T H E N A M E O F T H E L O R D I S A S T R O N G T O W E R

T H E N A M E O F T H E L O R D I S A S T R O N G T O W E R 1 2 M A R 2 0 1 3 , C AT E G O R Y: B I B L I C A L T E A C H I N G S , TA G S : R I TA - D S O U Z A B Y M R S . R I TA D ' S O U Z A

N A M E S & C H A R A C T E R

In old testament times, names were not chosen randomly, as they are done today. Names were given in relation to the character of the person.

The name would indicate something about the person. In biblical language 'names meant character'.

N A M E S & C H A R A C T E R

When we say that the name of the Lord is a Strong Tower, what we are really saying is that God's character or 'who He is', is our Strong Tower in times of trouble.

A S T R O N G T O W E R

A Strong Tower is a fortress, a place of refuge where one would be safe from the enemy who is outside.

Psalm 18:2 says "the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, my God, my Rock in whom I take refuge."

D U R I N G T I M E S O F C R I S I S / D I F F I C U LT I E S T H E L O R D I S O U R H I D I N G P L A C E .

In Him,

• We are protected from all evil • Have peace in the midst of turmoil • Experience joy in the midst of pain and suffering Moreover the Lord is not just my Tower but a 'STRONG TOWER' for 1John4:4 says "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world".

T R U S T I N G I N G O D ’ S C H A R A C T E R

The righteous man is safe only if he runs into it. We run into it by faith i.e. by trusting in who God is or His character.

Psalm 9:10 says "and those who know Thy name put their trust in Thee, for Thou O Lord has not forsaken those who seek Thee".

T R U S T I N G I N G O D ’ S C H A R A C T E R

For example, we may be going through a situation where we can't see any answer to our prayers. Our experiences and circumstances seem contrary to God's love.

We don't understand why, but still we can say " I put my trust in who You are, I know that You are good,,,,,

T R U S T I N G I N G O D ’ S C H A R A C T E R

You are faithful, you love me with a steadfast love, You are just, a God of infinite wisdom, You will never leave me nor forsake me and so I trust You Lord, even if I can't see, feel or understand.

When I do this, I am running into the Lord as my Strong Tower

M AT U R E FA I T H R E S T S

Mature faith rests in 'WHO GOD IS'.

Vision, dreams, signs spiritual experiences, prophecies are good but our faith should not be dependent on these. Even in the absence of all the above, 'the Lord and Who He Is', our Strong Tower.

M AT U R E FA I T H R E S T S

If a son should continuously ask his earthly father for proof of his love and care for him, his father would be grieved. A child knows that his daddy is there, he is content no matter what is happening around him. Just the fact that daddy is there, is enough

M AT U R E FA I T H R E S T S

Peter saw Jesus transfigured (Matthew 17:1-8) on the mountain and heard the father's voice saying "this is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased, listen to Him" yet Peter had to come down from the mountain top experience and face everyday life. Inspite of all these experiences, he still denied Jesus.

M AT U R E FA I T H R E S T S

In Exodus 3:13-14, in reply to Moses' question "what is His name?" God reveals Himself as "I AM WHO I AM", thereby signifying that He is self existent, self sufficient, eternal and unchangeable. "I am" would mean that God is all that we need Him to be eg. I am your strength, your peace, your all in all, your all sufficiency.

M AT U R E FA I T H R E S T S

In Job 1:20,22 we see Job's response to terrible calamities that befell him. Verse 22 says that Job did not charge God with all that he was going through. He knew God couldn't be wrong and was worthy of his (Job's) praise and worship even in the midst of severe testing.

I F W E W I L L O N LY W O R S H I P T H E L O R D I N T H E M I D S T O F O U R T R I A L S W E W I L L K N O W H I M A N D H I S P R E S E N C E A S O U R S T R O N G T O W E R .

P R O V E R B 1 8 : 1 0 S AY S ' T H E R I G H T E O U S M A N R U N S I N T O I T '

God's character is love and God is holy. We need to be in right relationship with the Lord to make him our strong tower.

We need to make our peace with God by accepting Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord and we need to then continue to walk in obedience to Him.

P R O V E R B 1 8 : 1 0 S AY S ' T H E R I G H T E O U S M A N R U N S I N T O I T '

We often think of a fortress, as a hard concrete building. There is however, a fortress that is tender and full of comfort.

The arms of a mother - one that is most impregnable, yet the tenderest fortress that one can ever find.

P R O V E R B 1 8 : 1 0 S AY S ' T H E R I G H T E O U S M A N R U N S I N T O I T '

And yet a human mother has her limitation and can fail. But the arms of our heavenly Father are strong, powerful, dependable and full of tenderness, comfort, compassion.

He can never fail.

I S A I A H 6 6 : 1 3 " A S O N E W H O M H I S M O T H E R C O M F O R T S , S O W I L L I C O M F O R T Y O U . "

Romans 5:5 KJV:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

K E N N E T H W. H A G I N ’ S C L A S S I C M I N I B O O K FA I T H W O R K E T H B Y L O V E . ) L O V E I S M O R E I N T E R E S T E D I N O T H E R S T H A N I N I T S E L F.

( E D I T O R ’ S N O T E : T H I S A R T I C L E W A S A D A P T E D F R O M

FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E

Faith is the hand that takes the things we need from God.

Everything Jesus purchased for us on Calvary can be obtained by faith.

FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E

This includes salvation, healing, the fullness of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, and victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and all the powers of darkness.

A L L O F T H E S E T H I N G S C O M E T O U S B Y FA I T H .

All of these things come to us by faith.

But it must be faith that works by love (Gal. 5:6).

Faith is not working for some Christians because they do not have a full understanding of what the Word of God says about faith.

FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E

Bible teachers say we must have faith to please God, but some casually pass over the teachings that faith works by love, and that God is love.

FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E

When I was a boy, there were many subjects I used to hear preached.

One was the power in the blood.

Another was this subject of love.

All of these subjects must fit together.

FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E

If we are to live in line with God’s Word, we must not only be faith children of a faith God, but we must also be love children of a love God.

Too many Christians do not have any knowledge about walking in love. We need to understand all facets of it.

FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E

The love of God needs to ooze out of us so much that when we walk into a room, people will know we are living in love!

If we are to live in line with God’s Word, we must not only be faith children of a faith God, but we must also be love children of a love God.

Too many Christians do not have any knowledge about walking in love. We need to understand all facets of it.

The love of God needs to ooze out of us so much that when we walk into a room, people will know we are living in love!

W A K I N G I N L O V E

We can make all the confessions we want to.

We can quote the Bible day and night.

We can fast and pray, and we still won’t get anything if we are not walking in love.

T H E W O R D S AY S FA I T H W O R K S B Y L O V E . B U T I F W E ’ R E N O T W A L K I N G I N L O V E , O U R FA I T H W O N ’ T W O R K !

W A K I N G I N L O V E

When we check up on ourselves, we will often find certain areas where we are not really walking in love—and these areas are keeping our faith from operating at full capacity.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

I have learned that if I am to maintain any kind of faith walk, I must put down my carnal nature.

The secret is letting the love of God work within my spirit.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

Love is more interested in others than in itself.

But when we begin operating in this realm of love, we will be blessed.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

When we get so busy unselfishly helping others obtain blessings that we forget about ourselves, we will find honor, success, and promotion for ourselves.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

The Word of God also instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31).

We cannot really love others until we love ourselves.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

Some people will say, “Oh, I don’t want to be arrogant. We’re supposed to be humble!”

Yes, but there is a difference between being arrogant and loving ourselves. A person can be arrogant and still not love himself or herself.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

We should know who and what we are in Christ and what we have because of Him.

If we know these things, we will realize that we are kings who sit in heavenly places with Christ.

That will give us a good self-image!

W A K I N G I N L O V E

Many marriages are faltering because two people who don’t love themselves are trying to love each other.

But when you think about it, they can’t really love their mate if they don’t even love themselves.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

When we make it a point to walk in love, we’ll find that the God-kind of love spills over into every aspect of our lives.

Not only will we reap spiritual benefits; we will reap natural benefits that we never thought possible.

W A K I N G I N L O V E

We’ll discover that good things are happening to us. Promotions are coming. The money we need is coming. Everything we need is coming to us.

As we walk the love walk, we are not having to make all these good things happen—they are happening automatically.

T H E P O W E R O F L O V E P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 9 - 1 1 R E A D P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 3 - 2 1

J O N AT H A N G R A F F

PA U L W A S I M P R I S O N E D I N R O M E .

• Apparently many were praying for his release. I certainly would have.

• But Paul told the believers that his being in chains was God's will. It was having a greater impact for the kingdom than if he weren't in chains.

PA U L W A S I M P R I S O N E D I N R O M E .

• He asked the Philippian believers not to worry about his condition.

• He even told them not to worry about those who were stirring up trouble for him while he could not defend himself.

I N T H E M I D S T O F H I S C O M M E N T S , H E T O L D T H E M W H AT H E W A S P R AY I N G F O R T H E M —L O V E .