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GOD HELPS US
(Joshua 1:9); I-03

An announcement came over the plane's intercom: "Ladies and
gentlemen, our number 4 engine has been shut off because of
mechanical trouble. Don't worry, however, we can finish the
flight with 3 engines and besides you'll be reassured to know
that we have four preachers on board." One nervous old lady
called the flight attendant and said, "Dearie, would you please
tell the captain that I'd much rather have four engines and
three preachers."

Well most of us do prefer something substantial when trouble
comes. But the Lord told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous. Do
not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God
will be with you wherever you go" (Josh. 1:9).

God didn't tell Joshua that he'd never meet an enemy or have a
problem. Instead, God said "I'll be with you." That's very
important because uncertainty and insecurity inhibit growth. So
many people are fickle and so much in life is unpredictable, we
need something solid and reliable to count on. The Psalmist
said, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble" (Psa. 46:1).

All of these Scriptures express a nice sentiment, but what do
they really mean on a practical level? Theoretical messages are
not very helpful. Most of us are like the little child who,
when assured that God was with her in a dark room, answered,
"Yeah, maybe so! But I really need someone with skin on."

When disasters strike and problems multiply, we need specific
reassurance and concrete evidence. We need hope.

A millionaire changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East
Harlem. He'd been asked to speak, but he didn't really know
what he could say that would inspire these minority students,
most of whom would drop out of school. Scrapping his notes, he
spoke from his heart. "Stay in school," he admonished, "and
I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you."

Now, he didn't wave a magic wand, or dole out any money
immediately, but at that moment, the lives of those students
changed. Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate
from high school. Later a student said, "Once I had a promise of
support, I had something to look forward to, something to work
for. It was a wonderful feeling."

All of us need such a promise. How then does God help us?

I. FIRST, GOD STRENGTHENS US

Someone said, "Don't pray for lighter loads. Pray for stronger
shoulders." The Psalmist says, "The God of Israel gives power
and strength to his people" (Psa. 68:35).

One morning, a young college student had a problem getting his
car started. Then he hooked up the jumper cables to his dad's
station wagon, and in a couple of minutes, his car came to life.
Power from the stronger battery had been transferred to his
weaker one. As a result of the "boost" his car began
regenerating it's own energy. All of us need a power boost
occasionally. In Isaiah the Lord said, "Do not fear, for I am
with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you . . ." (Isa. 41:10).

Now, this doesn't mean that God solves our problems or does our
jobs. He helps! There is a difference. When David faced
Goliath, he didn't expect God to send a lightening bolt. He
used his own skill and courage, yet he trusted in God's help.
He said, "The Lord . . . will deliver me from the hand of this
Philistine . . ." (I Sam. 17:37)

When Nehemiah led the Hebrews in rebuilding the wall around
Jerusalem, they worked hard for 52 days, yet the people,
"realized that this work had been done with the help of our God"
(Neh 6:16).

Once a woman took her child to a concert. The curtain went up a
few minutes before the famous pianist, Paderewski, came on
stage. When the mother turned around to speak to an
acquaintance, her little boy wriggled out of his seat, ran up
the steps, sat down at the grand piano, and began to play
"Chopsticks" with all his might. Both the audience and his
mother was appalled. Then there was a gasp as Paderewski
himself appeared. But, instead of being angry the maestro
smiled, sat down on the piano bench with the little boy,
whispered to him to continue and then, putting both arms around
the child, began to improvise a soft accompaniment to the
childish music. He kept it up until the audience burst into
applause.

That's how God helps us. He doesn't do it for us, and He
doesn't just let us stumble on alone. Instead, He enhances and
augments our own efforts.

God strengthens us!

II. NEXT, GOD COMFORTS US.

Paul said, "Praise be to God . . . the Father of compassion and
the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so
that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves have received from God" (II Cor. 1:3-4).

In troubled times, just the presence of a caring person is a
great help. Tennyson expressed it this way:

Speak to Him, thou, for He hears, and
Spirit with Spirit shall meet-
Closer is He than breathing, and
Nearer than hands and feet.

A woman said, "One night when I was nine, I got angry with my
family and ran away from home. I hid in an abandoned field. As
I sat there on the hard ground gazing up at the stars, I was
terribly uncomfortable, but too proud to go back. In fact, I
was feeling pretty sorry for myself when, suddenly, I heard
footsteps. I saw a shadowy figure walking toward me. Then, I
felt a big hand touch my shoulder. It was my father. He had
found me in the dark. Without a word, I took his hand and we
walked home. He had come for me and I was glad."

When we feel alone, and alienated, we need to just be still and
wait for God's presence. He will find us, and we will be glad.

All of us need a personal touch. One woman said, "When my mail
came, there were bills, a sweepstake's offer and a fund-raiser
notice. But one letter caught my eyes. It's was a message from
home, addressed to me by name and in a familiar handwriting. It
told me that I am loved."

The world is full of impersonal messages, but people crave "a
letter from home," addressed to them by name, and in a familiar
handwriting. They need to know that they are loved. John said,
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and
only Son into
the world that we might live through him" (I John 4:9).

That's how God comforts us!

III. FINALLY, GOD ENCOURAGES US.

The Psalmist said, "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the
afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry" (Psa.
10:17).

Encouragement is essential. Paul said, " May . . . God . . .
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and
word" (II Thess. 2:16-17).

A successful minister said, "After my first year of graduate
school, I was ready to quit. When my home pastor came to our
school for a meeting, I planned to tell him. But before I could
say anything, my pastor said, "Kenneth, your major professor
tells me that you did great work in his class." I gulped and
responded, "He did?"
"Yes," he said. "He also told me that he may ask you to grade
for him next semester." While I was trying to absorb that
amazing news, my pastor continued, "He's hoping you will stay
for doctoral work." I was so astonished that I never mentioned
dropping out. Instead, I spent the next five years studying as
I had never studied before; did my doctoral work and taught
several years on the faculty. I've thought about how different
my life would have been if, on that morning when I had been
ready to quit, my pastor had not repeated those powerful words
of encouragement."

A perceptive poet wrote:

I have no voice for singing, I cannot make a speech,
I have no gift for music, I know I cannot teach.
I am no good at leading, I cannot organize,
And anything I've written would never win a prize.

It seems my only talent, is neither big nor rare,
To listen and encourage and fill a vacant chair.
But all the gifted people could not so brightly shine
Were it not for those of us with talents such as mine.

All of us need an occasional compliment or pat on the back.
Paul's faith gave him confidence. "I can do everything through
him who gives me strength" (Phil. 4:13).

God encourages us!

CONCLUSION:

At the end of his life, Joshua emphasized that God had kept his
promises. He said, "Not one of all the good promises the Lord
Your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled
. . . ." (Josh. 23:14).

Sometimes, realizing that there is a person who truly cares
about us is all we need to help us succeed. An English teacher
told a moving story. She said, " The other instructors and I
thought that this particular student wanted to fail. We knew he
was bright, but he refused to even try. No one could reach
him-not with praise, not with threats, not with well-meaning
offers of assistance.

One day after class I told him, 'You leave me no choice. I'm
going to have to give you a failing grade.. Doesn't that matter
to you?'

'Not really,' he drawled, leaning back in his chair with a
cynical smile.

When I indicated that he could go, he swaggered out of the room
with a sarcastic expression. 'Oh, Lord,' I said out loud. 'What
did this to him?' I put my head down on my desk and
unexpectedly found myself in tears.

I don't know how long I had been crying when I felt a hand touch
me. I looked up. The failing scholar had returned. 'I didn't
know that . . . that anyone cared that much,' he said. The
mocking smile was gone. 'And Ma'am, if I try, will you help me?'

'Of course, but you'll have to work very hard,' I replied.
'Both of us will.'

'Then, let's get started,' he said. 'Right now!'

He did work hard and he did do well-in all of his classes. In
fact, he became one of our best students. A little concern and
a little help worked miracles."

God does that for us. He strengthens us by inspiring new
thoughts. He comforts us by assuring us of His unfailing
presence and undying love. He encourages us by raising our
self-esteem, increasing our confidence and giving us hope.

****

(Word Count 1806)

Sermons with the "I" prefix are from our "What's the Good Word"
Series;
II from our "Pitfalls on the Path of Life"
III are sermons for special days and occasions.

These messages are from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted
by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. Please use them in
any way you think appropriate. The only thing we ask is that
you give credit for original material in published works.

My ministry has been blessed immeasurably by reading other
people's sermons. When I started preaching 56 years ago, I
waited for "inspiration" (usually Saturday night, about
midnight) before I began my sermon preparation. Then, I
discovered it wasn't inspiration at all-it was sheer PANIC. I
would have welcomed this service.

Comments are always welcome. (Please indicate if you do not want
your comments to appear in New Perspectives).

Miles E. Wesner