Psalm 46:1 King James Version (KJV)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Refuge means the state of being safe or secured or sheltered from pursuit, danger or difficulty.
Refuge can then be divided into two
- Earthly refuge (security given to us by man)
So many people seek refuge from man or in material things. For example in money to hire security men but one day they will all fail, in buying of dogs and having security doors but they will all fail
Divine refuge is the safety from God, which is the only reliable security
Divine refuge is that security that doesn’t fail (psalms 121:4)
King James Version (psalms 121:4)
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Now comparing the two the only sure and 100% refuge can only be gotten from God.
But still there are threats or challenges to having divine refuge…
Threats to having divine refuge
- Sin
Simple instruction neglected (SIN)
Psalm 66:18 King James Version (KJV)
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Isaiah 59:1-2 King James Version (KJV)
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Sin is the number one thing that stops us from getting divine security. The more we move deeper into sin, the more the devil have access to our lives
Just like a movie I watched a prostitute was used for money ritual and people were feeling bad and i said she wouldn’t have been used if she never went to her regular spot that day. She was told to stay home for seven days but because of that sin she keeps committing she went and faced the consequences
We become an easy prey for the devil when we wine and dine in sin
- Ignorance
Hosea 4:6 King James Version (KJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children
Ignorance of God and his word makes us loose divine security
Proverb 21:16
King James Version
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
So many people move away from the refuge of God due to lack of understanding.
So many doesn’t know God, his word or how he works
- Disobedience
This is another threat, when we disobey his word we are drawn backward to him.
A man was walking on the road when the spirit told him to walk fast, he did. Again the spirit said run and he ran on the road. Immediately he passed the junction a bus knocked down all those who were dere and they died
What if he had disobeyed ????
We tend to say God is not protecting us whereas he his but we are the ones being disobedient to his instructions
A pastor tells u that God asked u to fast and pray but u refused and later when something happens u say God where are u why die u abandon me
I pray God gives us an obedient heart
Mark 10:27 King James Version (KJV)
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Lack of faith is another threat to our divine refuge. So many of us don’t have 100% trust in God but we would rather seek refuge from man or in money which will sooner or later fail us
I watched a film and the woman and her son was being chased by traditionalist instead of her to seek refuge from other gods she ran to church and kept on praying and she conquered that is 100% trust in God
- Carelessness
Some Christians have this carefree attitude that exposes them to the devil…
We believe it is not bad, it is normal but it is not
- Fear
Psalm 23:4 King James Version (KJV)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Romans 8:31 King James Version (KJV)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Fear
We are too scared of the devil and that is what he uses against us..
The devil cannot stand up against one who faces him he will only try but can never succeed
When he notice that u are scared he uses that against us.
God has not given us the spirit of fear but of what????
I can only beat u up if I say that u are scared but if u stand up against me deep down I become scared
- Prayer less ness
A prayer less christian is a powerless Christian
Most times I tell u evil befall one when he or she refuses to pray
I love sharing stories
Who remembered when our vice president had an air crash
That holy ghost service it was said that daddg adeboye asked him to wait after the holy ghost service and prayed for security for our vice president. And I also heard that he asked some ministered to pray for him also on security. Lo and behold he was travelling back and what happened his plane crashed
Tell me what if they haven’t prayed he would have just died like that
20 min prayer can make u live 20 more years on earth
Our enemies are after us and the only thing we can use to fight them is with prayer and Gods word
The bible says pray without season. Pray always
After the threats to divine refuge we will be looking at how then can we have that divine refuge
Keys to divine refuge
- Live a righteous life.
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
When we live a righteous life he will always secure u. He will teach u what to do, how to go about things, where to go etc.
- Dwell in his secret place. Psalms 91:1
Psalm 91 King James Version (KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
When u dwell with him, u will always have guaranteed protection.
He will never let the face of the righteous to see evil.
- Have Gods mark
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
When u have his mark no man will harm or hurt us
4 Absolute obedience
- Always study Gods word it will teach us and guide us.
In conclusion, Gods security gives
Psalm 91:3 King James Version (KJV)
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Psalm 91:4 King James Version (KJV)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
His refuge also gives
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
Psalm 91:11-13 King James Version (KJV)
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
That’s divine refuge for us
Gods refuge/ protection doesn’t need any external strength, he is able and surw
Let me give us the last scenario
When there is rain, you can use an umbrella but it Won’t give u 100% protection from the rain unlike when u are under a canopy
The umbrella signifies security in men which can’t be 100% safe
While the canopy represent God which will give u 100% protection which u can even sit under the canopy, talk and feels nothing unlike the umbrella
Hence I say and I say again God is the one true refuge. He alone can guide, guard, protect, secure and shelter us from evil.
This is where I end tonights teaching
