Thoughts on the church –

Ps 46:1 ¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Ps 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Ps 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Ps 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Ps 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Ps 46:6 ¶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Ps 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Ps 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Ps 46:9 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.
Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Ps 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

I.  He is God, in whose mind the church was conceived  “…I Will…”

Matthew 16:17-18  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

II.  He is God, in whose might the church is kept  “…by Him all things

      consist…”,       συνεστηκεν  – are held together

Colossians 1:17-19  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

III.  He is God, in whose church the message is proclaimed  – : I will be

       exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

IV.  He is God, whose church manifest His holiness    –   God is in the

       midst of her; she shall not be moved

1 Corinthians 3:10-11  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

God’s plan does not change; it plays out according to His time.

God is God eternally

God’s person, His being, is seen from the beginning to the end.

The truth of God’s glory as testified in this psalm does not fade into the past, but is featured in the present!

The church is not a showcase for man (Preeminence)

The church is not a sounding board for experimental thought

(…carried about with every wind of doctrine…)

The church is not a stagnant pond  (…they were all scattered abroad …)

The church is not a system of manmade confessions

2 Timothy 2:14-15  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The church is a secure place for man –

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The church is the place for exposition of the Word of God

Be still, and know that I am God

The church is the sending place of the Word of God

I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The church is a steadfast place for the defense of the faith

“The LORD of hosts is with us…”

Beware – The church can be distracted from God’s commission by good works –

 Revelation 2:4,5a Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works….

The church is – what does your church mean to you?