I Will Help Thee

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Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Introduction:

Have you ever been working on something and realized, there is no way I can do this on my own?

I’ve gotta have help?

Sometimes this help is a perceived need –

When I was a six or seven year old we were at a funeral dinner. It was a large dining area and had those movable dividers. As a child I leaned up against one and felt it give and then push back against me. I just knew if I moved it would zing across the room so I stood there for the longest time holding door back. I thought I needed help, but It was just a perceived need.

Then other times we don’t even realize we need help.

Bro. Mark Sankey in Mexico and the guardrail. (Get this story)

What is God saying?

God is telling through the Prophet Isaiah to his people -

1. Don't be afraid - but it's not just a command - God gives reasons why they should not be afraid.

a. I Am with thee - What a comfort. Sometimes when children are afraid - they will say - come with me, or can I be with you?

b. God is saying - you are not alone - I am with you. - Personally Present –

i. He goes even further and says - I AM THY GOD - This goes all the way back to Moses and God's covenant with him.

ii. I love the verb of being in these two verses, "AM" This goes back to the name of God revealed to Moses.

iii. These two I Am's are followed by three "I Wills"

c. I will strengthen thee - I like this colon after the clause, “For I am thy God”

Bro. Cohea You speak proper English.

I’m more like Uncle Buddy Robinson and his article with punctuation marks at the top

A colon precedes an explanation or a list.

While we often just pass over punctuation - this one is powerful.

While we often just pass over punctuation - this one is powerful.While we often just pass over punctuation - this one is powerful.

While we often just pass over punctuation - this one is powerful.

Using this between these three verbs - strengthen, help, and uphold. It has the sense of being piled on top of one another

1. Using this between these three verbs - strengthen, help, and uphold. It has the sense of being piled on top of one another

Think of a layered cake:

A chocolate cake - you bake the cake and then you put a layer on the plate

Then you put a thin layer of frosting on top of that layer

ii. Then you put a thin layer of frosting on top of that layer

Then you put the next layer of cake on top of that

iii. Then you put the next layer of cake on top of that

Then you frost the cake

iv. Then you frost the cake

Then you slice and enjoy.

This is what God is saying to us here -

1. God plops down a layer of strength

2. Then he frosts that with help

3. And then a layer of "upholding"

4. Then slice and enjoy

5. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

This is what God is doing for us now -

God has helped me so much through all my life - but that isn’t what I want to mention tonight -

I want to think about this past year -

God has helped my family - in so many ways - many are personal and I wouldn’t want to disclose personally but how God has been there time and time again and helped us.

God has helped me personally - I feel that I have grown both spiritually and as a person this past year. God has taught me some lessons - that is help!!!

God has helped our church - I thought we had a great revival - there was some growth and spiritual help that was much needed.

God has helped you - I know there are some here with burdens, situations you don’t know how to handle - but I know God has helped you in the past - and he says - I WILL HELP THEE!!!

You can trust Him. We may be entering a new year, a new decade, a new time - but we don’t get a new god - He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. YOU CAN TRUST HIM!!!

Helped with Sanctification

Helped with wreck

Helped when in a financial slump

Helps me every day

I WILL HELP THEE -