Bulletin Genesis 15:1 (NIV) 1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Isaiah 12:2 (NIV) 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." John 16:33 (NIV) 33 “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.” When considering the power of a storm and its ability to wipe out the things that have been collected throughout a lifetime, there is an opportunity to put high priority and value upon the place of safety itself, the refuge into which all these things will go. It doesn’t do any good to acquire great wealth if it isn’t secured in a refuge that will withstand the greatest of threats. For the one that is wise, then, the shelter itself will be given the greatest invested attention. Abraham was not without great earthly wealth, having received it as a blessing from God through wisdom and supernatural provision. When God was presenting Himself, however, in this passage from Genesis 15, He didn’t just declare that He was the Giver of these earthly blessings. He revealed that He Himself was the refuge for all that could ever be threatened by a storm. While Abraham could have been fixated upon acquiring the blessings God had to offer, they could never be for him the reward that God Himself would be. The accumulated treasure of this earth would be a blessing for a short amount of time. As God Himself was sought after above all those other things, however, the reward of Him would be sustained beyond the brevity of his earthly life. Because he was even ready to take the life of his most treasured blessing, his focus on the reward of nothing other than God Himself secured for him an eternal refuge, impenetrable by the greatest of storms, both seen and unseen. Notes Challenge – Relationship with someone who is not seen, heard, or sensed. Keeping it about who they are and not just what they do. Cheer comes from Jesus’ overcoming – assuming continued relationship John 16:33 (TPT) 33 And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” God’s revelation of not just what He has to provide, but who He actually is. Genesis 15:1 (NIV) 1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” When you get the Lord, you get strength, defense, salvation Isaiah 12:2 (NIV) 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." King over the flood Psalms 29:10 (NIV) 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. He Himself is (not just provides) fortress, safety, rock of strength Psalms 31:3 (TPT) 3 (3-4) For you are my high fortress, where I’m kept safe. You are to me a stronghold of salvation. When you deliver me out of this peril, it will bring glory to your name. As you guide me forth I’ll be kept safe from the hidden snares of the enemy—the secret traps that lie before me—for you have become my rock of strength. God’s perspective of our relationship His amazing uninterrupted passion for us Psalms 139:1-17 (TPT) 1 For the Pure and Shining One . King David’s poetic song . Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. 2 You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. 3 (3-4) You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. 5 You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me. 6 This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. 7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face? 8 If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! 9 If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting! 10 Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. 11 It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night. 12 There is no such thing as darkness with you. The night, to you, is as bright as the day; there’s no difference between the two. 13 You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. 14 I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! 15 You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something. 16 You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. 17 (17-18) Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me. Our potential with God The real weathering is in knowing Him personally – returned passion Luke 17:12-19 (TPT) 12 As he entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. 13 They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us ?” 14 When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. 15 One of them, a foreigner from Samaria , when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. 16 When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” This man was a Samaritan. 17 “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? 18 They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?” 19 Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and healing.” How to be with Him on the day of trouble – maintain contact. Though a refuge is greatly needed, it is God Himself that is sought. Psalms 27:4-5 (TPT) 4 Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer. 5 (5-6) In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me, for he hides me there in his holiness. He has smuggled me into his secret place, where I’m kept safe and secure—out of reach from all my enemies. Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, listen and you can hear the fanfare of my shouts of praise to the Lord! Constant Contact John 5:19 (TPT) 19 So Jesus said, “I speak to you timeless truth. The Son is not able to do anything from himself or through my own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the Son does the same works as his Father. Frequent counsel Philippians 4:6-7 (TPT) 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. Continued conversation when unclear what to say Romans 8:26-27 (NIV) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. Communicating with the Unseen – built up faith Jude 1:20 (TPT) 20 But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit.