THE REFUGE

1 O Lord, I HAVE COME TO YOU FOR PROTECTION; DON'T LET ME BE DISGRACED.
2 Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free.
3 BE MY ROCK OF SAFETY WHERE I CAN ALWAYS HIDE. Give the order to save me, FOR YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS."
Psalm 71:1-3 (NLT)

1 IN YOU, O LORD, I PUT MY TRUST; LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.
2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
3 BE MY STRONG REFUGE, TO WHICH I MAY RESORT CONTINUALLY; You have given the commandment to save me, FOR YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS."
Psalm 71:1–3 (NKJV):

• A refuge is a place of safety. God is our refuge, a place for safety. Our shelter in the time of storm.

• Safety and protection are found in Christ Jesus: "THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER [fortress]; THE RIGHTEOUS RUN TO IT AND ARE SAFE" (Proverbs 18:10 NKJV).
• In the name of the Lord, In it is safety. Those who went to the devil for safety have gotten more than what they bargained for.
• Whoever goes to the devil for protection, or safety, would have or receive sorrows in multiple fold:
  "TROUBLES MULTIPLY FOR THOSE WHO CHASE AFTER OTHER gods. I WILL NOT TAKE PART IN THEIR SACRIFICES OF BLOOD OR EVEN SPEAK THE NAMES OF THEIR gods" (Psalm 16:4 NLT).
• Our God is a jealous God Who would not want you to take solace in any other god or person. There is no refuge or safety somewhere else!
• All you want could only be found and gotten in God through Jesus Christ.

• God is a jealous God that would not want to share His glory with any person:
“I AM THE LORD; THAT IS MY NAME! I WILL NOT GIVE MY GLORY TO ANYONE ELSE, NOR SHARE MY PRAISE WITH CARVED IDOLS" (Isaiah 42:8 NLT).

• Nobody should receive the praise meant for God on the matters of your life. If you can do it yourself, God would not bother to intervene or be involved in whatever of your life. He could only work of your life and ministry If you allowed or permitted Him.
• The safety found in God is certain for whoever comes to Him through Christ Jesus, and walk in the light of His Word.
• Taking refuge in God is through prayers, and the walking in the light of God's Word. But, some still want to believe that God is not enough, thus, they are on a search for more power.

• God is enough. Prayer and the Word of God are enough.

• You would not need to add anything with your Christian faith. That is, you would not need any other power, which could not be found in God.
• You would not need any alternative spiritual power; talisman, amulets, grigris, or whatever, for your protection and safety. God is enough for your safety and protection.
• No power, apart from the power of God, could protect you. Nothing is bigger or greater than God. God is Higher than the highest, and Bigger than the biggest!

• The B part of the passage of the Bible being used as the text of this teaching says: "LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME" (Psalm 71:1 NKJV); OR in another translation: "DON'T LET ME BE DISGRACED" (Psalm 71:1 NLT).

• If you had made God your refuge or safety, you would not be disgraced, or be put to shame.
• There are things in the world that may cause you to be afraid, and think God is not enough.
• Whatever happens, whatever the challenge, do not allow anyone to take you away from the right path which you have known in Christ Jesus.
• If you shared your challenges with a wrong person, or people, you might be counselled and led astray from the path of life.
• Receiving counsel from the ungodly could lead you astray, and into the idolatry: "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKS NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDS IN THE PATH OF SINNERS, NOR SITS IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL" (Psalm 1:1 NKJV).

• When a need arises in your life, or you are faced with challenges of life; be careful of whom you go to, for counseling and help.

• The counsel you would receive from the ungodly, such would be tainted with Unbelief and be contrary to the Word of God.
• Because, the things of the Spirit are foolishness to the natural persons, they would never see whatever you are passing through or battling with, with the eyes of the Spirit, because they never had it—they had not the mind of Christ:
  12 NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED, NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD, BUT THE SPIRIT WHO IS FROM GOD, THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FREELY GIVEN TO US BY GOD. 13 THESE things we also SPEAK, NOT in words which MAN'S WISDOM TEACHES BUT WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES, COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL. 14 BUT the NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE THE things of the SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR they are FOOLISHNESS TO HIM; NOR can he KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. 15 BUT HE WHO IS SPIRITUAL JUDGES ALL THINGS, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 FOR “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” BUT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST" (1 Corinthians 2:12-16 NKJV).
• The Word of God is the final authority in the matters or affairs of every believer in Christ Jesus.

• Whatever the challenge, keep your matters with God, the devil has no solutions to your problems.

• Any counsel from the unbeliever would lead away from God, he or she would offer you or tell you what they are doing—because they do not know better.
• What the ungodly offered you is what he or she has. The ungodly would offer you his or her god, If you went to them for help.
• The God you serve, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is enough to take care of you and whatever the need in your life. He is the present help in the time of need. A shelter in the time of Storm. A refuge and safety. He will never let you down.
• Note:
  a. Take time to feast in the Word of God daily (Joshua 1:8).
  b. Pray often, and that without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
  c. Live a Holy life, by walking in the light of the Word of God (James 1:22-25; 1 Peter 1:15,16).
  d. Practice the Kingdom principles that you know.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever would not allow you to rest, health wise, is rebuked in Jesus' name.
• Your deteriorating health is restored fully in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• And you will not have any reason for sorrow or mourning in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!