Introduction
As a 70’s child, I remember Saturday morning cartoons. I’d get up early on Saturdays and watch Bugs Bunny, Fred Flintstone, Pink Panther, and others for several hours. In between cartoons, we’d get commercials about toys and cereal. And as I think back about those times, I remember in particular that the cereal commercials while they were bright, colorful, and upbeat for the kids like me. They all made sure to say that the cereal was fortified with the essential vitamins and minerals. Now I’d have to guess those lines were targeted to the children who probably didn’t know what fortified or essential meant, but for the adults who might have been listening. Just like those decades ago, I want to spend just a few minutes talking about being fortified.
A few weeks ago as I was just sitting with God, I felt the phrase “Be Fortified” come to my mind. And after it had settled, I started thinking about it, started pondering it and I still am. But if you’ll just hang with me for a little while, I want to walk you through four things that can allow us to be fortified. But before we get to those four things, let me start with the end.
Start with the end in mind
Imagine someone coming up to you tomorrow and saying, in 7 days you’re going to win the lotto. What would you do today? Would you position yourself so that you’re ready for that fateful 7th day? Would you go hire a lawyer and an accountant today? Perhaps you’d start telling people about what’s going to happen in 7 days because you believed the person that told you this awesome news. On the other hand, if that same person came to you tomorrow with different news, in 7 days you’re going to break your leg. What would you do today? Would you position yourself so that you’re ready for that fateful 7th day? Would you line up a physician or physical therapist? Perhaps you’d start telling people about what’s going to happen in 7 days because you believed the person that told you this terrible news. In either case, you have to deal with what lies ahead good or bad.
Being Fortified
So that everyone is on the same page, let‘s quickly get some common ground around what we’re talking about. I went and I looked up the words Fortify and Fortified. The internet says that Fortified means “to strengthen mentally and morally” and refers to Fortified as being “made stronger or more secure” or “improved or enhanced by one or more ingredients.” So now that we have this common understanding let’s go to the Word. I’m going to reference several verses of scripture tonite, our anchor text comes from Jeremiah 1:18
Jeremiah 1:18 NLT
18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.
So why then, am I telling you this? And what in the world does this have to do with Being Fortified? That’s a great question! I’m telling you because I believe this is one of those times when God says a small thing that can have a huge impact on our futures. In this case, I don’t think God was just sharing Be Fortified just because. I think it’s both an encouragement, edification, and perhaps even a warning. In the text, God is calling out a declaration. Although He was talking to the prophet, I can hear him reaching through the corridor of time to us today in some similar ways.
The Good News
The good news is that in a time where Inflation is at a historic high, where our government and social services can’t seem to get out their way long enough to help the people they were established to protect, God is saying that he made us strong. Psalms 18:35
Psalm 18:35 NCV
35 You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great.
Sounds to me like we can be fortified to withstand some things that come our way.
Now I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, I let the cat out of the bag earlier and I told you that I’d give you things that would or could help you be fortified, no matter where you find yourself.
#1 - Know the Word
No matter how much we watch the Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston or any modern-day movie that depicts God as Morgan Freeman, no man has a lock on the voice of God. The closest we get right now to hear the voice of God is to know how He talks, the Word of God. If you’re going to be fortified today, then you better know the difference between the voice of your friends, your own mind, that of the enemy, and of God. Listen, who better to pay attention to than one of those that were at the beginning of all things:
John 1:1 NKJV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
You weren’t there, your friends weren’t there, and the accuser wasn’t there. Just the Word and God. If you want to know what God sounds like. If you want to take the temperature of God’s heartbeat, then know the Word. The Psalmist, King David said it like this:
Psalm 119:11 AMP
11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Now I want to give a bit of a disclaimer, knowing the Word by itself will not fortify you. There are plenty of people that can recite full verses and chapters of the Bible a lot better than anyone in this room but are not fortified by God. So what else can we do? I’m glad you asked, let’s move to #2.
#2 Don’t rely on what you know
There’s a saying that says it’s not what you know, but it’s who you know. Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 3:5–6 AMP
5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
In this passage of text, written by Solomon, son of King David tells us that our own faculties, our own knowledge shouldn’t be used. Yes God gave us an organ, called the brain, it can do a lot of miracles. It regulates our bodies, it helps us to create and imagine things that man has never done before. It’s a pale imitation of the wonder of God. Again, our brains, our minds, our understanding were not present at the beginning. We need to lean into God as the first thing and not the last.
#3 Do what God tells you to do or where he tells you to go?
Have you gotten a feeling like you ought not do something, or say something? I have. In this case, we need to pay more attention to that small voice that’s talking to us. Let me give you two quick examples, the first is found in 1 Sam 30:8 and the second in Mark 10:17.
The first is King David and his men had returned to Ziglag and found it was burned to the ground and all their belongings had been taken away by the enemy. Instead of instantly following what could have been his first instinct to just go, he paused and it was recorded this way:
1 Samuel 30:8 AMP
8 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.
The second is an account of a conversation between Jesus, and a young ruler who had everything. The account says, Mark 10:17-22
Mark 10:17–22 NLT
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
The young man was set for life, didn’t want for anything, but when told that the essential vitamin and mineral that he needed would require him to give everything away, the young ruler turned and walked away. In his own Words, Jesus says:
Matthew 16:24 AMP
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
If you want to be fortified, made stronger, or more secure one must do would He would tell us to do. Now I realize I’ve given you all some softballs across the plate. All three are good, but the last one is the key to being fortified. Without this one, you really aren’t even capable of standing against the whims of the world or the enemy.
#4. Believe and have a relationship with God
While sitting in the Jail,Paul and Silas are having a conversation with their Jailer, asking what he needed to do in order to be saved, they simply responded…just believe.
Acts 16:30–31 AMP
30 And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved? 31 And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.
St. Paul the apostle says this way in the book of Hebrew: Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We have to have a relationship with God in order to receive strength for him. In order to have a relationship with God, we have to believe in God:
John 3:16 AMP
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
The message, is simple but it profoundly affects everything we believe, we say, and we do. 2022 is coming, I have no idea what opportunities or challenges await us on the other side of the year. But I do know this, there will be some opportunities and there will be some challenges. And to rise to the occasion we’re going to need to be fortified. We’re going to need to be strong morally and mentally, we’re going to need to be enhanced by the essential ingredient, God.
Finally, I want to close with these Words from the Lord:
Exodus 15:2 AMP
2 The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Proverbs 18:10 NLT
10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
Nehemiah 8:10 NLT
10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Psalm 27:1–3 NLT
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 43:1–3 NLT
1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
