Introduction: These two Psalms speak of God as our Rock.

Psa 61:1 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
Psa 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psa 62:1-2 "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation."

"Rock" here is a synonym for "fortress." In ancient days, fortresses were built on high rocky places, in order to be strong and impregnable. Jerusalem is built on seven low rocky mountains. When David conquered Jerusalem he defeated the Jebusites, who had built a fortress on one of the mountains, called Mount Zion.

The Book of Psalms uses the imagery of Rock or Fortress many times to describe God. Martin Luther based his great hymn on Psalms 61 and 62, and others which use this Rock and Fortress imagery.

As we think about these Psalms, and the concept of God as our Fortress, two questions come to mind:

I. Why do we need a Fortress? Answer, unless you are at war, you don't need a Fortress. Therefore, we must be at war. We have three great enemies:

A. Satan and his followers are our enemies. They are real. They are battling against God and His people every day, in an invisible battle going on all around us.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

B. Christians are at war with their own bodies. This is a truth that is rarely taught, but it is basic to our understanding of our difficulties with sin. If you understand this principle, it will help you in your struggles with temptation.

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Romans 7:18-23 NKJV

The works of the flesh:

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21

This enemy, the flesh, is always with us. It is a great struggle to overcome the desires and appetites of the body. Someday Christ will give us new bodies, but until then, or until death, this enemy must be battled with on a daily basis.

C. Christians are at war with the world around us. I don't mean we are at war with the grass and the trees, but we are at war with the cultures and attitudes of the world. The Bible says so many times:

James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

John 15:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

1 Pet 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

How is the Church doing in setting itself apart from the world, and making war against the world? Or, has the world conquered the Church? A generation ago Christians didn't play cards, go to movies, dance, or listen to Rock and Roll. Now we do. Have we made progress in holiness, or have we been taken over by the world? You decide.

Why do we need a Fortress? Because we are caught up in a great spiritual war that is raging all around us. Our enemies are the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

II. How can a person get into the Fortress? Obviously, the Fortress can't help you unless you are inside.

Imagine being an Israelite farmer 3,000 years ago, working on your little patch of ground outside the city walls. When you look up for a moment, and you see several miles away the armies of the King of Babylon flowing down the distant mountain side headed your way. You, and everyone else, would make haste to get inside the city walls, and to shut the gate. Inside the Fortress city, you would be safe. Outside, you would be killed quickly.

You must be in Christ to escape spiritual destruction. There were smaller towns in Israel than Jerusalem, and they has walls and defenses, but none as strong as Jerusalem's walls. No other Israelite city could provide safety against the King of Babylon.

Do you remember the story of the Three Little Pigs? All three pigs had houses. But the house of straw could not withstand the breath of the wolf. The house of sticks could not withstand the breath of the wolf. But the house of bricks DID stand up to the wolf's most strenuous efforts. Jesus is our house of bricks. Jesus is our Rock. Jesus is our strong Fortress.

There are not many Fortresses to which a person may run for safety. There are not many paths to God. There is only one safe Fortress. There is only one path to God. There is only one gate to enter the highway to Heaven.

Many people feel today that it doesn't matter what your religion is, as long as you are sincere. The three little pigs were all sincere about their houses. But only one house could save them from the wolf. Jesus preached that only those who believe in Him are on their way to Heaven.

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well."
John 14:6-7

The Apostle John echoed the teachings of his Master and wrote:

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (I John 5:12)

The Apostle Peter was threatened by the Jewish Sanhedrin, when he preached to them:

"Jesus is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:11-12

How can a person who is not "in Christ" BE "in Christ?" Simple: Repent of your sins. Believe in Christ. Put your trust in Him for salvation, not in your good deeds, or religious practices. Take as your example the publican, in Jesus' parable of the publican and the pharisee.

Conclusion: There is a spiritual war going on all around us. We can see some of it. Much of it is invisible. Are you in the Fortress? Have you repented of your sins, and believed in Christ?