GOD'S OWN CAUSE


A. "ARISE, O GOD, PLEAD THINE OWN CAUSE" - Ps. 74:22
  1. A wise and timely prayer:
    1. Too many prayers are self-centered - Luke 18:10-12
    2. But this prayer makes God's own cause the burden of its petition.
  2. It reveals a deep concern for God's own cause:
    1. David was the anointed of the Lord - 1 Sam. 16:12, 13
    2. Saul sought to prevent David from being king of Israel.
    3. So David reminded the Lord that his persecution under Saul was God's own cause.
B. GOD'S OWN CAUSE IS MANIFOLD
  1. Truth, justice, and equity, are God's own cause:
    1. He is a God of truth - Deut. 32:4
    2. He is a just God - Acts 22:14
    3. He loves and upholds equity - Ps. 99:4; Isa. 11:4
  2. The spreading of light and truth are God's own cause:
    1. That is why we have the Bible - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 5:39; Isa. 34:16
    2. That is why we have the church of the living God - Matt. 28:18-20
  3. The saving of souls is God's own cause:
    1. John says so - John 3:16
    2. Paul affirms this truth - Rom. 8:31-33; 2 Cor. 5:18-21
    3. Our own Saviour witnesses to this fact - John 1:14, 18
  4. To save me, personally, is God's own cause:
    1. That is what Paul believed - Gal. 2:20; 1 Tim. 1:15
    2. The story of the one lost sheep confirms this hope - Luke 15:1-7
    3. Christ would have died for one sinner that is willing to accept him as his Saviour - 1 Tim. 2:1- 5; 1 John 2:1-3
  5. To prepare me for glory is God's own cause:
    1. This is a glorious truth to keep in mind - Phil. 2:12, 13
    2. He is able to save to the uttermost - Heb. 7:25, 26
C. GOD DOES PLEAD HIS OWN CAUSE
  1. David's prayer for God to plead his own cause is an acknowledgement by men that the prosperity of the cause of God depends upon God's intervention:
    1. He intervened for His cause in Egypt - Exodus chapters 8 to 14
    2. He intervened for the Jews in the days of queen Esther - Esth. 7:5-10
    3. Yes, He calmed the raging seas when the lives of the disciples seemed in danger - Luke 8:22-24
  2. God's cause is benevolent:
    1. He says so - Ex. 34:6, 7
    2. The plan of redemption is an expression of His benevolence - John 3:16
  3. To pray for God to plead His own cause is indicative:
    1. That God's cause has enemies who seek to hinder or prevent it.
    2. Lucifer is at the head of the bitter opposition - Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:12-18
    3. This opposition will be intensified as we near the end of the great controversy between Christ and Satan - Rev. 12:12; 1 Pet. 5:8
  4. Our part in pleading God's own cause:
    1. We are but trophies of His grace.
    2. A brand plucked out of the fire - Zech. 3:2
    3. We can devote our time, our energy, and our prayers for the advancement of God's cause - EXAMPLES -
      1. John the Baptist was a burning and shining light - John 5:35
      2. Paul has a soul passion unequaled - Rom. 9:1-3
      3. Stephen gave his life for God's own cause - Acts 7:59, 60
    4. The least I can do for God's own cause is to pray for it - John 9:4 EXAMPLES -
      1. The apostolic church prayed for it - Acts 4:30, 31
      2. The Jews did in the days of their greatest danger.
      3. Let us follow their example!


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