A Shelter Of Strength Series

A shelter of Strength (#2 in Safe & Secure series) Psalm 91:5-8

As a hurricane quickly approached a small coastal town, all the people had hurried to the town’s shelter. There they were huddled together in a dark with the winds howling, sheets of rain beating down & the door of the shelter just about to rattle of its hinges!

Everyone huddled in the shelter had their eyes fixed on the door for they knew that is it were to blow off that everyone would be sucked out of the shelter by the hurricane.

The town’s elderly pastor stood up in their midst & began to pray w/ great oratorical effects... crying out he prayed “Lord...

-Send us the spirit of the children of Israel. -The spirit of the children of Moses and -The spirit of the children of the Promised Land."

At this, an old man not as polished but certainly direct cried out in prayer..

"Lord, don’t send nobody....You Come yourself !...This ain’t no job for children."

I don’t know if you can relate but I can! There have been times in my life when I desperately needed God & God alone!

Life has its twists...turns...twirls & trills leaving one feeling helpless & hopeless in desperate need of a shelter...a shelter that’s Safe & Secure

Psalm 91:1-2

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

3 -words to note here that very important: shelter, refuge, & fortress.

* The Hebrew word "Shelter" means "a place to hide from your enemies."

* The Hebrew word "Refuge" means, "A place to run to for safety."

* The Hebrew word “Fortress” means "the one who keeps me”

The Psalmist found in God a hiding place...a safe place...a resting place...from the trails...troubles...temptations...& terror of this world.

• We have considered that God is a “Refuge of Rest.”

• But understand that He is also a “Shelter of Strength.”

God is our Shelter! He guards us on all sides! -God is before us & behind us.........Isa 48:17/30:21 -He’s on our right & left. Ps. 16:8/Job 23:9 -God is above & beneath us........Ps 36:7/Dt. 33:27 -His Spirit is within us I Cor. 3:16

God is our Refuge of Rest...&...Shelter of Strength!

II. A Shelter of Strength: Courage! v 5-8 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

Quote: Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do...There can be no courage unless you’re scared! -unknown

Courage is something we all need whether we realize it or not for life can be a scary at times!

We all on some level at some point in life have had a bout w/ FEAR!

-Fear steels our Joy... depletes our strength...& paralyzes w/ terror.

-Fact is, we all have to encounter fear...but...you don’t have to be overcome by fear!

*Sometimes the Lord calms the storm *Sometimes he lets the storm rage & calms his child. -unknown

Courage is running toward your fears...not...from them!

Quote: Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. - John Wayne

Psalm 56:3 TLB “When I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you.”

Soooo, there are something’s about courage you need to understand.

a. The Source of Courage: - It’s point of origin.

In verses 1 the Psalmist calls God... El-yon....“The Most High” or Possession -The implication is that God is the owner of everything! -In heaven & on earth our God owns it all, for he created it all.

El yon.....The Most High....The God of Possession...is the source of Courage!

Joshua 1:6-9 "Be strong and courageous...Be strong and very courageous...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

* God wants you to live w/ assurance, confidence, faith & hope. * He is your hiding place...your safe place...your resting place! * God is the shelter of courage for He is the source of courage.

Illustration: lunch w/ a man who has lost everything, wife, home, children, vocation GONE! He made a profound statement, “Be sure that when the storm hits that what your holding onto want move.”

My friend, be very careful in whom or what you take refuge

Be sure that when the storm hits that what you’re holding onto want move!

God is the source of courage....He is also....