***PROBABLY ALL CHRISTIANS RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR HELP FROM GOD AT TIMES. BUT, THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT IN MAN THAT SAYS, “DEPEND ON GOD, BUT JUST NOT FOR EVERY LITTLE THING.”
WE SEE THAT CHRISTIANS ARE THE ONES WHO DON’T WANT TO ACCEPT FREEBEES FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THEY KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT HAS ANOTHER PURPOSE. THEY ARE EVEN RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT THE LOVE OF OTHERS WHEN IT IS REALLY NEEDED. BUT, DEPENDING ON GOD, ALL THE TIME IS ANOTHER MATTER. OUR LIVES LITERALLY HANG UPON HIS GRACE TO BEGIN WITH !
Acts 17:28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE THAT YOU, AS A CHRISTIAN GO THROUGH PROBLEMS AND TROUBLES AND YOU ARE TRUSTING GOD…BUT THE ANSWER HASN’T HAPPENED YET ? DAVID WONDERED THE SAME THING.
–WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE LORD, HE WOULD NOT HAVE A GOOD ANSWER. BUT, HE WAS NOT SILENT. GOD WAS WITH HIM, AS HE IS WITH ALL WHO SEEK HIM.
Psalms 94:17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
–WE HAVE TO GIVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR PEOPLE–NOT ONLY REGARDING OUR SALVATION, BUT OUR VICTORY OVER TRIALS.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Psalms 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
ONE VERY IMPORTANT PART OF GETTING HELP FROM GOD IS FAITH IN HIM AND WHAT HE SAYS.
1. MY HELP MUST COME FROM GOD.
ANY OTHER SOURCE WILL EITHER MISLEAD ME, ADDICT ME, OR DECEIVE ME. . *(NOT JUST A SUPREME POWER)
A. HE IS GOD, AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS NOTHING LESS.
—I MUST BE LOOKING UP TO FIND HIM. DEPRESSION AND LOOKING DOWNWARD MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE HIM. ***When we say, “Let me see what I can come up with, are bringing things out of themselves, not from God.“
Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
LOOKING UP INVOLVES FAITH. IT IS MUCH EASIER TO BE DOWNCAST AND DOWN-TRODDEN.
—HE IS NOT MY PERSONAL SERVANT, OR SANTA CLAUS, OR MY BAIL-BONDSMAN. THEREFORE, I MUST PUT MY REQUESTS IN LIGHT OF HIS WILL, NOT MY OWN.
Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
AMAZING THAT GOD WOULD THINK UPON US !
B. HIS VERY PRESENCE IS HELP INDEED. (THE HOLY SPIRIT).
Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.
–To Joshua by Moses.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
2. I MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS DEPENDABILITY.
A. THAT MEANS I NEED TO CALL UPON HIM AT ALL TIMES.
SOMETIMES IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DON’T COMMIT TO HIM THAT PILE UP AND CAUSE MAJOR TROUBLES LATER ON.
—CALL ON HIM TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST AND RIGHT, EVEN IF WE DON’T.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD NOT PRAY IN SPECIFICS IF WE KNOW THEM.
B. THAT MEANS, IT ALWAYS WILL WORK.
THE PUNISHMENT OF LOSING HELP FROM GOD (AS ADAM LOST IT) WAS PAID FOR BY JESUS.
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? why art Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
—SOMETIMES HE WORKS THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
–GOD RESPONDS TO THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE.
2 Corinthians 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
–HE HELPS IN TIME OF TEMPTATION.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.
3. MY HELP ISN’T ALWAYS AS EASY TO GET AS SOME PEOPLE THINK.
A. I MUST BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR AND SPEAK WITH HIM.
Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
JUST COMING TO CHRIST IS NOT ENOUGH FOR VICTORY WE MUST HEAR AND OBEY
B. I MUST BE WILLING TO THOROUGHLY RECEIVE HIS INSTRUCTION.
FROM HIS SPIRIT AND HIS WORD. **SOME TRY TO GET BY ONLY WITH WHAT THEY THINK ARE LEADINGS OF THE SPIRIT (BUT IN FACT ARE THEIR OWN EMOTIONS). MUST KNOW THE WORD OF GOD.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
C. I MUST RESPOND CORRECTLY TO HIS HELP. THANKFULLY, NOT ASSUMING.
Psalm 63:7 Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.
DOES HIS HELP CAUSE US TO REJOICE OR TO HOPE FOR ANOTHER SOLUTION ? IT SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE US REJOICE REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITIONS ! HIS WILL IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN OUR OWN.