Category Archives: Helping

Two volunteers lifting a large box labeled food bank donations filled with canned goods
Bearing, Bible, Helping, Romans, Scripture, Strength, Weakness

HELPING THE WEAK

ROMANS 15:1

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves.”

Don’t you just love it when you see someone coming to the aid of someone who needs a helping hand? I will never forget having the privilege of doing that. Sometimes it was an elderly person who needed a hand to get up out of a chair. Or it might have been a child that I could help learn something new or lift something that was too heavy for them. This is a great practice for us to do.

Paul begins chapter 15 today with an admonition to we who are stronger in our faith to come to the aid of those who are weaker. This might be a brand new follower of Christ or someone who just has not been discipled on how to walk with Jesus. Disciple making is the most overlooked discipline of the church today, I believe. We are quick to “save” someone but very slow about discipling them into effective disciple makers.

APPLICATION

Let’s look at some key words in today’s verse. First, what does “strong” mean? It’s the Greek word dunatos which means able, mighty or powerful. Of course, we know our power comes through the Holy Spirit Who indwells us. Therefore, as we help someone, they are exposed to the Spirit’s power, not our own.

Next we read in the verse that we “ought to bear.” The Greek word for “bear” is bastazó which literally means to lift, carry or take up. The same word is used in Galatians 6:2 where it says we are to bear one another’s burdens. Two can lift a lot more than one can. I once taught twelve boys under the age of 11 to lift an 800 log up four feet to place it on a porch. They worked together to achieve the impossible.

Then Paul refers to the other person’s “weaknesses.” That’s the Greek word adunatos. Look familiar? Yes, it is the same word for “strong” with the preposition a– which negates it. So, it means without power, without capability. People who have not learned how to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit or who don’t even possess the Spirit can never face life’s challenges effectively. In Matthew 19:26 this word is used when Jesus says it is “impossible” for someone to be saved with out God.

Are you strong in your faith and in your knowledge of the power than resides within you as a follower of Christ? If so, bear your weaker brothers’ and sisters’ burdens. This will please the Father.

Lord, show me who to lend my help to in order to grow them into effective disciple makers for You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Helping, Holy Spirit, Intercession, Romans, Scripture

THE HELPING, INTERCEDING SPIRIT

ROMANS 8:26

“Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”

Have you ever been at a loss for words? I know some people whom I could never say that about. Lol. Just kidding. But seriously, we do have those moments when a sudden shock or grief hits us, and we just can’t articulate the words. I have had a few of those in my life. Fortunately, I have always had friends I could call to come and pray with me and for me. Do you have friends like that?

I just love this verse. Don’t you? We have a Comforter within us! Paul says that this Spirit of Christ “helps our weakness” and “intercedes for us.” That’s a double whammy, right? Most followers of Christ ignore or minimize the Holy Spirit. When we do that, we are not allowing the Lord to fully work in and through us. Let’s take a look at these two roles of the Spirit that Paul mentions in today’s verse.

APPLICATION

First, Paul says, “the Spirit also helps our weakness.” What does that mean? The works “helps” is sunantilambanomai (I dare you to say that five times real fast, lol). This is a triple compound word – sýn (closely identified with“) and antí (corresponding) and lambánō, (aggressively lay hold of). Picture two people grabbing the opposite ends of a large ice chest to carry it somewhere. That’s sunantilambanomai. It’s only used twice in the New Testament – here in Romans 8:26 referring to the Holy Spirit “grabbing the other end of our prayers to lift them to heaven” and also in Luke 10:40 where we read, “But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.’” Martha wanted Mary to grab her end of the work.

Then Paul says the Holy Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” The word “intercedes” is huperentugchanó. It is only used here in Romans 8:26. HELPS Word-studies says, “hyperentygxánō (intercede) refers to the Holy Spirit interceding in every scene of our lives so we can ‘come in line with’ the Lord’s eternal purpose. The content of these intercessions goes beyond human language and includes bringing sacred mysteries into our daily walk with Christ.”

Wow! Did you know you had that in you? If you are a follower of Christ, you have a helper and interceder living within you. Christ put Him there the moment you said “yes” to Him. He flooded your soul and spirit with the divine Holy Spirit sent from heaven above. Tap into that power today. Let the Spirit speak in and through you to someone else.

Father God, I am guilty of not recognizing the power that is within me through Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Aid, Bible, Conflict, Fellow worker, Helping, Scripture

HELP EACH OTHER

PHILIPPIANS 4:3

“Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

I like to help people when I can. Don’t you? If I am able and available, I like to lend a hand. I also like to help people who just need a listening ear. In my ministry, I often have that opportunity. Men need to talk but are usually afraid to get too personal too quick. I understand that, but I am called to listen and point them to the Word. I have to be honest, though. I haven’t always done that with my own family. Don’t point your finger at me. I bet you could say the same thing.

Paul loved these two women mentioned in verse 2, Euodia and Syntyche. Paul said they had “shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel.” They were fellow servants. Paul obviously wanted them to come to the same mind about some issue they were arguing about. He knew their squabble could infect the whole church. It must have been pretty serious to have reached Paul’s ears in Rome. So, he calls on the church to come alongside them to end this.

APPLICATION

My Pastor has been preaching a series on relationships the past several weeks. You can listen to these at https://www.youtube.com/@CorrytonChurch. The past couple of sermons have been about dealing with conflict. I wish Euodia and Syntyche had heard ths message. It was pretty powerful. Matthew 18:15-19 gives us some good advice on dealing with conflict within the body of Christ. Don’t you wish every believer would practice these words of Christ?

I was reminded of a verse I had not heard in a while in my pastor’s sermon. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Isn’t that just the truth? I love to walk. When I walk with someone, we have to agree on the path we are taking, the speed to walk and how far we are going to walk. If we don’t do that, we are not going to be walking together. The same is true in our Christian walk with fellow believers.

The Greek word Paul uses for “help” is an interesting word. It can mean to clasp, seize, to conceive, help or take. That’s a pretty broad definition, isn’t it. It’s the strong compound word, sullambanó. The first part of that compound is sun, which is that inseparable “with.” In other words, we are to help closely. Try that today. Be that kind of friend. Perhaps you will need that yourself one day.

O Lord, help me help others today in way that can spur them on their walk with Christ.

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