Bunbury
Sun am
10/072011
“God our refuge”
Intro: *** The famed survival expert Bear Grylls was shooting a survival show in Norway not too long ago teaching people how to survive in some of the worst weather conditions.
Parts of Norway are known for being amongst the wettest places in the world. The support team w/ Bear Grylls used modern technology to simulate driving rain w/ about a 40 mph wind. The point Grylls was making is that in extreme weather if you don’t get shelter & get it fast you can perish very quickly.
Using thermal technology they showed you the body heat of Bear Grylls b/4 the rain & wind began.
As you’d expect his body retained a lot of heat but then the rain & wind was turned on & very quickly the thermal imaging showed how he was losing body temperature fast. Amongst the howling wind he began building a shelter …… somewhere to take refuge, all the while explaining that if you didn’t do that in such harsh conditions you could die very quickly.
Drenched to the bone & shivering Bear Grylls sat in his shelter protected from the worst of the wind & rain & went about the business of trying to light a fire.
There’s no doubt about the fact that in the elements of the wild if you don’t find some place of refuge you can perish very quickly.
But no less true is the fact that in the elements that challenge our spiritual wellbeing unless you can find refuge you can also perish very quickly.
Knowing that we are going to be exposed to those things that wear us down & out God promises to be our refuge in times of trouble.
And it’s this thought we want to explore t/n ….. the hope of God being our refuge in times of trouble.
I want to minister a message I’ve called ‘God our refuge’.
Text: Psalms 9:9-10 (NKJV) 9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
# 1. Living in a troubled world.
A. Bear Grylls may be able to teach you how to survive in the wild but we need God to teach us how to survive in a troubled world!
a. Think about the world we are called to live our lives in.
i. Consider the Bible’s description of life in this world….
Job 5:7 (NKJV) 7 Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
Job 14:1 (NKJV) 1 “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble.
ii. Jesus speaking about the things that concern us & rob us of our peace said …
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV) 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
iii. To see that this is all true all you have to do is open your eyes …..
b. Think about the trouble that fills the world right now as I speak.
i. Jesus said there would be wars & rumours of wars ….
Mark 13:7 (NKJV) 7But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
*** We have just witnessed a few months ago the incredible events in Japan. 23,000 + dead or missing.
ii. On the front of a spiritual dynamic we read in the W of G ……..
Matthew 24:12 (NKJV) 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
*** Many of you have already watched the Muslim Demographics video on Youtube – scary!
*** Just a few days ago people were openly celebrating on the streets of NY city as the state paved the way for homosexuals to be married.
*** Greece, Ireland & Portugal have b/co practically financially insolvent & there are serious concerns about the welfare of the Euro.
*** Aids has reach such epidemic proportions in some African nations that there are now reports of negative population growth.
*** There is turmoil amongst the nations ….. as nations like Pakistan / Iran either acquire or move towards acquiring nuclear capability.
B. In addition to all this we are all having to deal w/ trouble at a personal level.
a. The troubles of life come at us from every angle.
i. We are living in days of unprecedented pressures on marriages & family life….. marriages are breaking up at an alarming rate.
ii. Children are rebelling against parents at a young age & on a scale never b/4 seen.
iii. Financial pressures that were unheard of in previous generations …… we are now living in a day where surviving on a single income is fast b/co an impossibility.
iv. Unrelenting pressures are being experienced in the work place from bosses & corporate leaders who are pushing sales targets & profits ever higher.
** O.M. spoke about his personal troubles when he said “My hairline is in recession, my waistline is in inflation, and all together I’m in depression.”
C. What is trouble?
a. The whole thought here is the idea of disturbing / upsetting a state of mental calm.
i. This is what happens when trouble strikes – our state of mental calm is suddenly shattered.
ii. It’s what happened to the disciples when they Jesus coming to them walking on the water.
Matthew 14:26 (NKJV) 26And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
iii. Speaking about the global conflict that was to come Jesus said …..
Matthew 24:6 (NKJV) 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
iv. B/4 his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane the Bible reveals what was happening in the life of Jesus ….
Mark 14:33 (NKJV) 33And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.
v. Even w/ something as simple as the pressures of meeting the needs of her guests we see Martha being overtaken.
Luke 10:41 (NKJV) 41And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
b. Simple living in a troubled world will force you to have to deal w/ a troubled life.
** Some has correctly stated that “You are never going to be able to take the trouble out of your world but God’s plan is take the trouble out of you!”
i. Here’s the final thought about a world of trouble …… you don’t have to be broke / marriage falling apart / in personal conflict / your world crumbling b/4 you find y/s troubled!
ii. B/c we live in a world full of trouble that environment has the power to shatter our personal calm.
# 2. The need for refuge.
A. Where there is an environment of trouble there is a need for refuge.
*** Just like Bear Grylls points out in his survival sessions shot in Norway – your survival depends on getting some shelter from the storm.
a. One of the greatest dangers we face in a world / life full of trouble is ongoing exposure.
i. Have you ever felt as though you just keep getting hammered – like life just keeps serving you up blow after blow?
ii. Like you can’t get away from the pressures that the world keeps throwing at you?
iii. The word the Bible uses to describe it in our text is ….. ‘oppressed’ & in the Heb it lit = crushed / injured – another closely related word – collapse / break.
iv. Have you ever heard anyone say …… I’m at the breaking point!
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, ….
b. When you come to that breaking point ….. place of oppression / collapse if you don’t find some refuge you will break!
*** On Oct 10, 2008 the MV Fedra a 225 metre, 35,886 GT bulk carrier built in 1984 was caught in a force 8 gale off Gibraltar after losing an engine & unable to find safe harbour. The result was that she was driven onto rocks at Europa Point below the lighthouse & she cracked in half! W/I a short time as she was hammered by rough seas she cracked in half again ….. all b/c she couldn’t be bought into a safe haven, a place of protection from the storm.
*** Every years ship / tankers / bulk carriers all over the world are caught in storms & hundreds of lives are lost. In 2010 3 ships were lost in just 39 days w/ the loss of 44 lives!
i. I wonder over the years how many lives I’ve witnessed coming to the place of shipwreck simply b/c they could find no place of refuge / safe harbour?
Psalms 46:1 (NKJV) 1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
ii. It’s not the plan / purpose of god for you to come to that breaking point w/o finding a safe harbour.
iii. Listen to the words of Jesus here ….. they th/s bring relief.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) 28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
B. The whole thought of finding a refuge is the thought of finding a place that is stronger than you are.
a. There is great wisdom in finding / taking refuge in something that can weather the storms that you can’t.
i. The rouble is we often look for shelter in things that can’t protect us!
ii. One man who had clearly come to the place where he was crushed & couldn’t cope – we read about him in …..
Mark 5:2-3 (NKJV) 2…… immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind £him, not even with chains,
iii. Think about that …. He had his dwelling among the tombs!!! What kind of refuge / protection did he hope to find there?
iv. The place where not only dead bodies but dead hopes were stored!
v. That’s exactly the same mistake we make many times – we look for / take refuge in things that can’t offer us shelter from life’s storms – entertainment / r/s / jobs / toys / money etc.
b. To get us to u/s the wisdom of refuge the Bible points us towards weakness & says – learn from that!
Proverbs 30:26 (NKJV) 26 The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;
*** The Coney / Rock Hyrax is the closest living relative to the elephant. The problem is that he doesn’t have horns like an elephant & secondly …..even though he is the relative of the elephant he doesn’t have the size of an elephant…… he doesn’t weigh 2 – 4 tons like his African cousin!
The Rock Hyrax is roughly the size of a rabbit!
His greatest defence is in the fact that he knows he doesn’t have any natural defences so what he does is resort to something stronger than himself ……. As the Bible points out his wisdom lies in the fact that he has learned to take refuge in the strength of rocks.
They actually make their homes in the natural crevices of rocks & boulders.
i. If there is one thing we all need it is the wisdom of the Coney / rock Hyrax – the wisdom of finding refuge in something greater than ourselves.
1 Samuel 2:2 (NKJV) 2 ……For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
ii. If huge ships of the sea need to find refuge in a protected harbour during the storms how much more do we?
Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
# 3. God is our refuge.
A. So if refuge is such a critical need in times of trouble – how do we make God our refuge?
Vs 10. 10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; …..
a. Refuge in god doesn’t mean anything to you unless the name of God means something to you.
i. What does the name of God mean to you?
*** It’s been an interesting thing to me that a man I happened to meet by chance recently has been such a well known man in the area. I met Joe L***o only about 10 days ago. I mentioned his name a couple of times & each time I mentioned his name to someone they either knew him or knew of him. What’s even more interesting tome is the remarks that were made …… he’s a good guy!
ii. Now think about this ….. names evoke a response in us in one form or another.
*** In the 1920’s in Chicago the very mention of the name Al Capone evoked fear in the people of that city. When they heard that name they thought – Mafia / murderer / gangster / intimidation / uncontrolled crime.
*** In late 1970’s in Central Africa the name Idi Amin did the same thing to the people of Uganda. They thought – despot / butcher / tyrant.
*** When I say the name mother Theresa ….. although she has been dead now for nearly 15 years it still to this day evokes pictures of sympathy / compassion / kindness / giving.
iii. This will work w/ anyone you know personally or even know about.
iv. So what do you think when you hear the name of the Lord Jesus Christ or Jehovah God? B/c names definitely evoke a response in us!
v. But our text goes a little further – listen to what it says to us …..
Vs 10. 10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; …..
Psalms 20:7 (NKJV) 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
b. Here’s the conclusion of those that know the name of the Lord – T.B.S. they put their trust in You!
i. Now the word trust here is an interesting word & brings an interesting sense to what is being said …. Heb word ‘trust’ lit = to hasten to refuge / run for refuge.
ii. So the Bible’s saying here that if you know the name of the Lord – remember, names evoke a response – you’ll run to Him for refuge & find it!
B. We seek refuge in God b/c we know His name but we find refuge in god by calling on His name.
a. Think about the promise of Scripture when we call upon the name of the Lord.
Romans 10:13 (NKJV) 13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
i. We’ve got to wonder sometimes why some Christians live such troubled lives.
ii. Could it be that they have never learned to find refuge by calling on the name of the Lord?
iii. Think about the promise of Scripture again …..
13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
iv. What do you need refuge from right now, how do you need God to come to your help / rescue?
b. Whoever wrote / penned the Psalm – supposedly David – had a conviction that God is a refuge to all who call upon Him.
Vs 10. ….. For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
i. One final detail about the Psalm …. The title – ‘To the tune of death of the son’.
ii. It’s believed that the Psalm was actually written after David defeated Goliath in battle & that David who was practically a boy was writing out of his experience of finding refuge in God.
iii. Listen again to the words David speaks here about the refuge in which he trusted.
1 Samuel 17:45 (NKJV) 45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
iv. David facing his greatest battle – his perfect storm – found refuge in God by calling upon Him.
v. What David discovered nearly 3,100 years ago you can discover afresh today ……. If you’ll learn to call upon God you will find Him to be you refuge too.
Psalms 61:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
