Effective, Divine Help

Effective, Divine Help

“Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy ones, and said: ‘I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted a young man from the people. I have found My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him . . . .” Ps. 89:19-20.

God found David out in the field among the sheep and gave him all the help he needed to protect them from the wild beasts. He received strength to tear apart the lion as well as the bear. If they had been able to speak, each sheep and each lamb would have said, “David is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” David led them to the green pastures and helped them in every possible way. God saw this faithfulness and exalted David to bring more and more help to Israel. When Goliath mocked the army of God and the children of Israel stood there powerless, God was able to exalt David above all the people to bring help. He was sufficiently humble to bear the honor that came with this help.

Many people praise Jesus for His atoning death on Calvary, but only a few see Him as the mighty Man who was exalted from the people to help us all. He had to be like the people, like one of His brethren in flesh and blood. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Heb. 2:18.

Jesus is highly exalted above every kind of sinner. He never sinned even though He was tempted in all things as we are. In His love He is now ready to give us all the help we need immediately, in every kind of trial, so that we do not sin.

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

God also wants to exalt us from the people, anoint us with the Holy Spirit, and give us the help we need so that we can serve and be of help according to His pleasure. Jesus is moved with compassion for the people who have gone astray and who are like sheep without a shepherd. They are in dire need of those who can help them. We need to be exalted by overcoming the sins in which people live, so that we can give them real help.

There are many people who can give help for a time and who help others to receive forgiveness for their sins, but there are only a few who are capable of helping them to overcome anger, impatience, unrighteousness, and every other kind of sin. “May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion . . . .” Ps. 20:2.

We must be in God’s sanctuary on Zion if we are to bring help from there. This is the help that is so valuable and absolutely necessary in order for us to be conformed to the image of Christ.

At that time God spoke in a vision to His holy ones about having given help to one who is mighty. In our days as well, it is only the holy ones, the saints, who can see with a spiritual eye the help that was given to the Mighty One, Jesus Christ, and to those who follow Him in truth.

Now there are many people all over Europe who praise God for the effective, divine help they have received. They have gained victory over the things that troubled them, and many who were living in unhappy marriages before have now become happy. More and more of them are coming together in glorious churches where there is unity and genuine, unfailing brotherly love.

Many of them had sought out various pastors and preachers because they needed help in areas where they did not have victory over sin, but they did not receive any help. The pastors themselves did not have victory over anger, pride, self-seeking, love of money, etc., which is why they were unable to give help to others. “You don’t want to help God with your salvation, do you? Only rest in the finished work on Calvary.” These are their usual replies. In other words, people should continue to live in their sins and rest in the finished work. With such phrases they brush aside those who are in great need, but at the same time they travel from place to place to whip up an emotional pitch and ecstasy among the people. The condition in the religious world is terrible. They fight for money, honor, and recognition in the midst of speaking God’s Word.

If we believe in the finished work on Calvary, then it will also lead us to victory over sin. Only then can we enter into the service of God and be of real help and comfort to people. Rom. 6:18. Jesus came into the world to set us free from sin and the power of Satan, but if we do not have a living faith in complete victory over all conscious sin, then we do not have a helping message to give to others, either. Then everything we say will be just empty phrases.

To preach grace without victory over sin is false grace. “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Rom. 6:15.

In the German Bible translation Isaiah 63:1 says that Jesus is a master to help. He did not live to please Himself, but He came to help and to give. Rom. 15:3. We will also be masters to help as long as we faithfully follow Him. We cannot encounter a single situation for which we will not receive abundant grace and help to come through it to God’s glory. 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Pet. 1:3.

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds.” Deut. 33:26.