1 00:00:00,842 --> 00:00:07,718 you would please turn your Bibles over to Psalm 121 verse 2. 2 00:00:11,171 --> 00:00:12,552 We all have needs. 3 00:00:12,672 --> 00:00:14,513 We have a need for housing. 4 00:00:14,533 --> 00:00:16,375 We have a need for funds. 5 00:00:16,375 --> 00:00:22,559 We have need for clothes on our back, and we have a need for anything else you can think of under the sun. 6 00:00:22,559 --> 00:00:28,002 But what is the best thing that you could ever ask someone for? 7 00:00:28,343 --> 00:00:30,404 Some might say riches. 8 00:00:30,925 --> 00:00:33,547 Some have said wisdom. 9 00:00:33,607 --> 00:00:36,108 Others still might say strength. 10 00:00:36,529 --> 00:00:38,090 But the most powerful, 11 00:00:38,144 --> 00:00:43,640 I believe the most honest thing that we could ever ask someone for is help. 12 00:00:43,961 --> 00:00:47,405 And that's what we're going to be concentrating on this evening. 13 00:00:47,405 --> 00:00:58,577 We're going to be talking about help in times of great danger, the help we receive in personal distress and spiritual distress, and the help that God provides to us today. 14 00:01:00,162 --> 00:01:04,644 We like to think that we can pull ourselves up so many times by our own bootstraps. 15 00:01:04,644 --> 00:01:12,589 know that many times in my personal life, you know, uh if the dishes don't get done, sometimes I'll go, well, I'll just, do it myself. 16 00:01:12,589 --> 00:01:13,409 I don't need help. 17 00:01:13,409 --> 00:01:13,920 I can do it. 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,370 I can fix the car myself. 19 00:01:15,370 --> 00:01:16,491 Don't need help. 20 00:01:16,491 --> 00:01:17,551 I'll do it. 21 00:01:18,312 --> 00:01:25,956 Yet over and over, the word of God shows us that the greatest victories come when men and women oftentimes have cried out for God's help. 22 00:01:26,697 --> 00:01:29,458 We can't do everything on our own. 23 00:01:29,816 --> 00:01:34,569 We're going to walk through scripture and examine examples of people who cried out for help. 24 00:01:34,610 --> 00:01:36,831 We're gonna see how God answered them. 25 00:01:36,832 --> 00:01:39,554 And ultimately, we're gonna see how God helps us today. 26 00:01:39,554 --> 00:01:48,020 Psalm 121, starting in verse two says, my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. 27 00:01:48,681 --> 00:01:55,567 If our help comes from the one who created all things, there's nothing he would be unable to help us with, right? 28 00:01:55,567 --> 00:01:59,529 After all, he created the very things we're going to need help with. 29 00:01:59,756 --> 00:02:00,867 He made those himself. 30 00:02:00,867 --> 00:02:05,580 If you would, let's start off by looking at things, uh help we get in times of great danger. 31 00:02:05,580 --> 00:02:09,426 Let's turn back to the book of Exodus, chapter 14. 32 00:02:10,293 --> 00:02:17,978 And we're going to look at the scene of Israel when they had just left Egypt at the Red Sea crossing. 33 00:02:18,038 --> 00:02:21,281 Behind them, Pharaoh's army comes over the shoulder. 34 00:02:21,281 --> 00:02:23,261 In the previous chapter, we see 35 00:02:23,650 --> 00:02:33,522 them on chariots, chasing after them, uh thundering down almost with their chariots before uh all of Israel stands the Red Sea. 36 00:02:33,522 --> 00:02:35,434 They have a problem that they can't cross. 37 00:02:35,434 --> 00:02:37,747 They didn't have boats ready for the journey. 38 00:02:37,747 --> 00:02:40,509 On the other side, the wilderness traps them in. 39 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:46,763 I can't help but think of the children's film, The Prince of Egypt did such a good job of showing this off. 40 00:02:46,763 --> 00:02:52,686 You see the image of them coming up and Pharaoh's army behind with the chariots and they get blocked. 41 00:02:52,686 --> 00:02:55,257 They get a few moments to talk with Moses. 42 00:02:55,257 --> 00:03:05,062 If we turn forward to Exodus chapter 14, starting in verse 10, and when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes and beheld. 43 00:03:05,132 --> 00:03:07,224 the Egyptians marched after them. 44 00:03:07,224 --> 00:03:08,786 So they were very afraid. 45 00:03:08,786 --> 00:03:12,189 And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. 46 00:03:12,550 --> 00:03:18,495 Then they said unto Moses, you can almost hear them right now, cried out to the Lord. 47 00:03:18,516 --> 00:03:20,377 The Hebrew word here. 48 00:03:20,630 --> 00:03:26,853 means to literally cry out, to shriek, to gather together is another meaning of the word. 49 00:03:26,853 --> 00:03:34,877 So here you have the children of Israel gathered together before the Dead Sea, stuck between a literal rock in a hard place, right? 50 00:03:34,877 --> 00:03:45,021 The hard place being Pharaoh, the rock being the insurpassable ocean that stood before them, and they shriek out, they cry out unto God, continuing down. 51 00:03:45,021 --> 00:03:51,044 They say to Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? 52 00:03:51,645 --> 00:03:54,667 Why have you so dealt with us to bring us out of Egypt? 53 00:03:54,667 --> 00:04:00,491 Is this not the word that you told in Egypt saying, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? 54 00:04:00,592 --> 00:04:06,216 For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than we should die in the wilderness. 55 00:04:06,537 --> 00:04:09,399 They were screaming at Moses, why have you brought me here? 56 00:04:09,479 --> 00:04:11,381 We have death at our doorstep. 57 00:04:11,381 --> 00:04:13,082 We're going to be run down. 58 00:04:13,082 --> 00:04:14,363 We have nowhere to go. 59 00:04:14,363 --> 00:04:16,184 You've let us astray. 60 00:04:16,445 --> 00:04:18,184 Verse 13. 61 00:04:18,210 --> 00:04:20,732 Moses said to the people, not be afraid. 62 00:04:20,933 --> 00:04:27,979 Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will accomplish for you today. 63 00:04:27,979 --> 00:04:34,364 For the Egyptians who you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 64 00:04:34,605 --> 00:04:39,849 The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace. 65 00:04:40,291 --> 00:04:42,663 He's telling them not to be afraid, not to be fearful. 66 00:04:42,663 --> 00:04:48,919 He knows without a shadow of a doubt what God has told him, that he's going to deliver them from the Egyptians. 67 00:04:48,919 --> 00:04:53,342 So much so, he says, you think that's a big problem now with their swords, the marching army over the hill? 68 00:04:53,342 --> 00:04:54,983 You're never gonna see them again. 69 00:04:55,765 --> 00:04:58,066 It's nothing to be afraid of whatsoever. 70 00:04:58,307 --> 00:05:02,811 Moving on down to verse 14, I'm sorry, verse 15. 71 00:05:02,811 --> 00:05:06,553 And the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry unto me? 72 00:05:06,926 --> 00:05:09,506 tell the children of Israel to go forward. 73 00:05:09,506 --> 00:05:15,086 You can almost hear it in his voice, and I'm paraphrasing, of course, but he's like, why are you yelling out to me? 74 00:05:15,086 --> 00:05:16,466 I already told you what's gonna happen. 75 00:05:16,466 --> 00:05:18,426 Go, march forward. 76 00:05:18,586 --> 00:05:19,366 Get it done. 77 00:05:19,366 --> 00:05:20,166 Do what I said. 78 00:05:20,166 --> 00:05:21,266 Listen to me. 79 00:05:21,266 --> 00:05:23,005 Trust in me. 80 00:05:23,005 --> 00:05:24,606 I am your help. 81 00:05:24,768 --> 00:05:25,358 Right? 82 00:05:25,358 --> 00:05:33,663 Lift up your rods, stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 83 00:05:33,683 --> 00:05:37,386 And I indeed will harden the heart of the Egyptians, they shall follow them. 84 00:05:37,386 --> 00:05:42,948 And I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, his horsemen. 85 00:05:42,949 --> 00:05:51,594 Then the Egyptians shall know I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen." 86 00:05:53,368 --> 00:05:55,859 Can you imagine standing in front of this ocean? 87 00:05:56,420 --> 00:05:58,182 You had just escaped Egypt. 88 00:05:58,182 --> 00:06:02,344 You'd been spending your entire life as a slave. 89 00:06:02,865 --> 00:06:11,672 You finally get the chance to leave after all the plagues of Egypt has plagued Pharaoh, plagued the house of the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn. 90 00:06:11,672 --> 00:06:15,854 So many terrible things happened to them because they would not listen to God's call. 91 00:06:16,415 --> 00:06:20,478 You finally get out and now you're being pursued. 92 00:06:20,576 --> 00:06:27,071 after all the miracles they had witnessed, after all the power of God shown to them, they still pursue you. 93 00:06:27,071 --> 00:06:29,012 They still are relentless. 94 00:06:29,413 --> 00:06:32,916 Then you come up upon the water, you're following the leader. 95 00:06:33,937 --> 00:06:35,698 You don't have boats prepared. 96 00:06:36,019 --> 00:06:38,010 You've got what you could carry in your sandals. 97 00:06:38,010 --> 00:06:40,022 You've got your family in tow, right? 98 00:06:40,022 --> 00:06:41,562 Sometimes little ones. 99 00:06:41,943 --> 00:06:43,804 It'd be very distressful. 100 00:06:45,326 --> 00:06:50,430 And yet, we see that God gives him the power to strike his rod. 101 00:06:50,796 --> 00:06:59,634 and the sea parts, so much so that the ground beneath the sea was dry and they moved forward through it. 102 00:07:00,270 --> 00:07:04,992 It's the, in my opinion, I think it's the first aquarium we ever see of in the Bible, right? 103 00:07:04,992 --> 00:07:08,194 They get to walk through, I can just imagine seeing the fish out there. 104 00:07:08,194 --> 00:07:12,316 Now, I'm not sure of the waters, how clear they were at the time, right? 105 00:07:12,316 --> 00:07:18,258 But I have this image in my head, very similar to again, the Prince of Egypt movie, where they see the whale going through, right? 106 00:07:18,258 --> 00:07:22,060 You know, there wasn't a whale there, but I'm sure they would have seen something. 107 00:07:22,060 --> 00:07:27,293 What a sight to behold, let alone, you know, the fish are just like the icing on the cake, right? 108 00:07:27,293 --> 00:07:30,274 You have a God that split the sea, turned them into water, 109 00:07:30,274 --> 00:07:36,432 walls, glass walls as you walk through on dry ground to escape your oppressors. 110 00:07:36,432 --> 00:07:44,241 And you know when you get to the other side that when your oppressors are still down in there, the walls are going to come crashing down on them because they did not serve a God 111 00:07:44,241 --> 00:07:45,301 with power. 112 00:07:46,323 --> 00:07:48,725 This is the God we serve today. 113 00:07:49,420 --> 00:07:51,271 He still has that same power today. 114 00:07:51,271 --> 00:07:57,035 He doesn't diminish in power from the Old Testament to the New and to the times that we live in now. 115 00:07:57,196 --> 00:07:58,627 He has just as much strength. 116 00:07:58,627 --> 00:08:06,342 While we don't need to see the miracles in person, we can know by the testimony of the witnesses here written about that it's happened. 117 00:08:06,983 --> 00:08:13,107 So we need to remember as we go throughout our lives that God can also part our seas and our problems too. 118 00:08:13,107 --> 00:08:17,410 But let's move over to uh Second Chronicles, chapter 20. 119 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,032 Let's just look at Jehoshaphat. 120 00:08:20,573 --> 00:08:24,057 Giving a little context here, Judah was surrounded by enemies. 121 00:08:24,057 --> 00:08:27,320 Jehoshaphat, the king, turned not to the military. 122 00:08:27,460 --> 00:08:29,202 He didn't turn to his wealth. 123 00:08:29,202 --> 00:08:32,386 But we see Jehoshaphat turned to God in prayer. 124 00:08:32,386 --> 00:08:34,407 He asks God for help. 125 00:08:34,889 --> 00:08:36,820 In verse 12, 126 00:08:36,832 --> 00:08:40,607 Actually, here we'll back up to the very first verse of 2 Chronicles chapter 20. 127 00:08:40,607 --> 00:08:49,237 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon and the others besides the Amorites come to battle against Jehoshaphat. 128 00:08:49,580 --> 00:08:55,753 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, a great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria. 129 00:08:55,753 --> 00:08:59,714 And they are in Hezmanteimah, which is En Gedi. 130 00:08:59,715 --> 00:09:06,098 And Jehoshaphat feared and said himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah. 131 00:09:06,098 --> 00:09:11,280 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord. 132 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:12,841 They didn't ask weapons from the Lord. 133 00:09:12,841 --> 00:09:14,741 They didn't ask power from the Lord. 134 00:09:14,741 --> 00:09:16,042 They asked help. 135 00:09:17,944 --> 00:09:20,136 Prayer is a very powerful thing. 136 00:09:20,157 --> 00:09:24,002 If we jump down to verse 12, it says, God, wilt thou not judge them? 137 00:09:24,002 --> 00:09:27,808 For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. 138 00:09:27,808 --> 00:09:32,573 Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee. 139 00:09:32,972 --> 00:09:34,334 See, Jehoshaphat knew something. 140 00:09:34,334 --> 00:09:44,296 He knew that as scary as the army was, just like we had read with Moses as they're leaving out of Egypt, he needs to put the enemies behind him. 141 00:09:44,296 --> 00:09:45,558 He's not looking towards the enemies. 142 00:09:45,558 --> 00:09:52,225 He needs to be looking towards his help, his safety, his foundation, his rock, his God for help. 143 00:09:54,146 --> 00:09:56,798 This is the language of humility that we read in verse 12. 144 00:09:56,798 --> 00:10:00,278 He admitted, look, Lord, we don't know what to do. 145 00:10:00,278 --> 00:10:03,183 We can't fight these people of our own power and win. 146 00:10:03,183 --> 00:10:05,145 There's too many of them. 147 00:10:09,730 --> 00:10:14,832 He says in verse six, O Lord God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? 148 00:10:15,093 --> 00:10:18,214 Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? 149 00:10:18,214 --> 00:10:24,057 And in your hand, is there not power and might so that no one is able to withstand you? 150 00:10:24,137 --> 00:10:25,978 Rightly said, Josephine. 151 00:10:27,119 --> 00:10:33,022 And you, not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land, your people, Israel. 152 00:10:33,184 --> 00:10:36,336 and gave it to the descendants of Abraham, your friend forever. 153 00:10:36,336 --> 00:10:46,561 And they dwell in it and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying, if disaster comes upon us, sword, judgment, pestilence, famine, we'll stand before this 154 00:10:46,561 --> 00:10:51,663 temple and in your presence, for your name is in this temple, and cry out to you in our affliction. 155 00:10:51,663 --> 00:10:56,085 We'll ask you for help and you will hear and save. 156 00:10:57,474 --> 00:10:59,626 They knew who they should turn to for help. 157 00:10:59,626 --> 00:11:06,762 They didn't look into their own powers of their armies and wealth or help from neighboring nations. 158 00:11:06,762 --> 00:11:08,823 They knew to turn to God. 159 00:11:09,024 --> 00:11:12,406 And God answered, not with swords. 160 00:11:12,407 --> 00:11:17,410 But we read later on that He helped with just His presence, didn't He? 161 00:11:17,451 --> 00:11:21,053 He defeated the enemies that they were up against. 162 00:11:21,895 --> 00:11:26,374 It was uh jumping down to verse 14. 163 00:11:26,510 --> 00:11:39,970 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jehaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benanai, the son of Jeel, the son of Matania, a Levite of the sons of Ashba, in the midst of the 164 00:11:39,970 --> 00:11:40,310 assembly. 165 00:11:40,310 --> 00:11:45,196 And He said, listen, all of you Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, 166 00:11:45,196 --> 00:11:55,377 King Jehoshaphat, thus says the Lord to you, do not be afraid nor dismay because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 167 00:11:55,378 --> 00:11:57,740 How true are those words for us today? 168 00:11:58,001 --> 00:12:02,786 Should we not remember that our battles today are God's and not our own? 169 00:12:03,266 --> 00:12:04,227 Let's continue. 170 00:12:04,227 --> 00:12:07,389 He gives them an order, because they still have to obey God. 171 00:12:07,389 --> 00:12:09,271 Tomorrow go down against them. 172 00:12:09,271 --> 00:12:15,515 They will surely come up from the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. 173 00:12:15,936 --> 00:12:18,278 You will not need to fight in this battle. 174 00:12:18,638 --> 00:12:21,160 Wow, we won't need to fight? 175 00:12:21,401 --> 00:12:24,222 Oh, I wonder if they left their swords at home. 176 00:12:25,644 --> 00:12:27,225 Position yourselves. 177 00:12:27,225 --> 00:12:28,506 Stand still. 178 00:12:28,820 --> 00:12:32,312 See the salvation of the Lord who is with you, O Judah, in Jerusalem. 179 00:12:32,312 --> 00:12:34,514 Do not fear or be dismayed. 180 00:12:34,514 --> 00:12:44,780 Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you." And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before 181 00:12:44,780 --> 00:12:47,382 the Lord, worshipping the Lord. 182 00:12:47,394 --> 00:12:55,036 Then the Levites, or the children of the Kohathites, and the children of the Korolites stood up to praise the Lord God with a loud voice. 183 00:12:55,036 --> 00:12:59,037 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. 184 00:12:59,037 --> 00:13:08,150 And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, and ye shall be established. 185 00:13:08,150 --> 00:13:12,181 Believe his prophets, and you shall prosper. 186 00:13:12,201 --> 00:13:16,742 And when they consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord. 187 00:13:17,580 --> 00:13:19,070 Wonder how this went. 188 00:13:20,111 --> 00:13:25,433 We can go on and further read that he destroyed him without ever having to lift a finger. 189 00:13:25,434 --> 00:13:28,595 The armies fought amongst themselves and got destroyed. 190 00:13:28,755 --> 00:13:32,316 They got to sit there and essentially watch a film take place. 191 00:13:32,957 --> 00:13:35,478 Something that they were so afraid of. 192 00:13:36,258 --> 00:13:38,689 So much so that the entire nation prayed for help. 193 00:13:38,689 --> 00:13:41,821 They thankfully went to the right place for that help. 194 00:13:42,321 --> 00:13:44,722 But it turned into nothing more than a spectacle. 195 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:49,475 When danger looms, the best thing that we can do is what Jehoshaphat did. 196 00:13:49,475 --> 00:13:53,059 Turn our eyes to the Lord and ask Him for help. 197 00:13:53,140 --> 00:13:55,964 But what about help in times of personal need? 198 00:13:55,964 --> 00:14:00,970 Let's turn over and look at what happened to blind Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10. 199 00:14:18,338 --> 00:14:20,518 starting in verse 46. 200 00:14:21,099 --> 00:14:22,679 Now they came to Jericho. 201 00:14:22,679 --> 00:14:31,242 As he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, a blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 202 00:14:31,242 --> 00:14:40,084 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. 203 00:14:40,784 --> 00:14:47,826 Then many warned him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more, son of David, have mercy on me. 204 00:14:48,334 --> 00:14:51,454 Blind Bartimaeus knew who he was to ask help from. 205 00:14:51,454 --> 00:14:53,934 He knew who had power to save him. 206 00:14:54,654 --> 00:14:55,374 Right? 207 00:14:55,374 --> 00:14:58,914 The people around him tried to shut him up, didn't they? 208 00:14:58,914 --> 00:15:06,454 Verse 48 says, many charged him that he should hold his peace, but he cried all the more and a great deal, right? 209 00:15:06,814 --> 00:15:10,074 Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 210 00:15:10,174 --> 00:15:17,694 Can you imagine being in a position as his, being blinded and hearing about the one that could cure your blindness? 211 00:15:17,932 --> 00:15:18,662 He's in the room. 212 00:15:18,662 --> 00:15:20,123 He's just in the back. 213 00:15:20,123 --> 00:15:22,863 Would you not call out and try to get His attention? 214 00:15:23,183 --> 00:15:25,214 And then you have your friends, your buddies. 215 00:15:25,214 --> 00:15:27,144 Maybe they were just onlookers. 216 00:15:27,165 --> 00:15:28,565 We're not told. 217 00:15:28,625 --> 00:15:29,645 But the crowd sold Him. 218 00:15:29,645 --> 00:15:30,866 Shh, shh, be quiet, be quiet. 219 00:15:30,866 --> 00:15:32,426 Don't yell to Him. 220 00:15:32,426 --> 00:15:33,626 He did the right thing. 221 00:15:33,626 --> 00:15:36,417 He yelled even the more loud because He knew what He was asking for. 222 00:15:36,417 --> 00:15:38,187 He knew what He needed. 223 00:15:38,608 --> 00:15:42,549 So Jesus stood and commanded Him to be called. 224 00:15:42,549 --> 00:15:47,390 In verse 49, they called the blind man saying, of good cheer, rise. 225 00:15:47,566 --> 00:15:49,246 He is calling you. 226 00:15:49,246 --> 00:15:56,626 Funny how the moment Jesus takes notice, their entire demeanor swaps from shh, be quiet, to oh yeah, go, go, go, go, go. 227 00:15:56,626 --> 00:15:58,746 He wants you, right? 228 00:15:59,666 --> 00:16:02,626 Throwing his side of his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 229 00:16:02,726 --> 00:16:06,106 So Jesus answered and said to him, what do want me to do for you? 230 00:16:06,106 --> 00:16:11,946 The blind man said to him, rabbi, that I may receive my sight. 231 00:16:11,946 --> 00:16:17,186 Then Jesus said to him, go your way, your faith has made. 232 00:16:17,304 --> 00:16:18,434 the well. 233 00:16:19,676 --> 00:16:21,116 Jesus stops. 234 00:16:21,677 --> 00:16:23,978 He stood still for a blind beggar. 235 00:16:24,119 --> 00:16:34,585 The King of the universe, the creator of all that we know, stood still, took time out for one blind beggar who cried help. 236 00:16:36,167 --> 00:16:40,830 Verse 52 again says, go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole. 237 00:16:41,290 --> 00:16:46,214 When we cry out for help in today's, you don't think God stops. 238 00:16:46,214 --> 00:16:46,604 uh 239 00:16:46,604 --> 00:16:47,614 listens. 240 00:16:48,035 --> 00:16:49,876 He absolutely listens. 241 00:16:50,257 --> 00:16:53,820 Our God is everywhere and He listens to everyone who's going to ask Him help. 242 00:16:53,820 --> 00:16:55,521 The crowd may not care. 243 00:16:55,962 --> 00:16:58,884 By today's standards, many times the world doesn't care. 244 00:16:59,265 --> 00:17:04,369 Many times we see people crying out for help and they don't receive the help they need from the world around them. 245 00:17:04,990 --> 00:17:10,474 But we always know that the Lord cares and He has the power to make all the difference. 246 00:17:10,815 --> 00:17:14,677 Peter sinking on the water in Matthew 14 if we back up. 247 00:17:16,770 --> 00:17:19,787 He had asked Christ to step out with him. 248 00:17:23,020 --> 00:17:25,525 stepped out of the boat and walked towards Jesus. 249 00:17:36,910 --> 00:17:39,191 starting in verse 25. 250 00:17:39,191 --> 00:17:42,913 Now on the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 251 00:17:42,913 --> 00:17:48,036 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it's a ghost. 252 00:17:48,136 --> 00:17:50,917 They had never seen anybody walk on water before. 253 00:17:51,558 --> 00:17:54,499 They were still a little superstitious at this point in time. 254 00:17:54,660 --> 00:17:56,141 And they cried out for fear. 255 00:17:56,141 --> 00:18:00,063 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, be of good cheer. 256 00:18:00,203 --> 00:18:01,650 It is I. 257 00:18:01,684 --> 00:18:02,434 Don't be afraid. 258 00:18:02,434 --> 00:18:05,766 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, 259 00:18:06,431 --> 00:18:13,875 if it's you command me to come to you on the water." And so he said, come. 260 00:18:13,875 --> 00:18:18,297 And when Peter had come down to the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 261 00:18:18,397 --> 00:18:28,942 But when he saw that wind was boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink and he cried out saying, Lord, save me. 262 00:18:30,123 --> 00:18:34,825 Wonder what would have happened to Peter if he wouldn't have called out for help that day. 263 00:18:35,106 --> 00:18:36,346 Would he have sank? 264 00:18:37,006 --> 00:18:41,326 I don't think Christ would have let him, but he teaches us something very important. 265 00:18:42,346 --> 00:18:46,766 One of the most important things we can ask the Lord for is help. 266 00:18:47,546 --> 00:18:52,566 Verse 31 shows just how quickly God can help us, and in this instance, he does. 267 00:18:52,786 --> 00:19:00,826 Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him, Oh, ye of little faith, why did you doubt? 268 00:19:01,286 --> 00:19:04,146 And when they had got into the boat, the wind 269 00:19:04,482 --> 00:19:05,162 had sank. 270 00:19:05,162 --> 00:19:07,043 Notice the word immediately. 271 00:19:07,223 --> 00:19:09,364 Jesus didn't let him drown. 272 00:19:09,664 --> 00:19:17,067 He didn't let him flail around in the water a little bit to teach him a lesson, you better trust me better next time. 273 00:19:17,748 --> 00:19:20,219 The moment he asked and cried out for help, was there. 274 00:19:20,219 --> 00:19:21,259 He didn't hesitate. 275 00:19:21,259 --> 00:19:23,530 He helped all at once. 276 00:19:25,431 --> 00:19:31,954 Sometimes the only prayer we're able to get out of our mouth is a simple, Lord, help. 277 00:19:32,962 --> 00:19:35,343 We see that back in Esther as she approached the king. 278 00:19:35,343 --> 00:19:38,544 It just has a small little phrase and she prayed to the Lord, right? 279 00:19:38,624 --> 00:19:39,875 She's walking up to him. 280 00:19:39,875 --> 00:19:42,626 can envision her on the way. 281 00:19:42,626 --> 00:19:48,868 She had broken into the king's quarters, come before him without being asked, which was a death sentence for her. 282 00:19:49,709 --> 00:19:54,331 She didn't have a whole lot of time to stop in the middle of the room and have a 20 minute prayer. 283 00:19:54,391 --> 00:19:58,192 It could have been something along the lines of, Lord, help me. 284 00:19:58,893 --> 00:20:01,494 Because she knew what she was moving forward towards. 285 00:20:03,886 --> 00:20:09,533 It's funny how those words can move both heaven and earth when God decides to help, right? 286 00:20:09,955 --> 00:20:12,578 But what about help in times of spiritual distress? 287 00:20:12,578 --> 00:20:15,466 Let's go over to Psalm, chapter 46. 288 00:20:35,672 --> 00:20:44,506 Starting in verse 1, says, is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 289 00:20:44,827 --> 00:20:52,530 When we make God our foundation, it's kind of hard to not always be walking with Him right there underneath you, right? 290 00:20:53,171 --> 00:20:54,711 He's always there. 291 00:20:54,972 --> 00:20:59,874 He's our strength, He's our refuge, and a very present help. 292 00:20:59,914 --> 00:21:01,075 in trouble. 293 00:21:01,076 --> 00:21:10,999 Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roar and be troubled, though the 294 00:21:10,999 --> 00:21:13,751 mountains shake with its swelling. 295 00:21:14,093 --> 00:21:18,237 There is nothing we need to fear if God is our Helper. 296 00:21:21,452 --> 00:21:28,426 Back over in Psalms 121, we read, My health cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 297 00:21:28,426 --> 00:21:39,051 When the psalmist here in chapter 46 cries out, he wasn't just asking for an escape from enemies, but he was asking for peace for his soul. 298 00:21:39,992 --> 00:21:44,514 He knew that God is both our shield and our comforter. 299 00:21:45,115 --> 00:21:48,377 We also see this in Paul's thorn of the flesh, right? 300 00:21:48,377 --> 00:21:51,102 In 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 301 00:21:51,534 --> 00:21:52,982 You'll turn with me there. 302 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,991 Paul speaks of a thorn in the flesh that tormented him. 303 00:22:06,571 --> 00:22:08,432 We're not told what that is. 304 00:22:09,893 --> 00:22:15,902 Many have speculated that it could have been uh something like Crohn's disease. 305 00:22:15,902 --> 00:22:16,886 There have been lots of things. 306 00:22:16,886 --> 00:22:17,696 We don't know. 307 00:22:17,696 --> 00:22:20,036 But we do know that he had a thorn in the flesh. 308 00:22:21,057 --> 00:22:26,499 Starting verse eight, concerning this thing, pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 309 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:32,842 And he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 310 00:22:32,994 --> 00:22:40,617 Therefore, most gladly, I would rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 311 00:22:41,098 --> 00:22:50,662 Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses. 312 00:22:51,442 --> 00:22:52,382 Why? 313 00:22:53,643 --> 00:22:54,783 Why, Paul? 314 00:22:55,224 --> 00:22:56,744 Well, for Christ's sake. 315 00:22:57,065 --> 00:23:00,486 For when I am weak, then He is strong. 316 00:23:02,252 --> 00:23:04,632 My grace is sufficient for thee. 317 00:23:06,604 --> 00:23:12,776 It's important to note that sometimes God's help does not come in the form that we expect it to. 318 00:23:13,096 --> 00:23:17,117 It doesn't always come in the form of removing the problem. 319 00:23:17,938 --> 00:23:25,200 Sometimes the help can be giving us strength to continue despite the problem. 320 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:31,442 When we pray and the problem remains, we need to make sure that we don't think that God has failed us. 321 00:23:31,982 --> 00:23:34,284 Because we serve a God that wins, not a God that loses. 322 00:23:34,284 --> 00:23:37,727 Our God will never fail, and He'll never fail us. 323 00:23:38,588 --> 00:23:47,076 But sometimes His answer very easily could be, you know, I'll hold you up in the storm, but I won't take the storm away. 324 00:23:47,777 --> 00:23:50,139 Why that purpose is, we don't know. 325 00:23:50,660 --> 00:23:57,606 But He will give us the help that we need, not necessarily always the help that we think we need. 326 00:23:58,092 --> 00:24:00,083 So how does God help us today? 327 00:24:00,083 --> 00:24:09,525 We've seen so far how God has helped Israel, how they helped Jerusalem, how He helped Jehoshaphat, Bartimaeus, Peter, the Psalmist, Paul. 328 00:24:09,786 --> 00:24:11,242 How does He help us today? 329 00:24:11,242 --> 00:24:13,186 Well, helps us through His Word, doesn't He? 330 00:24:13,322 --> 00:24:24,430 2 Timothy 3, 16 through 17 tells us that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof. 331 00:24:25,858 --> 00:24:34,800 for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 332 00:24:35,021 --> 00:24:40,762 If we're thoroughly furnished unto all good works, are there any good works that we cannot be furnished by this Book for? 333 00:24:41,463 --> 00:24:42,323 No. 334 00:24:42,943 --> 00:24:45,064 Because all includes all of them. 335 00:24:46,064 --> 00:24:53,242 The Bible, in a sense, is God's manual for how we can help, how He can help us. 336 00:24:53,408 --> 00:25:05,508 Romans 15 and verse 4 says, for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 337 00:25:06,569 --> 00:25:13,855 The Israelites, when they came out of Egypt, they didn't know the ending to the story like we do now. 338 00:25:14,235 --> 00:25:20,721 In similar fashion, we don't know the ending to our story today, but God knows it. 339 00:25:20,721 --> 00:25:22,302 He knows how to help us. 340 00:25:23,190 --> 00:25:24,911 so that we can have hope. 341 00:25:25,172 --> 00:25:37,100 We can read about their successes, how God helped them, how God healed the blind, how He parted the waters, how He defeated armies, how He created the very heavens and the earth. 342 00:25:38,021 --> 00:25:41,283 The greatest help of all, obviously, is not physical. 343 00:25:41,283 --> 00:25:42,924 It's not emotional. 344 00:25:43,064 --> 00:25:47,907 The greatest help we can ask God for is spiritual help, right? 345 00:25:48,508 --> 00:25:50,470 For our soul's final destination. 346 00:25:50,470 --> 00:25:51,270 uh 347 00:25:51,394 --> 00:25:54,594 Turn over in your Bibles to Romans 5 and verse 6. 348 00:25:58,198 --> 00:26:00,968 Romans chapter 5 and verse 6. 349 00:26:05,112 --> 00:26:13,645 For when we were still without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. 350 00:26:14,766 --> 00:26:22,860 Hebrews 2 and verse 18 says, in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted. 351 00:26:22,860 --> 00:26:26,651 He went through the same tribulations that we do as human beings. 352 00:26:27,652 --> 00:26:32,554 Some He went through were far worse than what we're going to go through, namely the one on the cross, right? 353 00:26:32,972 --> 00:26:42,089 God's plan of salvation can be described in a way of His reaching down and saying, here's my hand, take it. 354 00:26:43,050 --> 00:26:44,230 I've got you. 355 00:26:44,371 --> 00:26:45,912 I got a plan for you. 356 00:26:45,912 --> 00:26:48,554 If you'll follow the steps, I'll help you walk up them. 357 00:26:48,588 --> 00:26:48,848 Right? 358 00:26:48,848 --> 00:26:58,022 Just as you teach a little child or maybe even a dog, I know our little dog had the longest time of being able to just go up the steps because we had the kind outside of the 359 00:26:58,022 --> 00:27:00,443 complex where you could see all the way through. 360 00:27:00,464 --> 00:27:07,097 We had to take her and hold her right by the neck and kind of help guide her up to teach her how to step up each step moving forward. 361 00:27:07,097 --> 00:27:09,928 Little children in the same way, sometimes they get afraid of heights. 362 00:27:09,928 --> 00:27:11,739 They don't know how to take the first steps. 363 00:27:11,739 --> 00:27:14,810 You have to hold their hand as they walk up the steps. 364 00:27:14,810 --> 00:27:15,730 Right? 365 00:27:16,011 --> 00:27:18,812 He tells us to hear Romans 10, 366 00:27:18,812 --> 00:27:20,353 would be the step one. 367 00:27:20,373 --> 00:27:23,735 He tells us to believe in what we've read, Mark 16, 16. 368 00:27:23,735 --> 00:27:26,356 The third step is to repent. 369 00:27:26,356 --> 00:27:33,000 We have to turn away from the sin that has destroyed our lives, Acts 17 and verse 30. 370 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,492 We're told to confess the name of Christ, Romans 10, 9 through 10. 371 00:27:37,903 --> 00:27:44,252 And then we're to be baptized, Acts 22 and verse 16, or Acts 2, 38. 372 00:27:44,684 --> 00:27:48,715 Beyond that, once we put on Christ in baptism, we're to remain faithful. 373 00:27:49,075 --> 00:27:51,114 Revelation 2 10. 374 00:27:51,116 --> 00:28:02,700 We have to fight the good fight all the way into death, but we don't have to do so alone, and we can do so with help, with the everlasting help, the greatest helper. 375 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:08,861 In fact, the greatest thing you could ever ask for is help. 376 00:28:08,982 --> 00:28:10,122 Is it not? 377 00:28:11,604 --> 00:28:15,037 Israel cried out for help at the Red Sea, God parted it. 378 00:28:15,257 --> 00:28:18,840 Jehoshaphat cried for help, and God fought his battle. 379 00:28:18,881 --> 00:28:20,842 Bartimaeus cried for help. 380 00:28:21,423 --> 00:28:23,144 Christ opened his eyes. 381 00:28:23,545 --> 00:28:26,927 Peter cried for help. 382 00:28:27,208 --> 00:28:30,110 God stopped him from drowning. 383 00:28:30,271 --> 00:28:33,893 The Psalmist cried for help and found refuge in God. 384 00:28:34,194 --> 00:28:38,818 Paul cried for help, and God gave him the strength to endure. 385 00:28:40,066 --> 00:28:45,550 Today, God still offers that help through His Word and through His Son. 386 00:28:46,571 --> 00:28:52,615 So the question is, are you willing to ask God for help? 387 00:28:52,956 --> 00:29:06,726 Are you willing to cry out when the world around you, like poor, blind Bartimaeus, told him, shh, hush, be quiet, stay in your seat, don't go forward to Christ? 388 00:29:07,756 --> 00:29:09,729 Are you willing to cry out even more? 389 00:29:09,729 --> 00:29:11,171 His hand is stretched out. 390 00:29:11,171 --> 00:29:13,293 His lifeline is ready. 391 00:29:13,435 --> 00:29:15,638 He's giving you the manual for the steps. 392 00:29:15,638 --> 00:29:18,863 All that remains is for you to reach out. 393 00:29:18,863 --> 00:29:23,029 And if we can help you do so, we would be glad to as we stand and as we sing.