The message was brought by Rev. Tim Powers on Sept 6, 2026.
Psalms 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 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. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
It’s now 25 years after “9/11”. We have seen how much things have changed. My kids don’t know what it was like to grow up in a pre-9/11 time. We have given up much in the name of safety. I remember where I was when I heard the news. I’m sure many of you do. At first, none of us realized that the USA was under attack. Planes became guided missiles against our government. It was different than now, but God was the same as always. People came to church like crazy after 9/11…. for a while. Over two thousand people got on planes that morning and never went home. Now we’ve given up freedoms for safety as the government decides right and wrong. It should have been God who was deciding. The government tends to mess things up, and seeds were planted into what we see now all these years later. Threats are under surveillance, but that means we are too. When the turn goes against Christianity, where will you turn?
Verse 1 of this Psalm reminds us that GOD–not our nation, not our government–not our military, GOD is our refuge and strength. He has not turned a blind eye to all the sin in this nation. Churches were full after 9/11. Now? People aren’t running to God. We fell for it all, in the name of safety, when Covid hit. We didn’t know what it was. No matter that, we should have been on the altars seeking God. Troubles will come. God is our FIRST help in trouble. He should always be first.
When fear arises, He is our reason not to fear. Verse 2 reminds us of this. God is and has been warning us time after time that Jesus is coming soon. There is wrath to come. Earthquakes. Storms. Hurricanes. All of these are warnings. Too many put faith and trust in the government, in anything but God. For a Christian, really for anyone, that’s not right. After Helene, instead of running to God asking for help, people begged for the help of the government. The first call should have been to God. Changes we see have been coming for many years. In times past the first place people went in trouble was to God and the Church. HE is still our reason not to fear. Why? HE DOES NOT CHANGE. Verse 4 reminds us “there is a river” and it’s everything we need. God is that river. In the midst of trouble, HE is our provision. We can stand firm because HE is in the midst. No matter what progressives say, this nation was founded on the principles of God’s Word. People are trying hard to change that. Watch out! I don’t want to see radical change that they are trying to push on us. What will it be like here in 25 more years? God help. On the current path the nation will not survive. We must come back to God.
The remedy for all things is God. Stop. Remember who He is. Be still and know that I am God. The punishment of Israel was to bring them back to Him. HE IS IN CHARGE of all things. He keeps things together. Many nations and peoples would like to destroy us, but GOD has kept it from happening. The church is still a deterrent to the wrath. Look to God. Turn back to Him. Let Him be exalted. He is still with us and is our refuge in the storm.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 