“I Need Thee Every Hour”

1. Read: Luke 10:38-42

2. About the Text:

1) Do you remember the story of Mary and Martha?

2) Mary was listening to Jesus; Martha was working.

3) Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her.

4) Jesus did not grant Martha’s request.

5) He said only one thing was needed and Mary had chosen it.

3. The song, “I Need Thee Every Hour.”

1) Annie S. Hawks wrote these lyrics in 1872.

2) This song expresses our great dependence upon God at every moment.

3) If we want God’s blessings to fall on our lives, we will acknowledge this.

4) Let’s look at the lyrics of this song and correlate its thoughts with scripture.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like Thine can peace afford.”

1) The first stanza teaches that true peace comes from the Lord.

2) We need the Lord to have true peace in our life.

2. Jesus made peace.

1) Ephesians 2:14-18

2) Jesus death on the cross brings peace between man and man.

3) Jesus death on the cross brings peace between God and man.

3. We can have inner peace as well by trusting in God.

1) Philippians 4:6-7

2) Anxiety counts for much lack of peace in this world.

3) By putting our trust in God through prayer we can lift that anxiety.

1. “I need thee every hour: stay thou near by; temptations lose their pow’r when thou art nigh.”

1) This stanza teaches that God’s presence helps us to overcome temptation.

2) We need the Lord every hour because temptation comes often.

2. Jesus taught us to not yield to temptation.

1) “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

2) “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

3. Depending on God when we are tempted is one thing that helps us to endure.

1) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

2) “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations” (2 Peter 2:9).

4. Blessing comes from enduring temptations – “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

1. “I need thee every hour, in joy or pain; come quickly and abide, or life is vain.”

1) We need the Lord regardless of our circumstances.

2) Understanding that God gives us our purpose in life makes life meaningful and all circumstances understandable.

2. The Bible teaches us to take joy in God.

1) “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil.4:4).

2) “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).

3) “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

3. We can have great joy if we will open our lives to Jesus every hour.

1) “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

2) “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

3) “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4).

4. True joy is a great blessing that we may enjoy when we listen to God.

5. We also need God during the hard times.

1) We need to know that God wants us to be better because of them.

2) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

3) “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

6. Whatever trials come our way will be nothing compared to eternity.

1) “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

2) “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

1. I Need Thee Every Hour!

1) For Peace

2) During Temptation

3) In Joy or Pain

2. I Need Thee Every Hour for identifying with Jesus.

1) “I need thee every hour most Holy One; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son!”

2) Here is a call to identify with Jesus – Galatians 2:20.

3) How?

3. Invitation