Protection Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck March 6, 2021

Blog Blessing, Protection

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May The Lord Keep You

“The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” –

Have you ever had to walk through a dangerous area?

I used to be a courier in Atlanta, GA. I would drive around town delivering packages. Occasionally, my deliveries took me into the more crime-ridden areas of Atlanta. Thankfully, I never had any issues. I would have loved to have had an armed escort through those places, but then again, I think I did have an escort.

Personal Protection
Most people don’t like being in danger. We have neighborhood watch programs for our home and police departments to watch over our cities. Some people hire bodyguards and the President has an entire agency of the government dedicated to watching over him.

However, none of these earthly protections are perfect. They all fail from time to time. People sleep or aren’t alert enough or just miss some danger.

Our protection is from one much greater.

God does not sleep nor does He slumber. He is always vigilant and always watching over His people. His protection goes beyond the earthly dangers. He protects us from the eternal dangers, from sin, death, and the devil.

The dangers are still out there, but like a child holding their father’s hand as they walk through a dangerous place, we need not fear. Fear comes when we focus on the danger.

Don’t focus on the danger, focus on the one who watches over you.

Heavenly Father,

Take my hand. Protect me and comfort me. Lead me on my life’s path. If that path takes me through the valley of the shadow of death, keep me from fear. Keep my eyes on You, my deliverer.

Amen.

May the Lord keep you from all harm. May He watch over your life. May the Lord watch over your coming and your going both now and forevermore. Amen.

See you at church tomorrow!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck October 29, 2020

Blog Protection

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You Sit on a Throne of Lies!

You Sit On a Throne of Lies!

“My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.” – Psalm 109:1-2

Has anyone ever lied about you?

We need God’s protection every day from temptation, from harm, and from lies.

The devil has many ways to attack us. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us our

“adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

If he can’t keep you from Christ, he will try to keep you from living out your life of faith. Sometimes he attacks with temptation, sometimes it’s with suffering, and sometimes it is by people spreading lies against us, which is what we see in Psalms 109.

The devil sits on a throne of lies. He is called the chief of liars. He not only lies to us, but will spread lies about us.

What do we do when wicked and deceitful people spread lies about us?

We do just what the psalmist did. We go to God for help.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

That’s right! The Lord your God is your stronghold.

I’ve said this a lot this year, but it’s worth repeating. God didn’t keep Daniel from being thrown into the lions’ den. He didn’t keep Shadrack and the boys from being thrown into the fiery furnace. He didn’t keep the Apostles from being martyred and He didn’t keep Jesus from being beaten, whipped, and hung on a cross.

God doesn’t always remove the suffering, but He always goes with you through it. He always brings you out of it victorious whether in this earthly life or by bringing you to be with Him.

We will face trials and difficulties in life, but God promises to be with you. He promises to strengthen and protect you. He promises to give you peace. The devil may sit on a throne of lies, but God sits on a throne of truth and God wins.

Remember the promise Jesus made:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Dear Jesus,

Please be with me this day. Watch over me and protect me. When I face difficulties and suffering, help me to turn to You, my very present help in trouble. Give me the peace that passes all understanding knowing that He who has overcome the world is with me.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck September 4, 2020

Blog Authority, Command, evangelism, Protection, Provision

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All Authority

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20

God is almighty and Jesus has been given all authority in Heaven and on earth.

What does that mean for us?

He can command us.
If you are in the military, if a superior officer gives you an order, you obey it. Why? By their rank, they have been given authority over you.

Similarly, when Jesus gives us an order, we do it because He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. So, when He says to go make disciples, we need to do it.

He can protect us.
There’s a character in the movie, Braveheart, named Stephen the Irishman, who fights alongside William Wallace. He seems crazy through the movie, so you never know whether to believe him or not. He made one claim in particular that was key to the story. When asked about Ireland, he said,

“It’s my island.”

Later in the movie, the Irish show up on a battlefield standing with England’s troops. Wallace and the others say,

“What are the Irish doing fighting with the English?”

Stephen responds, “I wouldn’t worry about them. Like I said, ‘It’s my island.'”

William looks at him, “Your island?”

“Yep, my island!”

Then the English commander sends in Irishmen to attack. They start running, weapons raised. Wallace and the Scottish fighters start running at the Irish, weapons raised. Faster and faster they run towards each other until they are both about to collide.

Then they both stop, put down their weapons, and greet each other with handshakes and hugs. Then the Irish fight alongside the Scottish. Why? Because Stephen had the authority to tell the Irish what to do.

Jesus has all authority and can command armies of angels to protect us. He can stop our enemies dead in their tracks.

Jesus is with us.
So, we obey, because our king has commanded us. Also, we do not fear, because our God will protect us. He will never leave nor forsake us.

Almighty God,

You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You hold all authority. Thank You for strengthening me and protecting me. Help me to obey You at every step.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck August 11, 2020

Blog help, Protection

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Where Do I Turn?

Where Do You Turn?

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

Where do you turn when things start to fall apart around you?

I remember a cartoon I saw a while back. It was a single frame cartoon. In it, a pastor was kneeling in a position of prayer and his secretary is walking in the door and says,

“Oh, good, you aren’t doing anything important…”

Unfortunately, that’s our view on prayer all too often. It’s either a last resort or that thing we “do” before we go really do something to help.

What if prayer was the first thing we did and the thing we considered most important?

Luther has a somewhat famous quote,

“I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.”

I wish I could say I’ve always had the same response, but I have all too often gotten straight to the things I “needed” to do and let it push the prayer aside. I think I handled those days wrongly.

God is our very present help!

He really is. This is one of my favorite passages, not just because it’s a great encouragement, but because it’s a wake-up call. It reminds me that I’m not the first place I need to turn when things start going south. Neither are the various helps of the world.

It’s not that these things aren’t good or helpful, but we need to start where the real source of the help comes from…God.

He may help us directly. He may help us through another person. He may help us through an insight we have.

He is our help, though. He is our refuge when things go bad. We can come to Him…rest in Him…trust in Him.

Let’s start our day with God. Let’s pray. Let’s spend time reading His Word.

Whether things are good or bad, let’s go to Him. When things do go bad or when things get a bit hectic, rather than running to other sources or even ourselves, let’s start by turning to God, our help, our refuge, our very present help in trouble.

Heavenly Father,

Far too often I have turned to other sources first before I came to You. Help me to come to You first. Help me to come to You even when things are good. Thank You for always being there for me.

Amen!!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck August 1, 2020

Blog Mighty God, Protection

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My Dad is Bigger

“Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.” – Deuteronomy 7:21

What do you fear?

When I was growing up, occasionally, I remember hearing two kids in a fight say something like,

“My Dad is bigger than Your Dad!”

or

“My Dad can beat your Dad up!”

As much as I don’t like the idea of two kids fighting, I kind of like the sentiment, here…from a theological view. The kids aren’t trusting in themselves to overcome the conflict. They trusting their Dads to do it.

When God sent the people of Israel into the Promised Land, He told them He would deliver it into their hands. It didn’t matter how big the enemy was, how many there were, or what weapons they had. God was bigger. He would win the fight for Israel and He did.

Nothing to Fear
They had nothing to fear because God would defend them and deliver their enemies into their hands. Their Dad was bigger.

We have the same assurance from God. No, He’s not sending you into your neighbor’s house to take it over and promising to deliver it into your hands, but He does defeat our real enemies.

We don’t have to fear our enemy of sin. Our Dad is bigger.
We don’t have to fear death. Our Dad is bigger.
We don’t have to fear the devil, our Dad is bigger.
We don’t have to fear the world or those who can destroy the body. Our Dad is bigger.

So, next time you feel afraid. Be comforted, not because you can overcome, but because your Dad already has. If the devil keeps attacking you, tell him to go away cause Your Dad is right there with you and He’s bigger.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for saving me and defeating death and the devil for me. Thank You for being with me no matter what. When I feel afraid, remind me that You are with me and give me peace.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck June 20, 2020

Blog Protection, rest

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Resting In His Shadow

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1

What does it mean to you to rest in the Lord?

In our culture, the concept of being in someone’s shadow has a negative connotation. It usually implies that we can’t get out from under them or shine with our abilities. That’s not the concept of a shadow we’re talking about, here.

The concept of being in God’s shadow means being under His care and protection. Think of the relief of finding a shadow on hot, Florida day. Think of being the shadow of a strong, fortress wall, when an enemy attacks.

Rest and Relief
Abiding in the Lord gives us life and strength. He protects us from our enemies. He gives us rest from our striving. He gives us comfort from our distress.

Heavenly Father,

May I dwell in Your shelter all the days of my life. Keep me safely in Your shadow that I may know your life, strength, peace, protection, comfort, and rest.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Protection

May The Lord Keep You

May The Lord Keep You

You Sit on a Throne of Lies!

You Sit On a Throne of Lies!

All Authority

All Authority

Where Do I Turn?

Where Do You Turn?

My Dad is Bigger

My Dad is Bigger

Resting In His Shadow

Resting In His Shadow

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL