The Lord Is My Helper
by David J. Stewart | January 2016
Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
THE LORD IS MY HELPER! What an
awesome truth! This is not just a poetic line from a classic
book my friend, this is the eternal truth of the inspired Words
of God!!! What a precious thought! To think, the omnipotent God
Who created the entire universe by the Word of His mouth,
promises to be every believer's HELPER. Wow!!! 2nd Peter 3:5,
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that
by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the
earth standing out of the water and in the water.”
THE LORD IS MY HELPER! The Greek word for “helper” in Hebrews 13:6 is boethos, which means “a succorer.” To “succor” means: “Assistance in time of difficulty; to Help in a difficult situation.” What a precious Savior! What a comforting passage of Scripture! What a beautiful truth! If you are a child of God, that is, born-again, then this Scripture applies to you. No unsaved person has a right to claim the promises of God, except the ones that pertain to Christ-rejecting infidels (e.g., 1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” The phrase “Let him be 'Anathema Maranatha' means, “Let him be cursed, the Lord is coming!”).
The Lord is the believer's HELPER, to succor them in times of trouble, affliction, suffering, mental anguish, painful loss, uncertainly, emotional trauma, et cetera. What a Savior!!! If it's important to you as God's child, and eating you up emotionally inside, then you better believe that God cares and it matters to Him. God knows how many hairs are upon your head (Matthew 10:30). God knows every time a little bird falls from the sky (Matthew 10:29). God knows when you lay down, and when you rise up, and what you are thinking at any given time (Psalms 139:1-5). God sees everything (He is omniscient) and we all have to give account one day to God in eternity, whether saved or lost. Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” This ought to compel every person to fear God. I fear Him, do you?
Hebrews 13:5-6 applies to the Christian believer. What a precious truth! God tells us not to be covetous, because He will never forsake us and is always by our side through every situation in life. The Scriptures admonish us as believers to be satisfied with whatever things we have, knowing that the Lord is with us and will watch over us to provide our needs. Notice Hebrews 13:6 again if you will—SO THAT WE MAY BOLDLY SAY... THE LORD IS MY HELPER, AND I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MEN SHALL DO UNTO ME. The man who fears God won't fear man; but the man who fears man won't fear God. The word “boldly” in Hebrews 13:6 means “with courage” and “with confidence.” God is assuring us with a solemn PROMISE, that He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us along life's difficult path so that we can have the strong courage and confidence to exclaim that THE LORD IS MY HELPER!!!
Fear Caused By Lack Of Money
And Oppression From The Wealthy
It is interesting that the Bible associates the fear of man with the Lord's PROMISE to help us and never forsake us. What does this mean? Proverbs 22:7, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” As much as is possible, stay out of debt! May I say, people only have power over you if you need something from them, or you owe them. The content person who lives a simple life usually has the least problems. That's the way I like to keep things! 1st Timothy 6:6-8,“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” That's some of the best advice from God that you'll ever hear.
So often people end up in miserable, trying and compromising circumstances because they go into financial debt. Albeit, I believe this particular Bible passage in Hebrews 13:5-6 is speaking about fear caused by lack of finances. That is, worry about not being able to pay one's bills. Fear of having one's car repossessed. Fear of not having the money to pay one's mortgage and losing their home. Many people worry about being evicted because they may not be able to pay their rent. Some people worry that they won't have enough money to buy food and the necessities of life. This is especially true if there are little children in the household.
The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 13:5-6 to let our conversation (which means our “manner of life”) be without covetousness. Effectively, covetousness is when a person is no longer content with what they have. I doesn't mean a desire to work and have nicer things. It means that you are not content with what God has given you, so you stop thanking God and become a complainer. Jesus said that NO MAN can serve God and mammon (wealth). Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” I despise money and love God, how about you?
Hebrews 13:5-6 tells us not to fear what man can do to us, because the Lord is always with us, and He is our HELPER... Psalms 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” I love that... A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE!!! I suggest that you write some of these Scripture references down and memorize them. You may not need them today, but YOU WILL EVENTUALLY NEED THEM to comfort your broken heart, as we all do! The way to make it through the darkest and toughest times of life is to CLAIM THE PROMISES OF GOD!!!!!!!
Lack of money often causes fear, because rich people oppress those who are less fortunate. Tens-of-millions of Americans have had their homes confiscated by thuggish, dishonest, manipulative wealthy people. The entire Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) scam was based upon predatory lending policies of the money lenders. It was the money-lenders of Christ's time who issued His death warrant that ultimately led to Jesus' crucifixion on the cross. Today, it is still the crooked money-lenders who are afflicting the working man, keeping him enslaved from cradle-to-casket. Basically you've got the HAVES and the HAVE NOTS, and the HAVES afflict and persecute the HAVE NOTS. James 2:6, “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?”
It was in the news throughout 2015 that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service was caught harassing thousands of conservative, Christian and patriotic groups—performing unnecessary audits, making thuggish threats, hurting organizations and individuals, and numerous other shameful and illegal activities. The Word of God indicts such wicked and unreasonable rich men. The Scriptures teach us as born-again believers to BE PATIENT AND STAY FOCUSED ON CHRIST'S SECOND COMING...
James 5:1-9, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
Please notice the very important
command from God in James 5:9 (the last verse above)... “GRUDGE
NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER, BRETHREN”!!! This is the biggest
problem in churches today, that is, bickering, fighting, gossip,
hypocrisy, backstabbing, meddling, talebearing and hatred
amongst God's children. The two greatest commandments in the
Bible (Matthew 22:35-40) are really just one—TO LOVE!!! Brother
Lester Roloff taught me that. Do you realize friend, if you are
saved, that you and Jesus are one! The moment you were saved,
Jesus' Holy Spirit and your spirit merged into one (Romans 8:9).
God's Spirit in me, as a believer, can never be separated apart.
John 15:1-5 teaches that Jesus is the VINE, and we as believers
are the BRANCHES! John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto
him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will
love him, and we will come unto him, and make
our abode with him.” As our text passage of
Scripture teaches, God will NEVER leave nor forsake us!!!
Live For Eternal Things That Won't Be Burned Up By Fire
Did you ever stop to wonder why God said He would test the believer's works with “fire”? 1st Corinthians 3:11-15, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Personally, I believe the Bible means literal fire. Most people live for possessions—things that can and will one day burn up with fire. 2nd Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” At the end of the 1,000 year millennium, when the Day Of The Lord is drawing to a close, God is going to renovate the earth with fire. The “Day Of The Lord” includes everything from the last 3 1/2 years of The Great Tribulation period, until The Great White Throne Of Judgment.
As we just plainly read from 2nd Peter 3:10b... THE EARTH AND THE WORKS THAT ARE THEREIN SHALL BE BURNED UP!!! This passage of Scripture explains what is meant in 1st Corinthians 3:11-15. The believer who spends their life achieving secular goals, worldly ambitions, earthly projects and materialistic acquirements will suffer great loss at The Judgment Seat Of Christ. What a day it will be when all of Hollywood's millions of hours of manpower, and hundreds-of-billions-of-dollars spent, making ungodly films for the past century WILL ALL BE BURNED UP (every last copy)!!!
I was sad to read this week that The Eagles band member Glenn Frey (1948-2016) died of cancer at age 67. There is no evidence that he was a born-again Christian. Sadly, all of his musical achievements in life will be BURNED UP. I say that kindly. None of their music was performed in Jesus' name; but rather, for the Devil. The Eagles were a satanic band, clearly evidenced by the occult symbolism. The Bible is very clear that a man MUST be born-again by trusting the Gospel (i.e., Christ's death on the cross for our sins, burial and bodily resurrection three days later) to be saved (John 3:3; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4). It's that simple to be saved, but nearly everyone either rejects the Gospel or instead accepts a substitute (like religion, the Lordship Salvation heresy, psychology, humanism or morality). And then for those who are saved, only those works which are of eternal significance will be rewarded (everything else will be burned).
Let me put it another way, as quoted by Missionary Charles T. Studd (1860-1931)...
I am going to invest for an eternal lifestyle, laying up treasures for myself in Heaven as Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:19-20, by giving my life each day (as a born-again believer) for Jesus' sake and the Gospel's. Interestingly, Charles Studd named one of his daughters (born in 1889), “Salvation Grace Faith Studd.” How's that for a cool name? Charles was right according to 1st Corinthians 3:11-15—We only have one life, and it will soon be over, and ONLY what we have done for Jesus Christ will survive the fire test. The people to whom we preach the Gospel, who get saved by a miraculous new birth through faith in Christ Jesus (John 1:12-14), will be in Heaven. The true measurement of my success in life won't be how many people show up to say goodbye when I'm dead, but how many people are waiting to greet me when I get to Heaven. Contrary to the Calvinistic teaching by the Salvation Army that salvation is a “state” that can be lost, the Scriptures teach that salvation is a miraculous new birth that cannot be jeopardized, forfeited or lost for any reason. Once you're born anew by the Holy Spirit of God, it is irreversible, just as is the physical birth.Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “’twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”
—Missionary C.T. Studd
God has promised in 1st Corinthians 3:8 to reward every believer ACCORDING TO OUR OWN LABOURS!!! 1st Corinthians 3:8, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” God is extremely ethical, not missing a thing. God will punish every infraction by the unsaved, and reward every kind gesture by the saved. Although escaping damnation of the Lake of Fire, every Christian believer will still be held accountable for their GOOD AND BAD DONE IN THE BODY (2nd Corinthians 5:10). Every believer must give account to God for their wasted words, years and life. Every second must be held accounted, for the people under their influence to whom they failed to preach the Gospel. We all have much to answer for. Thank God for the gift of His only begotten Son, Who paid for our sins, so that we wouldn't have to be punished forever in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12-15; 21:8).
Here's one of my favorite verses in the Bible, which promises that God rewards even those who give a cup of water to a disciple of Christ. Not. Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” Not only does God reward a person for their own labours in Jesus' name; but also, God rewards those who help a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you do something to help a Gospel preacher, it is as if you did it for Christ Himself (Matthew 25:44). Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
These things are of eternal value and cannot be burned with fire. As believers we are commanded to SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE (i.e., Heaven). Colossians 3:1-3, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” The reason why I work relentlessly on my website ministry is because I am SEEKING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE as Colossians 3:1-3 teaches us to do. Every believer needs to learn to live above the clouds, that is, set your affections on heavenly things—Soul-winning, preaching, Bible study, prayer, faith, righteousness, contending for the faith, eternal security, truth, church work, missionaries, feeding the poor in Jesus' name, fasting, rescue missions, bus ministries, prison ministries, nursing home ministries, passing out Gospel tracts, et cetera.
The average person today is
hellbound in their sins; and of those very few people who are
genuinely born-again in Christ Jesus, only a few spend their
life investing in eternal things—which ought to primarily be the
carrying out of
The Great Commission.
Time is Running Out, The Lord's Return is Near
We are living in apostate times. 1st John 5:19 teaches that the world has always been in wickedness; but in these last days wickedness is increasing because of technology, and the breakdown in the language, national and cultural boundaries which God set in place at the Tower of Babel as safeguards to prevent the escalated corruption of mankind (Genesis 11:7-9). Satan desired to unite humanity in rebellion against God at Babel, but God stopped him. Now, over 4,000 years later, God has allowed Satan to remove the barriers which He set in place at Babel.
