NURTURING THE BEST OF RELATIONSHIPS | Psalms 91:1-5

SCRIPTURE: Psalms 91:1 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."

OBJECTIVES:

1.    To have a relationship intimacy with our Father God by encapsulating ourselves by His presence.

2.    To learn how to be a "person after God's own heart" by having an understanding of the  Secret Place.

INTRODUCTION:

➢    Who is David?  Almost every believer knows about David, the champion of Israel who killed the giant Goliath and became king over Israel.  Well, he started his unassuming career when he was still a boy about thirteen years of age (A Bar Mitzvah).  Unaware of what would become of him, he was just an ordinary boy, emancipated into his early manhood, and entrusted by his father to shepherd a few sheep in the wilderness with a staff, a sling and a harp.  (And perhaps a journal and a pen.)

➢    In the process of shepherding his father's few sheep, he learned a lot of things concerning his relationship with God.  He wrote songs in every kinds of circumstances, songs of praise, of adoration, declarations of his faith in God, and many Messianic prophetic utterances.  Not only did he write songs, but he put rhythm, melody and with the harp, sang those psalms before the Lord.  He learned the secret of the "Secret Place" alone with God in the pasture with the flocks.  These intimate moments and simple acts  earned him the title, "A man after God's own heart".

➢    As he gain self-confidence through his intimate relationship with an unseen God, his battle skills grew together.  With a sling in his hands, he gained the skill of a bulls eye shot for every throw.  He also killed a lion and a bear in protecting the sheep under his custody.  Little did everybody know, that the shepherd boy was being prepared by God for the throne of the kingdom of Israel.

FINDING THE SECRET PLACE

➢    What David found in the wilderness as he shepherd the flock was priceless.  He found more than a treasure, but something that would bring him into greatness.  He found the "Secret Place", the best of relationships any person could ever find in his entire lifetime.   David enjoyed being in the presence of God while at his young age.  At this season of His life, God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint him to be Israel's next king.  From that time on, the more he nurtured his "Secret Place moments. 

➢    The "Secret Place" is a Private Place alone with God where the Holy Spirit speaks, dreams are revealed, healing takes place. The Secret Place is where you personally enjoy God's Presence with Him alone;  It is your time and place for ministering to your God and King.

➢    It is the TIME and PLACE where you go and spend quality moment alone with God in prayer, supplication, appreciation, gratitude, adoration and worship;

➢    It is not simply your devotional time, but it could be done during your quality devotional time where you can talk to God from your heart and receive ministering from the Holy Spirit;

➢    It is where the Holy Spirit would reveal to you character correcting and strengthening instructions so that you'll be more Christlike, have a good testimony and pursue an effective ministry.

➢    Dwelling in the secret place is not an occasional visit.  Rather, it is an intentional, frequent abiding, taking refuge and communicating with God as the source of everything.

ABIDING UNDER THE SHADOW

➢    The "Shadow of the Almighty" speaks about the umbrella of God's Divine protection, guidance, provisions which would give you a feeling of well-being and confidence in the unseen God. 

➢    We would always hear people say, "Life is unfair and difficult".  That is the reality of living in this imperfect world being destroyed by sin.  But if you found and nurture your secret place moments, it would make all the difference in your life.  You'll have the peace and joy even in your trying moments.

EFFECTIVE MINISTRY AND SUCCESS IN LIFE IS THE FRUIT OF THE SECRET PLACE        

➢    Many times, as Disciples, we are engrossed in learning about systems, processes and strategies of the vision.  We tend to indulge in gaining more knowledge and along the way, we do not notice that we are doing things with our own abilities - busy in the Kingdom but missing the Secret Place.

➢    As a result of having a loose connection from our Main Source: being burn-out, losing the joy of serving, stressed, and possibly dissipation.

➢    The Lord is not impressed by what we do, but in what we are!   What we become of is just the product of our intimacy in the secret place.

NURTURING THE SECRET PLACE MOMENT

1.    REALIZE THAT YOUR SOURCE COULD BE FOUND ONLY IN THE SECRET PLACE.

➢    Psalms 91:1 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

➢    Nothing is more fulfilling than getting to know the source of everything we need comes from God alone, and it is in putting all our trust in Him that we can have not only confidence but success in this life, no matter how difficult it may be. 

➢    Be grateful to Him for everything He provides and have confidence to come into His presence to obtain grace to help in times of need.  It is God who desires that we come to Him, as a father would desire of his little child to always come to him. 

1.    REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR DAY TO DAY RELATIONSHIP TO BE MORE INTIMATE WITH THE LORD.

➢    Psalms 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.

➢    On a day to day basis, develop your confidence in God as a child who trusted his father for protection, provision and well-being.  With reverence, talk to Him from your heart, pouring out to Him what you have in your heart. 

2.    COME TO THE SECRET PLACE MORE FREQUENTLY.

➢    Psalms 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."

➢    Like little chicks fleeing from predators into their mothers wings, take refuge in God's presence in the Secret Place more often.  As you come home, kneel before God, thanking Him for a day's work and provisions.  It does not have to be long, but more frequent.  You can do it in your office during your break times.

CONCLUSION AND MINISTERING:

➢    Challenge them to hunger and seek more for God's presence, to seek God in the Secret Place.

➢    Make declaration:  "I AM DWELLING IN THE SECRET PLACE  OF THE MOST HIGH, AND I SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.  THE SECRET PLACE IS MY SWEET SPOT."