"God helps those who help themselves - is it in the Bible?"

After hearing people quote this phrase as biblical text for years I finally decided to try to set the record straight for as least a few people. The Bible is such an important and vital piece of history and spiritual insight for us that we should always be prepared to back up anything that we use as a biblical quote. The resource for this information is www.gotquestions.org. Look it up for yourselves and be informed.


"God helps those who help themselves" is probably the most often quoted phrase that is not found in the Bible. This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin, quoted in Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757. In actuality, it originated from Algernon Sydney in 1698 in an article titled Discourses Concerning Government. Whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless! Isaiah 25:4 declares, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Romans 5:6 tells us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

"In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were incapable of paying (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the "help" that we need precisely because we could not help ourselves.

Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. As an example, if you asked me to help you move a piece of furniture, but then just watched me as I moved the furniture for you, I was not actually helping you. I would be doing the work for you. Many Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. Many Christians ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. They excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. However, this is not a reason for inactivity. As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you!

Dave

Who Touched My Garment?

In the New Testament book of Mark, in chapter 5 and verse 27, & 30, an incident occured that brings plenty of questions of faith to the surface and I'd like to explain my opinion. The verse reads: "After hearing about Jesus, [she] came up in the crowd behind Him, and touched His cloak. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My garment?"

This year, in fact on July 5, 2009 (my 58th birthday) I celebrated my 4th year of my diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (a blood cancer incurable but treatable). Since then it has been quite a ride. Our entire family has participated in 4 "Light the Night" walks to raise funds for research for Lymphoma and Leukemia and every year it was necessary to hear what would always "stick" in the hearts of all the loved ones in the crowd. The comment was "With the research of Lymphoma and & Leukemia we have discovered that every 5 minutes someone is diagnosed with this disease, and every 10 minutes someone "loses" their battle. Not necessarily the best phrase of encouragement they could find but I suppose the statistics are necessary. For instance, I have calculated that since I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma there have been 12 five minute periods each hour meaning that 12 people are diagnosed every hour of every day adding up to 288 each 24 hour day that has passed in this 4 year period. Now look at the one year statistic: if 288 are diagnosed each day then 105,120 get this news each year. So since the day I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 420,480 children and adults have been diagnosed with this cancer. That figure is staggering. (please check my math) So now we come to the hard part. Statistics say that every 10 minutes someone with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Leukemia loses their battle to this disease. That is 6 people per hour, 144 per day, 52,560 per year and 210,240 since I was diagnosed on July 15, 2005. And this is just one type of cancer. (I think my math may be a little off but you get the picture; brain a little "fuzzy" with the new diagnosis a couple of weeks ago.

So why would I bring such staggering statistics to the forefront of a supposedly "devotional" story? Well those figures represent hurting hearts both those diagnosed and those who lose a loved one each day.

The passage of scripture I quoted at the beginning of this devotional was very emotional. The action taken by this woman literally "drained" energy from Jesus to the point that He found it necessary to ask "who touched Him". She was a woman who has experienced a "hemorrhaging" problem for some twelve years with nobody to help her. She was literally bleeding to death.

Over the years she had heard about this Jesus and began to develop a faith in Him. A faith which finally became strong enough for her (as a woman) to break her way through the crowd and reach out and "Just" touch a piece of His garment. This action combined with the faith she had developed over the years literally drained strength from Jesus and gave her the healing she was so badly seeking.

You must read the entire passage (Mark 5:25-34) to get the full value of the action but when Jesus realized what had happened He gently leaned down and said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

Okay back to a statement I made . I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma over 4 years ago and 2 weeks ago MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) has developed in my bone marrow. It is a collection of disorders in which the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells and will eventually mutate into AML which is a form of Leukemia. I notice I am getting long and still have not addressed my purpose.

When I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma on July 15, 2005, I reached out and touched the garment of Jesus. He was aware of the action and has been providing me with health sufficient to survive for this long. How did I do that? Jesus was nowhere in sight. Well I simply surrendered the disease and its complications to Christ for Him to deal with. At that very point, they became "His problem" and not mine to worry about. He has seen me through this far and given me a tremendous freedom from fear and confusion.

Unless I get hit by a Greyhound bus, someday Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Leukemia will take my physical life, however it is not something that Christ has me "ponder" each day because He wants other things of me. And as for you, the same applies.

So, if you haven't yet done so, reach out and touch the garment of Jesus, receive your healing (for however long He determines) and get back out there with a joyful heart and share what Christ has done for you. I have seen many numbers of people over the past 4 years change their opinion of Jesus Christ and seen several on their knees asking Him to control their lives and give them HIS peace.

It's your turn. The statistics for this one disease alone are staggering and Jesus wants people like us to stand beside them and allow them to witness the fact that "everything is ALRIGHT". God is still on His throne.

Dave

"Lord, What Can I Say?"

"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool." Prov.19:1 Lord let us all be mindful of the words that leave our mouths today. Words can hurt so badly and yet they can be the most uplifting tools in our toolbox of ministry...

Dave

Know The Son Of Man

Matthew 24:24-28 says, "For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, {or,} 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe {them.} For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

We live in a century where it's pretty much "every man for himself" and it even holds true in the pulpits of some of our churches today, including the church followings we are seeing on the internet such as Face book, My Space, Twitter and many other means of communication. Jesus warned His disciples to be weary of those "False Prophets" and we must do the same today.

Way too many people have created a following that they refer to as a "following for Christ" but we must ask questions, get understanding, and discern motives of those who would try to lead us astray.

2 John 9, 10 says, "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting".

So why do we so often stand at the door and attempt to argue with Jehovah’s Witnesses or those bike peddling young Mormon Missionaries? God said "Do NOT even give them a greeting. I don't say to them "may God bless you". I don't want God to bless them; I want Him to deal with them. I want NOTHING that they have to present; in fact, I have something to present to them. That which is of the truth of God and not a lie.

All indications are that the Lord, Jesus Christ is so, so close to returning for His Church and Believers and we need to be in His Word, understanding the difference between a true prophet and one that is false. Stand up; Stand up, for Jesus Christ...for He is THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN!

Dave

Keep The Door Open

In John's Revelation, in the back of the book (Chapter 3) as he interprets Christ speaking to the church of Philadelphia he says, "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth". The prize is because "they kept an open door...and have kept My word". I bring this up simply because we need to be "alert" in this age as we see the signs of our Lord soon imminent return. Keep the "door" open by keeping His word and being faithful to it. Spend your time giving glory to God for He surely deserves it. He gave to us the "ultimate" gift and we owe Him our very lives and worship.

My Pastor on "Humility"

One of the most amazing messages I've ever heard on "Humility". Take a half hour out of your busy day and listen to what Pastor Todd of Calvary Chapel Surprise, Arizona had to present. You'll be blessed and perhaps grow from these thoughts.

http://www.calvarychapelsurprise.org/studies/john-716-24-if-anyone-is-willing/

This is where I fellowship so perhaps I am somewhat prejudice but you decide for yourselves.

Dave

Forgive My Unbelief

I suppose some of you have noticed that I appear to have "writers cramps" or "writers block" because my last post was August 30th but I have been doing some serious "sleeping" over the past few days. It has to do with my blood counts. I can be wide awake and suddenly, and without notice, find myself slumped over sound asleep. I'm sure the doctors will do something, eventually to try to help (being very optimistic).

Anyway, I was awaken a 4 AM this morning by a thought from God and wanted to take a few minutes to share a subject that none of us like at all. And it's kind of weird because the thoughts that God woke me with were concerning a message I heard over 30 years ago by Pastor Chuck Swindoll and the subject continues to resonate in my head even after all these years. I suppose it is because it is seen in the church and within the Christian community so much these days. Let me share his illustration:

"I knew of a young man who served in the armed forces who went to war and got both of his legs blown off in battle and he was in the hospital being nursed back to health and eventually he and his nurse fell in love and got married. As life went on, they had three little girls and they decided that they should take these girls to Church and Sunday School so they could learn about God and so they went and he said, 'I notice that week after week as I looked out the window, I continually saw my girls playing "red rover" and after a while I thought to myself, we are not learning about sin or hell. We are not being taught about the penalties of our wrongdoings. And then he made this most insightful comment: "These people are going to love us right into hell". (Charles Swindoll - early 1970's - paraphrased).

When God woke me us with this thought, it caused me to wonder why He has felt it necessary for that particular message to stick in my head so vividly over all these years and the last few weeks have shown me why.

The man in this illustration was making an informed "judgement" call based on what he was receiving or not receiving from his church fellowship. And I notice this in our Christian walk today. I see Christian after Christian (including myself) misusing the very Words of God for the purpose of "puffing themselves" up and making them look "important" and "relevant" in the sight of mankind. And it causes me to ask: "Who are we trying to please?" Is it God or Man? I see Christian men and women attempting to increase the size of their popularity, especially on the Internet (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter - and many other methods). and they seem to just want to increase the size of their audience but once they have achieved a great number of listeners, don't bother to tell the truth. They simply boast about how much they do and how great they are. You know the kind; in fact, perhaps I have fallen into this category a time or two. They want you to tell your friends to listen in or become a fan of them or something they represent, however when this happens, they do not espouse the truth of God, they simple deposit little "nuggets" of interest that keep them coming back the next time to see what will be said next.

I have noticed that there is seldom ever a comment about hell or death or judgement which, if we are honest, this is what we need to know about so we can live our lives steering clear of these issues. The Internet offers the greatest number of searching people in the world for us to share Christ with and most of what we see is how "I did this, or he did that, and boy it was awesome" "The church was blown away by this awesome pastor" or "he really knocked my socks off today"! But how many time do you read that from this persons mouth or that persons mouth, "God really delivered a blessing to my life today. God truly said something to me today that I had never thought of before and because of that, I need to change some things in my life"!

It seems to me that it is never about God anymore but about the person or group who is presenting the message. "Oh this is a wonderful pastor, he gives me ""goosebumps" when he speaks" or perhaps "this guy is hilarious, he always leaves me laughing. Credit to God seems to get farther and farther away as we accumulate friends and want to popularize ourselves. We seem to want to tell everyone to be "Blessed by God" but we never offer any reason why we should be entitled to the blessing.

This is strictly my own opinion and it really means nothing other than to me and God, but I don't see those who are filling the pages of these Internet sights with the "Judgment of God". Like the soldier said, We're not hearing about sin or hell (by the way, hell is just as real as heaven). We're not hearing about the truth of God, but we know how many people showed up for a Bar-b-que at so-in-so's place last week.

Now some of you will read this and the first thing you will say is that I am passing judgment on others when I have several fingers pointing back to myself. Well to that I say, I'm in the club with you. I use the Internet alot and even though I constantly espouse God from these writing, I still don't spend enough time explaining the importance of Salvation and why we need it. I'm not trying to get under any one's skin. I am trying to tell you what I see with my heart and how we as a community of believers are failing God by not sharing the truth of God, but rather sharing with everyone how much fun we are having with each other. Remember how the disciples began to "scatter" after the Holy Spirit had come upon them? They had a burning sensation in their hearts that could not be quenched without going out and telling others about God.

Listen to what James says in chapter 3:1-5 "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!"

Are you telling others about God, truly, or are you building a fan club for yourself? I feel confident that God did not call me to see how many fans I could accumulate on the Internet but rather to ride through the streets like Paul Revere when he shouted "The British are coming". I want you to know that "The King Is Coming" and His judgment will be quick. I want you to know that hell is real, just as real as heaven and a day will come when you will reside in one of these places. I want you to know that Satan is alive and is fighting a very intense battle for your very soul. And if he can sidetrack you, even though you are a Christian, he can keep you from your obligation to Christ. Satan is just a "fallen angel" a creation of God just like you. The only difference is that we are "CHILDREN OF THE KING"! And He is looking for us to act the part.

Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, along with thousands of blogs are GREAT tools to be used for God's Glory. The question is, "Who's gettin' the glory?"

God forgive my timidity and grant me the strength to ALWAYS share Your truth. "I do believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24b)

Dave