God Is

The message was brought by Rev. Jack Sprinkle.

Isaiah 41: ¹⁰Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  ^9b Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

I want to go over four things.  1) God is near to help.  2) God is able to help.  3) God is willing to help. 4) God is kind in helping.

God is as near the man in Australia as he is you in the pew.  God gives you 100% attention but gives the same to others even on the other side of the world.  I watched a Billy Graham crusade and saw all those people come forward.  God worked with the crowd collectively but each one individually.  That’s because he is here to help YOU.  He’s a personal God.  He loves you.  John 3:16 could have each of our names in it.  For God so loved YOU that he gave his only begotten son.  God would have sent Jesus for only one person.  Romans 10:9 tells us the Word is in our mouth—that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus.  I was at the doctor and had a lot of questions.  I told her I hated to take up time with the questions.  She told me while you’re in here I’m with you.  While you’re here, you’re in God’s care.  God is with you.  He’s never slipped out in time of trouble.  Mrs. Wesley was asked which of her 18 kids she loved the most.  She said, the one gone until he’s home, the one sick until he’s well, and the one in trouble until it’s over.  It’s simple.  God is near and is interested in you.  Call upon him while he is near.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.  He is not too busy to help.

Not only is God near to help; he is able.  There is nothing beyond God’s ability.  Remember when God was talking to Abraham about the birth of Isaac.  He asked him if there is anything too hard for God.  He can bring this nation back from the cliff.  Second Chronicles 7:14 tells us if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  It doesn’t say for the drunk to do it; God’s people need to turn back to God.  Matthew 9 tells us that God has power on this earth.  He is able to forgive sins and cleanse from unrighteousness.  I don’t have to carry the guilt of sin.  Seek his forgiveness while he is near.  It matters not how little or how big the problem.  He’s as interested in your problems as you’ll let him be.  Israel spent 430 years as slaves before their deliverance.  Why didn’t God deliver them sooner?  Could he not have done it earlier?  Was he busy helping others?  The Bible says the people weren’t ready for it.  God said he heard their cry.  Then he acted.  We serve the only God there is and he’s near and able to help.

He’s also willing to help us.  There have been people who have needed my help and I wasn’t willing.  God is willing—no matter what.  There is no one like God.  When there is no place else to turn, he’s willing.  When people wait until the last thing to call on God, he’s still willing.  The disciples were on the boat in a storm.  They saw a figure walking to them on the water.  It was Jesus.  Peter said to him if it’s you Lord bid me come to you on the water.  I don’t know how far Peter walked on the water but I know he did.  If you stumble on your way to God you are falling in the right direction.  Jesus helped Peter when he called out “Lord, save me.”

God is kind in helping.  I don’t care what your needs are.  God is able.  He won’t help us grudgingly.  He took Peter to the boat.  He’s carried me for years.  He never gets tired of carrying me.  He’s near.  He’s able.  He’s willing and he does it joyfully.  It makes him happy to help.  All he’s asking is why you won’t let him help.

Do you need help?  Is there a need?  Do you feel like he’s willing to help you?  God’s love is stronger than death.  He’s ready when we are to supply our needs and his supply in inexhaustible.