Langata Rd, Opposite Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, Kenya.

Who Is Your Helper?

Who Is Your Helper?

Speaker: Rev. John Mwangi Date: 06 Oct 2024

Text: Psalm 121:1-8

  • 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.
  • He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
  • 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.
  • The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Friends as helpers:

True friends reflect the characteristics of God’s help- loyalty, support, and love. Just as God is always there, true friends stand by us in difficult times. However, human help can fail; that’s why our ultimate dependence should be on God.

Family as helpers:

Family is often our first circle of support and care. In moments of weakness, family can encourage and lift us up, much like God does for His children. Reflect on how families should look to God for guidance, just as the Israelites looked to God in times of uncertainty. Encourage families to pray and seek God’s wisdom, recognizing that even in strong family relationships, God’s help is paramount.

Health and God’s help:

Health challenges can remind us of our human limitations. In those moments, we turn to God as our healer and sustainer. While doctors and medicine are valuable resources, Psalm 121 reminds us that ultimately, our help comes from God, who watches over our life.

Looking to God as the Ultimate Helper:

Lift up your eyes to God in every area of life, be it through friendships, family, or health. While friends, family, and resources like medicine can help, our ultimate helper, the One who sustains and keeps us through everything, is God alone.

In business, it’s crucial to remember that our strength, success, and ability to make strategic decisions come from the Lord. Verse 2 says, “My help comes the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” This encourages us to rely on God, trusting that He will give us the insight and opportunities needed to thrive.

When it comes to finances, verse 3 assures us that “He will not let your foot slip.” This speaks to financial stability and wise management. Whether starting a new venture, investing, or managing personal finances, we can trust that God will guide us on solid ground, preventing us from making hasty or reckless decisions that could lead to financial ruin.

Even is debt, we are reminded to look to God for deliverance. God promises to guide us and give us wisdom, even when we’re overwhelmed by financial pressure. Many people face distress but we are reassured that he who watches over you will not slumber. This means that even in our darkest moments of anxiety or despair, God is constantly watching over us. He will hold us steady and keep us from falling too far, offering peace in place of distress. Desertion can leave us with deep wounds but we are reminded that the Lord watches over you, He is your shade at your right hand. When you feel alone or betrayed by people, God is always present.

The story of Jesus turning water into wine in John 2:1-11 perfectly demonstrates how Jesus is our helper in every circumstance. Just as He came through at the wedding in Cana, He is present to help us in our times of debt, distress, desertion, and discontentment. When we lift our eyes to Him, trusting in His power and provision, He can transform our situations in ways we never expected.

The story of the Great Catch in Luke 5:1-11 shows that when we rely on God as our Helper, even in seasons of debt, distress, and discontentment, He is able to provide solutions that far exceed our expectations. This ties directly to the message of Psalm 121: He is always present, guiding, protecting, and blessing us when we put our trust in Him. Just as He filled Peter’s empty nets, He can fill our lives with provision, peace, and purpose.

In the parable of the tax collector in Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus contrasts the attitudes of a Pharisee and a tax collector who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee is full of pride, boasts about his righteousness and lists all the things he does to show his spiritual superiority. He relies on his own actions, essentially seeing himself as self-sufficient and better than others. On the other hand, the tax collector stands at a distance, not even daring to look up to heaven. He beats his chest and asks God to have mercy on him, a sinner. The tax collector recognizes his helplessness and unworthiness, and instead of relying on his own strength, he turns to God for mercy. In doing so, He lifts up his eyes to the hills acknowledging that his help must come from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The story of the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:13-21 mirrors the message of Psalm 121. In moments of overwhelming need, when we are burdened by debt, distress, feeling deserted, or experiencing discontent, God is our helper who provides, sustains, and blesses abundantly. All we need to do is lift our eyes to Him in faith, trusting that He is capable of turning little into much and despair into hope.

The story of the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak in Luke 8:42-48 beautifully aligns with the message of Psalm 121: God is always present to be our helper in times of great need. Just as the woman’s faith in Jesus led to her healing, our trust in God will lead us to the help, peace, and restoration we need in every aspect of our lives, including our future, finances, and business.

The story of Blind Bartimaeus beautifully encapsulates the sermon’s theme, demonstrating how God is our ultimate helper who responds to our cries for help, invites us to express our needs, and brings healing and restoration into our lives. This narrative encourages believers to actively seek God as their helper in every aspect of life.