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
i. Ecclesiastes 3:1 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
ii. Principles of God’s time:
a. God has a different concept of the measurement of time – Psalms 90:4 – For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
b. His timing is in accordance with His will, not our frustration – Isaiah 46:9-10 - 9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
c. His timing is meant to bring about the best result - Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Transition Statement:
2. Our Attitude
A. Dependence
i. Proverbs 3:5 – 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
a. We must stop seeking our own protection and solutions
b. Dependence involves the needed attributes of:
• Trust in His ability
• Confidence in His wisdom
• Recognition of His sovereignty
ii. Patience is so key in dependence upon God:
a. It is a place of contentment and calm as we wait - Psalms 37:7 – Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
b. It aids us in times of tribulation - Romans 5:3 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
c. It is the by-product of a tested faith - James 1:3 – Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
B. Praise
i. We should be a people of obvious praise. Praise will make you a friendlier person. There are ways to know your church is unfriendly.
a. When the sign out front says – For members only
b. When the parking lot has a sign that says – unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owners expense.
c. When the church lobby has a sign that says – no loitering
d. When you say “Praise the Lord” and the guy behind you says – we don’t do that here.
e. When the pastors message is entitled “The Theological Significance of the eschatological dimensions of the sanctified life in the pre-millennial view of predestination.”
f. When they pass the plate – twice
g. When, at fellowship, coffee is $1.50 and donuts are $1.00 – limit one.
h. When the church’s motto is – We’re getting smaller but purer.
ii. Three times in this Psalm 35, David ends his petition for intervention with praise (9-10, 18, 28)
iii. Psalms 147:1 - Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
iv. Nothing helps our outlook on trials and persecution than praise:
a. It lifts our spirits
b. It forces us to look at the positives rather than the negatives
c. It keeps us from making the problem look bigger than it is
d. It keeps our attention on God where it needs to be
C. Acceptance
i. Acceptance is not a non-caring attitude but just the opposite:
a. It is the heart completely affixed on God
b. It is you ready for what God has as the answer
c. It is the ability to wait and see what God will do
ii. It is the acknowledgment of whose we are - Romans 14:8 - For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
iii. The example of Paul means even the acceptance of death for Christ’ cause - Acts 21:13 - Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
D. Continuance
i. Sometimes, troubles stop us in our walk and service for Christ, because we let them.
ii. 1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
iii. When we stop, we find ourselves working from the flesh, which is slavery - Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
iv. Continuing to walk with God and serving helps us:
a. Stay focused on the solution
b. Keeps us trusting in Him
c. Helps maintain a healthy relationship with God
Conclusion:
Remember the illustration at the beginning of the message about the man condemned by the czar. Well, when man is a sinner without Christ, the sentence reads: “Pardon impossible, to be sent to hell.” But when Christ saves us, it changes to: “Pardon, impossible to be sent to hell.” Christ moved the comma. The blood of Christ intervened in our condemnation so that when we trusted in Him, the sentence was changed.
God still continues to intervene and intercede in our lives just like He did for David.
Are you trusting in Him for taking care of the issues of your life?
Are you allowing Him to intervene in your problems?
