The Lord Jesus upholds our cause by the Holy Spirit. He is the One God gives us to overcome sin. We are saved by grace and forgiven. He is compassionate to us!

First, our help is in God the Holy Spirit, and our help is from God. vs44-45

“When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name, then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause.”

We must not think that we have power to stand, but we do have a Helper. Jesus promised Him to us and earned the blessing with His blood. He rose again and sent Him, and Pentecost is an example of His power. The Spirit convicts and convinces; He gives life from the dead, and we need Him to preach and live. There is NO POSSIBILITY of success without Him.

Our preaching must be in power, or we rob men of the privilege of seeing Christ. Then, they have no power over Satan. He is a foe too strong for us, but when we’re weak, then we conquer [2 Cor 12:10].

God’s given the Spirit to do what we cannot, and the more that we understand this, the more we look to Him by faith.

Paul says,

“I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,” [Eph 3:16]

It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: He uses the mind, but only as it is enlightened. He uses truth, but it is more than truth; it is power from on high to live by it in love. Without the Spirit, we are cowards mishandling the word, bullies abusing people, and utterly useless. By the Spirit we are ministers of God, able to do exploits, and we help others.

Call out to God. Call upon Him in trouble for your daily bread. The invitation has been given, and He promises you will be heard.

Secondly, forgiveness and compassion are gifts from God. 1 Kings 8:46-50

“May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy.” vs50

Yes, we need these gifts, because we are sinful saints! We have holiness and the flesh. We get in trouble, wandering from God, until He chastens us, and sometimes severely. It may take years to realize that you have fallen.

“Foreigners consume his strength,

but he does not notice.

Even his hair is streaked with gray,

but he does not know.” [Hos 7:9]

I’m reminded of the woman who realized after her husband died that they’d spent retirement on themselves. She got to serving God, sold the house, and worked to support missionaries, while ministering in the slums. She lived her best life after squandering many years.

We too can be chastised! A church can fall to prove a pastor’s error. He can see members licentious, or look upon his work of legalism. He can be put out of the ministry for his indifference towards God, and then be brought back! He can be forgiven, restored, and minister in older age, as he should have in his youth. He can be sent to Babylon but return.

Bless God. He disciplines, but He also hears. He brings us low, but He lifts up the lowly. Bless Him and return. Preach a compassionate God to filthy and chastened sinners.

Thirdly, He saves because He set us apart. 1 Kings 8:51-53

“For You, O Lord GOD, as Your inheritance, have set them apart from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke through Your servant Moses when You brought our fathers out of Egypt.” vs53

Salvation is God’s work! He chose, He redeemed, and He saves. He delivers us from Egypt unto good works. He saves by grace through faith, producing love and self-sacrifice… producing commitment to the church, perseverance, and endurance... because God’s salvation is complete, never to be revoked, and we call on Him because of it. Grace has made you seek His glory, and grace will hear your cry. He made you His people.

Be glad, be bold, and be confident. He loved you WHILE YOU WERE SINFUL: Abide in Him.

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.” [John 15:9]