Give Me Shelter
Psalm 91:1-4
A message on how anyone, anywhere, can find refuge in the secret place of God
Feb. 17, 2008(p.m.) FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
I He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High ...Psalms 91:1a (NASB)
A Who is "he"?
1 Anyone! Anybody!
a Seeking the wisdom, mind, glory, presence, fullness of God.
b It was true, it is true, will always be true!
2 There is safety in God!
B "Dwells"
1 Participle of "sit": literal meaning "sitting in the shelter".
a Sitting in the secret place
aa Reading, taking a load off, relaxing
b Secret place/shelter (the idea of shelter/secret place is the most holy place in the temple...Holy of Holies...sitting in that sacred place).
aa You make your home at God’s home
bb You are where God is at, is!
cc Not just passing through, stopping by...you’re living in God’s secret place.
2 There is only one way for us to get into the holy place/shelter/ secret place.
a No man comes to the Father, but through Jesus!
b Jesus said He was the door!
C "...the Most High..." (El Elyon)
1 In this life...there is none higher than the God Most High.
a In this life to come there is none higher than the God Most High.
b He is exalted above all, reigns over all, Most High of this world & billions of worlds beyond.
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. 5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed , and were created." Rev 4:2-11 (NASB)
II ...Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1b (NASB)
A Will (100%), abide (lodge), in (NASB, NIV: location of intimacy), under (KJV) shadow (v. 4 feathers/pinions, wing, shield, bulwark), Almighty (names of God bring, confide)
1 If you stand in someone’s shadow...they come between you & the heat, rain, snow, elements.
a Umbrella (shadow) comes between us & UV rays, rain, sun.
b He who dwells also lives in the shadow of the Almighty.
aa When Jesus entered our hearts, flooded our souls with His love, He came between me & the world, sin, death, grave, hell...and now I live in the shadow of the Almighty.
bb Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil , for You are with me...Psalms 23:4a (NASB)
cc Jesus is standing between me & death itself!
2 I’m in Him...I dwell in Him.
a Eat, breathe, sleep, live, move, & have my being!
b If I move...I want to move where He is.
aa I want to stay in His shadow
bb I must stay sensitive to His leading
B God gives us shelter!
III I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!" Psalms 91:2 (NASB)
A "I" (2 times)
1 No matter what the world says, news, friends, family say...
a "I will say" & "I will trust"
b My refuge & my fortress, my God
aa I am His, & He is mine!
bb Sing, "Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me."
2 "I trust" (Jesus never fails)
a People will betray & disappoint, feelings are misleading, truth changes (600 years ago the truth was the earth was flat, 100 years ago the truth was women couldn’t vote, 40 years ago the truth was a black man was un-electable at the national level).
b I will trust my refuge, my fortress, my God!
B If we trust Him, what can we ever possibly desire that we can’t find in Him at all times.
1 Not fickle, false, weak
a He’s not mortal/immortal; finite/infinite
b He’s all powerful, all knowing, always present...I trust Him
IV For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. Psalms 91:3-4 (NASB)
A The psalmist paints a picture of progressive problems.
1 Snare of the trapper
a A trapper catches unsuspecting animals for their gain, amusement.
b The animal is surprised when the snare is engaged.
c The Lord will/does deliver those who trust Him from those who would do us harm.
aa He prepares a table in the presence of my enemies.
bb The Enemy, too!
2 Pestilence (disease)
a Good people do die, the same as bad people (cancer, tumors, etc.)
b God can get us through...trust Him!
aa How do I know God hasn’t withheld cancer from me? Hepatitis? Flu?
bb What has He delivered me from?
B We’re covered, anointed!
1 He’s doing the protecting, delivering, covering, shielding.
a He’s hiding me in the secret place, shelter!
b Do you get feathers, wings, shield, bulwark
aa Positional (feather/wing vs. shield/bulwark)
bb Gilster, prison, mental hospital, doctor’s office, TG...God has the coverage for you!
2 Trust Him!
Conclusion
A New Orleans, homeless people all over!
1 Left good homes, jobs, careers, safety
2 Foolish, sad
a People love them, want them, miss them
b Fathers/mothers/sons/daughters who were missed
B Go home
1 Clean you up, get help, shelter
2 God is always going to clean you up, get help, give shelter.
C Altar
1 Doubted His cover
2 Failed to dwell in the secret place
3 There’s not a personal relationship
4 Pray
a Come
b Invite
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
