The Lord will protect the one who trusts in Him.

Introduction:

We do not know who wrote this or when, but we know we need it and often

Please open song books

Possible sung between alternating choirs. Fascinating. 1st Baptist Jacksonville

As a kid I set up alot of tents. People need a refuge.

Reminded of a story of Elijah today. God met Elijah’s needs in a special and personal way.

1 Kings 19:4 (KJV 1900)

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

We all have those times we throw up our hands and say “It is enough.” It is great to be reminded in those moments “He is enough.”

Psalm 91 (KJV 1900)

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, Even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.

God intends every Christian to experience confidence that comes from knowing He cares for us, not knowing this leads to all kinds of problems in the Christian life.

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.

Problems of homelessness

God intends every Christian to experience a measure of safety and security in an unsafe and insecure world, and if we do not know that kind of security that comes from God and His gospel, it leads to all kinds of problems in the Christian life.

And so in a thousand ways, not knowing where our safety comes from critically cripples the Christian life.

It may lead to an inability to forgive. To forgive means to give over control and the desire to balance the scales. This feels unsafe.

It may be that it would lead to an inability to repent, or to the fear of man. If I acknowledge what I have done I will be vulernable and unsage. I must feel safe and in control at all times. This feels unsafe.

It can cause you to pursue wrong relationships.

Intern recently said that they could tell a girl in the church they were working with was acting the way she acted as a teen because she was seeking what she was seeking at her age. Someone to make her feel loved and protected.

What does it mean to live in the protective care of the Lord?

Life of confident trust

Psalm 91:1 (KJV 1900)

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

This place is not a place but a PERSON

Most high - higher then kinds of the earth or idols of the nations

Protection does not come from self defense, sinful people, ideal circumstances, wealth, or military weapons, or my own abilities

Our Sovereign body God is my refuge.

Shadow - means He is near when we need it

Safest place in the world is a shadow, if it is the Shadow of the Almighty! - Weirsbe

God is a home maker, not a hotel manager!

James 4:7 (KJV 1900)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Personal Testimony of confident trust

Psalm 91:2 (KJV 1900)

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.

We get to say we belong to God but we also get to say God belongs to me!

Do you remember when God became your refuge, your fortress, and your God.

Life of confident of trust is a life of security.

Nothing like helping a kid know they are loved, cared for, and safe. Sometimes I need to be walked around and be heard as well.

Security in knowing the Almighty is watching over us

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

God can deliver from

The plans of the enemy - snare of the fowler

The unstoppable disease - noisome pestilence

How will he deliver us?

Picture of a mother bird that lifts her wings.

Matthew 23:37 (KJV 1900)

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, (fill in your name) thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

God will be your shield and buckler.

What is the protection - TRUTH!!

What a wonderful safe room!

We have 24/7 Protection

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Ackerman calls all the time and asks if their is a fire at the church

Psalm 121:5–6 (KJV 1900)

5 The Lord is thy keeper: The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night.

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”

The Lord will protect the one who trusts in Him.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked.

Don’t live in fear, God will take care of the wicked

Exodus 14:13 (KJV 1900)

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Protection from a Holy God, not just bad people

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, Even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Ephesians 2:4–5 (KJV 1900)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

God does this in a supernatural way and from His own resources.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Every heard you have a guardian angel. / Lady once said she was able to see ours.

It is better than a guardian angel. It is an army of angels.

Psalm 34:7 (KJV 1900)

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

The promises must be properly understood to be appreciated and to be comforting.

Satan tried to get Jesus to misapply Scripture

Right now in the next room there are kids memorizing Scripture. That is a great first step.

Does abiding in the Shadow mean that no harm can come our way?

Matthew 4:5–6 (KJV 1900)

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

No. Dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty and abiding in the shelter of the Most High means trusting implicitly in the love of God, the power of God, to give you everything you need to do his will and glorify his name, whether you live or die.

Jude 21 (KJV 1900)

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

John 15:9 (KJV 1900)

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Was Elizabeth Elliot naive, unbiblical, when she titled her husband’s biography Shadow of the Almighty, even though he and four others were speared to death by the Auca Indians on January 8, 1956, in Ecuador, while they were trying to evangelize them?

Did Jim Elliot lack faith?

No! Hebrews 11:33-34 tell of saints who through faith “escaped the edge of the sword,”

Hebrews 11:33–34 (KJV 1900)

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Verses 36-38 tell of saints who through faith “were killed with the sword.”

Hebrews 11:36–38 (KJV 1900)

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Doesn’t matter if the danger is open or hidden. Just make sure you are walking with the Lord

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

The assurance of safety and security in times of terrifying threats comes from a wholehearted trust in the presence of the LORD

God speaks about those who trust in Him

Devotion to God is for those who have trusted in Him

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Romans 8:28 (KJV 1900)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

We know God.

God does not fulfill his promises for those who have memorized His promises for those who know Him

You can know of God, know His name, but you need to call on His name through prayer.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.

James 4:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

We end with God’s devotion to those who trust in Him

Six “I will” statements gives us 8 promises

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.

v.3,4,11 says He will but vs 14-16 says I will

Look at what is offered to us today

We will be delivered. From fear today and circumstances for all eternity.

“It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord. The most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but it is good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him. Sickness is his medicine. Reproach is his honor. Death is his gain. No evil, in the strict sense of the word, can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good. Happy is he who is in such a case. He is secured where others are in peril. He lives where others die” - Spurgeon

He will be with us in trouble.

He will honour us. He will protect our name.

He will satisfy us!

It is one thing for a doctor to add years to your life but only God can add life to your years! - Weirsbe

Realize God’s presence in trouble is far better than the absence of trouble without Him!!

You are safe in this home.