From The Pastor's Pen - 5/7/12 - Our Refuge And Strength

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1 AKJ).

In the above verse from the 46th Psalm, we need to take a closer look at the Anglo word 'trouble'. That word was correctly rendered by the King James translators from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Here the original Greek denoted extreme distress and/or a concerted and focused

attack from an enemy combatant. Further, it is particularly clear from the Greek verb segment that the

enemy in question, whether singular or plural in nature, was of a supernatural origin, rather than

a natural or spiritual one.

That said, the important type, or example, we need to draw here is that, while Messiah Jesus was

likewise continually at odds from the same supernatural entities, He always emerged from these

spiritual battles totally victorious. Part of the good news of the promises in the New Covenant

scriptures is that we can, too! But in order to do that, it is vital that we first recognize their origins

and secondly the motives and agenda of these powers of darkness with whom every serious believer

is locked in a daily life and death struggle.

Now pay attention, because I believe that if you're still reading this, you're probably among the

number of those who want to be all you can be according to the teachings of Jesus and Apostolic

doctrine. You see, if you and I are seriously committed to running the race of the Christian life, and

winning it for the glory of God, we need to begin to diligently studying and applying all of the living Word to every situation and circumstance we encounter (for accuracy we recommend the Authorized King James), and we can only do that by making the Holy Scriptures the final authority against every obstacle or trouble.

Now, briefly, back to our opening verses today. Take note that God is clearly referred to as our 'refuge' and 'strength'. In the original language, this refuge refers to escaping, or fleeing, from an impending, or present, danger while being immoveable. That's no contradiction, of course, because the reality here, is that, our abiding relationship with the Father, via the blood of Jesus, and the ever present help and assistance of the Holy Ghost, provides us with both a place of protective refuge, and divine strength by which we will not be moved, or shaken, by any trouble or events of natural or supernatural origin. I encourage you to approach and stud the preserved word of the AKJ for within the Holy Scriptures are the answers to the issues of life.