“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” (Psalm 18:2-3).
David knew his strength came from God and that the Lord would never fail to protect him from enemy attack. Christians have that same assurance. God protects us. He is our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. We may face human enemies, but the enemy may also be from entities in the supernatural realm. Satan and his minions lurk everywhere and will try to stumble us, but with God protecting us, we have nothing to fear.
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be with us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
The enemy may strike fear into our hearts, and he may even harm our mortal body, but for those of us who have chosen Christ for salvation, our eternal soul is safe.
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD by Martin Luther
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
People have always faced troubles. Plagues, famine, and war are all part of living in this fallen world. Lately, the perils of the age in which we live seem overwhelming. God cannot be blamed for any of the frightening things we face. There is an ancient foe who is a liar and will stop at nothing to destroy humanity.
Adam and Eve were safe in the Garden of Eden and would have remained that way if they hadn’t broken God’s one rule: don’t eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan lied to Eve and convinced her to disobey God. Instead of believing God, she ate the fruit then convinced Adam to join in her disobedience. In so doing, God’s protection was breached.
All sin has consequences. When we choose to disobey God’s ways, we always pay a price for our sin. Satan has no love for mankind and will lead us into a life of destruction if we listen to his lies.
Satan again tried to destroy mankind using genetic manipulation to destroy the human genome, but Noah’s bloodline was pure because his family obeyed God, and they found protection through the judgment of the flood.
Job was a victim of Satan’s hatred of humans. He accused God of protecting Job. “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side: thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land” (Job 1:10).
Satan knew God’s protection was around Job. Satan could not touch Him until God allowed it. Job suffered loss of fortune, loss of children, and loss of health, but he never lost faith in God. Today, we need to stay strong in our faith and not allow fear of disease, war, or famine to tear down our bulwark of protection. Indeed, God is a mighty fortress and a bulwark which never fails.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
We like to feel as if we’re in control of everything. Many problems have come from people trying to “play God.” When we start to rely on ourselves or any human for truth, we won’t find it. Only God can arm us with spiritual weapons to fight the spiritual battle we face daily.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
It’s God’s armor and His strength we need. When you put on the armor of God, you need to follow Christ’s lead in battle. It’s no good to put on the helmet of salvation or wield the sword of the Spirit if you don’t follow Christ as your Commander in Chief. Obey God.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Don’t trust yourself in battles, whether spiritual or non-spiritual, but arm yourself with Scripture. Scriptural truth doesn’t change. The same God who created all things is the same God who shed His blood on the cross.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). He never changes.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
Satan is known by many names, and one of those names is the “god of this world.” That isn’t a compliment. This evil entity has nothing but contempt for us. He isn’t all-powerful but has managed to blind many people to the Gospel through lies and fear.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine into them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Christians must share the Gospel with everyone we meet because the darkness of Satan can only be dispelled by the Light of God. Satan cannot stand against Jesus.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
The name of Jesus is powerful, and Satan cannot take possession of anyone who belongs to Christ. Many miracles are recorded in the Book of Acts which the Apostles did in the name of Jesus. The lame walked, the dead were raised, and demons were cast out of people, all in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the name above all names, and only through Him will the darkness of the evil one flee. Share the Gospel. Unless Christians share God’s truth, there will be many souls lost. Follow the example of the Apostles in Scripture on how to share the Gospel.
Peter and the other Apostles were arrested, beaten, and warned not to teach in the name of Jesus. When they were let out of prison, what did they do? They went right back to preaching in the name of Jesus. That’s the Scriptural way to spread the Gospel and come against Satan.
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
The power of the Holy Spirit is available to all Christians. When we truly accept Christ as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit is sealed within us.
Before His crucifixion, Jesus told of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17).
When a person hears the Gospel and believes, they are then sealed with the Holy Spirit. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12-14).
If you are a Christian, God lives in you. He has given spiritual gifts that each of us needs to use for His glory. You may offend friends and family if you give your life to Christ and live for Him, but Jesus Christ needs to be honored by every Christian. It’s possible that you will be mocked, disowned, or even martyred for sharing the Gospel with others, but for a Christian, the death of this mortal body is the beginning of life in the presence of Christ.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). That’s a truth we can live with.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
The Psalmist knew of God’s strength and power. Our Lord has been there to help humanity through troubles since Adam was created. God’s truth is written in Scripture, and if we learn the lessons recorded there, we will always trust God. Unfortunately, we humans tend to try to handle troubles all on our own instead of turning to God first. This error leads to a multitude of problems because we disobey God. The troubles we bring on ourselves can put fear into our hearts. Trusting in God is the way to prevent fear from overcoming us.
“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah” (Psalm 46:2-3).
When God is our strength, we have nothing to fear.
We live in a turbulent time that was prophesied by prophets of God. The end of days is upon us, and Christians will soon be taken Home in the Rapture. Then the time of Jacob’s trouble will begin, and there will be seven years of horror followed by God’s judgment on Satan and his followers. Satan’s time is running out, and he’s doing all he can to strike fear into Christians and silence us. We need to remember that Christ Jesus is our Mighty Fortress and serve Him.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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