TAKE COVER
Take Cover-protect oneself from attack by ducking down into or
under a shelter (OXFORD LANGUAGES)
Question:
Is there a time or a moment that you needed to take cover of
something or someone?
We can see that the main reason we take cover of someone of
something is because we want to protect it.
Examples of protection:
Medicine
Finance
Laws, rules, and regulations
Security
Technology
1 Peter 5:8-9-
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him,
standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of
believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of
sufferings.
Peter wants to remind us to protect us from the whilst of the
enemy. He wants to remind us of protect our calling and of those
around us. He is reiterating that we should not be surprised when
we face persecutions because, the moment we accepted Christ in
our life is also the moment when we have devoted ourselves in
taking up our cross on a daily basis.
What is protection trying to tell us?
Job 1:7
The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth,
going back and forth on it.”
We can see that the enemy is looking for someone to devour.
Why is there a need for protection?
1 Peter 5:8-9
1. We are vulnerable.
The need for protection shows that we have to admit our
vulnerabilities
Vulnerabilities
Temptation: Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-3)
Weakness: David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2-5)
Insecurity: Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:1-36)
Intimidation: Jonah (Jonah 1:1-17)
Jonah’s reason for running was that, quite simply, he did not
like the Assyrians. Assyria was an idolatrous, proud, and
ruthless nation bent on world conquest and had long been
threat to Israel.
Limitation: Job (Job 1-2)
We are not exempted from any kind of attack. The attack of the
enemy is evident.
“We are actualizing how it is to truly encounter God’s love, grace
and mercy when we intentionally admit our vulnerabilities before
God.”
2. We are limited.
The need for protection means that we have to acknowledge who
our God is and His abilities.
Hindi sapat na inako mo lang yung kahinaan mo. Ano ang
kasunod? It’s time for us to acknowledge AGAIN who our God is in
our lives at hindi yung unang naiisip natin ay yung mga
alternatives and options natin.
Ito pong pandemic sobrang nangungusap sa mga Kristiyano.
Nalimitahan lahat. All pillars of the society kailangan mag-abide
because ganito yung limitations yung kailangan natin gawin for
the sake of protecting each and everyone of us pero ano ho yung
ginagawa natin while abiding in what the government tells us to
do? Let’s acknowledge God and His abilities, that he is at work. He
has never been absent sa bansang Pilipinas, sa buhay natin, sa
kinabukasan natin or sa kung anumang kawalan ang meron tayo
sa panahong ito. It’s high time for us to acknowledge who He is
and his abilities.
Ano pa nga ba ang di sasapat kung idudulog natin lahat sa
Panginoon?
He is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent and wherever you
are right now, if you will just acknowledge him right now, He can
touch you and He can turn your situation upside down.
“We are actualizing how it is to fully experience God’s presence,
power and glory when we wholeheartedly acknowledge who He is
and His abilities.”
How can we really be protected?
Background: Earthquake drill.
1. The position that is founded in His WORD.
Real protection happens in knowing our position. We have to
place ourselves in a position that is founded in his word.
It’s God’s words that will always be unbreakable and undefeatable
and if we find ourselves founded in His words, we can defeat the
enemy.
Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on
the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the
devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand
your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your
feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God.
When you know the word of God, the enemy will just look like a
lion without teeth. He can only make noise but cannot do
anything against us.
His Word is the firmest foundation to position ourselves in that
can definitely hold us in every season.
Kapit po tayo sa pundasyon na hindi matitibag.
2. The position that is grounded in His WILL.
We may get to know people who are well versed with the word of
God, same time with the enemy, they are also well verse in God’s
words. This is the reason why we have to stay grounded on his
will because this will help us to continue the fight.
We may be attacked by the enemy in all aspects.
Personally, I was attacked mentally and it seems like every word
of God I hold on to, hindi ko sya matayuan but one ground that I
fought so hard to stand on is on His will. My prayer that time was
simple, “Lord, hindi po ito yung kalooban mo na kalagyan ko.” It’s
the same for all of us, anuman yung kinalalagyan mo at
pinagdaraanan mo ngayon, it is God’s will that you may be lifted
up from the pit of sinking.
Position yourself in the ground where God’s will may be done in
your life.
Romans 12:2-Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will.
Whatever lies the enemy is trying to tell you-your limitations, your
weakness and vulnerability, accusations from the past, be
reminded that is not the will of God for you and you are already
victorious from those things.
“His will is the strongest ground we can position ourselves in that
can definitely hone us in fulfilling our calling, purpose and
destiny.”
Conclusion:
Isaiah 54:17- No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you
will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of
the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.
“Our position that is founded in His Word and our stand that is
grounded in His Will, together with the covering of His presence,
power, and glory are more that enough to silence and defeat the
enemy.”
