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"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." Psalm 121:7, 8.
"The Christian always has a strong helper in the Lord. The way of the Lord's helping we may not know; but this we do know: He will never fail those who put their trust in Him. Could Christians realize how many times the Lord has ordered their way, that the purposes of the enemy concerning them might not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly. Their faith would be stayed on God, and no trial would have power to move them."—Prophets and Kings, p. 576.
You want help when you stumble? You can find strength in your weakness! You can be kept by God's grace!
New Christians sometimes stumble in learning to walk in the new life. Some do not know what to think of this. Should you become discouraged and lose your commitment to Christ? Is it proper to take lightly your failures? Learn to place yourself in the care of the Lord to experience His daily keeping power.
Christians have the help of the Almighty. Everyone needs to learn about the resource of spiritual strength and power and how God can help you. In this lesson you will discover—
THE LORD YOUR HELPER
1. What did the Lord say about keeping His promise to the patriarch Jacob? Genesis 28:15.
Genesis 28:15 (NIV) I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
2. What was David's prayer to the Lord for His presence? Psalm 17:8.
Psalms 17:8 (NIV) Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
3. What promise of providing peace did Jesus make to His disciples? John 14:27.
John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Note: Sometimes new Christians early in their experience feel helpless and powerless to deal with temptation, sin, and trials. In such circumstances it is easy to be overcome with doubt and discouragement. The secret of victorious living is to entrust yourself, your needs, and your problems to Christ each day. Do this in prayer.
4. How did the apostle Paul state both his spiritual need and his confidence? 2 Timothy 1:12.
2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
5. Analyze some of your special spiritual needs:
__Feelings of discouragement
__Bad temper
__Occasional doubt
__Easily influenced by others
__Slips of tongue
__Need help with sinful habit
__Feel a personal weakness
__A problem of unbelief
__Other: __________________________________
6. What should you do about your spiritual needs? Philippians 4:6, 7.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. Is it common for humans to stumble? James 3:2.
James 3:2 (NIV) We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
8. What provisions has God given us to keep us from stumbling? Romans 5:5; Psalm 119:165.
Romans 5:5 (NIV) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Psalms 119:165 (NIV) Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
9. Who is able to keep you from falling in the future? Jude 24, 25.
Jude 1:24-25 (NIV) To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25) to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
10. What is your part in overcoming? James 4:6, 7; 1 Peter 5:8-10.
James 4:6, 7 (NIV) But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9) Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10) And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
True (T) or false (F):
__There is nothing for you to do.
__Resist the devil.
__Roll with the punches.
__Be alert. restful.
__ Be self-controlled.
__Stand firm in the faith.
11. What else does the Bible say you can personally do in overcoming? Matthew 26:41.
Matthew 26:41 (NIV) "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
12. How can you be equipped to do God's will? Hebrews 13:20, 21.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV) May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21) equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
13. What does the Bible promise the Lord will do for the Christian when he is assaulted by the evil one? 2 Thessalonians 3:3.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
14. Can you live the Christian life in human strength? Galatians 3:3.
Galatians 3:3 (NIV) Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
15. Whose power and strength is sufficient? 2 Corinthians 12:9.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
MY LIFE RESPONSE
David, the writer of most of the psalms, said, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." Psalm 28:7. Obviously, he looked to the Lord as his helper. Are you daily in prayer asking Christ to be your helper? Can you think of some recent experience in which the Lord helped you? Write about one of them here.
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.