You and I live in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world. Everyone is born with a rebellious sin nature. No one can see God face-to-face as Adam and Eve did and live. Sometimes the storms of life seem overwhelming. We ask ‘where is Jesus’?  Does He really know and care about our hurts? In this study we will examine what the Bible says Jesus is doing, even when life hurts.

We continue Section #1 with what Jesus is doing for you when life hurts.

3) In this study we will examine the refuge Jesus Christ provides for you. The refuge is a place of relief or escape. How often do you just want to get away from it all? To not have to deal with anything or explain anything or feel anything!

I remember a missionary telling me about the time her husband had an inoperable illness. She wanted to be brave for him. She did not want him to see her crying. So her time in the shower was her time to cry to Jesus. It was her time of refuge with Jesus Christ.

Jesus knows all about your circumstances.

You do not have to bring Jesus Christ up to speed on any of the issues. He knows all about everything that touches you and He knows all about everything that concerns you. What a relief to be with Someone Who knows everything and loves you unconditionally. You can just be yourself.

Hebrews 4:¹³And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

What does His knowledge of you and your circumstances mean to you?

Jesus Christ completely understands how you feel

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 147:⁵Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

What difference does it make to you that Jesus Christ knows all about your circumstances?

Jesus Christ invites you to come to Him-

Song of Solomon 4:⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

Notice the invitation requires a response to come with Him.

When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you gain fellowship with Him. The invitation is to focus on your relationship with Him and actively fellowship with Him.  You have a choice. Jesus Christ is always available for refuge.

Amana is the mountain from which the Abana River flows. You remember Naaman referred to that river when Elisha told him to go and wash in the Jordan River.

2 Kings 5:¹¹ But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

The ever flowing streams from the mountain cause one to think of consistency like a covenant.

Remember the New Covenant? – Hebrews 8:⁶ But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: ⁹ Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: ¹¹ And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. ¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. ¹³ In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Shenir was the Amorite name for Mount Herman, meaning “pointed”. This reminds us to focus.

Mt. Hermon is the highest mountain reminding us of the highest goal –pleasing Jesus Christ, our Beloved Bridegroom.

Notice the invitation is to come to Jesus away from two predators and what they indicate about your enemy

First let’s look at the lion.

The lion’s roar can be heard for 5 miles. This reminds you the enemy can scare you with

hurtful things from the past and frighten you about your future.

The average male lion weighs 500 lb. This reminds you the enemy is bigger than you.

The lion can run 50 miles per hour. This reminds you he can attack fast, without warning.

The lion is social. This reminds you the enemy may use others in his attack and may frighten  you about what others think of you.

The lion symbolizes your enemy’s ability to remind you of the past and to frighten you for the future and about what others think of you.

Second, let’s look at the leopard

The leopard is built for hunting. This reminds you the enemy looks for circumstantial       opportunities.

The leopard can run up to 35 miles per hour. This reminds you he can attack fast, without warning.

The leopard is an excellent climber, swimmer and can leap and jump long distances. This  reminds you natural obstacles are no problem for him.

The leopard often leaves prey up in the tree for days and returns only when hungry! This  reminds you he can hurt you over and over. Please know I find no reference in the Bible that your enemy can read your thoughts. But certainly, he has all of history to observe human behavior and your personal history to learn about you.

The leopard is the most accomplished stalker of the big cats.  This reminds you he has the ability to attack at his opportune time.

The leopard is a good agile climber and can descend from a tree headfirst. This reminds you of   his agility and his attack with teeth to bite.

The leopard symbolizes your enemy’s ability to spring at you speedily, to stalk you for        vulnerability times, and to torment and wound you over and over.

So whatever is troubling you today-things of the past, things of the present or things of the future, Jesus Christ cares and invites you to come to His refuge for refreshment.  How will you respond?

Jesus, I Come – William T. Sleeper 1887

1. Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
   Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light, Jesus, I come to Thee;
   Out of my sickness, into Thy health, Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
   Out of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.
2. Out of my shameful failure and loss, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
   Into the glorious gain of Thy cross, Jesus, I come to Thee;
   Out of earth’s sorrows, into Thy balm, Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
   Out of distress to jubilant psalm, Jesus, I come to Thee.
3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
   Into Thy blessed will to abide, Jesus, I come to Thee;
   Out of myself to dwell in Thy love, Out of despair, into raptures above,
   Upward for aye on wings like a dove, Jesus, I come to Thee.
4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
   Into the joy and light of Thy home, Jesus, I come to Thee;
   Out of the depths of ruin untold, Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
   Ever Thy glorious face to behold, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Questions for Reflection

1) What is keeping you from nestling with Jesus for a little while?

2) What does Jesus Christ know that you are unable to express to your family and friends?

3) Does the fact that Jesus Christ wants that refuge time with you matter to you?

4) When in your daily schedule can you refuge with Jesus Christ?

5) Which of your circumstances is the most distressing? Jesus Christ cares about them all.

Do you want to list and prioritize them and take refuge in Him one issue at a time?

Do you want to take refuge in Him for all issues at once?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our challenge -Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and           through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti