Grace To Help In Time Of Need

Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

I first discovered this helpful passage of Scripture my first year in Bible college. I remember after chapel one day, reading the Bible in my dorm (I lived on-campus the first year). I was getting ready to go to work. I was a bit discouraged and sought comfort from the Word of God. I read this precious truth from Hebrews 4:15-16, which I have never forgot unto this day. The Bible says Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. That not only includes temptation to do wrong, but hardships and trials as well. Jesus knows what it means to be human! The Lord is not so heavenly high, that he cannot understand our earthly lows. The Lord understands our pains, sorrows, burdens, heartaches, losses and loneliness; the Word of God encourages us to COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE. Why? So that we can OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED. 

I cannot think of a more encouraging passage of Scripture! When we are feeling down (which for me is just about every day), the Bible invites us as believers to bring our burdens to the Lord and leave them there! Most people mentally separate verses 6 and 7 from verse 8, but they are all connected. Verses 6 and 7 deal with prayer, but verse 8 deals with right thinking. Every time I hear someone quote either of these passages, they are never quoted together, but I believe one's prayer life is directly linked to our thought life...

Philippians 4:6-8, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I guarantee you that people who listen to all the negativity on the daily news, and spend their time gossiping about others, don't pray as they should. We ought not allow a bunch of negative reports and bad news enter into our mind every day. Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” We are commanded not to worry; but rather, to cast all our cares upon the Lord in prayer. As believers we walk by faith and not by sight (2nd Corinthians 5:7), which means we should pray even when we don't see any visible results. To be honest, I don't see God answering most of my prayers, but I just keep on praying anyhow! I pray for my web visitors daily. I pray for God to give me wisdom. I pray for loved ones. I pray for God to give me a wife. 

Helping Others In Time Of Need

In his excellent book titled: “Exploring Prayer With Jack Hyles,” chapter 34, Dr. Hyles has this to say about Hebrews 4:15-16:

Recently at the First Baptist Church of Hammond funeral services were conducted for an elderly lady who had lived one of the most unselfish lives that we had ever witnessed. Something very sweet and blessed happened at her funeral. A young man stood up and said, "She paid my way through college. Nobody knew about it, but very quietly with little fanfare she helped me through college." 

A young lady stood up and said that the deceased woman had been like a mother to her. She had no living mother, and the lady to whom we were paying respects had taken her and treated her as her own daughter. Then all over the building people stood up testifying to the fact that this dear lady who had just recently entered into the presence of her Lord had helped them. 

How did she get this way? The answer is in Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Notice the words, "find grace to help in time of need." We normally associate these words with finding grace to help us in the time of our needs, but there is more here than that. This also means that when we come boldly to the throne of grace we may find grace to help others in their time of need. It is in the prayer closet where one meets unselfishness. It is in the prayer room where one dies to self. It is at the throne of grace where one learns to live for others. Notice that this passage does not say, "Find grace to be helped in time of need," but it says, "find grace to help in the time of need." This grace is found at the throne of grace where grace is dispensed to the children of God. It takes grace to help others. It takes grace to forget self. It takes grace to forget your own needs and remember those of another. Ah, there is a graduate course on prayer in this wonderful passage. 

Most of the Christian life is selfish. Most of us got saved in order that we might go to Heaven and escape the fires of Hell, or perhaps we got saved to find peace, contentment, joy and fulfillment. Many of us serve the Lord in order to avoid chastening. We tithe in order that the windows of Heaven may be opened and that God will pour "out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) We separate ourselves from the world in order to avoid the chastening rod of God. We pray in order to get things for ourselves. We read the Bible and meditate in order that we may be successful and prosperous. Psalm 1:1-3, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." 

These things are not wrong. It is not wrong to get saved in order to escape Hell and go to Heaven. It is not wrong to meet the conditions to tithe in order to open the windows of Heaven in order that we might receive a bountiful blessing, but there is a life into which we can enter that gives us more lofty motives. It is possible for a person to get saved because he wants his life to bring glory to God. It is possible for a person to serve God because he loves Him. It is possible for a person to tithe because he wants to be a co-laborer with God. It is possible for a person to pray and ask God for the needs of others. This advanced post-graduate life is conceived at home at the throne of grace. It is there that we lose ourselves in the service of others. It is there that we find grace to help others in their time of need. To be sure, there is nothing wrong with coming to the throne of grace in order that we find grace to be helped in the time of need, but there is a way that the Christian can come to the throne of grace in order that he might find grace to help others in their time of need, and to think, this unselfish life for others is available, yea, bountifully so, at the throne of grace! What a way to live! —Pastor Jack Hyles, chapter 34, “Exploring Prayer With Jack Hyles”

God's grace is available to help every believer, and also to help us help others. We are nothing without the Lord. John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” The Holy Bible encourages believers to COME BOLDLY TO GOD'S THRONE OF GRACE! It is only the precious blood of Jesus that entitles us to that privilege and right. Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” I encourage you dear reader to take advantage of your privilege in Christ, to come boldly before God's throne in prayer. 

“Oh, when will we learn the simple yet all important lesson that the one great thing needed in the life of a preacher to help him in his personal life, to keep his soul alive to God, and to give efficacy to the Word preached by him is real, constant prayer.” —Pastor E.M. Bounds, a quote from chapter seven of the book, “The Weapon Of Prayer”