We are all supposed to be helpers. Families need help. Businesses need help. People need help. Churches needs help. But sometimes pride can get in the way of receiving help. Don’t wait until it’s too late to ask for help. God wants us to help each other.

• Galatians 6:2 New King James Version – Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ
•  Psalm 46:1-2 New King James Version – God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed,

If we really believe that God is our help, then why do we have a backup plan. What about making God the plan. God doesn’t need our help. Children don’t worry about how the parents will supply their needs. They just ask and expect their needs to be met. God wants us to do the same. He wants us to rely on Him as Father. He is our Protector and our Provider.

• Psalm 23:1-3 New King James Version – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

We need to know the voice of the Lord so we can receive instructions from the Lord that will help us navigate through life. But you must be willing to listen to others who God is sending to try to help you and give you advice.

• Proverbs 15:22 New King James Version – Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

When God gives us a promise, we must be willing to wait. God won’t change His timing to suit our needs. His timing is perfect. We can’t get ahead of God. God doesn’t always help us in the way we want Him to help or use the people we want Him to use.

We must be careful not to enter into pride. Pride wants us to reject God’s help and help from godly people. Pride can take us straight to hell if we are not careful. Pride is a killer. But as believers we have the key to defeating pride–humility. God always helps the humble.

• James 4:6 New King James Version – But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

God wants us to help each other. It’s our time to get up, step up and help others get up–and especially help people into the kingdom of God.

When we have a healthy fear of God, we will obey God. Isn’t it funny how people can fear thunder and lightning, but not the One who created it? God is Our Creator and He deserves our respect. When God speaks we need to listen and when God speaks we need to obey.

Ask yourself: “Do I have a godly fear of the LORD?”

God expects us to obey like Noah who moved with godly fear when the LORD told him that He was going to destroy the world with a flood.

• Hebrews 11:7 New King James Version –  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

If we have a godly fear, we will not delay when God tells us to do something. It’s not okay to delay and follow His instructions when we feel like it.

Consider Jonah. He knew the LORD’s voice. He knew God gave him an instruction.

• Jonah 1:1-3 New King James Version – 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah decided to disobey the LORD. He went in the exact opposite direction from where the LORD told him to go. So the LORD decided to get Jonah’s attention. God can use anything and everything to do His will. He sent Jonah a storm. But Jonah was the one who caused the storm with his disobedience.

• Jonah 1:6 New King James Version – So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

As Christians we need to wake up and call on the Name of the LORD. We must make sure we are spiritually awake and obedient to the LORD. Even unbelievers know that it is time to pray. They just don’t know who the true and living God is.

• Jonah 1:14-16 New King James Version – Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” ¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.

We need to pray for ourselves and our loved ones. Before our children leave out the house, we must pray for them. We cannot get too tired to pray or witness. And, we are never too old to do the will of God. Jonah knew he had to get off the ship going in the opposite direction of the LORD’s will. As soon as Jonah decided to obey, the storm subsided.

It’s time for us to do the same–fear the LORD and obey Him.

We must value our relationship with Jesus more than anything or anyone else in this world. We must fight for our salvation and protect it. Offenses will come. We must overcome offense with love. Persecution, hatred, trials and tribulation will come. But be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world. We can overcome too–through Jesus Christ.

• Jude 1:3 – Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

There is nothing in the world that is better than what God has for us.

• 2 Peter 2:20-22 New King James Version – ²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. ²¹ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

We must keep the faith. So how do we do it?

FIRST: We must have a made up mind.

• Matthew 6:24 New King James Version –  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

We can’t serve God and money. We can’t be double-minded. You’re either saved or you are not. You are either going to heaven or hell. You are either with Jesus or not. Expect the enemy to do anything to tempt you away from the faith. So expect to keep fighting for your faith until you die or Jesus comes to gather His church

SECOND: We must fight. You might take a hit, but keep on fighting. We are fighting for our very souls. The stakes are high–everlasting life with God in Heaven or everlasting separation from God and torment in the lake of fire forever.

• 2 Timothy 4:7 New King James Version – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Bible study is good, but it is not good enough. Knowing scripture is good and quoting it is good, but it is not good enough. We need the power of the Holy Ghost.

•  John 16:7 New King James Version – Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

• Romans 8:13-14 New King James Version – For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

Consider the Apostle Paul who suffered greatly for his faith in Christ and willingness to preach the gospel.

• 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 New King James Version –²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. ³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 

But we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. We are not defeated Christians. We are victorious Christians. Refuse to stay down. Get up in Christ and fight the good fight of faith.