I Need Help

Text:

Isaiah 31:1-3:

1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers,  and against the help of them that work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

 

Hebrews 4:16:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Theme:

I Need Help

 

Introduction:

• The Book of Isaiah is the first of the books of major prophecy in the Old Testament and is written, of course, by the prophet Isaiah, sometime referred to as “Esaias” in the New Testament.
  • The book is divided into three sections:
    • The first section (35 chapters) is purely prophetic and written during the Assyrian threat.
    • The second section (4 chapters) is historical and reflective of the life and times of King Hezekiah.
    • The third section (27 chapters) is once again prophetic and written during the Babylonian threat.
  • The book has 66 chapters, the same number of chapter as books in the Biblical canon.
    • 39 chapters in the first two sections — the same number of books in the Old Testament.
    • 27 chapters in the third section — the same number of book in the New Testament.
  • This 31^st chapter is in reference to the reaction of the Israelites upon the invasion of the Assyrians.
• The other book used in our text, the Book of Hebrews, has been debated as to its authorship with the resulting conclusion that the Apostle Paul is the author. However, regardless of the actual author it is agreed upon that it is definitely a Pauline epistle due to its writing style and content.
  • The Epistle is doctrinal and practical in nature and written with the Jewish community as the primary audience.
• Although they have drastic differences:
  • One written in the Old Testament and the other written in the New Testament
  • One written by a prophet and the other written by an apostle
  • One is largely prophetic while the other is largely pastoral
  • One is written prior to the birth of Jesus and the other is written after the resurrection of Jesus
• They share one common theme and word è HELP
  • In the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual warfare that we must face in this life, WE NEED HELP!
    • In the 15^th chapter of Matthew, it is recorded that the Canaanite woman, although being told that she was not the intended audience of Jesus’ power, YET responded in this way:
      • Matthew 15:25, “Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.”
    • As we can see from this passage of scripture, the need for HELP can cause us to reach beyond barriers that we had not dare to cross before!!
  • In the world that we live in, HELP is a valuable resource:
    • We live in a WORLD THAT USES THE RESOURCE OF HELP
      • Companies solicit the HELP of banks and other companies
      • Countries solicit the HELP of other countries and allies
    • WE ALL NEED HELP at some time
      • The child looks to its parent to HELP them with their first steps
      • The student looks to its teacher to HELP them find an understanding to the work given to them
      • The young man or woman looks to friends and family to HELP them to deal with newfound independence
      • The senior citizen requires the HELP of those around them to assuage the struggles of failing health and strength
  • Yes, with this research, each of us have to say to ourselves, “I NEED HELP”!!

 

Body:

• The question then becomes à WHERE DO I GET HELP?

• This is where we often fail as Christians.
  • Isaiah gives a resounding “Woe” to us
    • “Woe” is a term that we are familiar with when referring to horses
      • The rider or farmer behind the plow tells the horse or mule “Woe!” to communicate to the animal that they need to STOP.
    • In talking to us, Isaiah uses the term in a similar but altogether different manner.
      • Webster’s defines the use of “Woe” as “a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, and grief”
    • “Woe to them…”
      • Paraphrased, Isaiah is saying
        • A condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction and grief will come to them”
        • AKA, It won’t be good if theyJ
  • We now can learn what NOT to do
    • The text in Isaiah provides a profound, symbolic picture of our tendencies when our back is against the wall
    • Verse 1 of chapter 31 in Isaiah tells us,
      • They look to worldly, carnal, material resources for HELP
        • “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong;”
        • We look to
          • Prominent people
          • Popular people
          • Money
          • Fancy things
          • Friends
          • Sex
          • Drugs or Alcohol
          • Depression
          • Even SUICIDE
        • They don’t go to God
          • “but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!”
    • Verse 3 of Chapter 31 in Isaiah then warns us,

“When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.”

• Why bother even looking to worldly resources for help à THEY WILL FAIL!!!
  • 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
• When the resources fail…WE WILL FAIL WITH THEM!!
  • Matthew 6:21,24, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…. No man can serve two masters”
  • Joshua’s words are appropriate at this point when he posed the option to the children of Israel<
    • Joshua 24:15 “…choose you this day whom ye will serve”

Conclusion:

• However, the second scripture in our text provides the Shakespearean “rub” to this theological journey concerning HELP. It tells us where to go for HELP!:

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

• WE MUST GO TO GOD FOR HELP!!!!!!

• “Let us THEREFORE” – What we should do it clear!
  • As the old spiritual says:

[In a time like this] [In a time like this] [In a time like this]

I need the Lord to help me.

(other verses as desired and/or moan)

[In a world like this]

[When I’m burdened down]

[When I pray like this]

• Then the other old spiritual seals the supplication by saying:

All of my help, All of my help, All of my help comes from the Lord

All of my needs, He has met, and He’s never failed me yet

• “come boldly unto the throne of grace” – PRAY!!!
  • Prayer is the key!!
  • 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
• “that we may obtain mercy” – God’s GOT IT!
  • God will lighten the heavy load of care and despondence by allowing us to come to HIM
  • Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
• “find grace to help in time of need” – GRACE is our HELP!!!!
  • Through God’s GRACE we get:
    • Forgiveness of sins – we have all sinned
    • Restoration of our soul – we need life to overcome death
    • Renewing of our relationship with God – we need an adversary and a friend
    • Invigoration of our hand and strength – there’s work for US to do to help ourselves
    • Divine protection – Once we get help, He can keep us from falling into the same “hole” again!
  • God’s GRACE is our HELP
    • Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
      • THANK YOU for my needing HELP
      • THANK YOU for your MERCY
      • THANK YOU for your GRACE
      • THANK YOU for your HELP that no one else could give!!!!!!!!!!

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