#CHRISTIANCLICHES

“God helps those who help themselves.”

#CHRISTIANCLICHES “God helps those who help themselves.” 81% of Americans (Barna)

#CHRISTIANCLICHES Nahhhhh, I’m pretty sure it’s in there!

#CHRISTIANCLICHES “A wagoneer was once driving a heavy load along a very muddy way. He came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper sank the wheels. So the wagoneer threw down his whip, knelt down, and prayed to Hercules – did you hear the clue? - ‘Oh, Hercules, help me in my hour of distress.’ But Hercules appeared to him and said, ‘Man, don’t sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.’”

#CHRISTIANCLICHES

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” – Romans 5:6

#CHRISTIANCLICHES Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” - Luke 15:1-10

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant.

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” -- Deuteronomy 8:17

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant b) Self-reliance makes you forget your dependence on God.

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant b) Self-reliance makes you forget your dependence on God. “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m help-less. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God, but it sure changes me.” – CS Lewis

#CHRISTIANCLICHES “Prayer is not a message scribbled on a note, jammed into a bottle and tossed in the sea in hopes that it will wash up someday on God’s shore. Prayer is communion with God. We speak to God, and God touches us and changes us. Whether we pray for rain or sunshine, our prayer is answered because in the act of praying we receive the gift we really need—intimacy with God.” - Thomas Long

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant b) Self-reliance makes you forget your dependence on God. 2) THE TRUTH: GOD HELPS THE HELPLESS!

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant b) Self-reliance makes you forget your dependence on God. 2) THE TRUTH: GOD HELPS THE HELPLESS! a) Admit you are ultimately powerless to help yourself.

#CHRISTIANCLICHES “I consider the most dangerous heresy on earth the emphasis on what we do for God instead of what God does for us. Some are so convinced of the opposite, they would argue nose to nose. They are often the ones who claim that their favorite verse of Scripture is ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ The fact is, God helps the helpless, the undeserving, those who don’t measure up, those who fail to achieve His standard.

#CHRISTIANCLICHES Nevertheless, the heresy continues louder now than ever in history. Most people see themselves as ‘masters’ of their own fate, ‘captains’ of their own souls. And why not? It supports humanity’s all-time favorite subject: self.” -- Dr. Charles Swindoll

#CHRISTIANCLICHES “Unless the Lord had given me HELP, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” -- Psalm 94:17-19

#CHRISTIANCLICHES 1) THE LIE: SELF-HELP IS THE BEST HELP a) Self-reliance makes you arrogant b) Self-reliance makes you forget your dependence on God. 2) THE TRUTH: GOD HELPS THE HELPLESS! a) Admit you are ultimately powerless to help yourself. b) Trust God for help.

#CHRISTIANCLICHES “I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1-2

#CHRISTIANCLICHES

For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat… “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!

#CHRISTIANCLICHES Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant. -- Isaiah 25:4; 55:1-13