Psalm 46 1 11 NIV 1 God is

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Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 4 There is a river whose streams make glad

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 8 Come and see what the LORD has done,

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I

Psalm 46: 1 -11 (NIV) 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. ” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

(Hymnal #26 verse 1) A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our

(Hymnal #26 verse 1) A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

On March 11 the strongest earthquake and tsunami hit Japan causing severe damages and

On March 11 the strongest earthquake and tsunami hit Japan causing severe damages and huge number of causalities and missing persons.

Five days later, I got a call from Moody Radio and was interviewed by

Five days later, I got a call from Moody Radio and was interviewed by Chris Fabry on his live program to discuss the tragedy in Japan. During the phone conversation, Chris asked me several questions “As you see the image of destruction, how do you respond? ” ”Did it break your heart to see the destruction, knowing that so many of those killed did not know Christ? ”

I responded by sharing my experience about the disaster that I experienced during World

I responded by sharing my experience about the disaster that I experienced during World War II when a B-29 planes came around mid-night and dropped bombs on my town. I was 13 -year old. My mother forced me and my younger brother to run to the shelter. The next morning I saw nothing but burned ruins stretched as far as the eye could see.

Many people refer to these events as an “act of God, ” while others

Many people refer to these events as an “act of God, ” while others think it necessary to absolve God of any personal involvement. They insist that He is an interested observer, having committed the world of nature to its fate. They believe that God sees these terrifying events with minimal and that He could prevent them, but He has chosen a “hands-off” policy, only occasionally interfering with natural laws.

The purpose of this morning’s message is to answer these questions: 1. Is God

The purpose of this morning’s message is to answer these questions: 1. Is God in control of natural disasters or not? If the answer is yes, then we fight nature and fight God? 2. Dare we charge God with doing evil? 3. How shall we interpret these events, and what message is God trying to send us through such devastation? 4. Can a God who allows plans such horrific disasters be trusted?

The concept that nature is fallen is clear from Scriptures. God told Adam, “Cursed

The concept that nature is fallen is clear from Scriptures. God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field” (Gen. 3: 17 -18) When God cursed man He also cursed nature. God would not allow sinful man to continue to live in a sinless paradise. And just as we have our good side and dark side, so, too, does nature.

Now nature awaits our redemption so that it can be redeemed along with us.

Now nature awaits our redemption so that it can be redeemed along with us. Thankfully, the curse will be reversed, as Paul confirmed, “The creation waits in eager expectation, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom. 8: 19 -21)

Every day we see the result of the curse: Tsunami, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought,

Every day we see the result of the curse: Tsunami, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, and floods. In fact, number of natural disasters is on the increase, with multiplied thousands killed each year in the powerful upheavals of natural forces. Does this mean that God has removed Himself from nature? Does He really have a “hands-off” policy when it comes to these tragedies? ”

We must distinguish between the immediate cause of these events and their ultimate cause.

We must distinguish between the immediate cause of these events and their ultimate cause. For example, the immediate cause of an earthquake is a fault beneath the earth’s crust; and the immediate cause of a tornado is wind and temperature patterns. Yet in both cases, the ultimate cause of these events is God. He rules nature either directly or through secondary causes, but either way, He is in charge. After all, He is the Creator, the sustainer of all things.

God who permits natural disasters to happen could also choose not to permit them

God who permits natural disasters to happen could also choose not to permit them to happen. In the very act of allowing them, He demonstrates that they fall within the boundaries of His providence and will.

Notice that in the story of Job, Satan brought about the natural calamities of

Notice that in the story of Job, Satan brought about the natural calamities of lightning and wind. But he could do this only when God signed off on it; he did it because God said, “Very well, lay a finger” (Job 1: 2). Luther was right when he said, “Even the devil is God’s devil. ”

When I became a radio missionary, I was told that some Christians explained that

When I became a radio missionary, I was told that some Christians explained that the miraculous transmission of the human voice through the air was a satanic trick. After all, the argument was that the devil was the “ruler of the king of the air” (Eph. 2: 2)

We smile at that today, but those believers were right in this respect: Satan

We smile at that today, but those believers were right in this respect: Satan does travel through the airwaves, creating havoc through our radio stations, but God is also at work, using the same media to convey the message of love, hope, joy and peace. And despite the evil that is coming through radio, God is still using my radio ministry to tell the good news to those who would otherwise have no other means to hear.

God is both good and omnipotent, yet He always acts from the standpoint of

God is both good and omnipotent, yet He always acts from the standpoint of eternity rather than time; He makes all decisions with an infinite perspective. We believe that God had a good and all-wise purpose for the heartrending tragedy that took thousands of lives. God must have hundreds of thousands of purposes, most of which will remain hidden to us until we are able to grasp them at the end of the age. ” As finite beings, we cannot judge an infinite being.

When Jesus was told how Pilate had butchered a group of Galileans and their

When Jesus was told how Pilate had butchered a group of Galileans and their blood mixed with pagan sacrifices, He answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no!” (Luke 13: 2 -3) Then He continues: “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no” (Luke 13: 4 -5).

Disasters are awful, but those who die in them are not greater sinners than

Disasters are awful, but those who die in them are not greater sinners than others who are spared such a fate. We cannot pretend to understand all that God has in mind when tragedies come to a country or a single family or person. But natural disasters are God’s megaphone, shouting to us messages that we should be quick to learn.

In fact, believers should be willing to help those who are in distress even

In fact, believers should be willing to help those who are in distress even at great personal risk. Luther, when confronted with the question of whether Christians should help the sick and dying when the plague came to Germany, he said, “This is God’s decree which we must patiently submit and serve our neighbor, risking our lives in this manner at St. John teaches, ‘If Christ laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren’ I John 3: 16)

Yes, the plague was “God’s decree, ” but yes, we must do what we

Yes, the plague was “God’s decree, ” but yes, we must do what we can to help the sick and minister to the dying. Death is inevitable. Natural disasters are a reminder of our mortality. Life is a loan from God. He gives it and He takes it away, whenever and however He wills. We’ll all die from something, for death is a scheduled, divine appointment.

He does not delight in human suffering, but He does delight in the completion

He does not delight in human suffering, but He does delight in the completion of His hidden purposes. – saving the people from the lost and welcoming them to their heavenly home. “When Home loses one, Heaven adds one. Heaven welcomes everyone to come straight home”.

When Job lost his ten children to a windstorm, he did not known that

When Job lost his ten children to a windstorm, he did not known that God had a dialogue with Satan and that he had been singled out for a special trial. Without explanation, without Job’s knowing the fine print of God’s purposes, a natural disaster wiped out his children. The next day, things went from bad to worse. By then Satan had permission from God to smite Job with “painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head? (Job 2: 7).

While Satan predicted that Job would curse God, while Job’s wife encouraged it with

While Satan predicted that Job would curse God, while Job’s wife encouraged it with the remark, “Curse God and die!” Job would have no part. With the keen insight, he corrected her. “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? ”trouble? ”(Job 2: 9 -10). He knew that both the good times and trouble came from God. He would bless and not curse. “Things you believed in the daylight, you don’t deny in the darkness” (Dr. Raymond Edman, Wheaton college)

If God is sovereign, then we can have a confidence that “all things work

If God is sovereign, then we can have a confidence that “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8: 28). We do not believe in fate, but in a specific purpose ordained by an all-wise God. Natural disasters might drive some people away from God; but for others they drive us toward Him, because we can discern what is temporary and what is permanent, what is finite and what is infinite.

When the earth shakes under your feet, or when a tornado crosses your street,

When the earth shakes under your feet, or when a tornado crosses your street, you take cover, but ultimately we must flee into the arms of the One and only who is able to shelter us. No matter how many things move in this world, we can always find tierra firma, solid ground, in the consolations of the mighty. We are reminded that all things pass away and only what is eternal abides.

The Psalm writer knew that when all gives way, God abides. They invite us

The Psalm writer knew that when all gives way, God abides. They invite us to recognize God’s majesty and run to Him for safety. Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” was adapted from Psalm 46 in 1529.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way And the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Though its waters roar and foam And the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river shoes streams make glad the city of God, The holy

There is a river shoes streams make glad the city of God, The holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. Come

The Lord Almighty is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. ” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46)

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.