THE REFUGE: Keys to Release God's Power, Protection, and Provision for the Days We Live In and for the Days Ahead

By Rob Granger

For centuries, Psalm 91 has carried the reputation as a protector for the traveler and the warrior. Discover the power available to every believer to walk through tragedy unscathed, to experience supernatural power in the middle of impossible circumstances, and to flourish during times of economic uncertainty.

In an age when fear blankets the globe and the Antichrist is on the move to take his place in history as the global dictator, there is a place of refuge for each of us. No matter who is in the White House, whether there are concerns of plagues and pandemics, supply shortages or an economic downturn, God's word holds the keys to unlock His resources of power, protection, and provision."

Inside, you will discover the importance of

* spending time in God's presence,

* the power of God's Word in your mouth,

* your authority as a believer,

* giving no place to fear,

* trusting God to supply your every need, and

* the favor God has given us to overcome every obstacle

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886161205

Book preview

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THE REFUGE

Keys to Release God's Power, Protection, and Provision for the Days We Live In and for the Days Ahead

Rob Granger

ISBN 979-8-88616-119-9 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88616-120-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Rob Granger

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Endorsements

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1

Dwelling in His Presence

Chapter 2

I Will Say…

Chapter 3

You Are My Deliverer

Chapter 4

You Cover and Protect Me

Chapter 5

You Deliver Me from Fear!

Chapter 6

Your Enemies Will Fall, but You Won't!

Chapter 7

No Evil of Any Kind!

Chapter 8

Angels on Assignment

Chapter 9

The Believer's Authority

Chapter 10

God Speaks

About the Author

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked by KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Public domain.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

The Bible test designated NIV is from the Holy Bible New International Version c Copyright c1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

To Becky. Happy twenty-fifth anniversary! You are God's gift to me, my prayer partner, and the love of my life. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Endorsements

In approaching what remedies for the challenges of life that you will employ, two questions should be considered. Is it true? Does it work? In considering what the Bible has to say, both questions can be answered with an emphatic yes. Psalm 91 has been probed by many as they navigate the journey of life. Rob Granger is one of these. Rob and Becky are the real deal. They are genuine, love the Lord, and have real life experience. In The Refuge, Rob takes you on his journey, both in his study of this psalm and related passages and his reliance on what he has discovered. When you're facing the storms of life, you need more than a theory coming from a hypothetical approach. You need someone with storm experience who has discovered what works to share with you what they have learned and experienced. As Rob shares his story, discover the truths he found in his study of this psalm and be encouraged by the stories he shares so that you may enter this secret place of the Most High. Rob sets the stage for The Refuge with these words: This psalm will take you safely through to the eye of the storm where there is stillness, calm, comfort, and assurance that God is at the helm and His Word provides the way through.

—Steve Riggle, President, Grace International Churches and Ministries

This book came into my life at the perfect moment! The Lord has recently been challenging me to live in the secret place, and this book offers terrific insight. We typically think of the secret place as a place of safety and protection; maybe a place of prayer. But Rob takes us further, beautifully outlining what flows out of the secret place—relationship with the Lord, spiritual warfare, making a difference in the lives of those around us. This book will grow you both vertically in friendship with God and horizontally as you reach farther than ever before to minister to a hurting world.

—Rebecca Hayford Bauer, Author of Life After Grief: Choosing the Path to Healing

Drawing on his many years of ministry experience, Rob Granger offers practical encouragement on the Christian life in this book rich in Scripture and personal stories. Throughout, he addresses important questions on a wide range of topics including fear, tithing, and the power of our words from a biblical and pastoral perspective. The prayer-declarations he offers at the end of each chapter apply what he has taught, and you will be strengthened by them. This book is an exhortation to a positive and confident life of faith.

—Jon Huntzinger PhD, Professor of Bible and Ministry, Dean of the King's Seminary

Rob Granger is an on-fire truth teller with compassion and faith that has changed my life and my walk with Christ. This book is filled with daily life applications that awaken the Holy Spirit within and give insight on how to walk deeper with Jesus, such as how to magnify the Lord and see miracles unfold in your life. The Word of God is powerful, folks! I have had the pleasure of praying with and being prayed over by Rob and his wife, Becky. It is my privilege to say to you that if you are holding this book right now, you are holding one of God's treasures—an applicable way to live out His Word. "Come all who are weary and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

As a believer, I get this magnetic pull to other believers who have cultivated their relationship with Christ, those who teach and continue to be taught by the Word. Rob is one of those people to me. We've shared our ups and downs. Most recently, we've shared a commitment to lift up a certain individual in prayer daily, a person who was caught in the grips of addiction and infirmity. Together, we have witnessed God's deliverance and unfolding grace. Be encouraged, be brave, and receive refuge as you read Rob Granger's book and grow deeper in God's powerful Holy Word. In Him, with Him, through Him, all things are possible.

—Nina Repeta, In the Grip of His Grace, Child of God, Wife, Mother, Singer, and Actress; most notably known for her role as Bessie Potter on Dawson's Creek

Acknowledgments

Writing a book is nothing less than arduous at best and is never the work of just one person. As such, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the following people who helped make this project a reality. Whether your involvement was practical, such as with editing or a similar contribution, a financial supporter, or inspirational insight—several people provided prophetic words that encouraged me to begin. I am grateful for each of you, and I am certain this project wouldn't have gotten off the ground without your help.

To Becky Granger, Dick Daniels, Juanita Smith, Barbara Moore, Dr. Jody Fernandez, Pastor Brian Bauer, Rebecca Hayford Bauer, Jerame Nelson, Dr. Jon Huntzinger, Pastor Steve Riggle, Prophet Andre Bronkhorst, Dr. Henry Wolmarans, Pastor Lindsey Thorne, Pastor Marty Freeman, Dr. Larry Ollison, Andrew Hopkins, Stacy Ingham, Nina Repeta, and Byron Blanton.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Teamwork makes the dream work.

—John Maxwell

Foreword

I believe we are living in unprecedented times where the world is very uncertain and many are full of fear. This book is an amazing tool to release a generation into the awe of God and break off the spirit of fear that is so readily attacking people today, especially those who are saved and a part of the church. I believe this book is a launching pad for renewing a believer's mind in the areas of the Father's love and protection.

In the church, there are basically three kinds of believers. The first group are those who oppose the pursuit of the presence of God or the manifestations of the Spirit. They are those whose religious traditions have kept them from experiencing a revelation of God's Spirit and glory. That is why Jesus said, Repent, for the kingdom is at hand. Jesus was on a mission to reveal the love of God to humankind. God wants to deliver people from this and allow them to know Him more. This book will help bring language to things that have not been understood by many in religious circles, and it will impart faith to enter into God's manifest presence on a daily basis and dwell with God.

The second group of people is the type who follow the glory and presence of God. These are those who are satisfied with watching from afar. They do not mind attending church meetings or listening to Spirit-filled teachings. They like to be around God's miracles and glory, but they do not necessarily have the confidence to believe God can use or encounter them. This book will help everyday ordinary Christians to have faith that they can have encounters with God and live under the shadow of the Almighty.

The third group of people are believers in the church who are carriers of the presence of God. These are people who do not just sit around and watch others live and operate in the things of God, but they are the ones that will push into God until they carry the substance of God's presence on their lives. These are people who have overcome the fear of man and the devil. They are those who bring a revelation of the glory and goodness of God to everyone they come into contact with. They love the manifest presence, and they have a tangible anointing resting on their lives. These are individuals who have encounters with God, step out boldly, and demonstrate the power and glory of God to humankind around them.

If you desire to be activated in the realm of living in the manifest presence of God and hearing God's voice in everyday life, then The Refuge is for you! It will surely activate you to overcome and become a carrier of the glory like the third group mentioned above. So buckle up and get ready for an amazing impartation of God's glory and love as you read the pages ahead in this wonderful book by Rob Granger! Enjoy!

Jerame Nelson

Jerame is the founder of Elisha Revolution, a leading revival movement, based in San Diego, (www.elisharevolution.com). He is an international evangelist and the author of several books, including: Burning Ones, Raising Up a Generation of Dread Champions, Activating Your Spiritual Senses, and Portals of Revelation.

Preface

My wife, Becky, and I were married in August 1997. We lived in the Oklahoma City area, and because we didn't have much money at the time, we decided to stay relatively close to home, so we spent our honeymoon in South Texas.

With San Antonio as our first stop, we decided to venture south to Corpus Christi briefly. We had never been there before and intended to return to San Antonio the next day. But the following morning, as we were set to leave, out of nowhere, my pickup truck began acting up, and I couldn't shift out of first gear (this happened to me another time in a semi, which you'll read about later). Concerned and far from home, I spent nearly three hours in the hot August sun, attempting to diagnose the problem, growing more frustrated—a great way to begin a honeymoon, by the way—with each passing moment. Suddenly, at around 1:00 p.m., while out on a test drive, my transmission began shifting correctly again, after having done absolutely nothing of any consequence to correct the problem. Since the day was getting away from us, we decided to stay in town another night and head to the beach at North Padre Island for the afternoon.

Honestly, for Becky and I, it was just fine. We were newlyweds without a care in the world. We were together, and that's really all that mattered. We parked right on the beach, and it seemed we were the only people there. In the distance, we could see a few others hundreds of yards away. Basically, the beach was all ours. What had begun as a frustrating day faded into memory.

As the beach had only a slight descent into the water, we waded out until we were about chest deep. It wasn't until we looked back that we realized we were a long way from the shore. Clueless about anything except each other, we bobbed and floated in the Gulf of Mexico, talking and laughing.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye—and Becky saw it at the same time—a massive shark, about two hundred yards away, rolled over, exposing his belly and huge pectoral fins. With panic in my voice, I shouted, "Shark!" Becky, amazingly calm the entire time, informed me she couldn't move very fast as she couldn't touch the bottom.

Never mind all that, I said. I immediately turned toward the beach, and with eyes as big as half dollars, I reached back, grabbing nervously for an arm, a hand, anything to pull her along with me. We moved to shore as fast as we could with at least my life flashing before my eyes.

Fortunately, we reached the shore without incident. Each of us huffing and puffing, bent-over, pale-faced, staring intently at the water, wondering if we were just crazy, or if we had really seen what we thought we saw.

With determination, we walked slowly along the beach, looking everywhere, surveying the water when there it was again. Who knows how many were out there? And then we saw it again. Relieved that we hadn't lost our minds, we continued the search with even more intensity.

As we walked, we saw a young couple in their twenties, just offshore, the water barely up to their knees, playing and having a great time. As we drew near them, a large tiger shark appeared right behind the young man with its mouth wide open, ready to take a bite. Sensing danger, the young man began high-stepping in the water, attempting to get away from whatever was behind him. Managing to escape, he and the young lady left the water immediately, huffing and puffing, eyes wide open, pale-faced, and bent over from the rush of adrenaline. It's amazing the effect an encounter with a shark will have on a person.

The four of us became instantly acquainted, excited, and buzzing with chatter about what had just happened.

If you've seen the movie Jaws, any good beachgoer knows there should be a well-placed bell on the beach, ready to ring at a moment's notice, in the event of a shark sighting, right? At least that's what they portrayed in the movie. About that same time, a park ranger walked up. Still riding my own wave of adrenaline, I asked the gentleman, What do you do if you see a shark?

With a blank stare and a deadpan response, he said, Don't go in the water.

I thought sarcastically to myself, The man is brilliant.

As we all stood around, talking, and by this time feeling more than a little relieved, a short distance from us, I noticed a family of four having just arrived, laying out beach towels, preparing to go for a swim: a mom, a dad, and what appeared to be two grown daughters. Something inside me grew uncomfortable, and I began to feel like I might need to say something to them. I shared my concern with Becky. She was still deep in conversation with the others and was honestly, by this time, just ready to leave. But, still, I knew I had to do something.

I moved over to the edge of the water, looking carefully all around me, at the same time watching this family now a good distance offshore, bobbing and floating around without a care, having the time of their lives.

I began to wave widely with both arms, attempting to get their attention. Finally, the man saw me. He slowly tilted his head and, even more slowly, began waving back at me. I knew he had no idea what I was doing, so I waved at him again with added flare, this time, waving them in. He tilted his head the other way, probably thinking I was nuts, quit waving altogether, having absolutely no idea what I was doing.

Not to be dissuaded, I continued to wave him in until it became clear I wasn't getting through to this guy. I was convinced that if I didn't, his family was going to be fish food when I could have done something. So I yelled, "Shark!"

With sudden catlike reflexes, the man looked side to side and began yelling something inaudible. In an instant, everyone seemed to be walking on water—running, more like—with a look in their eyes that told me their lives were flashing before their eyes too.

When the family reached us, we told them what had happened to us. They had the same reaction we all did: huffing and puffing, bent-over, turning a nice ashen color. After enough time passed, we eventually laughed nervously with the realization that the experience was safely behind us, and we went our separate ways.

Here's the point. We each live in our own little world, focused on just getting through our day, accomplishing what we've chosen to do, largely unaware of our surroundings or the fact that we are part of a larger purpose, that we're not alone, and there's an enemy out there with us.

Having had a lot of time to think about that day, I believe the Lord delayed our return trip to San Antonio for a reason: to experience something we would never forget, no matter how embarrassing or inconvenient. As believers, we have the responsibility to reach out to our friends, family, and anyone God brings across our paths.

So here I am, waving my arms at everyone I know and some that I don't, saying that there is an enemy out there with you. The Bible says he is "that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9). It is also said of him that he is like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Your only safety net is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is my story. It is filled with moments of profound revelation, and miraculous events. I have no idea who it will ultimately reach, but it's written for you with the hope that you will come to know Him.

The Refuge is built around Psalm 91, a psalm which holds significance to me and many others, particularly for the days we live in. I have read it and prayed it often through so many of my own personal challenges, having absolutely no idea how I would make it through. It's a powerful example of the protection, power, and provision I've experienced by standing on the Word of God.

My prayer is that it will be for you too.

Rob

Introduction

Great power is found in the Word of God. God's very nature is inherent within it. Every promise comes with the built-in ability to protect and provide for His people through every step of life through times of calm or sheer panic. Combined with God's Word, our faith is what brings the victory we need!

If you're like me, you've usually found that it's when times are the most difficult that we are the more productive because those times force us to make changes. It's time to zero in, to cry out at the top of our lungs when nothing short of a miracle will do and sometimes nothing short of crying out with all your soul can do.

It is at those times we are willing to press into the presence of God and remain there until something changes. It is in "the secret place" (Psalm 91:1) that our priorities change, and we are transformed by His power. It is in the scariest of times when life is as raw as it gets that we discover the freshness of His presence as our most precious source of protection, provision, and power.

Psalm 91, for me, has become a place of refuge, an anchor, a staple for my daily devotional life. I go there nearly every day, sometimes for long periods, meditating on every promise, chewing on every word. In fact, it's pages in my Bible are some of the most worn, highlighted, marked up, worn-through and, yes, taped up. The margins are filled with personal