Title: My Refuge/ Psalm 16:1-5
Contents Psalm 16:1 is my favorite verse. (Psalm 16:1) "Protect me, O God, for in You I take refuge." When we are in trouble, God is the only place we can take refuge. It is God who will hide us and protect us no matter what difficulties we face.
1. He protects those who take refuge in God.
No matter where we flee, we are not safe. God is our fortress and protects those who take refuge in him. Church is a place to avoid. It is a place where we can escape from the devil who is pursuing our sins.
Jesus said, "(Matthew 16:18) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." And he said, "(John 6:37) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." He also said, "(Romans 10:11) The Bible says, "Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
If we play hide and seek when we are young, we have nowhere to hide. No matter how well you hide, the tag will find you. There is no place for us to escape, no place to hide safely. But those who take refuge in God will protect their life, health, happiness, and family with the hands of Almighty God.
In John 15-17, we find fervent prayers before God along with various parables that Jesus spoke.
Also, Jesus said, "(John 6:39) That I might do the will of him who sent me, this is the will of him who sent me, that I will not lose any of those who have given me, but that I will raise him up on the last day." That's right. We are safe because the Lord protects us.
The text says, “(Psalm 16:2) I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord, and I have no good besides you.’” Not only does he protect us, he is the source of our blessings. What God gives is a blessing, but believing in God itself is a blessing.
If you believe in God and yet say you are in need, then you have no faith. To say that you are anxious or anxious even though you are serving God is a disease of your faith. If you pile up food to eat and say you are hungry, then you must be sick.
Even if you believe in God, you keep worrying, "I have to live well, my children need to do well, and my business needs to do well," and it is a disease. It is proof that you do not fully believe in God.
Believing in God itself is an infinite blessing. The blessings of this world are limited and imperfect. But the blessing of believing in God is the absolute and absolute best blessing. Yahweh is my blessing. He said that there is no blessing for me except the Lord.
2. Those who take refuge in the Lord become honorable.
The text says, “(Psalm 16:3) The saints on the earth are honored, and all my joy belongs to them.” We are all living on the earth, but we are never alone. Because the Lord is always with us and blesses us. Although there are many noble people in this world, God sees us as precious. Those who believe in God are the most precious.
Of course, there are difficult times, but when the season changes, there comes a time when you change everything just like you change clothes. When a farmer returns from the field, his body is covered in dirt, but when he takes a bath and changes clothes, he becomes three people.
How many of our members have failed and came to the church with a humble appearance? But now, he has become a gentleman like no other in the world, and he has been blessed with grace and is living a prosperous life. We should never be discouraged by looking at our temporary situation on this earth.
At the end of the day, it was said, “(Rev 7:17) God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” The tears of the saints do not go back in vain. Since the saints on earth are the most noble before God, he will protect them and protect them forever.
who is the best People judge people by saying they are the best, but on God's part, this is not the case. On God's part, God's children are the most precious. You must not belittle yourself and despise yourself. You have to value yourself. All saints on earth are honored. If God honors us, why do we despise ourselves and discourage ourselves?
There are many people who pray in our church, and even if you cry and pray, you must not show tears to others. Never show a drunken appearance in front of people. Because God approves of me. No matter how noble you are on earth, if God hates you, if God curses you, there is no way. I hope that you are a city that is recognized by God.
3. The LORD protects the portion of those who take refuge.
“(Psalm 16:4) Those who offer gifts to other gods will suffer more; I will not offer drink offerings of their blood, nor will I call upon his name with my lips.”
Those who make offerings to other gods are cursed by God. You must not serve idols. You must not bow down to anything other than God. You are holy because you are a child of a holy God.
Church members should not send their children to the Unification Church school. Church members who run a pharmacy should not sell Unification Church products. And the saints should not buy it and eat it. You should not take the Han River cruise operated by the Salvation Sect. God protects people only when they keep themselves clean.
"In the past, when I went to a local area, I used to visit the temples in that area. I am a servant of God, so come out demons!" and took a look. But I only realized later that it was wrong.
It's not because we fall into demons, but because we're looking at unclean idols. If your clothes get soiled, you will have tests and difficulties at meetings when you come to the temple. After realizing this, I did not go to the temple again.
Those who worship idols are punished by God. Many of these words appear at the end of the psalm. Those who make idols are cursed before God, and those who worship idols cannot stand before God. So, we should not call idols by their names, nor should we buy products made by heretics.
The last verse says, "(Psalm 16:5) The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; you keep my portion." Jehovah is the portion of my cup. So God protects my portion one by one. It is very difficult if I try to protect my children, my property, and everything I own. God must protect my cup, protect my industry, and protect the church, but I can never keep all of my possessions.
God, who is my refuge, thoroughly helps and protects me. God protects the church. God protects your family. I believe that God will protect your future. I hope you will be of great grace through the psalms I spoke of today.