Psalm 91 Promises With An * Intro 1. Ps.91 video or reflection of the psalm 2. Pic of an * An * means that there is an exception. All the promises of Ps.91 are contingent upon abiding 91.1, 9, 14. 3. Big Idea: Abiding in Jesus is the key to living under the promises of Ps.91. Those who abide in Jesus will experience the promises of rest, deliverance, protection, and blessing of Ps.91. 4. I believe Christians can be affiliated with Christ, and not be abiding in Christ. You can be surviving in Jesus and not thriving in Him. 5. What does it mean to live in the shelter of the Most High make the Lord your refuge Love me trust in my name.? 6. It is the idea of abiding or remaining in Christ. There is a connection between the promises of Psalm 91 and the command of John 15. The * means: Remain In Christ John 15.4-5 Remain to continue on in enduring and uncompromising devotion to Christ. To be settled in Christ and to draw upon His life so that it transforms our own. God s part He will prune (God subtracts to multiply); my part remain in Him. This is a command! We must intentionally abide if we expect to see great fruit and fulfilled promises. o An example of the promises of Ps.91 being experienced by the disciples is the Book of Acts. Acts is Ps.91 being lived out. God protected the early church from being destroyed and made it fruitful. Like Ps.91.11 says that angels were even dispatched to protect the believers. Ps 91 promise are possible when you remain consistently connected to Jesus. o Why do we not abide or not remain in the shelter of God? Mt.13.18-23 says: Problems, persecutions, worries of life, and wealth are sources that sever my growth and push me from His shelter. o Erractic and sporadic Christian discipleship is a sure indicator that there will be little fruit and small blessings. One season you re pressed into the shelter of the Most High and then another you ve drifted away into other
pursuits or you got depressed or have a stretch of hardships or relationships were stressed, etc. Then, you find yourself burned out or bewildered. This constant moving in and out of the shelter/vine will leave you weak and wanting. Pic of transplanting a tree a plant every 2 3 years. It may make the transition, but it will reflect it in its growth & fruit production. Stability is needed for fruitfulness. This is stability of long term: commitments, spiritual practices, core beliefs, revelation of our position in Christ, God s love for you, mind and emotions. When you are all over the map with your emotions, spiritual practices, personal decisions, self control the fruit production will be spotty. This is a partnership with God. If we ll abide in Jesus, the Ps.91 promises are activated. o Are you in a time of instability or spiritual barrenness: Pic of the book Sacred Romance If I'm not abiding in Jesus, then where is it that I abide? I once asked myself. I began to notice that when I was tired or anxious, there were certain sentences I would say in my head that led me to a familiar place. The journey to this place would often start with me walking around disturbed, feeling as if there was something deep inside that I needed to put into words but couldn't quite capture. I felt the "something" as anxiety, loneliness, and a need for connection with someone. If no connection came, I would start to say things like, "Life really stinks. Why is it always so hard? It's never going to change." If no one noticed I was struggling or asked me what was wrong, I found my sentences shifting to a more cynical level: "Who cares? Life is a joke." Surprisingly, by the time I was saying those last sentences, I was feeling better. The anxiety was greatly diminished. My comforter, my abiding place, was cynicism and rebellion. From this abiding place, I would feel free to use some soul cocaine watching a violent video with maybe a little sexual titillation thrown in, having more alcohol with a meal than I might normally drink things that would allow me to feel better for a little while. I had always thought of these things as just bad habits. I began to see they were much more; they were spiritual abiding places that were my comforters and friends in a very spiritual way. The final light went on one evening when I read John 15:7 in The Message. Peterson translates Jesus' words on abiding this way: "If you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon."
Jesus was saying in answer to my question, "I have made my home in you, Brent. But you still have other comforters you go to. You must learn to make your home in me." Where do you abide/stay when you are spiritually dry or there is instability? o Cynicism, toying around with sin, indulgence, seeing how far you can get away with sin, slothfulness. o Jesus answer John 15.9-10 o God desires for you to live intimately connected to Christ so that you produce much good fruit. Your experience of the Ps.91 promises is determined by your abiding in Christ. o A key indicator of abiding is that God s DNA is manifesting in your life Gal.5.22-23. You produce what you re connected to. o Pic of me & nathaniel Abiding/Remaining/Staying in love involves: Obedience 15.10. Resting in His Love 15.9 Your level of obedience will determine the experience of His sheltering love over you. His love is the same for everyone. He doesn t love Jesus more than me. But, only those who walk in obedience will experience the fullness of His love. Jesus experienced God s love perfectly, in part, b/c he perfectly obeyed God. In other words, as I live in greater obedience I can expect a greater response and revelation of God in my life. The more you obey the more you see! BUT, our obedience isn t rigid, but relational in nature. It s following the Father s heart. o John 15.10 Jesus obeyed the Father s command from a place of intimacy not authority. In other words, He was so close to the Father & the Father to Him that He naturally did what was pleasing. The Father didn t have to stand above Him and so, do this and that. o Obedience should eventually flow from intimacy not authority.
i. Illust So close to a person you could finish their sentences. You ask if you should or shouldn t, b/c you love and respect the person. I must eventually follow the Lord from a place of intimacy or there is still distance between us. I continue to see Him as the King dispensing orders that I follow, instead of the friend, who gently instructs. This is how Adam, Eve, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Job, David, Daniel & the disciples all obeyed God. It wasn t a rule based relationship, but a love based one. Abiding = Obeying Adiding/Remaining/Staying in His Love also involves: Resting in His love John 15.9; Ps.91.1, 14b o In my opinion, the best description of how rest is entered into is demonstrated between the love of a husband & wife. A healthy marital relationship is a snapshot of how we are to rest in the love of Jesus. o Pic of Me & Stephanie s love for me. It s not perfect, but it is beautiful. I don t want to paint an unreal picture of our love. We argue and have our annoyances. I am not the little darling I seem to be. She s not perfect either, just ask our kids. I know my wife loves me adores me. She shows me tells me. She enjoys being with me and when she s not busy taking care of the needs of the family, I am the one she enjoys being around more than anyone else. I can be honest and completely open with her and not fear rejection. She knows my stuff and doesn t walk away. She accepts me for who I am. She doesn t manipulate or control me through withholding her affection and love. She corrects, mostly, out of love. I know that she will forgive me when I hurt her. I know that she will release me and bless me from any pain that I have caused her. She gives herself completely to me. She is entirely committed to me. I never wonder about her love.
o It s impact on me It makes me secure and strong. It gives me hope. I feel loved and accepted. I can face all the challenges of Ps. 91 and I know it is going to be okay. I rest in the knowledge that I am completely loved. If that is how my wife loves me with an imperfect love then how much greater is my Heavenly Father s perfect love who loved me so much that He sent the very best out of love for me to restore me to a place of honor, joy, hope and love in His presence. Do you want to experience the promises of Ps.91? REMAIN STAY in His love. The Impact of Abiding/Remaining in love : 1. It cast out fear of disease, disaster, death or hardship 1 John 4.18 2. It brings stability to my life John 13.3 Big Idea: Abiding in Jesus is the key to living under the promises of Ps.91. Conclusion: Are you truly abiding in Christ? Are there other comforts indulgences you draw upon? Are you looking for others to give you what only God can provide? Do you see fruit? What kind of fruit do you see? Is there consistency in your abiding in Christ? What is the Lord calling you to do?