God is Our Refuge in Chaos (English)

Good afternoon my beautiful church family, Thank you Javi for the introduction. 

(Ask for a round of applause all men they prepared to share Gods word in the Summer Series)

It is always a privilege to share the word of God. The message I have for today will bring the Summer Psalms to a close. Before we begin, let me give you a recap.

First, Pastor Javi walked us through Psalm 121 and reminded us - we can move forward with confidence, knowing the Lord is faithfully keeping us every step of the way.

Second Jose Pablo Daza led us to Psalm 51 and taught us - Repentance is not feeling guilty over sin- it is turning from ourselves and running to the grace we have in Christ.

Third, a faithful servant of God, Manuel Maldonado brought us through Psalm 116 and showed us a comforting truth: no matter how weak our prayers may feel, Our God Listens.

Then came, el gringo que sabe mas espanol que yo - Silas Downey. Who exposited Psalm 119:33-40, highlighting prayers God uses, to carve new paths through the jungle of our minds.

Next was the new comer who already feels like family - Franky Collazo. who taught us - True joy isn't found in success, comfort, or following the crowd, it’s found in delighting in God’s word!

Then Dr Carlos Vincente Perez, (what up Doc) helped us see Psalm 23 in a fresh way - How God provides, restores, guides, and walks with us through every dark valley.

And Last week the Bishop, Pastor Matt led us to Psalm 15 and Made it clear, that none are worthy to enter into the tent of the Lord, unless Christ the Righteous welcomes us in.

Now bringing us into the next segment, The title for Today’s message is “God is our Refuge in Chaos”

Since February 28th of this year, the United States has engaged in an active armed conflict with Iran. 

This Geopolitical conflict, we all know is real. We know the US has deployed military forces to those areas. But Iran, is so far away. Yet at the same time, there is this fear we all think about… 

What if things continue to escalate?

What if Iran uses nuclear weapons? 

or What if … there is another Terrorist Attack on our soil? Similar to 911. 

Columbus is a military town, every one here has a loved one who either has served or is currently serving.

What happens when that call comes- and our loved ones get orders to deploy?

These are the sobering possibilities. 

This wont be the first time we face these threats, nor will it be our last.

We know rumors of war are commonplace in our society. 

It is a sad reality of humanity. War effects all people throughout history, including God’s people.

That begs the question; How do we find Refuge and Strength, when we are surrounded by Danger, Instability and Global Conflict?

My Beloved, consider with me Psalm 46, where the sons of Korah reveal Three Effects of God's Presence in Chaotic Times. 

Now Please open your bible to Psalm 46.

In the English Pew Bible please turn to p. 381

In the Spanish Pew Bible please turn to p. 569

This is the Holy Word of God. Holy Spirit illuminate us.

Psalm 46 NASB 2020

God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make the city of God happy, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth quaked. 7 The Lord of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has inflicted horrific events on the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.” 11 The Lord of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

 *PRAY for the Preaching Gods word and hearts of the people*

Effect # 1:  His Presence Protects us 

1. The very first line in this song is a confession of Trust.

It does not start with the chaotic forces that are imminent.

2. The Psalmist states God is our refuge and strength, before the crisis arrives.

The modern understanding of refuge may get associated with a refugee camp. Refugee Camps can provide temporary safety, but if a oppressive group comes and attacks the camp, it’s no longer a place of safety. 

The refuge and strength, we find in God is not Defenseless… 

God is our Mighty fortress. 

It’s a shelter of Protection, that is impenetrable from exterior forces. 

Since God protects us from danger, THEREFORE we will not fear. Now Fear is a natural human emotion—we all experience it. For example, I’m afraid of heights.

I once watched a movie called Fall, where two friends climb an abandoned two thousand-foot radio tower in the middle of the desert, and get stuck at the top with no way down. 

I’m telling you, I felt like I was going to pee my pants the whole time—and that’s just watching a movie.

But there are deeper fears we carry—the fear of financial loss, the fear of losing someone we love.

It’s natural to have feelings of fear when we face these realities. 

But;

3. There’s a difference between feeling fear and being ruled by it.

Between having fearful thoughts and making decisions based on fear.

When we fix our hearts on who God is

—His love, His power, His protection—it begins to quiet the noise of fear in our minds. As we remember that God is our refuge and  strength, those truths anchor us. and will produce a fearless trust in Him, even in the face of a storm…

Now, that kind of Fearless Trust in God does not equate to the absence of trouble.

The natural storms and the spiritual storms of life will come. 

4. We can face the storm fearlessly, because God draws near, as our very ready help in Chaotic times.

Sometimes the chaos isn't external. Sometimes it’s INTERNAL.

Conflict, division and rebellion even within God’s people.

God’s presence will protect us from internal storms and His Presence preserves us, even when the earth begins to shake.

In Numbers 16, Korah leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron - God’s appointed leaders. 

This was not an external attack. This was a plot from within the camp. The following day something terrifying happens Moses ordered Korah and his rebels to stand before their tents. 

Moses says to these men, in:

Numbers 16:29–30 NASB 2020

If these men die the death of all mankind, or if they suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have been disrespectful to the Lord.”

Before Moses could finish his sentence, the ground beneath them began to shake  the earth split open … and swallowed Korah and the Rebels then Numbers 26:11 quietly tells us, the sons of Korah did not die. 

What does this inform us about God?

God judged the rebellion and at the same time, compassionately preserved the lineage of Korah...

Generations later, the descendants of Korah would write Psalm 46. 

“God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes”

They were not writing just for the sake of poetic language. 

The Sons of Korah knew first hand - the chaotic forces of this world… and they knew God could have wipe their family name from the face the earth. By His mercy, he preserved their family line.

There are several lessons here before we move on to the next point.

First, Those who plot, scheme and rebel against God’s appointed Leaders, will face the immediate Judgement of God. It applied back then and it applies now.

Second, We don't ever have to make the same mistakes as our parents. This story proves, God is capable of redeeming a family’s bad reputation.

And Third,

5. God’s protection doesn't mean chaos wont break out… it means we will not be consumed by the Chaos.

His Presence will Protect and Preserve His people in it. 

Now, in verses 4-7, the question becomes - How can God’s Presence bring stability in the middle of a chaotic and unstable world.

Which bring us to;

Effect # 2:  His Presence provides Stability

Psalm 46:4–7 NASB 2020

There is a river whose streams make the city of God happy, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth quaked. 7 The Lord of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

In the ancient world, mountains were viewed as immovable. Fortresses were built on high hills, because people believed, “On this mountain, we have security, shelter, and protection from our enemies.”

But;

6. Man’s perception of stability and power will eventually prove to be false security.

The sons of Korah announced: the mountains are moving and slipping into the sea. The very things people trusted for stability are shaken. 

God created a world that was good, but now it feels like it is coming undone. Why? Because original sin did not just affect humanity; it unleashed chaos into all of creation.

We have all seen the devastation caused by hurricanes and earthquakes. 

Some of us have experienced it firsthand. I remember when Hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico. 

The island was saturated with water, and thirteen days later, Maria struck.

Many lives were lost, and the infrastructure was crippled.

At the time, my uncle lived near Isabela, and for weeks I could not reach him. 

I kept calling an app that reported the names of people who had been found, hoping to hear his name.

Eventually, I would heard from him, but the anxiety and uncertainty in those weeks was overwhelming. 

And that was from a distance... I cannot imagine what it feels like to be there when the waters rise and your home begins to shake.

The place you trusted for stability suddenly feels like it could collapse.

So what do we hold on to when the storms come? 

Because;

7. The things we rely on—our homes, our possessions, and our very own strength cannot withstand the forces of this world…

Verses 4 and 5 anchor us in the only strength that can endure the storms—His Presence.

Now, What is interesting is that the same waters that bring destruction in one moment, become streams that bring joy. 

The chaotic waters were roaring, surging, and destructive.

But the river whose streams make the city of God happy, is gentle, refreshing, and life-giving.

Why? Because the Most High dwells in the midst of her.

8. Wherever the Presence of God dwells, there lays stability.

Unlike the mountains, The City of God cannot be moved.

Let’s be clear: there is no literal river running through Jerusalem. 

The City of God is Not merely a geographical location.

New Testament Scholar D.A. Carson wrote about the city of God.

“The Ultimate hope of God’s people is not tied to any earthly city, but to the presence of God among His people.”

So when storms approach, we don't need to become Indiana Jones and start searching for the hidden city.

All we have to do is cry out to the Lord, and He will draw near to us in our time of trouble...

My uncle’s house was built on a cliff, a few years before Maria came, they reinforced the foundation with rebar and concrete.

As the storm approached, they boarded up the windows with mattresses and sofa cushions. They could hear the ocean roaring and the winds growing louder and louder.

Yet, in the middle of the storm, they had confidence—not because the storm was not real, but because the foundation was secure...

They trusted the house would stand.

Jesus speaks of this kind of stability in:

Matthew 7:24–25 NASB 2020

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

9. In Chaotic times, God’s Presence becomes our stable and unshakeable foundation.

In verse six, the sons of Korah move from the chaos of creation to chaos among the nations. 

The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered, yet nothing lies outside the Sovereign Rule of God. 

This echoes Psalm 2, where the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain against the Lord and His Anointed.

Nothing in this world is immune to chaos and instability.

—Not creation, not governments, not military power, nor any nation or its leader... 

(Pastoral tone) History is filled with kingdoms that once appeared unshakable:

Egypt, Greece under Alexander, Rome and its emperors, the Ottoman Empire, and even the Soviet Union. 

Every human kingdom rises.. reaches its peak and eventually falls.

Human empires are loud. They boast of power and thrive on fear. But Psalm 46 reveals what true power is. 

The nations rage, scheme, and fight—and God simply utters His voice, and the earth melts...

Just as in creation, where God said, “Let there be light,” and there was, here we see that His judgment comes by His word alone.

10. The security of God’s people is not found in the strength of kingdoms, the power of armies, or the stability of circumstances. Our security is found in His presence... 

The God who dwells among His people is not powerless—He is the Commander of Heaven’s Army ...

Therefore, His presence will not only protects us, not only does it bring us stability...

His Presence will ultimately reign over every earthly power.

So the question becomes: How does His Presence bring peace in the midst of Global Conflict?

And this takes us to;

Effect # III. His Presence brings Peace

Psalm 46:8–11 NASB 2020

Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has inflicted horrific events on the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.” 11 The Lord of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah                                         

The third and final stanza of this psalm begins with a call to “Come, behold the works of the Lord”

This is not a call to react emotionally, but to step back and consider what God is doing. 

In the face of horrific events, Psalm 46 invites us not to panic... but to behold.

Up close, Global Chaos looks random and terrifying.

But from a distance, we begin to see order under a greater authority. 

11. What seems like disorder is not meaningless, is actually the purposeful work of the Sovereign Lord bringing judgement on the earth...

These events are not random—they unfold under his hand, as he moves history to end the chaos...

So How will He bring an end to Global Conflict? “He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth.”

God not man breaks the bow, cuts the spear and burns the chariots.  

God is not impressed with military power, tanks, drones or cyber warfare. 

He will completely dismantle the machinery of war. 

Micah tells us of a day when the weapons of war, will be repurpose for tools of agriculture (Ag-ri-kul-cher).

Micah 4:3 NASB 2020

And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift a sword against nation, And never again will they train for war.

This will not be a negotiated cease fire, but a complete disarmament from the Lord of Armies.

Don't anchor your peace in Military prowess. 

Anchor it in, the God who renders every weapon useless.

For some, this is hard. 

The infighting, the natural disasters, the wars—these things don't feel good - they bring real grief and real pain.

I understand that.

12. As God’s people, we trust that nothing happens not even when appears evil, outside the Sovereign Hand of our Father. 

Romans 8:28 remind us

Romans 8:28 NASB 2020

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Beloved, Because you belong to God, even the things we cannot understand will not be wasted. God will use them for your good and ultimately for your peace.

In times of trouble, people often quote

Psalm 46:10 ESV

“Be still, and know that I am God. ”

It is commonly spoken to anxious believers. 

“To be Still” is not a passive notion, especially in our culture where there’s distractions, expectations, comparisons, and so much to accomplish.

We have to literally force ourselves to slow down and rest in the Lord.

To Remember, God controls the things we can't control.

While this is certainly a personal application, the words “be still” is not merely a passive invitation to quiet our hearts. 

In the NASB the phrase is mentioned differently, not as a suggestion, it is rendered as a command.

The earth gives way, the waters have roar. The nations have rage. The kingdoms totter.

And Then- on the battlefield, in the middle of a war-

A decree comes from the King. 

Psalm 46:10 NASB 2020

“Stop striving and know that I am God;

This is a command to the nations: to stop fighting lay down your weapons, and acknowledge your allegiance, to His Sovereign Rule over all the earth.

God is not asking permission to reign. He declares “I will be exalted on the earth”… Amen

and then comes the comfort of Verse 11 “The Lord of Armies is with us.”

13. The Same God who will establish worldwide peace is the God who dwells with us.

He is the God who protects us from Chaos and stabilizes us in the middle of the storm. 

And same God who has the Power to make wars cease, is the very God who fights for us even now.

He does not fight for you because you have it all put together.

It’s not based our consistency- our obedience, not even because our faith never wavers.

He fights for us because he is Faithful…

He is the God of Jacob - the covenant-keeping God who never goes back on his promises. 

His promise is to be, and to remain, His people’s Mighty Fortress.

And the promise finds it’s full expression in Jesus Christ. 

14. The same God who will be exalted among the nations, is the One who stepped into our chaos as the person of Christ.

In Mark 4:39–41

When the storm was raging and waters were roaring, the disciples were so scared, they though they were going to die. Look at what Jesus does next,

Mark 4:39–41 NASB 2020

And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

That was not just a display of power - it was a revelation of who He is.

15. The Lord of Creation who calms the storm, is the same Lord who died for his rebellious creation in order to restore peace with God the father.

Which includes people who trust in Christ as their only Refuge and Strength.

(pastoral tone) As God’s redeemed people we are currently dual citizens.

We live on this earth but we are not of this world.

Peter tells us to Honor all people… and Honor the emperor this does not mean, a leader deserves our full devotion and worship.

I am grateful for all the men and women who served their country.

It’s because of their sacrifice that we get to enjoy the freedoms, of publicly proclaiming the Glorious Gospel Sunday after Sunday.

However, The loudest thing about Redeemed people, should not be about what country we are from.

It should be about the God we serve.

Remember it says He Alone will be exalted among the nations… not God and another country...

Assimilating a country to heartless values and traditions will not cause the City of God to come down any faster.

God has determine the only way to have Peace, is when He puts all nations under submission His Sovereign Reign.

And on that final day when Christ returns, to put an end the chaos, He will judge the nations, and to establish peace forever.

Revelations promises, He will lead the Armies of Heaven. 

With the name King of kings and Lord of Lords on his thigh and fire in His eyes, out of His mouth will come a double edge sword, that he will use to strike down the raging nations, His voice like the roar of many waters, and His face shining like the sun in full strength.

This is Christ clothed in the full embodiment of The Lord of Armies. Amen

Beloved, may we sing and confess Psalm 46 together,

God is our Refuge and Strength our very ready help in trouble therefore we will not fear!

—before, during and after the storms.

Lets us Pray.