God, Our Refuge
The
Bible tells us in Psalms 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A
Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble.
So if He is our refuge, then it would be nice to know what a refuge is. The Webster’s Bible dictionary says it is that which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a strong hold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.
Remember we talked about those giants that attack us in our lives. Those giants are very real in our lives and God is there to protect us from them. Now we ask; If God be for us, who can be against us? But if we leave His protection, any of the devils helpers can destroy you, because you are no match for the very least of them. If I was in a war, and the enemy was all around the house that was protecting me, I wouldn’t go into the front yard and have a picnic. You say, that is stupid; and we are right. But it is no more stupid than you leaving the protection of the almighty God, to go do your own thing. And then we get mad when God allows us to get injured. You can fix dumb, but stupid will kill you every time. If I take an umbrella into the rain, and get out from underneath it; is it the umbrella’s fault that I get wet?
The Bible tells us in Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What are the condemnations of sin? Hell. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now there is two kinds of death, a physical death and a spiritual death. It tells us in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Now this is the born again Christians get out of jail free card. We will not have to face this condemnation, because God is my refuge, and He protects me from it. But it also tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
It is talking about dying. Many are sick and dying simply because we want what we want, more than we want what God wants. Or to put it in layman’s terms, we walk after the flesh. Are we saved? Yes, but we are to earthly minded to do any heavenly good.
Why should God give us health when we ignore Him unless we need Him? We use Him like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Our Bibles have become a mantel piece, and only moves on Sunday when we take it to church.
So God protects us from the enemies at hand. He is our refuge and our strength. That word strength means the power of resisting attacks. If we walk with God, He will give us the power to resist the attacks of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We need to put on the breastplate of righteousness, not unrighteousness. God says be ye holy as I am holy. How much holiness do we practice? Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel. Most Christians don’t read their Bible, much less study it, like the Bible tells us to. Studying to show ourselves approved. It also says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Most people think their name is Flip Wilson. They want to say “the devil made me do it” like that is some excuse for breaking Gods heart and leaving the protection that He offers. As long as we walk after the flesh, He has no obligation to be our strength or our refuge. You are not a victim of your circumstances, you are a victim of your choices.
The good news is this. Remember He gave seven cities of refuge to run to. And as long as the high priest was alive, they would be protected. Jesus is our High Priest, and He never will die.
So if He is our refuge, then it would be nice to know what a refuge is. The Webster’s Bible dictionary says it is that which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a strong hold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.
Remember we talked about those giants that attack us in our lives. Those giants are very real in our lives and God is there to protect us from them. Now we ask; If God be for us, who can be against us? But if we leave His protection, any of the devils helpers can destroy you, because you are no match for the very least of them. If I was in a war, and the enemy was all around the house that was protecting me, I wouldn’t go into the front yard and have a picnic. You say, that is stupid; and we are right. But it is no more stupid than you leaving the protection of the almighty God, to go do your own thing. And then we get mad when God allows us to get injured. You can fix dumb, but stupid will kill you every time. If I take an umbrella into the rain, and get out from underneath it; is it the umbrella’s fault that I get wet?
The Bible tells us in Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What are the condemnations of sin? Hell. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now there is two kinds of death, a physical death and a spiritual death. It tells us in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Now this is the born again Christians get out of jail free card. We will not have to face this condemnation, because God is my refuge, and He protects me from it. But it also tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
It is talking about dying. Many are sick and dying simply because we want what we want, more than we want what God wants. Or to put it in layman’s terms, we walk after the flesh. Are we saved? Yes, but we are to earthly minded to do any heavenly good.
Why should God give us health when we ignore Him unless we need Him? We use Him like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Our Bibles have become a mantel piece, and only moves on Sunday when we take it to church.
So God protects us from the enemies at hand. He is our refuge and our strength. That word strength means the power of resisting attacks. If we walk with God, He will give us the power to resist the attacks of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We need to put on the breastplate of righteousness, not unrighteousness. God says be ye holy as I am holy. How much holiness do we practice? Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel. Most Christians don’t read their Bible, much less study it, like the Bible tells us to. Studying to show ourselves approved. It also says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Most people think their name is Flip Wilson. They want to say “the devil made me do it” like that is some excuse for breaking Gods heart and leaving the protection that He offers. As long as we walk after the flesh, He has no obligation to be our strength or our refuge. You are not a victim of your circumstances, you are a victim of your choices.
The good news is this. Remember He gave seven cities of refuge to run to. And as long as the high priest was alive, they would be protected. Jesus is our High Priest, and He never will die.