A Fortress of Faithfulness Psalm 91:14-16
Martin Luther was one of the most influential leaders of the protestant reformation in the 14th century. This man who used of God in a great way also was given to times of deep dark depression. One time he got really down and depressed and locked himself away in a room and wouldn’t come out for anything or anyone. His wife Kathy tried to coax him out of the room with no success. Finally she went and dressed with a black veil, and black gloves, totally decked out in black and went into the room with Martin Luther. Martin asked her, “dear Kathy, who died? She replied, “Why God died, Martin.” Martin jumped to his feet in an outburst of emotion and said, “that’s blasphemy woman how dare you talk like that?” To that she replied, “yes it is Martin, and so is the way you’re living.” He got up out of the room and went and wrote the great gospel hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God”.
God is faithful! Meaning He’s authentic...exact ...reliable...true
Of the faithfulness of God Scripture says...
Psalm 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness
Psalm 89:8
O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD , and your faithfulness surrounds you.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
God is...
-Faithful in His Presence – I’ll never leave or forsake
-Faithful in His Promises – He does not...can not lie
-Faithful in His Provision – Meeting your ever need
-Faithful in His Protection – He is your shelter, refuge & fortress
God is a fortress of faithfulness....a fortification of faith for all who believe!
“Fortress” – castle...citadel...fort.....stronghold
The Hebrew word “Fortress” means "the one who keeps me”
Why is being kept important? Because life can get UGLY!
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
* Life is not for the cowardly....weak....or timid! * Life is too complicated to go it alone! * Life was given by God...to be share w/ God...to accomplish the purposes of God!
The Psalmist understood that & found in God a...Refuge of Rest.....A Shelter of Strength &...
III. A Fortress of Faithfulness: vs 14-16 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Because the Psalmist made God his shelter...refuge....& fortress God covered him w/ His faithfulness!
Notice verse 14: God has now picked up the pen & He is writing! "Because he loves me," says the LORD, he will take pleasure in my faithfulness!
* Now there’s an interesting word... “Pleasure” ! * Pleasure is finding enjoyment, happiness, contentment, satisfaction.
Notice God says he who rest....dwells....& abides in me will....
I. Take Pleasure in My Love: v-14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
-God is speaking of a reciprocal love! -You are loving God & He is loving you! - Russ Lee said it this way, “As I press into Jesus He presses into me.”
James the Lord’s brother said it this way,
Come near to God and he will come near to you... James 4:8
Because of this common...mutual...& shared love! God said himself:
a. I will rescue him!
Psalm 22:8 David
"He trusts in the LORD ; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
If anyone understood how God rescue’s His own it was David! God rescued him from the hand of Saul...a coupe by his own son & his enemies.
“because he loves me, I will rescue him!
This morning what has God rescued you from?
Well if your not sure...consider the following. God has rescued you from...
-Sin...it’s bondage...it’s evil...it’s wrath...& it’s author satan himself! -Heart ache... danger...despair.... trouble... misery -Eternal hell & separation from God
Because you take pleasure in God He has rescued you but notice also He says...
b. I will protect him!
In verses 9-13 God’s word reveals that He has commissioned His Angels to care & protect those He loves & just who are those? Those who accept & love Him!
Psalm 37:28 David
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, Proverbs 2:8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Illustration: A young man walked into a photography studio with a picture of his girlfriend… He wanted the picture duplicated… The owner of the store noticed the inscription on the back of the picture, it said, “My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart… I love you more & more each day… I will love you forever & ever… I am yours for all eternity…” It was signed “Diane,” and it contained a P.S.: “If we ever break up, I want this picture back…”
My friend, when you accept Jesus...He accepts you there is no P.S.You are His and He is yours! II. Take Pleasure in My Liberty: v-15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
There is freedom in Christ! You have been liberated from sins authority ... sins punishment.....& sins origin!
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Illustration: Luke 13
A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
My friend when you accepted Jesus as Lord & Savior God: - Freed you from the infirmity of sin.... - Adopted you into his family... - And gave you the name “child of God!”
The significance of that relationship is found in v-15: “He will call upon me, and...”
a. I will answer! - You have the ear of God!
b. I will be w/ him! – You enjoy the presence of God!
c. I will honor! – You enjoy the blessing of God!
Illustration: In Iraq the order for the day by terrorist is to take hostage innocent civilians & contractors who are there trying to help rebuild the nation. Once in captivity the victims are subjected to death treats....deadlines....& God only knows what else. Unfortunately more often than not the hostages are killed by their captures.
- You may not realize it but you to were once a hostage! - Satan the greatest terrorist of all time held you in captivity! - He to threaten you w/ death... fear & terror.
Then in your hour of need you cried out to the Lord...He heard & answered your cry.
And through your relationship w/ His son He freed you from the bondage & penalty of sin.
III. Take Pleasure in My life: v-16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
a. I will satisfy!
Quote: C.H.Mackintosh wrote: “There is power in the presence of a risen Savior to solve our difficulties, remove our perplexities, calm our fears, ease our burdens, dry our tears, meet our every need, tranquilize our minds and satisfy every craving of our hearts.”
God alone can satisfy! He is your contentment...purpose...fulfillment & meaning in life!
b. I will save!
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...
Closing: Do you remember the movie "The Lion King"? It tells the story of a young lion who is the son of the king. The lion runs away when his father is accidentally killed and the cub is made to feel responsible for that death. He takes refuge with a pair of insectivores, and we see the king of the beasts reduced to a life of eating bugs. Then at one point his dead father appears to him (if any are concerned by this, remember that this is a movie about animals that talk!) and says to him, "Remember who you are." He had forgotten who he was. He wasn’t a bug eater. He was the son of the king.
My friend when life comes crashing down "Remember who you are." “The sons & daughters of Almighty God.” Therefore, run & hide in the Refuge of Rest ......The Shelter of Strength & ......The Fortress of Faith!
