When All Human Help Fails!
When all human help fails, God is able and willing to help His people in any needful circumstance.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the unwavering assurance of God's presence and help in times of distress, encouraging believers to remain free from the love of money and to find contentment in God's promises. He illustrates that God is always ready to assist His people, akin to a loving parent responding to a child's cry, especially when all human help fails. Brooks reassures that even in the direst circumstances, when human power and wisdom fall short, God will intervene and provide the necessary support. The sermon highlights that God's compassion and timely assistance are guaranteed, reinforcing the idea that believers can confidently rely on Him in their greatest troubles.
Text
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be
content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So
we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6
Assurance of God's presence to help at all times
and circumstances, should raise us up above all base
and slavish fears of the power of men, of the harmings
of men, of the evil designs of men, etc. God being with
us, and for us, and on our side--we may boldly, safely,
and confidently, rest upon it--that He will freely, readily,
graciously, give all needful help, assistance, and support,
when we are in the greatest troubles, deepest distresses,
and most deadly dangers.
The Greek word "helper," according to the notation of
it, signifies one who is ready to run at the cry of another.
This notation implies a willing readiness, and a ready
willingness in God--to help and support His people when
they are in deep distress. You know the tender father,
the indulgent mother--they immediately run when they
hear the child cry, or see the child in any danger or
distress. Just so, when God sees His poor children in
any danger or distress, when He hears them complain
and cry out of their sufferings, their bonds, their
burdens, their oppressions, their dangers, etc., He
immediately runs to their relief and support!
Who is like Him in all the world--to help His
people in each and every direful circumstance?
When friends cannot help,
when power cannot help,
when human wisdom cannot help,
when riches cannot help,
when princes cannot help,
when governments cannot help;
yet then God can and will help His people
--when all human help fails!
"The Lord will judge His people and have compassion
on His servants when He sees their strength is gone and
no one is left," Deut. 32:36. When God's people are at
the very brink of ruin, then God will come in seasonably
to their help. Their extremity shall be His opportunity,
to support His people, and to judge their enemies. No
men, no devils, no power, no policy, can hinder God
from helping, aiding, assisting, and supporting of His
people in any needful circumstance!
Sermon Outline
- I. Assurance of God's Presence
- A. God's promise to never leave or forsake us
- B. Our confidence in God's help
- II. God's Readiness to Help
- A. The Greek word 'helper' signifies readiness to run at the cry of another
- B. God's immediate response to our cries for help
- III. God's Ability to Help
- A. Who is like Him in all the world?
- B. God's power to help in direful circumstances
- IV. God's Timing to Help
- A. When all human help fails
- B. God's opportunity to help in our extremity
Key Quotes
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” — Thomas Brooks
“When God sees His poor children in any danger or distress, when He hears them complain and cry out of their sufferings, their bonds, their burdens, their oppressions, their dangers, etc., He immediately runs to their relief and support!” — Thomas Brooks
“When all human help fails, yet then God can and will help His people--when all human help fails!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We should trust in God's help and provision, rather than relying on human resources.
- When we are in trouble, we should cry out to God for help, knowing that He is ready to run to our aid.
- We should be content with what we have, rather than being controlled by the love of money.