Monday, July 11, 2011

July 12, 2011

"1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."   Psalm 46
 
Introduction:

This Psalm was written after Hezekiah had prayed and God sent one angel to destroy 185,000 Assyrians. So God's people knew what God COULD do for His people who would trust in Him.

In other words, when trouble comes your way - NO TROUBLE!

I. BE STILL AND KNOW HIM AS THE REFUGE--Vs. 1-3

A.  A Personal Refuge--Vs. 1--"God is our refuge"


1. Nations find refuge in Battalions and Battleships
2. Lost men find refuge in Positions and Possessions
a. Battalions--can be defeated
b. Battleships--can be sunk
c. Positions--can be taken away

d. Possessions--can be lost

3. "God" (Elohim) is our refuge"--Elohim is the word for the Triune God---The Enemy will have to go thru all Three to get us.
B. A Powerful Refuge--Vs. 1--"a very present help in trouble."

1. "Trouble" literally means "in tight places."

2. "Present help"--means right now

3. "Very"---means "speedily"--I thought, "How can you be better than present which means "right now". God has no problem with time you will notice it does not say "in the time of trouble." God has the help already there before the trouble arises.
 
C. A Permanent Refuge--Vs. 2- "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

There are Four "Thoughs" illustrating that even if the whole world is destroyed, when all the noise subsides and all the dust settles, he will still be standing because God is his refuge.

Is God your god? If He is, you have a refuge in the time of trouble! When you flee to God as a refuge,
trouble? No trouble!