Introduction

Good morning/afternoon/evening, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am truly blessed to be standing before you today, under the roof of our shared faith, united in our love for God and each other. Today, we gather to reflect on a message of hope, a message of assurance, a message that is as timeless as it is relevant. The title of our sermon today is "Help is on the Way," and it is a message that resonates with each of us, regardless of where we are in our spiritual journey.

Before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and open minds. We ask that You guide our thoughts and our words as we seek to understand Your message for us today. We ask that You open our eyes to see Your truth, open our ears to hear Your word, and open our hearts to receive Your love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Our scripture reading today comes from the book of Psalms, chapter 121, verses 1 and 2. "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." These verses are a testament to the unwavering faith of the psalmist, a faith that we, too, are called to emulate.

Imagine, if you will, standing at the foot of a towering mountain. Its peak is shrouded in clouds, its slopes steep and treacherous. This mountain represents the challenges we face in life - the trials, the tribulations, the heartaches, and the disappointments. It can be daunting, even terrifying. But the psalmist doesn't focus on the mountain. Instead, he lifts his eyes beyond the mountain, to the One who created it. His help, he knows, comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

This is the main idea that we are going to focus on today - that God is our ultimate source of help and assurance. When we face the mountains in our lives, we are not alone. We have a Helper, a Protector, a Guide. And this Helper is not just any helper. He is the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He is the One who spoke the universe into existence, who set the stars in the sky and the boundaries for the sea. He is the One who breathed life into us, who knows us intimately, who loves us unconditionally.

So, as we stand before our mountains, let us remember to lift our eyes. Let us remember where our help comes from. It doesn't come from our own strength or wisdom. It doesn't come from other people. It comes from the Lord. And because it comes from the Lord, we can be assured that it is reliable, it is sufficient, it is perfect.

As we journey through this sermon together, let us keep this image in our minds - the image of the mountain and the One who created it. Let it remind us of our challenges, but more importantly, let it remind us of our Helper. Let it inspire us to lift our eyes, to seek our help from the Lord, and to find assurance in His unfailing love and power.

So, dear brothers and sisters, as we embark on this journey of understanding and reflection, let us do so with open hearts and open minds. Let us be receptive to God's word, let us be responsive to His call, and let us be ready to receive His help. For indeed, help is on the way.

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Friends, when we find ourselves in the midst of trials and tribulations, it is essential to remember that our help comes from the Lord. He is the one who fashioned the heavens and the earth, and He is the one who watches over us with unwavering love and protection. Just as the mountains stand tall and steadfast, so does our God. He never slumbers nor sleeps, always vigilant in guarding His children.

Now, let's take a moment to consider the mountains. They are immovable, unshakeable, and they stand tall against the harshest of weather conditions. They are a symbol of strength and stability. And when we lift our eyes to the mountains, we are reminded of the strength and stability that comes from our God. He is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer. He is the one who gives us the strength to stand firm in the face of adversity.

In the original Hebrew language, the word for 'help' used in this Psalm is 'ezer.' This word carries a sense of urgency and necessity. It is not a casual assistance but a vital, life-saving support. This is the kind of help that God offers us. It's not just a pat on the back or a kind word. It's a lifeline. It's a hand reaching down to pull us out of the mire. It's a shield protecting us from the fiery darts of the enemy. It's a strong tower we can run into and be safe.

As the renowned theologian Charles Spurgeon once said, "God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart." Even when we can't see what God is doing, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good.

Now, let's consider the fact that our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. This is not just any help. This is help from the Creator of the universe. The one who spoke the world into existence. The one who holds the stars in His hands. The one who knows the number of hairs on our heads. This is the one who is offering us His help. It's not a distant, impersonal force. It's a loving, caring, personal God who knows us intimately and cares for us deeply.

And finally, let's remember that our God never slumbers nor sleeps. He is always watching over us. He is always on guard. He is always ready to come to our aid. We don't have to worry about waking Him up or disturbing Him. He is always ready, always willing, always able to help us in our time of need.

So, friends, let's take heart. Let's lift our eyes to the mountains and remember where our help comes from. It comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. And He is more than able to help us in our time of need.

God is our source of help and assurance

Life is a journey. It's a journey filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and sorrows. And on this journey, we can sometimes feel lost, alone, and overwhelmed. But there's good news. We have a guide, a protector, a helper who is always with us. His name is God.

God is our source of help. When we're struggling, when we're in pain, when we're lost, we can turn to Him. He's always there, ready to help us. He won't let our foot slip. He won't let us fall. He's there to catch us, to hold us up, to guide us on the right path.

And God is our assurance. He's our assurance that no matter what happens, no matter how hard things get, we're not alone. He's always watching over us. He never sleeps. He never slumbers. He's always there, keeping us safe, keeping us secure.

Now, let's look at three truths about God that we can hold onto.

First, God is our protector. In Psalm 121, the psalmist writes, "The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand." God is our shield. He's our defense. He's our protector. He's the one who keeps us safe from harm.

Second, God is our guide. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." God is the one who leads us. He's the one who shows us the way. He's the one who makes our paths straight.

Third, God is our helper. In Hebrews 13:6, the writer says, "So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" God is the one who helps us. He's the one who gives us strength. He's the one who gives us courage.

Now, let's turn to the New Testament. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This is a promise. A promise from Jesus Himself. He's with us. Always. Not just sometimes. Not just when things are going well. But always. To the end of the age.

This brings us to two more truths about God.

First, God is always with us. He's not a distant God. He's not a God who's far away. He's a God who's close. A God who's near. A God who's with us. Always.

Second, God is faithful. He's not a God who breaks His promises. He's not a God who leaves us. He's a God who stays. A God who's faithful. A God who's true.

So, as we journey through life, let's remember these truths. Let's remember that God is our source of help and assurance. Let's remember that He's our protector, our guide, our helper. Let's remember that He's always with us, and that He's faithful.

And as we remember these truths, let's look to God. Let's trust in Him. Let's rely on Him. Let's lean on Him. Because He's our source of help and assurance. He's our God. And He's with us. Always.

God as Our Protector and Keeper

As we journey through the winding paths of life, we often find ourselves standing at the crossroads of uncertainty, searching for a beacon of hope and assurance. In these moments, we must remember that our source of help and assurance is not found in the fleeting promises of this world, but in the eternal truth of God's word. This truth is beautifully encapsulated in Psalm 121, where we are reminded that God is our eternal keeper.

The first point we need to understand is that God is our protector. In Psalm 121:5-6, we read, "The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." This is not a metaphorical promise, but a literal assurance from God Himself. He is our shade, our shield from the scorching trials and tribulations of life. He is our refuge, our sanctuary from the darkness that threatens to consume us. This is not a promise of a life without challenges, but a guarantee of God's protection amidst these challenges.

Research conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that people who believe in God's protection and provision are more likely to experience peace and contentment in their lives. This is not surprising, as the knowledge of God's protection brings a sense of security and peace that surpasses human understanding. It's like having a personal bodyguard who never sleeps nor slumbers, always ready to defend and protect us.

In the words of A.W. Tozer, "An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others." This quote beautifully captures the essence of God's protection. He doesn't divide His attention or care among His children; instead, He fully invests Himself in each one of us, providing us with His undivided protection and care.

The second point to consider is that God is our keeper. Psalm 121:7-8 tells us, "The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." This is a promise of God's eternal vigilance over our lives. He is not a distant observer, but an active participant in our lives, constantly watching over us, guiding us, and protecting us from harm.

A study published in the Journal of Religion and Health found that individuals who believe in God's active involvement in their lives are more likely to have better mental health outcomes. This is because the belief in God's active involvement provides a sense of purpose and direction, reducing feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.

The final point we need to grasp is that God's keeping is not limited to our earthly existence. The promise in Psalm 121 extends beyond our mortal lives into eternity. God watches over our coming and going both now and forevermore. This is a promise of God's eternal care and keeping. He is not just our keeper in this life, but also in the life to come.

In a world that is constantly changing and filled with uncertainty, the promise of God's eternal keeping brings a sense of stability and assurance. It reminds us that even when everything else fails, God's care and keeping will never fail. It is a promise that transcends time and space, providing us with a sense of security and assurance that is not bound by the limitations of this world.

In conclusion, as we navigate through the challenges of life, let us always look to God, our source of help and assurance. He is our protector, our keeper, and our eternal guardian. His promises are not just for the here and now, but for eternity. So, let us hold on to these promises, for in them we find our hope, our peace, and our assurance.

Conclusion

As we draw this sermon to a close, let's take a moment to reflect on the words of Psalm 121. This Psalm is a beautiful reminder that our help, our assurance, our protection, and our strength come from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He is not just a distant deity, but a personal God who is intimately involved in our lives. He is our constant companion, our unwavering protector, and our eternal keeper.

In the face of life's trials and tribulations, let's remember to always look to God. He is our refuge, our fortress, our God in whom we can trust. He is our shield and our strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble. His faithfulness is unending, His promises are steadfast, and His love is unfailing.

As we go about our daily lives, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's show kindness to those around us, let's love unconditionally, let's forgive readily, and let's serve selflessly. Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus in our homes, in our workplaces, in our communities, and in our world.

Let's remember that we are not alone. God is with us, always. He walks with us through the valleys, He carries us through the storms, and He celebrates with us on the mountaintops. He is our source of help and assurance, our source of strength and comfort, our source of hope and peace.

As we face the uncertainties of life, let's remember that God is certain. His love for us is certain, His presence with us is certain, His promises to us are certain. Let's trust in Him, let's rely on Him, let's lean on Him. He is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unfailing love and faithfulness. We thank You for being our source of help and assurance. We thank You for walking with us, for carrying us, for celebrating with us. We thank You for Your promises, for Your presence, for Your peace. As we face the challenges of life, help us to always look to You. Help us to trust in You, to rely on You, to lean on You. Help us to be more like Jesus in our thoughts, in our words, and in our actions. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, as we prepare to leave this place, let's remember the words of the benediction.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Go forth with the assurance that God is with you, always. He is your help, your assurance, your protector, your keeper. He is your God, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Amen.

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