The Secret Place

Psalm 91 - Study 2 - The Secret Place

We read in Psalm 91:1, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (WEB)

It is a natural instinct for man to hide when faced with danger. We live in a time when hovering over us is a colossal threat of a pandemic, which has filled mankind with fear and dread. However, sadly it seems we have nowhere to hide except in the confines of our homes.

Hiding from God

·         Adam and Eve hid from God

This inclination to hide was evident in man from the very beginning of creation.

We read in Genesis 3:8,In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking around in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees in the garden. (GW)

Adam and Eve were in perfect peace, health, and harmony as long as they walked in obedience to God, and were in line with His plan for all of creation.  However, when they disobeyed God to eat of the forbidden fruit, and stepped out of His will, the consequence was that they were fearful, and hid from God. Instead of acknowledging their sin and disobedience, Adam and Eve blamed each other, and tried to conceal themselves from the presence of God.

Have you noticed how we too hide from God only when there is sin in our lives?  If we have hidden our sins and evil deeds from the Lord, the time has come for us to repent, confess and get right with God.

·         Elijah hid in a cave

We read in 1 Kings 19:9,There he went into a cave and spent the night. Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah. He asked, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (GW)

Elijah was a zealous prophet of God, who was brave enough to stand before kings.  However, He was so disheartened by the threat of Queen Jezebel that he fled, and hid in a cave.

Many people are hiding from God because of discouragements they faced.  The troubles, trials, hardships and failures we encounter are reasons why many shy away from having a relationship with God. The devil is a deceiver from the beginning, and his goal is to mislead us to think that we can conceal our sins from God, and to hinder us from having a relationship with Him.

The Psalmist had a wonderful revelations of who God is. He said it this way in Psalm 139:7, Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run to get away from you? (GW)

David was a worshipper of God, anointed by God, and with a deep understanding of who God was. David sang songs of praise to God, no matter what his circumstances were, whether he was distressed, challenged by hardships or was in a joyful situation. David therefore knew that there was no place to run and hide from God, for the Spirit of God is present all over the world, and nothing is hidden from His sight.

These are the words of God Himself as recorded in Jeremiah 23:24, "No one can hide so that I can't see him," declares the LORD. "I fill heaven and earth!" declares the LORD. (GW)

God fills the heaven and the earth, and He sees everything. Therefore, no one, not even powerful governments or authorities can conceal anything from Him.

A great number of people today are so busy hiding behind money making, merry making, partying, holidaying and humor to conceal who they really are. All of a sudden there has been a halt to all partying, and we are quarantined to the confines of our homes. We wear masks and plastic smiles to hide who we really are. So many are paying, and flocking to stand-up comedians, who they hope will with their amusement help lighten the burdens they bear. The fact of the matter is that these delightful amusements can never satisfy man’s deepest longings or alleviate his burdens. If any of us are hiding behind these masks, covering up our sins, it is time to repent and get reconciled with God. 

This is a loud call of God to the whole world, but also to the church in particular.  The Lord wants the church to give up all that is formal, lifeless, Spiritless to become the body of Christ that God intended us to be.

Hidden in God

The Psalmist says in Psalm 91:1,He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (WEB)

Here the Psalmist is encouraging us to dwell in the secret place of the Most High or in other words to hide in God. We can do either one of these two things; hide from God or allow ourselves to be hidden in God. To be hidden in God is the safest place anyone can be in, for there the enemy loses his power, and no darkness, sickness or ill can befall us.

What must we do to be hidden in God?

  

·         Accept that we have tried to hide from God and repent

We read in Luke 15:21,Then his son said to him, 'Father, I've sinned against heaven and you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.' (GW)

These are the words of the prodigal who walked away from his father.  He did not understand the privilege of being at home with his father, and shunned his authority. When he came to the end of himself, lost everything that was his, he came back to his senses.  With penitence he returned home to his father, acknowledged that he had sinned, and was no longer worthy to be called a son.

There are those of us who have wandered away from God, and like the rebellious son have been doing our own thing.  We have not understood the entitlement that is ours as children of God. When we repent and return to God, He accepts us and promises us His protection.

What happens when we return to God?

·         Our life is hidden in God

We read in Psalm 27:5,He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble. He keeps me hidden in his tent. He sets me high on a rock. (GW)

The Psalmist is reassured with the thought that God hides him in the midst of trouble.  He keeps him hidden in his tent, safe from his enemies and then sets him up on a rock.

Here’s God’s word of comfort that not only does He protect us, He is also the one who lifts us up when the troubles are past.

We also read in Colossians 3:3,You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (GW)

And in Colossians 3:4, Christ is your life….

There are three words I wish to highlight, died, life and being hidden in Christ from Colossians 3:3.

The prodigal son had to die to his self, to his selfishness, and return to his father to receive the restoration as a son. The call of God to each one of us is to allow our sinful self to be dead, and to come back to the Lord. When we do so, Christ will become our life. We lost our lives, and were doomed to destruction because of sin. Jesus took our place on the cross, and He experienced death, so we could receive the eternal life that we had forfeited.

There are numerous challenges that we are faced with today. These are uncertain times when the economy is crumbling, health of many are dwindling, and money is losing its value. The Lord is speaking loud and clear calling to everyone, to come back to Him. If we will allow our sinful self to be crucified with Christ, we will find the abundant life that is available only in Him. The secret place of the Almighty God, is the place of complete safety and security.

When God delivered the people of Israel from the cruel hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, He made a clear distinction between those who were His people, and those who weren’t. If we desire to experience that same favor we must get back to God, repent that we have mishandled our earth, our resources and our lives. Let our lives be hidden in Christ, so that we can experience the peace, safety and security that can come only from the Most High God.

Prayer :

Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank you that we have a place to hide when we are faced with danger and it is a secret place that is not accessible to the enemy.  We thank you for being our hiding place at this time of trouble.  We love You Lord for Your faithfulness.  We pray in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Br. Dixon

Our website

Transcribed by : Sis. Esther Collins

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Our Most High God

Psalm 91 - Study 1 - Our Most High God

There are so many believers who are discouraged that the recent epidemic has hindered us from coming together to worship the Lord, as is our practice. In the Old Testament we read about Noah and his family who were confined to stay within the ark for almost a year. I believe that Noah and his family would have continued to worship God in those lonely moments of isolation from the rest of the world. It is good we make the best use of this time that God has given us to worship the Lord together as families. Let us set aside all that is unnecessary, and consider these days of isolation, as a blessing wherein we can spend more time with God, in prayer and reading of His word.

The title given for Psalm 91, which we are about to study in depth in one of the translations is ‘The God who protects us’.

We read in Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (NKJV)

The Psalmist address God in this psalm as the Most High God. Psalm 91 is a familiar one to most of us probably from when we were children ourselves. The title Most High God implies that there is no one else who is above Him, and the He alone has the paramount place.

God does not live in a building

In the New Testament the title of Most High God appears in Acts 7:48"However, the Most High doesn't live in a house built by humans, (GW)

We might have read this verses many times earlier. The word of God establishes the fact that the Most High God does not dwell in a house built by humans. To those who are upset or heartbroken that they will not be able to go to church, something that they have done all their lives, the Lord reminds us that God does not live in a building. It is the gathering of the children of God together that makes the church, and God is present in their midst. We cannot build a temple for God to come and reside.

Where then does God live?

We read in 1 Corinthians 3:16,Don't you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (GW)

Each one of us are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God lives within us. We need to repeat and reassure ourselves that we are indeed the temple of the living God, within whom the Lord is pleased to dwell. Nothing can happen in our lives without God’s consent, and everything is under His control, because He is the Most High God. Instead of being filled with fear and dread we will must learn to acknowledge that as He is in control, and that He will help us tide over this in due time.

The characteristics of the Most High God

There is no one or nothing that is above God, for every power and authority is subject to Him. Since God lives inside us and we are under His protection, there is no need for us to murmur or pine or weep. We who have been caught in the treadmill of busyness, are suddenly unable to cope with this complete halt to our hectic schedules. As we spend time in quietness with the Lord in prayer, reading the word and worshiping God alone and together with our families, we will receive amazing revelations from God, such as we have never obtained earlier. This present crisis shouldn’t be to our detriment, but solely for our benefit.

The Most High blesses us

We read in Genesis 14:19-20, He blessed Abram, and said, "Blessed is Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth. Blessed is God Most High, who has handed your enemies over to you." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (GW)

When Melchizedek, the King of Salem, the priest of the Most High God met Abram this is how he greeted and blessed him. The Most High God Himself, who is the maker of heaven and earth blessed Abram.

The first thing that the Most High God does for us is that He blesses us. That is His will and pleasure for He loves to bless His people. The blessings of God are exceptional for the following reasons:

We read in Numbers 23:20 I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can't change it.(GW)

King Balak was afraid of the strength of the Israelites, and not wanting to deal with them in the physical realm, he invited Balaam the prophet to pronounce a curse on the people of Israel. Balaam when asked to curse replied that he was unable to curse the Israelites, as he had received a concise command from the Lord to bless the Israelites.

Our blessings come from the Lord of Hosts, and no power on earth can change or reverse it. We must believe God’s word, and not panic but speak words of faith.

We are safe under the blood of the Lamb of God

As the people of Israel were in bondage, God commanded them to sacrifice a lamb and smear its blood on the door posts and lintels. When the angel of death passed over that night, all those houses and all the families who obeyed the command of the Lord were safe. So also let us be assured that for those of us who are His children, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, the Lord will protect us from the clutches of death. Our hearts must be filled with thanks to the Lord for His protection over us, our families and those around us.

In order for one to come under this divine protective cover, all we need to do is believe. We are admonished to put our faith in Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, whose sinless blood was shed for our redemption. If we believe and accept this salvation most certainly we, and our household will be saved to be kept secure from all harm.

A lot of people were and are against the people of God, but the Lord will always protect His people. There’s nothing to fear for the Lord is our guardian, and no harm can befall His children. We are being bombarded on all sides by the news of this pandemic which is creating much fear and anxiety. We need to be watchful, and spend the time instead in worshipping the Lord together as families, making the best use of these days that God has given to us.

The Most High God hands over our enemies into our hands

We also read in Genesis 14:20, Blessed is God Most High, who has handed your enemies over to you. (GW)

Generally when we think about enemies, we think of people who are against us. However, at this present time we are all globally being confronted with an enemy that seems unseen and indomitable. 

Abram and Lot began their journey together, but after a while Lot chose the blessing of this world and separated from Abram. Lot settled in Sodom, but sometime later some kings attacked Sodom and took Lot and his family captive. When Abram heard about it, he took his trained men, fought against those kings and delivered Lot. He brought back Lot, his family and belongings safely back. As Abram returned after his conquest, Melchizedek reminded him that it was the Most High God who delivered his enemies into his hands.

We are wise to follow all the medical advice given to us, but let us never fail to acknowledge that the one who keep us safe and protected from all harm is the Lord Most High.

As children of God may we cast out our fears and anxieties, placing our trust instead in God Most High who is above all. No one or nothing else is above Him for He alone is supreme. Let us quieten our hearts, and learn to rest in Him. Let us remember Noah who endured being in the ark for one full year. All around him was death and destruction, but God kept Noah and his family safe. God has handed into our hands the enemy who has come to destroy our health and well-being. This means that if we are the children of the Most High God, the enemy is under our control.

This is the word of exhortation that comes from the Lord Most High, maker of heaven and earth. Firstly, He comes to bless us and speak words of healing over our lives. Secondly, He has handed over the enemy into our hands. There is nothing to fear because we are assured of God’s divine presence and wellness for our bodies. Let us move on with the confidence that the Lord Most High is with us, and He is all we ever need.

Prayer:

Our loving heavenly Father, we acknowledge that You are the Most High God and there is nothing or none above You.  We thank you for being our protector at this time of great danger.  Look unto us and help us come out of this with victory.  We thank you for the precious blood of Jesus which is upon us and our household.  Thank You Lord for the health and healing we have access to through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We give you all glory, honour and praise.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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