Where Do You Run?

Christ’s Presence Chases Fear Away

Introduction

About Me

What brought us to the Lake

DIFFICULTIES:: What do we do when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable problems?

Safety (1-3)

Refuge= defense/ our position in salvation!

Strength= power within us

“A very present help in trouble”- God will be quickly found by His people because He is present with them. Present as in nearby, engaged, and willing to extend Himself over us to provide shelter.

Illustration::

earth gives way

mountains be moved

waters roar and foam

the remaining mountains shake

Let’s put it another way:

Even though the volcanoes erupt in the Philippined, even though Australia is on fire, even though the Ganges floods, even though earthquakes rock Iran I will not be afraid because I know that God is present and with me therefore I am safe.

Serenity (4-5)

You and I should be the most peaceful people in the world. I mean… we get to live for the joy and honor of heaven, right? We get the privilege of working for our King as our jobs on earth! We also fall short of that standard. Look at the verse:

the streams of this river make the city of God happy. It makes the city glad! Let’s make sure that we understand… the writer isn’t saying that the streets are happy. The building are cheery. The author is saying that the people in the city of God- heavenly Zion, is glad.

Revelation 22:1–3 ESV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Why is it serene? Three things)

God is there

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

2 John 3 ESV

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

Romans 15:33 ESV

May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

2. The city is secure

When vs. 5 says she (the city) will not be moved, it’s literally “won’t be shaken” and it contrasts the seemingly eternal mountains which will be moved, are moving, and will eventually be destroyed is contrasted with the invisible, eternal Kingdom and city of God that cannot be shaken.

3. God will help her.

As believers we are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom. Christ preached the message of the Kingdom of God. We are ambassadors of King Jesus Christ and He will not let His Kingdom collapse. God will help and maybe for you you may feel like you’re going through the darkest night. Maybe you are fighting a spiritual battle or a chronic sickness. Maybe you’re dreading the semester and you’re having a hard time after break. Listen: God will help you and the morning will dawn for the people of God. He will see you through.

Psalm 102:25–28 ESV

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

Stability (6-7)

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter. That word rage means to roar, moan, be in an uproar, to be in turmoil.

Kingdoms totter. That’s a fun word, right? In the Greek its the same word used about the mountains being moved into the sea.

This points us the the eternal stability of Christ’s Kingdom. You see, nations rise and fall. Kingdoms come and go. If God “utters His voice” the earth melts.

Because of the sinfulness of man we can always expect nations and kingdoms to come to an end. They are inherently imperfect and unbalanced. So we can count on Christ’s Kingdom being vastly different than anything we’ve ever experienced!

The first refrain found in this Psalm occurs here

Psalm 46:7 ESV

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Sovereignty (8-9)

Let’s begin with the end in mind: verse 9 says

Psalm 46:9 ESV

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

Psalm 46:9 ESV

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

We have here what everyone longs for: peace. We know peace with God because of our adoption as sons and daughters of God. We want others to know peace which is why we share the Gospel with people that they may know Him.

How does God get the world to peace? The answer is in verse 8

Psalm 46:8 ESV

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

God receives glory “behold” look to God’s work… he receives glory through judgment. God will receive glory alone. It’s what the Bible is all about. It’s what all of redemptive history is all about. The glory and supremacy of God.

Don’t miss the correlation between the deliverance of Israel from Egypt here. God brought desolations… devastations, pain, anguish, and turmoil on Pharaoh and the people of Egypt for the redemptive purpose of saving His people. It was after being chased by chariots, seeing the bows and the spears closing in, it was after Egypts army was destroyed… annihilated that the people were delivered.

Don’t be surprised if God takes you through many battles and have confidence that the Lord will deliver you.

Stillness (10-11)

This word in the Hebrew for be still is accurately translated “Let go” or “release”. Stop trying to control what is God’s to control. Sometimes the best thing we can do is get out of God’s way and let Him rule and reign. The word can also be translated as “be idle” or “stop”.

Perhaps you’re facing some tremendous challenges. They seem insurmountable. God will be exalted. God will be exalted! In the nations and on the earth! He will be exalted. Take some time today to step back and bask in the safety, serenity, stability, sovereignty and stillness of Christ.

But before we dismiss, what does this mean? I mean… these things have been good for us to hear but how do we apply it? Look at the second refrain: it’s a repetition of verse 7

Psalm 46:11 ESV

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Listen… Christ is our Immanuel which means God with us. He is with us when the ground gives way beneath us, when our health fails, when the waters roar, when the money isn’t there. He is there when the mountains are thrown into the sea and when someone sins against you or you sin against someone else. He is there when the mountains tremble and when we tremble before the glory and goodness, and majesty of Christ.

Here’s the big point for us:

Big Point::: Christ’s Presence Chases Away Fear

What do we do when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable problems? Draw near to Christ!

Since God is with us. He has put His Holy Spirit inside of us we can have confidence that no matter what our circumstances are we may sing with joy and power.

“Martin Luther delighted to sing this psalm. In the days of the most furious opposition, he was known to say to his friend Philip Melanchthon, “Come, let us sing the forty-sixth psalm, and let the devil do his worst.” So, too, when Luther was dead, Melanchthon heard a girl singing this psalm, and he said to her, “Sing on, dear daughter mine, you know not what comfort you bring to my heart.” So the young, the simple, and the guileless may sing what strengthens the nerves of warriors for battle."

Christ’s Presence Chases Away Fear. Let’s go and change this world for His Kingdom and glory