PLEADING FOR THE SELF OR ON SOMEONE ELSE'S BEHALF 2

PLEADING FOR THE SELF OR ON SOMEONE ELSE'S BEHALF 2

1 O LORD, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my praye

r, for it comes from honest lips.
2 Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.
3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.
4 I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
5 My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.
6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray."
Psalm 17:3-6 (NLT)

• A Pastor and a member of his.
This particular minister was sharing about one of his members who had a climbing accident at work, and he went into a coma, was deeply unconscious.
In the hospital, the doctor said he had a slim chance of surviving. Then the pastor started interceding; supplicating and petitioning God, telling Him why the man, the brother, should not die.
He told God in his prayers about the faithfulness of the brother; in financial commitments, in the assignment given to him, As a Sunday school teacher, and how he used to visit the houses of those who are absent in the church, and some other good works or things.

• Eventually the brother came back alive and was discharged from the hospital. While giving thanks in the church, the brother said he found himself in heaven and saw Jesus Christ. He wanted to stay and Jesus said you are going back, your pastor, He mentioned the name, would not want you to come or be here. When he objected, Jesus drew a curtain and he saw his pastor praying why he should not die. That was how he returned and found himself on the hospital bed.

• Now, the pastor who pleaded in prayer did not tell anyone what the content of his prayer was all about. He pleaded that God should consider the good works of the brother and should not allow him to die. And God honoured the prayers.

• In the pastor words, he said If It were some other people in the church, he would not have had anything to plead with, on their behalf. As in, the good things which they do, or they are doing, that God could consider and spare their lives. He would only had to dwell on the mercy, asking God to just have mercy on them.
• Your good works or deeds can be used to plead your case before God: Dorcas good works or deeds towards the widows made them sent for Peter when she died, they wanted her back, and God honoured Peter's Prayer (Acts 9:36-41). LIKEWISE the centurion, about the healing of his servant (Luke 7:2-10), AND the case of the Pastor and a member of his church that was shared in this piece.
• Prayer of petition is powerful. If you give God a reason or reasons why He should do what you are pleading for, He would definitely do it—being a just God.

• The psalmist said God had tested his thoughts and examined his heart, and nothing wrong was found in him.
(i) If any incrimination was found in you, you should forget about God's blessings. It would be difficult for you to come into God's presence If your ways are not right. He knows the secret of every person's Heart.

• The psalmist said he had not wavered from following Him, that is, not wavered from doing His Will (Psalm 17:5).
  ARE you not wavering in your Following or commitments in His vineyard or Kingdom?
  (ii) David, the psalmist, also said he was praying because he knew God will answer (Psalm 17:6).
• He had the assurance that God would answer his prayer. This stems from his way of life; his relationship and fellowshipping with God.
• As a Believer in Christ Jesus, If you are living right, you surely know It; and If you are not, you know It also. You can deceive your fellow humans, but you cannot deceive God. You cannot cajole Him either!
• For a believer to have an assurance that God would answer his or her prayers, such must have been walking with God in Faithfulness, Obedience, and unwavering Submission. If you are not living right and expecting God to honour your prayers; interceding, supplicating, and petitioning, such would be a mirage.

• Whatever you offered to God would be given you back in folds or multiples.

• Whoever would pray the type of prayers which was prayed in the text of this Teaching, should be someone who walks uprightly with God. A person of integrity!
• Walking in integrity, or in uprightness, would give you an audience before God. Walking in Obedience to God's Word and instructions made God Honour Abraham.
• God said Would He do a thing without telling Abraham (Genesis 18:17-21). He was called the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).
• When you live right, live in line with God's Word, you are not helping Him, but yourself. You are increasing your bond with God and securing a place before Him.
• Salvation through Christ Jesus makes you a part of God's family, and makes you a candidate for heaven. And your right living would give you the courage or boldness to come before God, as a son or daughter before his or her Father (Hebrews 10:21-23).
• God would not ignore the prayers of a son or daughter who walks uprightly with Him. If you live right, you would know His Will for you.
• A number of professed Believers do not know their stand before God. They do not know whether God is pleased with them or not. This always is a result of their carnality—not being matured. Thus, hidden things of the Kingdom are not made known to them (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
• Such Believers are like a mule that is having no understanding: "DON'T BE LIKE SOME SENSELESS HORSE OR MULE, WHOSE MOVEMENT MUST BE CONTROLLED WITH A BIT AND A BRIDLE. DON'T BE ANYTHING LIKE THAT!" (Psalm 32:9 Common English Bible).
• In other words, you would not need to be forced or jerked before you know the right thing to do As a Believer in Christ Jesus. To hear and know what God wants, and do it, should not be what had to be forced on you. It had to be what you do naturally, As a Believer in Christ Jesus. That is, doing God's Will should be part of your life, your daily living—It should be a normal Christian life that you should be lived.
• Sharpen your understanding and receptiveness with the Word of God, prayers and fastings, and communion with the Holy Spirit.
• When you are advised or counselled by someone, you would easily know whether what is said by the person should be adhere to; done or not. Remember, God deals with us individually. You should be able to learn and understand the way which God deals or relates with you as an individual Believer.

• You will not miss your place before God in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any sickness in your body, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Whatever had held you bound over the years, either on your health, finances, or whatever, you are delivered from it now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!