A Sheltered Life
July 8, 2007
Psalm 46
Sheltered from the sandlot! Me? Not! Christians sheltered from the sandlot! You? Feel like you’re sheltered? God - He is our shelter!
If you are in Christ you lead a sheltered life! Why?
Because of Immanuel you live immovable!
“God Is” - Martin Luther story and song - A mighty Fortress!
“Ever present in trouble” - Caving - tight spots - God gets you through! Relevance!
“Therefore we will not fear” - not moved like all the rest of the world! V2-3
Indian wrestling - point: the world wants to move you of the rock and into the sea of fear! Out of the tower - out of the refuge - I shall not be moved because of Immanuel!
“There is a river”- Jer 2:13 - “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Matthew 7:38-39 - “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Sing song! Help - healing, hope, joy. V4-5 - God is within you!
Immanuel!! He will not fail - V5 - a new day! Immanuel - The Almighty!
"Be still, and know that I am God; You can know God! Stifle! Cease - The lady running and talking on cell phone - Stifle - Beat the trick of the enemy! Be still! Raising children - notice how they can’t sit still or mind? Who is God? The ONE who will be exalted! He is Immanuel!! He is the Almighty! V7-11 - Jehovah Saba - in the furnace, lions den, etc.
Evidence of the sheltered life? Compassion not complaining - blessing not burden - grace instead of grievance - significance instead of indifference - loving instead of lying. Questing for fire instead of quitting the choir! Because of Immanuel you can live immovable! The world can’t shake you - preach
Conclusion
Bomb shelter - best shelter - If you have chosen to follow Jesus take heart! You are leading a sheltered life!