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“Help from Heaven”. Underneath are the Everlasting Arms The Lord promises to help us on our journey to heaven (Phil. 1:6; 2:13). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working with us, and we are cooperating with them (Eph. 3:14-21).
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“Help from Heaven” Underneath are the Everlasting Arms • The Lord promises to help us on our journey to heaven (Phil. 1:6; 2:13). • The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working with us, and we are cooperating with them (Eph. 3:14-21). • Even in the toughest trials of life, God will be with us, helping us toward home (Deut. 33:27; 2 Tim. 4:16-18; Heb. 13:5-6; Rom 8:28).
“Help from Heaven” Never a Busy Signal • The Lord is never unavailable or too busy for His children (Psalm 121:4; 115:4-8; 1 Kings 18:26-27; 1 Peter 3:12). • Prayer is an essential part of our daily walk. • Find a quiet place to sit before the Lord (2 Sam. 7:18). • Speak from your heart (1 Sam. 1:13-15). • The Holy Spirit will help by making intercession (Rom. 8:26-27). • Whether praying at length or in a brief moment, pray without ceasing (Matt. 6:6; Neh. 2:4; 1 Thess. 5:17).
“Help from Heaven” Never a Busy Signal • Bible reading is an essential part of your daily walk. • Seek to apply what you read to yourself (2 Cor. 13:5). • Ask God in His word to show you areas where you should improve (Psa. 139:23-24). • Meditate on God’s word and your relationship with God throughout the day (Psalm 1:2; 119:15, 97). • Be sure to bring God into every activity of your life! • Make HIM your whole life! (Eccl. 12:13-14)
“Help from Heaven” Armor from Heaven • We are AT WAR with Satan and His forces (2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:10-12) • God provides ARMOR and STRENGTH to enable us to STAND! (Eph. 6:10-20) • We must suit up, stand, and depend on the Lord's strength, not our own (2 Chronicles 32:8)
“Help from Heaven” Armor from Heaven • Waist girded with truth (vs. 14). • The whole suit of armor is bound at the middle. Our core is strong with God's truth. • The devil cannot defeat “it is written” (Matt. 4:1-11) • The rest of the world may walk around asking, “What is truth?” But not us! • A breastplate of righteousness (vs. 14). • We have strength to fight because we know we are right with God having our sins cleansed in the blood of Christ (Rom. 3:21-26). • It's hard to win a battle if you think you are already defeated going into it!
“Help from Heaven” Armor from Heaven • Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace • Our feet are made strong to advance the gospel of peace because we already have peace with God (Rom. 5:1-2). • Shield of faith • The devil fires flaming missiles, but our faith, trust, and commitment to God quenches them all. Faith is the victory (1 John 5:4-5)!
“Help from Heaven” Armor from Heaven • Helmet of salvation • Here is my confidence that I am saved. This keeps me mentally strong while I fight. We must gird up the mind (1 Pet. 1:13-16). • The sword of the Spirit. • Our offensive weapon is the word of God. With it we resist and fight the devil, as Jesus did (James 4:7; Psalm 119:11, 104, 128)! • Pray always with all prayer. • Stay in communication with the Commander.
“Help from Heaven” Cheering Supporters In The Grandstands • People of faith have gone before us (Heb. 11) • The unseen things are real & lasting! (2 Cor. 4:16-5:8) • In the unseen grandstands those who have finished their race cheer us on (Heb. 12:1-2) • We look first to the Finisher of our faith (Jn. 19:28-30) • But many others encourage us, having faithfully endured the same things we endure! • Moses followed an invisible God (11:24-27) • Joseph resisted temptation (Gen. 39) • Abraham sacrificed his son. • David found forgiveness (Rom. 4:7) • Even Jesus seems to have received encouragement from those who had finished (Luke 9:30-31)
“Help from Heaven” Comrades & Conscience • Paul received a lot of help and encouragement from his comrades in the faith (2 Cor. 11:23-28; Acts 28:15-16; Phil. 2:25-30; Rom. 16:4) • True comrades are willing to rebuke and correct us (Proverbs 27:6; Psalm 141:5; Galatians 2; 2 Peter 3:15) • Our conscience must be active and well trained • It is possible for the conscience to become “past feeling.” (1 Tim. 4:2; Eph. 4:19)