John 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Heaven help those who have no one to help them in the midst of their calamities. The inability to help one’s self is a very sad situation. Many find themselves despairing of life itself. Who then is to help them?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Do you see God’s will in your walk with Him? I have seen others who clearly knew God’s will and walked away because it seemed too hard. Then I have also seen others who have answered the call only to find they didn’t have the strength to finish because they didn’t know it was going to be that hard.

Who can say with any confidence that they are able to stand and finish what they have begun? It is almost certain that the most difficult of work cannot be accomplished by sheer will. It takes a Helper for the helper, to be able to do that which we are too weak to do in our own strength.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul learned this by experience. No one can say that the first time they are called into service. It is a thing learned.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Waiting feels like doing nothing the first time. Then you see the Lord at work in you and it becomes apparent that waiting on the Lord is doing the better part.

John 12:23-25 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Here is the great paradox, in order to live you must die. That doesn’t make much sense to many out there but if you placed your faith in Christ, it makes perfect sense.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Biptizo is Greek for dip continually. Note the wording, and its meaning, dipped continually in Jesus Christ. This is not a water baptism.

Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Dipped continually is exactly how our salvation in respect to forgiveness of sins works, continuous dipping, over and over again, by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Another aspect of the paradox is the surrendered life, to die to self, to place the will of the Father before your own.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.