OUR PLACE OF SAFETY
Sunday, January 23, 2005 - PM
Psalms 46:1-7, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."
The world longs for peace and safety. Peace treaties are signed almost every day between people and nations in an effort to maintain peace.
In June of 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed by the nations bringing an end to World War I. WW1 was to be the war that ended all wars. Obviously those who said this didn’t know the prophecies of the Word of God. It was not the War to end all Wars.
Twenty years later, the world was once again plunged into a terrible war. World War II cost the lives of millions of people before the Treaty of Peace was signed with both Germany and Japan. Once again mankind hoped for a lasting peace, but that was not to be.
Just a few years later Communist aggression forced the Korean Conflict upon mankind and on an on it goes. The world’s search for a lasting peace is an elusive dream that will never come to pass until the Prince of Peace appears in the clouds of glory.
In my own life, I have known a lot of trouble. Who in this place has not? Trouble seems to stalk us like a shadow and we find it on every turn of the corner.
There is no doubt that we are a people in need of a place of safety and help in times of trouble.
The world, lost in sin and shame, has no real place of refuge. Men run to their military might, but there is no real safety there. They run to their bank accounts only to find that their money has disappeared in a moment’s time. They run to friends, to false gods and false religions, but no peace can be found there.
The god of this world, Satan himself, loves to keep mankind in a position of slavery to their fears, and he loves to try to get Christians into that same mindset. He is here to steal, kill and destroy. If he can’t steal your soul, then he will try to kill your victory. If he can’t steal your steal your soul or kill your victory, then he will try to destroy your life any way he can. But the devil is a liar and the father of all liars, and God will not allow him to destroy you, kill you or steal your soul.
But I’m here tonight to tell you that, if you love the Lord and you are doing your best to serve Him with a pure heart, that you have a source of peace and safety in the times of the storm.
King David knew what it was to be assaulted by the power of the devil and those that Satan would stir up against him and yet look at what he had to say in Psalms 31:1-4, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength."
It doesn’t matter how stormy the seas are around you, Jesus is still Lord of your life and nothing can take you out of His hand. He is your refuge and strength, so run to Him and Him alone.
No preacher is your source. Oh I would love to claim that power to protect, that power to heal, that power to deliver and set free, but my friend, I’m looking for safety just like the rest of you. I’m not your answer but I can point you to the One who is! I can point you to Jesus Christ.
Oh isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus is your Lord and Savior! Isn’t it wonderful to know that His all-seeing eye is watching over you! Isn’t it wonderful to know that He will come speedily to your side when you call upon Him! His ear is not deaf! His eye is not blinded that He cannot see your need! His power is not limited and there is nothing too hard for Him to do.
Matthew 14:24-32, tells the story of Jesus coming to the disciples as they were tossed by the wind and waves in the darkest hour of the night. Jesus knew their trial was coming. He let them go out for a while and face their trouble but He knew that their faith was weak in the midst of their trial, so He came to them walking on the water.
When Jesus comes on the scene, walking on the circumstances that trouble you so much, He will bring faith with Him. He is your peace in the midst of the storm. You can’t stop the winds of adversity from blowing your ship around, and you can’t stop the waves from trying to drown you in sorrow, but Jesus Can and He Will! He will speak peace into your situation and the winds and waves will cease! All it takes is one word from the Lord and your circumstances fall away and victory is born in your soul!
Just as close as God was to David in the midst of his storms, and as close as Jesus was to those disciples on the Sea of Galilee, He is just as close to you too.
Jesus is a very present help in time of need. He will never leave you nor forsake you, but with every temptation that comes against you He will always make a way of escape. He will always supply your every need and he will not let you stumble and fall for long. He will rise swiftly from his throne, command that chariot that Ezekiel saw as a “Wheel in the Middle of the Wheel” and He will “fly” to your side like a flash of lightning with fury in His eyes, because He loves you!
…though the earth be removed (it may shake, rattle and roll with power of earthquakes, winds and waves), and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea (meteors call fall and the storms of life can rise like a giant tidal wave to drown you); Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof…
I will not fear - I will not let the devil win – I will not go down without a fight – I will never surrender – I will never quit - I will ever serve the Lord. He is my refuge and my strength and very present help in time of trouble.
…There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early…
Bro. Jimmy Swaggart has a song that he sang on one of his albums that said, “There is a river, that flows from Calvary…” That’s the river that flows from the city of God, it’s a river of the blood of Christ to forgive my sins, a river of life that gives healing to my wounds, and a river of refreshing power of the Holy Ghost that revives me once again, and like a tree that ‘s planted by the waters, I shall not be moved for He is my God!
…The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge…
Let the world seek after its own form of peace that will never be found – I’ve already found the answer.
Let the world seek after an answer to all it’s problems – my answers on the way this I know. Jesus said it, I believe it, and it’s so. That old chorus says, “My Heavenly Father knows my need before I pray and you can rest assured, the answer’s on the way!”
This old world, filled with sin, will always be in a rage. Nations rising against nations, wars and fighting on every hand but God is with me and victory is mine!
The worldly crowd in the church will rage against the truth of the Word of God and against those who stand for the truth – but God is with us and we shall not be moved!
All it takes is one word from Almighty God and mountains tremble, wind and waves cease their destructive power, the dark clouds will roll away and the Son of God will shine through once again.
One Word of creative power from the lips of my Father in Heaven and all the world will stop turning if God wills it to happen.
The Lord of Hosts is with us folks – we have nothing to fear!
The Lord of Hosts –the designation of the Commander in Chief of all the Armies of Heaven. Angels stand around you. The chariots of fire, like that which carried Elijah home to glory are standing at flank attention on every side. His angels are encamped all around you! Almighty God has come down to live in your heart and you shall not be moved.
Let the heathen rage, let the mountains came against you, let the giants roar their threats, let the rivers and waves try to drown you if they want to – but my God will lift up a standard against them and the gates of hell shall never prevail.
The Lord of Hosts is with us and the God of Jacob is here right now. He is the great I AM. He is the One who set Israel free from Egypt’s bondage. He is the God who brought water from the rock in the Wilderness of Sin. He is the God that sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross for me. He is my Father and I have nothing to fear!
We aren’t looking for a treaty of peace with the devil. We will never agree to a compromise with the forces of darkness. There can only be one final outcome of the storms in your life in Christ – ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE VICTORY!
We will accept no terms except unconditional surrender of the enemy of our soul!
The Lord of Hosts is with us, whom shall we fear! The God of Jacob is with us, who shall stand against Him!
Let us Praise God for the victory! Let us praise Him for His wonderful works! Let us praise Him for his promises! Let us praise Him for our great salvation! Let us praise Him for He is God!
