A few weeks ago our U.S. military began airstrikes against ISIS in Syria. ISIS (or ISIL—they’re always changing the name) has intended to incite fear through videos of them beheading western journalists, and photos of beheaded children of Christian families. Most recently, on Internet news we read of an Islamic man beheading a former co-worker in Oklahoma. To my knowledge, this has not been reported on major network newscasts. (Imagine that!)
If this doesn’t trigger fear, the most recent propaganda that ISIS could be living on United States soil is intended to. Even more sobering are unconfirmed reports that U.S. citizens have traveled to Syria to train with terrorist groups and have returned to the U.S. to live.
Following President Obama’s live, television report last week, as he walked from the podium a question from a journalist could be faintly heard in the background.
“Is it true they’re living here?” was barely detected.
Of course, he walked on.
In 1990-91 and 2003 respectively, we watched the Persian Gulf War and the Invasion of Iraq on television in real time. As startling as it seemed at the time, for me, that was like watching Saturday morning cartoons compared to what we see today. The stakes have significantly risen.
Last week, as we watched the morning news Karen told me she had begun confessing Psalm 91. Throughout the morning I couldn’t shake her words, so I re-read the Psalm. As I did, it struck me that the first verse contains a truth I’ve been teaching for weeks.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (v. 1)
The secret place is that place where we encounter the felt Presence of God. Far more than a mere morning devotion, the secret place is where I hide out with Him. Moses’ “tent of meeting”, his secret place, is where he regularly met the Father “face to face.” A secret place can be in your car, bathroom, bedroom, a closet or a storage building in your back yard. It’s that solitary time when you seek the Presence of the Almighty until His Presence overshadows you becoming your shade and protection.
Years ago, I became so dominated by a spirit of shame that I wouldn’t go to the store for fear I’d meet people who knew me, and in turn, provoke more shame upon myself. I became obsessed with trying to overcome my weakness. I discovered, however, as I spent less time seeking to overcome shame and more time seeking the Lord’s face, fear and shame flittered away. “Under the shadow of the Almighty” I had little trouble facing my world.
It wasn’t so much that boldness came upon me, but rather a confidence from being in His Presence eclipsed the battle confronting me. After I worshiped the Father in the secret place I could literally feel His Presence rest upon me. Overshadowed by Him, I arose in faith to face my world.
What happens in the secret place? A divine exchange takes place. We meet the Presence of God in worship and discover He’s a good Father, giving us His beauty in exchange for our ugly ashes. He presents us the oil of joy, as we hand Him our shame and sorrow. He offers us a garment of praise in exchange for the spirit of heaviness, fear, and depression. (See Isaiah 61:3)
A reading of Psalm 91 reveals some of the most amazing assurances found in the Bible. Read it for yourself and you’ll find we’re promised a refuge and fortress, deliverance from pestilence and plagues (diseases), divine protection from war and destruction, freedom from the fear of terrorists, angelic defense, deliverance from demonic assault, honor, and salvation, just to name a few.
These promises, however, are conditional. They are reserved for those who “dwell in the secret place of the Most High.” His promises flow from His Presence.
Emerging from His Presence in the secret place, you become the majority no matter how many issues or enemies you face. Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). If Jesus has “all authority” that means the darkness we hear reported on in the news has none. Further, if He has “all authority” so do we. After all, he’s the head and we’re His body. If the kingdom of darkness is under His feet (1 Cor. 15:27), then it remains below ours because we are His feet. Think of it this way: the least person in the Kingdom of God, the “little toe”, so to speak, has greater authority than all the darkness Satan can muster against us.
Therefore, we cannot afford to be more highly impressed with the presence of darkness reported on Network television than we are with the Presence of God we meet in the secret place. If the darkness astounds us with it’s brazenness, it just reveals we have not been in the secret place before His Presence, lately.
Let me remind you that everything going on in the world today is miniscule to the environment Jesus came to in the first century. In the Apostle Paul’s day it was common for a Christian to be beheaded or burned alive for their faith. Incredibly, the Kingdom of God flourished in that dark environment. Historically we find, it always does.
Arise, shine; For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3, bold added)
The Presence has an attracting quality about it. “Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” In a climate of extreme darkness, people will be drawn to those who carry the light of His Presence. Gentiles (various people groups) and kings (people of reputation and authority) will look for an escape from the gloom and doom around them. Consequently, many will be attracted to those who carry the light of His Presence.
With your whole heart, seek the Presence of the Father. Then, contrary to what we hear or feel, know that the hour of severe darkness belongs to those who carry the light of His Presence from the secret place into full view.
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