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April 2017 Printable .pdf (258 KB)

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and His son the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God and Father for every born-again believer. The March 2017 teaching discussed the word faith, which is the Greek word "pistis." It is translated two different ways in English, it is either faith or believing.

In March, we learned that God has given every man and woman the measure of faith (the faith of Jesus Christ which is Christ in you, the hope and glory). We also learned that the faith of Jesus Christ cannot be increased. We saw that faith (believing) comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Simplify put - the more of the Word of God you hear and make your own, the greater your believing!

This month's teaching will focus on God (Elohim) our refuge and strength. There are three records in God's Word documenting God's deliverance of Hezekiah and Jerusalem. We will discuss Psalm 46 to see how God is our refuge and strength. We will go to the book of Genesis Chapter 1, where the Hebrew name for God is Elohim. We will look at the words "And God [Elohim] said." We will also read in Colossians where God is translated Elohim.

Let's start with Psalm 46:1-11: God [Elohim] is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble [mental pressure].

The Hebrew name for God here in Psalm 46:1 is Elohim. The name Elohim means creator, the originator of life. God is Elohim in the first chapter of Genesis. Per original texts, the first word in Genesis verse one is God (Elohim) in the beginning created the heaven and earth. Then we read these three little words "And God said." God created by His Word. So how is Elohim a very present help in trouble? The Word of Elohim is always present and a help in trouble and peace. So, we go to God's Word and make His Word our words! We renew our minds to say what God's Word says. When we do that, then Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Let us read Genesis 1 to better understand our God who is Elohim the creator and originator of life. We will look at the verses that start with the words "And God said," which includes Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, and 29:

And God [Elohim] said, let there be light: and there was light.

And God [Elohim] said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

And God [Elohim] said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

And God [Elohim] said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth: and it was so.

And God [Elohim] said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

And God [Elohim] said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

And God [Elohim] said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

And God [Elohim] said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

This heaven and earth were created by God to bless humankind.

And God [Elohim] said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

The essential point is when God (Elohim) said it, it was so. The Word of Elohim is our sanctuary, our strength, our protection, and our shelter!

Colossians 1 is the next record we will read. It describes God (Elohim) as the invisible God. Turn to Colossians 1:15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

Colossians 1:16-17 is a parentheses or figure of speech added to expound on the invisible God.

For by him [Elohim] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [Elohim], and for him [Elohim].

And he [Elohim] is before all things, and by him [God-Elohim] all things consist.

The word "consist" means held together. The heaven and earth are held together by God (Elohim). The foundation of this second heaven and earth is solid. There is nothing we humans can do to destroy it. We were not able to create it in the first place. God's Word says by Him (Elohim) all things are held together. God said it, and that settles it. The Word of God is quick and powerful.

Look at Hebrew 4:12:

For the word of God is quick [living], and powerful [energetic], and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner [critic] of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It's God's Word. Not my word or your word, but God's Word! How much do you know and can manifest? God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness - a true and vital spiritual relationship with Him through knowledge of His Word (II Peter 1:3). God's Word is the light of the world! This Word of God is awesome, tremendous and the Word of life.

Turn to Psalm 46:2: Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

When we see the word "therefore" at the beginning of the Psalm 46:2, we must understand that it is practical application of the previous verse; in this case Psalm 46:1. So, let's read the Psalm 46:1 to understand Psalm 46:2. God [Elohim] is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble [mental pressure]. Now verse 2: Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

Now - how is God our refuge and strength? As we read in Genesis 1 and Colossians 1, it is the Word of God (Elohim) which is our refuge and strength! God said it, and that settles it.

God's Word says He has magnified His Word above His name. Look at Psalm 138:2:

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Back to Psalm 46:3-4:

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled [stir up and agitate], though the mountains shake [stir up and agitate] with the swelling thereof. Selah [consider these words].

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God [Elohim], the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High [another name of God, the superlative of El. The Omnipotent One as the Possessor of heaven and earth, the Most High over all the earth].

This river refers to the Pool of Siloam that was built by King Hezekiah in the 8th century BC to provide water to Jerusalem when they were under siege by Sennacherib's army. Hezekiah cut that tunnel through almost 2,000 feet of solid rock from the Gihon Spring, also called the Virgin's Spring. Look at 2 Kings 20:20:

And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

The record of God delivering Hezekiah and Jerusalem is documented in three places in God's Word: II Kings 19, II Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 37. When you read these records, you will learn that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures have hope in God who delivered Hezekiah and Jerusalem in the time of their troubles. You also will see how Hezekiah and Jerusalem prayed and acted to prepare for the attack of Sennacherib king of Assyria. You will see how God "saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side" (see 11 Chronicles 32:22). Blessed is the man whose trust is in the living God! There is endless learning in these records.

Let's turn back to Psalm 46:5: God [Elohim] is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

As soon as we believe God's Word and act on it, He is there. God is never late!

Continuing with Psalm 46:6-7:

The heathen raged [stir up and agitate emotionally], the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts [God in relationship to His people as head of His army] is with us; the God [Elohim] of Jacob [his name means competitor] is our refuge. Selah [consider these words].

We must renew our minds to God's Word daily, sometimes hour-by-hour and minute-by- minute. Turn back to Psalm 46:8-11:

Come, behold the works of the Lord [Jehovah], what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know [by experience] that I am God [Elohim]: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts [of the armies] is with us; the God [Elohim] of Jacob is our refuge. Selah [consider these words].

Christians, our vilest enemy is not a distant country or a distant people. It is our own selves within our country. Today, Christians put their trust in everything except God. It is the truth of God's Word that is foreign in our country. Today, very few Christians have a knowledge of God's Word. Hosea 4:6, says "My people [God's people] are destroyed for lack of knowledge [the knowledge of His Word]." We will live triumphantly or be destroyed by how much of the Word of God we know and practice!

Ask yourself these questions - Has God gone out of business? Is His Word no longer His Will? Has He changed His capability? Thus, said the Lord God "For I am the Lord, I change not (Malachi 3:6)." Elohim (God) is always there for us. It is not God who questions or doubts or is not ready - it is our believing. This is why it is so important to know God's Word and act upon it continually.

In summary, we discussed Psalm 46. We saw how God is our refuge and strength by looking at the Hebrew name for God, Elohim. We read in Genesis 1 the Hebrew name for God was Elohim and read the words "And God [Elohim] said." We also read in Colossians 1 where God was translated Elohim.

I referenced the three records of God delivering Hezekiah and Jerusalem and where they are documented in God's Word - II Kings 19, II Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 37. It was discussed that our vilest enemy is not a distant country, but rather it is our own selves within our country. Today, Christians put their trust in everything except God, and this is the reason that God's word is foreign in our country.

Today very few Christians have knowledge of God's Word. Hosea 4:6, says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [the knowledge of His Word]." God is the same today as He was in the Old and in the New Testaments! As it is written "For I am the Lord, I change not (Malachi 3:6)." The Word of God is the Will of God! The Will of God is the Word of God!

Father, I thank you for everyone in the body of Christ, and for your Word being our refuge and strength and a very present help in the time of trouble. Thank you, Father, for your lovingkindness and for magnifying your Word above all your name. Father, I thank you for our country. Father, may we realize the truth of your Word, and that it is your Word that protects and strengthens our country.

I also thank God, our Father, without ceasing, because when you receive the Word of God, you receive it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe (I Thessalonians 2:13).

Next month's teaching we will continue God as our refuge and strength.

In the Lord
Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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