A Safe Place
Vision Sunday
Ps 16:1-3…Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the LORD, "You are my Master! All the good things I have are from you." The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! NLT
Introduction:
Every one of us in this room probably locks all our doors every night before we go to bed. We get in a car and buckle our seat belts around us.
If we go to an amusement park we will ride the roller coasters and other rides of that type because the attendants buckle us into our seats real well. We choose to put most of our money into the bank rather than stuffing it under the mattress.
If I were having surgery, I would want someone to come pray over me before they roll me into the operating room. I can get on an airplane because I tell myself the pilot is taking the same risk that I am taking.
We do all these things out of a sense of safety. I feel if I do all these things it will be ok and I will be safe and I will feel safe.
God desires that we sense that we are safe in this life. However, many of God’s people live life in fear rather than safety. And so the Psalmist reminds us that God provides us with safety and tells us how to get that safety.
ILL… The Psalmist tells us that even the three most stable things in all the world such as the ground we stand on, the mountains we can see, and the water staying within its banks, all three are really unstable
Worship… To feel safe in this world, I must exercise my faith to believe that God is with me in spite of any feelings that He is not there.
When we are overwhelmed by life situations, experiencing a feeling that God is nowhere to be found. We must exercise our faith through worship. Worship in the midst of life’s issues helps me know I am safe.
Ps 16:7-9… I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, NIV
Work… To fell safe in this world, I need to look to see what God is doing and then go and join in the process. We need to understand what God is doing in the lives of people around us and in the world I walk.
When we can see that God is not just off in the distance but is active all about me, I can feel safe no matter what comes against me.
To live the Christian life and not see the work that God is doing all around you would be miserable.
Ps 31:19-20…Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. NLT
All that have ever worked for the Lord come into contact with critical people. If you paint it red they wanted blue. If you set it up they take it down.
ILL…On most Sunday afternoons during lunch thaer will be many types of discussions. Some will talk about how great God is and how he ministered to there life during the service. Others will discuss different topics saying little about God’s work and some will have much to say about have lacking the church service was. All came from the same service at the same time.
The work we do for God is a safe place to work. Because God protects you from negative people and circumstances. This does not mean we do not have the negative happen in our life but it does mean He will help us through all the events that come up.
Ps 37:3-5… Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. NLT
Worth… feeling significant in our life brings to us much joy. We are safe deep within our being when we are giving to others.
Job 11:14-19… if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. 16 You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. 17 Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. 18 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. 19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. NIV
Unity…Our Church will continue to reach others when people find it to be a safe place to come. Unity of heart brings all of us to understand what feeling safe is.
I can risk because we have unity and believe in each other.
We can stretch into new areas of life if, we feel safe to do so.
We climb new trials and risk exhaustion when unity is active.
Unity brings us into the safe place where we trust one another. A safe place to worship, top work and to have worth
Today I wish to show you a viedo called “The Harvest”. You will see through this short film how unity provides a safe place to live.
After video closing:
Will you commit to unity, to the harvest of souls. Will you help make Open Door Church A safe place:
• To Worship in freedom
• To Work for God
• To experience true self – worth.
