Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love

In today's gathering, we explored the profound imagery of Jesus as a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, a metaphor that speaks to His desire to protect and nurture us. This imagery, drawn from Matthew 23, highlights the heart of Christ, who longs to draw us close, shield us from unseen dangers, and guide us into a place of safety and truth. Just as a mother hen senses threats and calls her chicks to safety, Jesus calls us to Himself, offering refuge and strength in times of trouble.

We reflected on the importance of being attentive to His voice, especially in a world filled with distractions and false securities. The story of the Israelites in Egypt, as recounted in Psalm 91, serves as a powerful reminder of God's protection for those who follow His instructions. By dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, we find refuge under His wings, shielded from the snares and pestilences that threaten our spiritual well-being.

The sermon also addressed the danger of crafting our own version of God, a temptation that leads to spiritual desolation. We are warned against cherry-picking scriptures to suit our desires, which can result in a distorted faith that lacks the foundation of truth. Instead, we are encouraged to embrace the entirety of God's Word, allowing it to shape and correct us, even when it challenges our preconceived notions.

Ultimately, the call is to respond to God's invitation to come under His wings, to trust in His protection, and to live in alignment with His truth. This requires humility, a willingness to be reproved, and a commitment to forsake our own ways for His. As we do so, we find true satisfaction and fulfillment, knowing that we are indwelt by Christ and living in His abundant life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Crafted Faith:** Crafting our own version of God leads to spiritual desolation. We must resist the temptation to cherry-pick scriptures and instead embrace the full counsel of God's Word, allowing it to correct and guide us. [17:44]
  4. Responding to God's Call: God calls us to forsake our own ways and return to Him. This involves humility and a willingness to be reproved, recognizing that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Embracing His truth leads to abundant life.
  
  5. The Blessing of Being Indwelt by Christ: True satisfaction comes from being indwelt by Christ. This requires aligning our lives with His truth and being open to His correction. As we do so, we experience the fullness of His love and purpose.
  
  ** [17:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:11] - The Sound of Worship
• [00:51] - The Gift of God's Presence
• [02:20] - Seeing Jesus from Under His Wings
• [03:45] - The Hen and Her Chicks
• [05:23] - Jesus' Protective Heart
• [06:24] - Psalm 91: Under His Wings
• [09:05] - Confidence in God's Protection
• [12:38] - The Solid Foundation
• [17:44] - The Danger of Self-Crafted Faith
• [20:08] - Responding to God's Call
• [25:38] - Resisting Truth
• [31:16] - The Blessing of Being Indwelt by Christ
• [38:43] - The Little Things
• [46:06] - Assurance of God's Love

1. Matthew 23:37 - "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."
2. Psalm 91:1-4 - "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

1. What imagery does Jesus use in Matthew 23:37 to describe His desire for His people, and how does this relate to the sermon’s theme of protection? [05:23]
2. According to Psalm 91, what are the benefits of dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about spiritual safety? [08:20]
3. In the sermon, what dangers are mentioned that Jesus sees but we might not? How does this relate to the protective imagery of the hen and her chicks? [05:23]
4. How does the sermon describe the consequences of crafting our own version of God, and what biblical example is used to illustrate this? [17:44]

1. How does the metaphor of Jesus as a hen gathering her chicks under her wings deepen our understanding of His protective nature? What does this say about His character? [05:23]
2. In what ways does Psalm 91 encourage believers to trust in God’s protection, and how does this trust manifest in our daily lives? [08:20]
3. What are the potential spiritual dangers of cherry-picking scriptures to suit personal desires, as discussed in the sermon? How does this practice affect one's faith? [17:44]
4. How does the sermon suggest we respond to God’s call to come under His wings, and what role does humility play in this response? [20:08]

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God’s protection in your life. How did you respond to His call to come under His wings, and what did you learn from that experience? [05:23]
2. In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to trust in God’s protection as described in Psalm 91? How can you work on strengthening your trust in His promises? [08:20]
3. Have you ever been tempted to craft your own version of God by selectively choosing scriptures? How can you ensure that you are embracing the full counsel of God’s Word? [17:44]
4. What steps can you take to be more attentive to God’s voice amidst the distractions and false securities of the world? How can you create space in your life to hear Him more clearly? [05:39]
5. How can you practice humility and a willingness to be reproved in your spiritual journey? What specific actions can you take to align your life with God’s truth? [20:08]
6. Identify one area in your life where you need to forsake your own ways and return to God. What practical steps can you take this week to make that change? [20:08]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment by being indwelt by Christ? What changes might you need to make in your daily routine to experience the fullness of His love and purpose? [31:16]