PLEADING FOR THE SELF OR ON SOMEONE ELSE'S BEHALF 1

PLEADING FOR THE SELF OR ON SOMEONE ELSE'S BEHALF 1

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

• In the prayer of petition, you would have to give God the reason(s) why He has to do whatever you are asking for.

• Though the request should not be done arrogantly; discourteously or disrespectfully. You petition God with His Word, give Him the reasons why He had to do whatever you wanted Him to do for you or the person you are praying or standing in the gap for.
• God at times would want to hear you, telling Him what makes it right or necessary or justifiable to do what you are requesting. In such a situation, If any genuine reason was not given, the answer to your prayer might be unlikely or dreamy: "PUT ME IN REMEMBRANCE [remind Me of your merits]; LET US PLEAD AND ARGUE TOGETHER. SET FORTH YOUR CASE, THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED (proved right)" (Isaiah 43:26 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).

"SO LET US TALK TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED. SHOW ME WHY YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE RIGHT!"
Isaiah 43:26 (EasyEnglish Bible)
READ: Psalm 2:8

• With the challenge put before you as a Believer, If anything incriminating is found in your life, you should forget about the answer to the request.
• Before you petitioned or entreated God, you should remember that friendship with the world is enemity with God (James 4:4; 1 Peter 1:15,16; 2:11,12). Someone who lives contrarily before God will not have the courage to go before Him to plead his or her case, or on someone's behalf.
• Whoever would answer or respond to the challenge put forward in the book of Isaiah 43:26 should be someone who walks in close fellowship or communion with God.
• Some who professed to be believers have no credibility with which their matters could be presented and proved before God.
• If you live in Disobedience or rebellion as a Believer, you, or someone on your behalf, would not be able to go before God to plead and argue, or talk together, with God as He demanded in the passage of the Bible in Isaiah 43:26.
• If you are not living right, you could only go before God, or someone on your behalf, on the platform of mercy. Because mercy prevails or triumphs over Judgement (James 2:13)!
• Some Believers had nothing credible with which their cases could be presented or pleaded with, before God. This state is not the best for any Believer.
• You should be able to discipline yourself, put your flesh under control and live Right that If your matter is taken to God in prayer, He would listen and help. If all you needed to come with, before God, whenever you wanted to talk or receive anything from Him is mercy, and nothing could be said that you have done Right; It means you are still carnal and shallow in your walk with Him.
• A leader or minister pleading for such a person, who is not faithful, would always approach God on the platform of mercy. This always is not the best state a Believer should be.
• You should grow up in your walk with God to the level which you, or whoever is praying or petitioning God on your behalf, would be able to ask God to consider certain good things or qualities in your life and grant the request being presented—either by you yourself or whoever doing that on your behalf.
• Although, every person or Believer should come before God through the substitutionary Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. And with that, after the person has been in the Christian Faith for awhile, and such is growing up in his or her faith life, God expected the Believer to also have some good qualities that could be refered to when his or her matter is presented or brought before God.
• You should have good works, because you are redeemed to do good works: "FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM" (Ephesians 2:10).
• We the Believers are not doing good works to be saved or accepted by God, or be reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:8,9); but the doing of the good works or deeds as a result or product of salvation or being saved.
• In other words, good works or deeds should be a natural thing which a believer should do, or the way he or she should live, after salvation or being saved or born-again.
• This good works or deeds are referred to in the book of James 2:14-26. The proofs that you have had an encounter with God are the good works found in your life after salvation or being saved. This is usually expressed through love (1 John 2:3,4; 3:10,14-18).
  READ: 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Hebrews 13:16
• What are the good things that could be pleaded with, If someone were to plead or argue before God on your behalf? WHAT are you doing for God and His Kingdom on Earth?
  WOULD you not be considered as a tree that is just encumbering the land, or taking up the space, or depleting the land for nothing? (Luke 13:7).
• Note:
  a. Living your life to please God as a light in the midst of darkness is a good work (Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Peter 2:11,12; 4:2).
  b. Living to propagate the gospel, expand His Kingdom on Earth, is a good work (Mark 14:3-9; 16:14-18).
  c. Giving what you have to the work of God, the Needy, and the ministers, and for whatever good cause you are stirred to support; is a good work (1 Timothy 6:27-19; Hebrews 13:16).
  d. Whatever you do to ease the burden of others, for the sake of Christ Jesus, is a good work (Matthew 25:31-46).

• The Believers and widows in Joppa would not allow Tabitha, Dorcas, to die because of her good deeds or works (Acts 9:36-41).

• God also considered the good works of Cornelius, sent an angel to him, to tell and inform him how he could be saved—be led to God (Acts 10:1-6,30-48).
• In a similar situation, some elders of the Jews came to Jesus, pleading that He would minister or pray for the healing of a centurion's servant who had done them good—he built a synagogue for them (Luke 7:2-10).
• Whatever good work you did would be used to plead your case before God in the time of need or predicament.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is contrary to your health is cursed and uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Hold of sicknesses is completely broken in your life in Jesus' name.
  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!