Idea Transcript
THE SECRET PLACE Psalm 91
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? For this purpose I came. “Father, glorify Your name…” John 12:27-28 OBJECTIVE: To know that God’s helps us to live victoriously in a troubled world. OPENING: Psalm 91 Psalm 91 is a pronouncement of promise and blessing for all those who make the Lord their dwelling place. V.9: “Dwelling place;” V.1: “Secret place,” a place of safety, set apart; secluded for rest, nurturing and growth. Diedrah’s orphanage is the “dwelling place for her 31 children. Let me show you Psalm 91 in action. [SLIDES]. We need to know, however, that Paul’s prison cell was also a “secret place of the most high.” So was Daniel’s lion’s den; Abraham’s wilderness and Jesus’ Garden of Gethsemane. God’s “secret place,” has little to do with circumstances and is actually highlighted by adversity. In 1866, James Chalmers, a Scottish-born Presbyterian became a missionary. In his 35years of serving people in the South Pacific, he lost his first wife to illness, and then his second wife in the same manner. In his sorrow, he surrendered his every ambition and labored that much more to spreading the Gospel. He was known to long for God. In the spring, 1901, he and Oliver Tomkins explored the coast near Papua, New Guinea. The two men went ashore and never returned. A rescue party later learned they had been clubbed to death, chopped into pieces, cooked and eaten by cannibals. This story could be repeated a thousand times in similar events down through history. And so, how do we make sense of Psalm 91? Bible critics would say God was negligent or we are negligent. Certainly, God wouldn’t allow bad things to happen to me since I trust in Him so deeply. Right? Think again. SATAN, And The Subtle Suggestion Luke 4:10-13: Satan quoted this psalm to Jesus but not for the sake of encouragement, but in the attempt to deceive, saying, “Surely God won’t let something bad happen to you, Jesus.” However, let’s compare Satan’s use of this verse with the actually psalm and tell me, what did Satan leave out? He left out, “… in all your ways.” “Ways,”- God’s Divine design, gifting and path that He uniquely intends for you that results in His glory.” [THEME]: “Now My soul is troubled…” The Cross was God’s perfect plan but not an easy plan! James Chalmers cross was God’s perfect plan but not an easy plan. The secret place helps you to walk in God’s perfect will within a troubled world.
A little over 50 years after James Chalmers’ death, a young, unassuming Lillian Nichols arrived on those same shores, spent a lifetime translating the Word of God, and just this past year, she died in those same jungles. On the same beaches where a few clubbed Chalmers to death, thousands gathered to honor Lillian. The children of those same cannibals are now preaching Christ in remote villages. TRUSTING IN THE NAME V.1-3: This psalm was likely written by Moses (Cp. 90:0), who spent the majority of his life in hardship that he chose for himself. Hebrews 11: 24-26 The names of God speak of His character. Four names are given in two verses. V.1: Elyon: “God, Most High.” He is “most high,” seeing more clearly than all others from the proverbial mountain top. Secondly, He is El Shaddai, “God, Almighty,” all powerful able to do all things. V.2: Yahweh: The unspeakable God; beyond description and far more than every imaginations altogether could ever fathom. He is my “Refuge”- Machseh: “A place of rest, safety and shelter,” and my “Fortress,” (a place of defense and occupation.); and finally, Elohim, the One who stands in front and shields. On the Cross, Jesus used a form of this name, “Eli, Eli… You who stands in front and shields me, why have you forsaken me?” This verse / the Cross speaks, “No matter my circumstances, “in Him I will trust.” What if the Cross never occurred? What if you never suffered? Blessing, but Stuff Happens! V.3-6: You may live the next 1000 days with peace, joy and blessing as described in this scripture, but within those days, God sets aside several days of tribulation. Romans 5:3: Paul writes that tribulation produces perseverance, character and hope. 1 Peter 4:15: Peter writes, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer, thief, a busybody or evildoer… Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.” Everything Falls But Not God’s People V.7-8: In the 200 years following the Early Church, persecution never ceased entirely, but it wasn’t widespread, either. Churches went from meeting in private homes to public places. By 250 A.D. numbers had grown by 1000%. But public opinion began to change in the year 251 A.D. Emperors Decius and Diocletian brought severe, widespread persecution until 305 A.D. Christians were accused of being anti-family because of Jesus’ teaching to hate mother, father… in comparison to God. They were accused of cannibalism because of communion and disloyalty to Rome for greater loyalty to the Kingdom of God. Over 50 years of persecution, however, resulted in the Apostles Creed, the Canonization of Scripture and the unifying of the whole church. God knew that in a very short time, the Roman Empire would fall, and the church would need to be strong to save civilization. Rome fell in 410 A.D. “A thousand may fall,” but the church still lives.
God Protects Us From Ourselves V.9-10: Evil may win the day, but never overthrow you. “…No evil shall befall you.” But what happens when the church itself becomes her own worst enemy? Back in the 1980-90’s, many were deceived by a “name it and claim it doctrine.” Here is a composite of writings by such speakers as Fred Price, Ken Copeland, Benny Hinn and Jerry Sevelle. “You can become just like Jesus, you know! You can have unlimited health and unlimited wealth- a palace like the Taj Mahal with a Rolls Royce in your driveway. You are little messiahs running around this earth. The Bible says that Jesus has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That’s the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce. I’m following in Jesus’ steps. “All it takes is recognizing your own divinity. You can harness the force by faith. Never again will you say, ‘Thy will be done.’ Rather, your word is God’s command. By using your tongue to release the force of faith, you can speak whatever you desire into existence.” Ugh! False doctrine may win the day, but it never last. [Testimony]. Angels and Demons V.11-13: This verse suggests that we all have individual angels assigned to us. How cool is that! Anyone have an encounter with an angel? Abraham ate with three angels; Peter was broken out of prison by an angel. An angel sat with Daniel all night in the lion’s den, and an angel fought with Satan and carried the body of Moses away. Angels spoke to Mary, Joseph and Zachariah at the birth of Jesus and several disciples at the Resurrection of Jesus. Angels blinded the crowd at Lot’s front door and one angel killed 185,000 soldiers who threatened God’s people. Hebrews says to be careful to entertain strangers for many have been angels unawares. V.13: Angels are very real, but so are demons! They prowl like lions longing to devour you. They slither like serpents wanting to deceive you. We are warned to stay sober! ABIDING IN THE PROMISE OF GOD V.14-16: We are all the recipients of such great and mighty promises. The “Secret Place” gives us the refuge and strength to live out these verses. Like Jesus, don’t pray for less trouble. Pray to glorify His name. CONCLUSION A child of God sat with the Father after a long terribly hard day and asked, “Lord, why did you let so much bad stuff happen to me today?” God answered, “What do you mean?” “Well, first off, I had bad dreams all night, and my clock broke so that I woke up late. Second, I rushed out to my car, but it took forever to start. And then at lunch, they got my order wrong and I spent most of my lunch waiting in line. After that, my computer
went dead at work. And to top it off, I went home to soak my feet in my new foot massager, and it wouldn’t work. Lord, help me to understand!” God said, “This morning the Angel of Death was at your bedside and I discharged angels to fight him off. I thought it best you sleep through it. I delayed your car starting because a drunk driver was on your same route. They got your order wrong because the meat in your original order was contaminated with a worker’s cold virus. Your computer went dead right as a criminal was about to hack it and steal your personal information. And your foot massager- I broke it because it had a short that would have electrocuted you. “I had a busy day watching over you. But it’s okay- Your worth it!”