1) Text: Psalm 124:8; Isaiah 41:8-14
2) Our pastor has declared this month of April our month of help, therefore we
will receive help in Jesus’ name.
3) Psalm 124:8 clearly states our help comes from God. You will see clearly
that help doesn’t come from anywhere but from God.
4) What is Help?
Help is that which someone receives to make it easier or possible for them to
achieve a thing or purpose which would have been difficult to achieve by
themselves.
- So, help can be an assistance, aid, resources or services given to make life
better.
5) Therefore, Divine Help simply means help from God, to make it easier or
possible to achieve a purpose that would have been difficult to achieve ordinarily
or by self.
Financial Help :- Peter — Luke 5:1-9
Peter was one who received help from God for his business.
- Question is why did God help him; why not the other boat owner?
Answer:
(a) Peter answered the call of Jesus to push his boat into the water. (vs 2)
(b) Peter yielded his resources (boat) to Jesus to use without question (vs 3).
Are our resources available to Jesus?
(c) Peter followed the direction of Jesus to let nets down even though he had
done it earlier (vs 4) He didn’t argue about knowing it better being a
professional fisherman.
(d) Peter obeyed by letting down the nets.
(e) Peter was hardworking (vs 5) worked all night without a catch and wasn’t
tired enough to say he wanted to rest when Jesus beckoned on him. He was
also patient, resilient, humble and committed to his work.
- His many catches translated to God helping him financially, but he sowed a
seed before reaping any harvest and followed the strategy God gave him.
Spiritual Help — Elijah — 1 king 17:1-16
Elijah was one who received great help from God spiritually and serially. He was
greatly anointed.
Question is So why did God help him?
Answer-
(a) He knew God and served him wholeheartedly he didn’t mind being alone
with God.
(b) He always took directions from God (vs 2, 8, 13, he started giving and never
deviated in anyway.
(c) He always obeyed God (vs 5, 10, 15) Widow started obeying him.
(d) He never turned to man but God – when he was depressed, he spoke to God
and God helped him resolve the issue.
(e) His faith in God was absolute; never doubted God to hear him and see him
through all the miracles he wrought; - He called fire from heaven.
- Raised the dead son of widow of Z.
- Outran Ahab’s chariot.
- Declared no rain on a nation and God honored him.
- He had no provision but believed God for raven.
- Killed all the prophets of Baal.
(f) He was committed, bold and faithful to the things of God
For spiritual help, your focus must be on God alone, he can use anybody or
anything to help you. Your motive must also be right – for God’s agenda.
Physical Help – Naaman – 2 kings 5:1-14
There are several people recorded in the bible that received healing of some sort,
both new and Old Testament are filled with testimonies. However, we will look at
Naaman as a person God helped physically.
Question: – Why did God choose to help Naaman despite his initial reluctance to
follow God’s direction by obeying his instructions.
Answer:-
(a) Naaman was a mighty warrior, the commander of the army of king of Aram
meaning he was hard working and rose through the ranks to become head of
the army of a Nation , even the king admired his work ethics.
(b) He wasn’t too proud to listen to the suggestion of the slave girl and his
officers when he refused to go to the river.
(c) He was generous, took gifts along to see the prophet.
(d) He is a grateful and thankful person, came back to Elisha. - Physical help is not only healing, it can be the need for promotion – Psalm
75:6-7 as well, whatever it is, only God can truly help.
Marital Help – Rebekah – Genesis 24:1–4, 12–23
Rebekah is one person who received help in finding a life partner.
Question is why did God help her?
Answer will be she exhibited certain qualities that attracted her helper:
a) Vs 17–19, The old servant said please give me water, she said, Yes my lord
have a drink, I will even give your camels too water to drink.
b) Rebekah was humble (Yes my lord! servant), Don’t look down on anybody, it
could be your Destiny helper you are sending away.
c) She was generous, gave a drink to the man and offered to give drink to his
camels, now this is not small work, a camel who have travelled for about a
week drink about 25 gallons of water, so it’s not small work; now imagine
how many camels?? vs 22.
d) Definitely she was a hardworking woman had a heart for service and would
always do more than expected.
e) She was hospitable (Vs 25), she said we have plenty straw to feed the camels
and rooms for guests.
f) Lastly, she was beautiful the Bible recorded, but the servant was looking for
more than physical beauty, he wanted to see the inner beauty too. We spend a
lot of time and money improving our appearance, how much effort do we put
in developing our inner beauty- patience, kindness, show of joy by smiling to
the next person can attract your life partner.
- Physical beauty can get you a suitor but cannot keep the suitor.
- Remember the qualities you display will either attract or repel people from
you. - It cost nothing to be nice to the next person to you.
Political Help – Joseph- Genesis 41:40-44; Daniel – Daniel 2:48, 6:1-3
It is recorded in the bible how both Joseph and Daniel enjoyed great political help
from God especially them not being a citizen of that Country or Nation. They were
both captives from a foreign land who were like slaves or servant and God chose to
give them such great political power. They both became the second to the king of
the land.
Question is why did God choose to help them? They certainly had great
characteristics that endeared them to God. Let us look first at: –
Joseph
(a) Joseph was forthright, from the beginning he reported his brothers when they
do wrong.
(b) Joseph was spiritually sensitive; he could dream and had a gift of interpretation
of dream.
(c) Joseph wasn’t lazy, worked hard at his job.
(d) The Lord was with him and caused him to prosper wherever he went.
(e) Joseph was faithful, loyal, honest, had integrity and was responsible.
(f) He feared God and did not want to do wrong in God’s sight.
(g) He had a gift of dream interpretation and used it to the benefit of others.
(h) He was full of wisdom in dispensing his duties.
(i) He had self-control, especially for a young handsome boy.
Joseph’s use of his God’s given gift made a way for him political. what do you do
with your own gift. Are you nurturing it “The bible says your gift will make a way
for you.”
Daniel
– Daniel was blessed with an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of
literature and wisdom.
– Daniel had the special ability to interpret dreams and visions.
– Daniel knew God and had a relationship with God.
– Daniel was a lover of God and was not ashamed to make it known to all, even
when it was to his detriment.
– Daniel was a problem solver, solved difficult problems.
– Daniel was not greedy for the things of the world. Daniel 5:17.
– Daniel was faithful, responsible and trustworthy Daniel 6:4b.
– Daniel wasn’t a hypocrite, continued to pray to God openly.
– Daniel had the gift of revelation because of his relationship with God.
Daniel’s use of God’s gifts in his life made a way for him. He stood with God
knowing that one with God is majority, he wasn’t afraid to say the truth to
Nebuchadnezzar despite being the king or governor or president of a Nation.
- Can God entrust you to be truthful in all your ways political without
compromise?
Conclusion
- A plug that is disconnected from the socket can never receive help. Those who
received help knew God. - God can use anybody and thing to send help (widow and raven for Elijah).
- Everybody needs helpers. Joseph the interpreter of people’s dream also needed
his dreams to be interpreted. - Help can come from places you least expect (Naaman’s slave girl).
- Some helpers are not good to you but good for you. (Potiphar’s wife).
- Your help will arrive before you run out of options (Elijah arrived before the
widow ran out). - When one door of help closes, a bigger one opens (Joseph moved from
Potiphar to Pharaoh). - You too can be a help to someone (Matthew 5:16) let your light shine.
- If you help others, you will be helped also, sow help today and you will reap
help like the widow of Z, she helped Elijah and in turn Elijah helped her.
- Everyone God helped had a relationship with God, if you are here today and
you haven’t given your life to Christ, please signify by raising up your hand. It
is your day of help, please come out quickly.
Romans 10:9–10 — If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe
with your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved; 10-For it is
by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing
with your mouth that you are saved.
Repeat after me:
Lord Jesus, I come to you today, please forgive my sins and accept me as your
child. I repent of all my wrong doings. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in my heart that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary and God raised Him
from the dead, please save me today and write my name in the book of life, in
Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let us stand up and begin to ask God for help in any area of our life’s that need
help.
Written By: Yetunde Oriolowo