30 Jun Psalm 91 (Protecting your family in Dangerous Times) PART 10
Before we launch into a new month let’s review what we have been sharing over the last few months….Based on all that we have been going through, I wanted to minister to your specific needs today!
Look at our history over the past 20 years:
- 2000 – Y2K
- 2001 – Anthrax
- 2002 – West Nile Virus
- 2003 – SARS
- 2005 – Bird flu
- 2006 – E. Coli
- 2008 – Bad Economy
- 2009 – Swine flu
- 2010 – BP Oil spill
- 2012 – Mayan Calendar
- 2013 – North Korea
- 2014 – Ebola Virus
- 2015 – ISIS
- 2016 – Zika Virus
- 2020 – Coronavirus
What do all of these “crises” have in common? They are all in our rear view mirror! Eventually, coronavirus will be too! Your Bible tells you in Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers us out of them all.” Coronavirus is an “all”!
Jesus was asked about the end of the age and some of the signs that would point to that time period. He responded in a way that is pertinent to the time in which we live. He told us that “pestilence” was an indicator of the last days (see Matt. 24:7). Paul, prophesied to Timothy by the Holy Spirit and told us the last days would be “dangerous” times (see II Timothy 3:1).
Yet right in the middle of these dangerous times filled with pestilences, there is protection for you and your family! It is found in that magnificent chapter of Psalms 91. Let’s dive in together!
We have been sharing with you “Three Protection Points”:
- The Prerequisites of Protection (Ps. 91:1-2)
- The Promises of Protection (Ps. 91:3-16)
- The Practicalities of Protection (Luke 22:38)
Psalm 91:1-2 says, “He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in Him will I trust.”
Please notice four very simple words:
- Dwell
- Abide
- Say
- Trust
In order to ascertain the promises in these verses, we must meet the prerequisites of these verses. You see, there is always a “man side” to every miracle and a “God side” to every miracle. The Bible tells us, “The horse is prepared for battle, but victory is of the Lord” (Prov. 21:31). Preparation is my side of this equation. Victory is of the Lord! I can’t do His side… victory. He won’t do my side…preparation.
So let’s dwell and abide with God on a daily basis and from that position, let’s go on to the third and fourth prerequisite…say and trust.
These four simple words are our responsibility. We must dwell, abide, say and trust as a prerequisite before we can partake of the promises of protection! Remember this: You can’t give to God what He has already given to you. What God has delegated to you, He won’t do for you!
The good news is if we are daily dwelling in His presence, abiding in fellowship with Him, saying the Word of God and trusting in it…the promises contained in verses 3-16 belong to you!
Here the Scripture tells us, “Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; or for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; or for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes will you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
Now let’s look back at Psalm 91:4 where the Bible goes on to tell us His truth will be our shield and buckler. His truth is His Word (see John 17:17). The word “buckler” was a large belt that went all the way around one’s body. Therefore God’s Word is our shield and protects us all the way around! The enemy and all he brings cannot penetrate from any side!
In verse 5, God tells us to not be afraid of four things:
- Terror by night. Psalm 4:8 tells us He gave his beloved sweet sleep and we can lie down in safety.
- Arrow that flies by day. An arrow is a weapon. The Bible tells us, “No weapon formed against us shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). The Bible didn’t say the weapon would not be formed, it just said it would not prosper!
- Pestilences that walk in darkness. Once again that word “pestilence” is a Hebrew word that means “cleaving or deadly disease.” Notice the phrase “walks in darkness.” That certainly describes COVID-19. “Does that person have it?” “He coughed, maybe he has it.” “Does that surface have the virus…I just touched it.” On and on fear whispers in our ears! NO! God tells us 103 times in the Bible to “Fear not!” or “Do not be afraid!”
- The destruction that wastes at noonday. The word “destruction” means sudden death like a stroke or heart attack. The word “wastes” means “to devastate.”
God does not want us to be afraid of any of those four “villains.” The Bible says in II Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” The word “fear” is the Greek word “delia” which means “timidity or cowardice.” The word “power” is “dunamis.” We get our word “dynamite” from it and it means “explosive power.” The word translated “love” is the Greek word “agape” and it means a “selfless, giving love.” Lastly, the word “sound mind” is the Greek word “sophron” which means “a saved or stable, secure mind.”
Fear, timidity and cowardice do not come from God. Explosive power, committed love and a secure mind come from God! You get to choose which one you want.
The Bible tells us, “The Lord is on my side I WILL not fear” (Ps. 118:6). You can literally choose to refuse fear!
If you will daily dwell, abide, say and trust…God will rescue and defend you from the traps of the devil and deadly diseases (COVID-19 included!). Just like a mother chicken, God will protect His little chicks and there is no reason to fear!
May I challenge all of you to read Psalm 91 out loud, EVERY DAY! Use your Bible App and read a different translation every day! You and your family can successfully and safely navigate these dangerous times!