares, we’re not looking to the future when we’re at rest in the presence of God, assured that He will get us where He wants us.  And He’s never late.  He’s often at the last moment, but He’s never late.  We fret over this time that’s going by, and will we ever get…  Is God going to come through this particular time?  God’s timing is perfect; amen?  The delay is for us to learn stuff.  They went through the wilderness to prove them, what was in their hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2); amen?  So, when your prayers are not answered when and how you think they should be, you’re being proven.  Because God answers prayer; amen?

And so, He’s speaking here to the promise that had been given.  And He says (Deuteronomy 4:1), “Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgements, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish… keep the commandments of the Lord your God… keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”  Verse 6, “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations.”  And He continues to bring them back to the statutes of God, the commandments of God, the expressed will of God.  This (holds up Bible) is the “expressed will” of God; amen?  And when we pray, we need to have this Word hidden in our hearts.  How that affects our prayer lives.  “Hide My Word in your heart” that you—what?  “Won’t sin against me” (Psalm 119:11).  What sin are we talking about?  Asking, seeking things that God’s not directed.  You can’t add to, and you can’t diminish from; amen?  God has a plan for each and every one of our lives.  Now the plan is ultimately that we are predestined to be conformed to His image.  Can you say “Praise God.” for that?  God has a plan for your life.  You’re going to end up like Jesus.  You might be a mess now, but you’re going to end up like Jesus.   You know the guy that you’re having trouble appreciating?  He’s going to end up like Jesus.  Hopefully you will.

He’s doing a work in our midst.  And we’re to spend our time—and this is part of what’s being spoken here—spend your time remembering the commandments of God.  Hide this Word in your heart.  We all know—and I don’t know whether we’ll get into that in this particular study or not—I don’t know how long we’re going to be here, but I’ve just sensed in my spirit a need to exhort us again to pray; amen?  To prepare ourselves in the full armor of God and realize that our war is in the heavens.  We are in a day when the church is being deluded, seduced, not only with worldliness, but to where they become earth-dwellers, seduced by the things of this world, and the lust of other things entering in, that choke the Word of God out of our lives; amen?