Eternal Refuge; Everlasting Arms

Eternal Refuge; Everlasting Arms
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

No matter what is happening in the world, we must cling to the knowledge that "The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27) 
We learn several truths about our God from this verse.  First of all, He is eternal.  He has always existed and always will exist.  He does not change.  He is the constant for which mankind searches. 
Likewise, God is our home, our shelter, our security.  He surrounds us with His love.  Psalm 91:1-2--"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.'"  
Shelter--protection from the hostile elements--is a basic need of man.  If our physical self requires sheltering, how much more so our spiritual self. "Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (I Peter 5:8) Satan seeks to destroy us; God allows us to rest securely in His everlasting arms.
A refuge is place of safety and comfort.  Even when life rages around us, He leads us beside the still waters and restores our souls (Psalm 23). 
The Lord is our fortress.  While we remain in Him, we are so heavily protected that the enemy cannot breakthrough.  God is our support and our strength.  His strength never wanes.  His arms never tire.   We are cradled in the Power that spoke the universe into being.  We are safe in the arms of Abba Father, El-Shaddai. Praise the Lord for His Word! 
Father God, thank you for the covenant we have in You through Jesus Christ.   In this angry, fearful world, You shelter and strengthen us.  You  lift us up and set our feet on solid ground.  We praise You, our eternal Refuge, for the comfort and protection of Your everlasting arms.  Amen.

Having Done All, Stand

Having Done All, Stand
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Now, more than ever, we must stand for truth. We must not back away from righteousness.  We must be firm in our defense of the things of God and our constitutional right to worship Him. In His Word, our Father has given us strategy for standing.  I feel such a burden to share three particular scriptures.
1.  Ephesians 6:11-18 (NKJV) 
“11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- “

We do not struggle against flesh and blood. We struggle against spiritual forces of evil.  As we stand, we must stand in truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and the Word of God. No matter what political forces are in play, what the Word says is right is right, and what the Word says is sin is sin.  

2.  Ephesians 4:29-31 (NKJV) 
“29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

We must guard against sinking to the level of our adversaries.  We must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) without resorting to harsh words and name-calling. We can be forceful, even aggressive, without being hostile.  

3.1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) 15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” “Meekness” is self-control and “fear” is  reverence for God.
We need to know what we believe and why.  Basically, God has defined some behaviors as sinful because those behaviors keep us from experiencing the best that He has for us.  When we condone those behaviors, we condemn those caught in those behaviors to lives that lack the abundance of love, joy, and peace that God has in store for those who love Him.

When we are faithful to Him, God will bless us in spite of our circumstances, in spite of the decisions that others make, in spite of the enemy who seeks to destroy us.  Remember Joseph and Daniel, who, because of their faithfulness to God, became powerful leaders in Egypt and in Babylon.  Remember that Paul wrote many of his epistles during imprisonment.  

Remember, also, greater is He who is within you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Keep standing in faith.  Keep praising and worshiping. Jesus is King.