God's Intervention Series

God’s Intervention

Griffith Baptist Church – 6/29/08

P.M. Service

Text: Psalm 35

Main Verse: Psalms 35:1 - Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

The Introduction

Maria Fedorovna, the empress of Russia and wife of Czar Alexander III, was known for her philanthropy. She once saved a prisoner from exile in Siberia by transposing a single comma in a warrant signed by Alexander. The czar had written: ’Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia." After Maria’s intervention, the note read: ’Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia." The prisoner was eventually released. Today in the Word, July 14, 1993

God is always at work in intervening in our lives day to day

God is not detached from your affairs as though He saved you and then left you to fend on your own.

Behind the scenes, God comes to the aid of His children. Our Father has the best plans for His children and intercedes for them daily.

This Psalm is seen in three cycles and has been considered by some to be an imprecatory Psalm.

1. Prayer for Deliverance From Schemes – 35:1-10

2. Prayer for Deliverance From Slander – 35:11-18

3. Prayer for Deliverance From Scorn – 35:19-28

Intervene - To involve oneself in a situation so as to alter or hinder an action or development

Here, David is seeking the Lord’s intervention in his life because of those who are making it difficult for Him. (Peruse the Psalm for a few minutes)

Transition Statement: Let’s first take a look at what the Word of God says and see the principles about God’s intervention for His children.

Body

1. His Intervention

A. God intervenes to fulfill His promises

i. God is not like the two brothers who were getting ready to boil some eggs to color for Easter. "I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head," said the older one. "Promise?" asked the younger. "Promise!" Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head. Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, "When is the third egg coming?" "It’s not," replied the brother. "That would cost me a dollar." There are times when we are not discriminating enough with the choices we make, and like the little boy with the promise of a dollar within reach, we believe that we’ll get what we want.

ii. God comes through on His promises.

iii. God promised a land for His people (Gen. 17:8) - Zephaniah 2:7 – And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them (or intervene), and turn away their captivity.

iv. God wanted a witness in Nineveh and wanted Jonah to go – it happened

v. God promised Abraham a seed – it happened

vi. God promised Moses He would lead them away from Egypt (red sea) – it happened

vii. Whenever God makes a promise in His Word to us, He carries it through and there is nothing man can do to stop it

B. God intervenes when there is something greater to be accomplished

i. Acts 16:7 – After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

ii. Paul desired to go one place:

a. But the Spirit of God had other plans

b. Those plans interrupted the plans of Paul

c. Paul’s reaction was contentment and obedience

iii. This signifies that His will supersedes our will

iv. This tells us that what we think is His will and what is His will can be different

C. God intervenes when His children are in dire need

i. Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

ii. Principles that govern the supply of needs:

a. God knows and supplies our basic needs

b. Our needs must be based upon the Scriptures, the promises of God

c. God determines the timing when the needs will be met

d. He gives our wants a different consideration than our needs

iii. He gives preference to those who seek Him - Psalms 34:10 - The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

a. Seeking is prioritizing God first in your life - Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

b. Seeking is having a strong desire, being compelled to know Him

D. God intervenes according to His timing