THE WAY OF HELP – SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.

He is our Refuge

• Psalm 62:8 – Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart to him; for God is our refuge.
• Psalm 91:1-2, 4-5 –¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. ⁵ You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
• Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
• Nahum 1:7 – The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

He is our Strength

• 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
• Psalms 28:7-8 – ⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. ⁸ The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
• Psalm 27:1 –“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
• Psalm 37:39 –“But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.”
• Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Psalm 18:32 – “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”

God can give us the strength to face new and difficult circumstances.

God can give us the strength to look back and be grateful.

God can give us the strength to look forward with hope.

He is our Helper

• God knows that we need HELP (even from the beginning of Creation) – it is part of His creative design and provision.
• Genesis 2:18 – And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a HELPER comparable to him.”
• Psalms 121:1,2 – ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

God is our HELP – He will never leave us nor forsake us.

• Psalm 27:9 – You have been my HELP; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
• Hebrews 13:5-6 –For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:“The Lord is my HELPER; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

We can safely trust the Lord and rejoice – He is our HELP

• Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
• Psalm 54:4 – Behold, God is my HELPER…
• Psalm 86:17 – …You, Lord, have HELPED me and comforted me.
• Isaiah 50:7 – “For the Lord God will HELP Me; …

Help is on the Way!!!

• Psalm 37:39-40 – ³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. ⁴⁰ And the Lord shall HELP them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,  because they trust in Him.

The HELP of the Lord delivers us from death and destruction

• Psalm 94:17 – Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.

God promises to HELP

• Isaiah 41:10,13-14 – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will HELP you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’… For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will HELP you.’ “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will HELP you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Illustrations:

• The Lord HELPED Jehoshaphat to win a miraculous victory over Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were defeated before them
  • 2 Chronicles 20:4,11,14-15,22 – ⁴ So Judah gathered together to ask HELP from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord… nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”… ¹⁴ Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, … in the midst of the assembly. ¹⁵ And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated
• The Lord HELPED King Hezekiah and Judah in response to their prayers…
  • 2 Chronicles 32:8 – With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to HELP us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah… 20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. 21 Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. 
• Paul received HELP from God
  • Acts 26:22 – Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—
• A Canaanite woman pleads for HELP for her daughter
  • Matthew 15:25, 28 – she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, HELP ME!”… Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
• A father pleads for HELP – his son is healed
  • Mark 9:17-26 – ¹⁷ Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. ¹⁸ And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid… So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”And he said, “From childhood. ²² And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and HELP US.”²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; HELP my unbelief!”²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” ²⁶ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. 

The HOLY SPIRIT is given to us as a HELPER

• John 14:16,26 – And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another HELPER, that He may abide with you forever—… But the HELPER, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
• John 15:26 – “But when the HELPER comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
• John 16:7 – if I do not go away, THE HELPER will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

God will help us through His Holy Scriptures as we claim His precious promises. And the Holy Spirit will come alongside us to serve as our Comforter and Helper.

Psalm 31:15 – My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.

God will give you the help you need for the future. He will help you with your burdens, and He will help you with your decisions. Let us always remember that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

• God is ready, willing, and able to be your help during your time of trouble.
• Know that God is always ready to calm the storm

Just when we think all is lost, we must always remember that we can count on God to be there to help us and carry us through the storms of life.