Category: God's Protection

Reassurance from God

11/23/2025

Psalm 91
Where do we find reassurance today? We use seat belts and airbags in cars for safety at high speeds. If we purchase a new car we automatically receive a new car warranty. If we purchase a house we have to option to get a home inspection to find any problems. If we purchase a new appliance we can buy an additional warranty. To top it off, we purchase health insurance to assist in covering unexpected and large medical bills. We purchase all kinds of things to provide a sense of security and safety. We want the assurance of safety in all areas of life. We strive to minimize the risks and seek to make our safety guaranteed so we can live without fear. However, the author of Psalm 91 takes a look at life and declares that reassurance and safety are found only in God’s presence (1-4). It does not involve the purchase of any security plan. Instead it requires a devoted relationship with God that depends on Him for all things. When we cease our own striving for safety and confidently declare that God is my refuge, then we will see Him as our sure defense. Verse 4 contains a very descriptive word picture of a bird sheltering its young under its wings. The author confidently affirms that when we, by faith, believe that God is our only defense and savior, He will protect us as His children. Note that the picture is more than just a description, it is the reality of a relationship with the only God who is able to save us. As we draw near to God, it is then that we find His reassuring embrace even as the storm rages. Everything that will touch us must come through the shelter and loving embrace of the all powerful God who is our refuge. A devoted relationship with the sovereign God allows us to rest in His reassuring protection in all situations.

For More See PSALMS

0 Comments

Patient Faith in Pain

5/28/2023

0 Comments

by Job 2:7-13
Pain tolerance is the maximum level of pain that we can put up with. Each person has a different level of pain tolerance. Our body will feel the pain and our brain will register how bad the pain is on our personal pain meter. For example, getting a shot from a doctor would be on the lower end of the pain meter, but having a large rock fall on our foot and break bones is a completely different level of pain. We as people deal with all kinds of pain, through out our lives, that can’t be measured by our personal pain tolerance. We all face physical pain from the bumps, bruises, and cuts in life. Yet beyond that we face emotional or psychological pain over personal loss and grief. How do we deal with pain? If we expect God to protect us from a life of pain we will miss seeing His power to save and our faith grow as He works through our pain. In Job 2 we now see the godly man Job face personal pain after the loss of all his possessions. Job is personally impacted by pain from the sores that cover his body (7). He also faces social pain as he is now an outcast from society sitting in a garbage dump (8). To top it off, Satan uses Job’s wife against him, to carry out his plan of seeking to turn Job from God (9). Job corrects his wife (10), because he understands that God uses problems to test us, train us, and grow us. Job understands that faith involves more than his personal comfort. Yet many people today base their faith on their comfort rather than on God. When the pain of this life can no longer be tolerated they question, doubt, and turn from God. Job did not tolerate his pain, instead he saw God as the only solution to his pain. When our pain comes, may we be like Job and follow God by faith.

For more see JOB

0 Comments

Spiritual Battle - Complacency and Self Confidence

5/7/2023

0 Comments

Ephesians 6:10-13
On April 15, 1912 the British passenger ship, the Titanic, sank after hitting an ice berg off the coast of Canada. The ship itself was a masterpiece of the current technology. The safety features of water tight compartments made it seem that it was supposedly unsinkable. The problem is that it was sinkable. As the boat hit the iceberg it dented the side of the ship in a way that caused the seams in the metal hull to open and allow the sea water to rush in. The end result is the tragic loss of life that is remembered still to this day. The most difficult thing about this event is that the captain had been informed of icebergs in the area but chose to ignore the warnings given. Complacency and self confidence sank the Titanic. Are we not much the same? We hear the warnings of temptation and sin from others and Scripture, yet we think that it can’t happen to us. We believe that we are spiritually strong, yet, like the Titanic, that can also be our weakness. We can become complacent and spiritually self-confident in our response to spiritual temptations, threats, and trials that are real battles in our spiritual life. Paul understood this as he wrote to the believers in Ephesus. In Ephesians 6, Paul closes out the book by describing one final way the believer is to respond to life. In reality this is probably the most important. Paul explains the spiritual battle (13) and the reality of the enemy, Satan (12). He reminds his readers, and us today, of the need for God’s protection (11) and God’s power (10) to withstand Satan and the spiritual battles. Just like an iceberg, the battles we face each day contain much more below the spiritual surface. We need to be aware of spiritual complacency and self-confidence. These issues can sink us just like the Titanic.

For more see EPHESIANS or TEMPTATION

0 Comments

Jesus Role as Priest

12/22/2022

0 Comments

John 17
Have you ever gone to a doctor and felt like they did not listen or care? You probably walked out and looked for another doctor. We expect doctors to have our best interest in mind. They are giving us advice and researched opinions regarding our health. They have the job of making us better. Similarly, Jesus as a priest is deeply concerned about the spiritual health of people. A priest will offer sacrifices for sin, guide in true worship and help restore mankind to God. In John 17 we see Jesus express a passionate interest in His disciples and other future believers in Him. He is requesting that the Father guide, protect and unify His disciples. He desires that His followers accept His gift of salvation and know that they are kept securely in that salvation by the Father. He also seeks their transformation through the revealed word of God so they will share the greatness of Him with others. Jesus, as priest, is the one who seeks God’s best for mankind. This Christmas I hope that you grow in your joy knowing that Jesus came to save us, change us and cure us from the sickness of sin.

For more see JOHN or PROPHET, PRIEST & KING

0 Comments

Responding to a World that Lacks Love

2/13/2022

0 Comments

Psalm 94
At one time in life we lived in a warmer climate where there were an abundance of gecko lizards. At night these little guys would crawl across the outside of our windows seeking to snatch a tasty bug as a midnight snack. In the process of moving south we brought with us the two family cats. These two were hunters, and previously they kept our home and the area around the house free from mice. Now the cats had a new prey, gecko lizards. However, God has designed these lizards so it is possible for them to detach their tail in order to escape a predator. Well, like all cats, our two would often play with the critters they caught. On several occasions I watched as the cat wrestled with the new found catch only to realize that the lizard deployed a defense mechanism and they had nothing but a wiggly tail. The cat had a quizzical look on its face as it looked for the lizard without success. Like the cat we can chase after the things that we think are real only to find that they will never satisfy. Psalm 94 records a message highlighting the importance of where we turn for our security and love in the midst of a selfish, violent world that does not show love. What do we do when we are not loved? The Psalmist challenges us to pray (1-7) and seek God’s righteous solution. We can be assured that God knows our situation (8-11). He will never leave us (14) and He will protect us (17). Our response to the troubling influence of evil in our world is to be completely persuaded that God alone is always faithful (18). We should continually speak of God’s truth, greatness and love. Like the cat we must not pursue other lesser things that distract us from God.

For more see PSALMS

0 Comments

Everlasting Father

12/20/2020

0 Comments

Isaiah 9:1-7
Bah Humbug! You may recognize the this simple negative statement used at Christmas time as originally written by Charles Dickens in 1843 for his work A Christmas Carol and spoken by the character Ebenezer Scrooge. You may know the history but do you know the meaning of the statement? In general it means that something or someone is a fake and not real. It is spoken by someone who believes that they have just seen something that is deceptive and fake. Thus Scrooge refers to Christmas as “Bah Humbug.” He chooses not to care about others and their needs. He is worse than the old saying used in the days of pay phones, “I’ll give you a quarter to call someone who cares.” In complete contrast we see Isaiah predict that the child to be born in Isaiah 9:6 would be called the Everlasting Father. These words describe the love, care, provision and ultimately the protection of a father. However, unlike an earthly father, this prediction referencing Jesus points to His everlasting or unending qualities of protection. Through Jesus, God has offered His protection and redemption from sin. Christmas is a time to recall God’s everlasting gift of salvation for all people. This was accomplished though Jesus, who was born as a baby, just as Isaiah predicted. That is not false information. The skeptics may respond with a loud “Bah Humbug,” but in reality it is great news of great joy from a great Father.

For more see Isaiah

0 Comments

Mountain Top Perspective... While in the Valley

3/19/2020

0 Comments

Psalm 121
Where do you turn when life is long, hot, dry and hard? Where do you go for protection and security? In a battle situation the position with the greatest advantage is always the high ground. If you are above your enemy then you will have greater visibility and an easier position to defend. As we think about this picture let’s review the background of Psalm 121. Most likely this Psalm was written for travelers to sing as they travelled to Jerusalem. Yes they sang as they walked in much the same way as we might sing on a long car ride to pass the time and drudgery.

The Question of Hope, Help and Security
Imagine David walking on a winding road through a valley on the way up to Jerusalem which geographically sits on top a mountain in the hill country. He begins with a question about where his help comes from (1). As a military leader he was seeing the best position on top of the hill. He realized that he was in a vulnerable position and his eyes confirmed what he saw. What do you eyes see? Do you only see the present difficulties and the difficult position that you are in? David’s view was beyond the mountains to God who is above the mountains. He had eyes of faith to see what others might not see. He wanted help and he knew that he had to look above and beyond his present situation to God who is greater than the present situation.

God is Helper
In verses 2-8 David is reminded about five key actions of God. The first is that God is a helper (2). David is certain of who his helper is. There is no one else who helps like God. He also sees that creation reminds him of the one who is helping Him. David sees that the all-powerful God who made the heavens and earth is helping him. That alone gives hope for today. David was trusting God alone to help him. Are you trusting in God to help and save you?

God is Guarding
Next, David sees God as the one who guards him (3). He states that God will not allow your foot to slip. The path of life is always filled with uncertain slippery situations. David finds his confidence in God to guard his steps and keep him from slipping. But notice what he says in verse three. This guarding that God does is not just a one time event. David sees that God is always attentive and watching over his life. God is always faithful and will not doze or even take a short nap or rest. God sees your situation, God knows the difficulties of your situation and God is certainly attentive to your situation. David knows that God cares about the events of his life and you can know that God cares about you and the events of your life.

God is Watchful
Thirdly, David sees that God is watchful (4). He understands God’s care in verse three but moves to a greater understanding of God’s overall knowledge over all of life in verse four. God does not sleep or slumber and because this is true God knows all that is going on. He is always watchful and thus always knowing. Remember how David started this Psalm with a reference to the hills and the high ground? David in a way sees life from God’s perspective on high and realizes that always aware and always watching all the events of life. There is nothing that surprises Him. People may question and challenge why certain things happen, but David realizes that God wants him to trust in Him because He knows and is watching over all things.

God is Protector
Next, David sees God as more than just passively watching, but being active in protecting and sustaining (5-6). The best place to be on a very hot day is not out in the open but in the shade of a large tree or building. The only way to find protection from the burning heat is to step into the shade. Rest in the shade is found as one sits down and leans back on the tree as the sun beats down. Protection from the heat of life’s problems is only found as we rest in the shade of God’s presence at this present moment. The sun’s position may change but David is confident that God will keep and protect those who seek shelter in His presence. However, David does not just end with one event during one day. He sees God protecting all day and all night. David’s view of God’s power is not limited to one event or situation. He trusts God for all of life’s events during the day or the night.

God is Preserver
Finally, David sees God as the one who protects and preserves his life (7-8). God is not limited in time or power because David states that God will protect from all evil. This powerful God will not just protect life but also preserve the soul of those who trust Him to save or preserve them. God is faithful and unchanging and He will protect and preserve when you go out to start the day and when you come in to end the day. David says that the LORD will always be the one who saves from now and forever. David is confident that God will save forever. I hope that is true for you. God wants to not only save from the problems but also for all time. Will you trust Him like David?

Where do you turn when the difficulties of life are as high as the mountains? When we trust in God alone as the only one who helps, guards, watches, protects and preserves we can find rest in His presence when the problems in life heat up.

0 Comments

Reassurance from God

Patient Faith in Pain

Spiritual Battle - Complacency and Self Confidence

Jesus Role as Priest

Responding to a World that Lacks Love

Everlasting Father

Mountain Top Perspective... While in the Valley

Pastor Ken

Archives

Categories